No. 5. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 151 



absence of distractions, and that sort of thing. It is true they have 

 their effect. It is not due to a mind properly exercised, in a sound 

 body; the credit is due to the God-fearing mother who raises these 

 boys and sends them into the city, steeled against temptations, to 

 make of themselves what they do. There is no time when we need more 

 of them than today. Look at the conditions in Colorado, which are 

 next door to anarchy; look at conditions where the Socialists invade 

 the churches. I tell you that we have need today in this United 

 States, of the influence and teachings of these God-fearing mothers 

 upon the young men of today who are to go out into the world, filled 

 witli zeal for their country and their God, to make of themselves 

 the great men of the future. 



I have been talking of the boys; given God-fearing mothers, they 

 will take care of the girls. We men don't know very much about 

 it; we leave it to the mothers; but if we took as good care to see 

 that the standards of our boys are all light as we do to see that the 

 chickens are all right, or tlie calves or the hogs are all right, we 

 would have a better crop of boys. We don't any of us do that. I 

 don't except myself, or I would not stand here and say this. I don't 

 want to say it, l)ut I don't know any other name for it, than just 

 plain cowardice. Just as the sound of the cannon ball that was 

 fired at Bunker Hill echoed round the world, so will the influence and 

 inspiration of a good boy go round the world. Let us give a little 

 more thought to our boys. That is all I have to say. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME 

 By C. L. EDINGER, Burgess, Stroudshurg, Pa. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you. It affords me great pleas- 

 ure this afternoon to extend to you the freedom of our city. Do with 

 it what you like. You have come to w^hat I think is one of the most 

 beautiful towns in Pennsylvania. 



It is generally customary to extend to organizations of this kind, 

 the key to the city. But I succeeded a Democratic administration, 

 and they have not left a key for me ; but if you visit our department 

 stores, our offices and our shops, I assure you that every courtesy will 

 be extended to you. And for the members who have not brought their 

 wives along, and may possibly get a little hilarious, I have instructed 

 the borough officers to deal gently with you, and return you to the 

 hotel, instead of locking you up. I want you to leave us with a 

 warm spot in your heart for us, and return again to our midst, 



