162 THIRTIETH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 



cious. Not only is she the soul and center of every home, but 

 she is the great world's moral force. In all ages and in all 

 countries, this quiet, patient, self-sacrificing woman has done 

 more for humanity and the world's regeneration, than legis- 

 lators and statesmen, than poets and preachers, than scholars 

 and philanthropists. As the mother is so is the home. Wheth- 

 er in the country or city, each has her advantages and dis- 

 advantages, each has her dangers and safe-guards, each has 

 her joys and sorrows ; one is drawn away by society, the 

 other is hemmed in at home ; one is neglectful of maternal 

 care, the other hardened by isolation ; one is troubled over so- 

 cial standing, the other is sad from social lack. But each 

 daily sheds an unfailing fragrance of home influence and the 

 benediction of a mother's prayers. 



As the mother makes the home whether in city or country, 

 it is difficult to study the home without treating of the moth- 

 er. But as it is our purpose to speak externally of home in- 

 fluences, we shall leave the mother and fireside to your own 

 memories and imaginations. 



It is passing into proverb that the country boy enjoys the 

 advantages of his disadvantages, while the city boy suffers 

 under the disadvantages of his advantages. 



All the opportunities for culture in art and science, in his- 

 tory, ethics and humanity, are free to the youth of the city ; 

 lectures, libraries and art galleries are open ; historic places, 

 marvels in architecture, the magic wonders of science, marts 

 of trade and traffic are at hand; all that man has done is 

 within reach and can be seen. And so the city boy is in con- 

 stant contact with evidences of human nature, while the coun- 

 try boy comes in touch with the evidences of external nature ; 

 one daily beholds the works of man while the other daily be- 

 holds the works of nature. 



Because the denizens of a city are surrounded and under the 

 influence of man's work, it is only natural that pessimism 

 and cynicism should flourish luxuriantly in the city; but to 

 those who dwell under the influence and amidst the opulence 

 of nature, she gives her songs, her fragrance and her beauty, 

 — one is naturalized by living with nature, the other becomes 

 artificial by living with human nature. One becomes joj-ous 

 in his sense of rustic freedom and the beauty of life, the other 

 becomes reserved through his limitations of city environment. 

 One puts on the true habiliments of heart in field and wood, 

 the other puts on the habiliments of the drawing room 

 through associations with so-called polite society. One may 

 become quaint, awkward and unconventional in the country, 

 but he does not become dudish, blase or supercilious. 

 The impressions of nature are simple and early, those of hu- 



