'232 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the nation than any man, uncrowned by power of eloquence, can possibly 

 effect. There is no other possible way in which the women of the nation can 

 organize their influence and power that will tell so beneficially upon society 

 and the State. We must give to all kindly courtesy for we know not their sore 

 need ; but above everything we must be courteous to those who are in our own 

 homes. Gentle manners must be taught like music. If a girl waits until she 

 is quite advanced in age before touching the organ or piano, it will take much 

 practice to play passably, while if she tip-toes up to the piano and strikes the 

 keys as soon as she can stand alone, she will grow up, other things being equal, 

 its mistress. If we would have young people become familiar with the habits 

 of good society we must begin with them early, and teach them by example 

 as well as dictation. 



Social intercourse is in fact the consequence of a necessity felt by men and 

 women for new channels of thought and new impulses of feeling. 



We read books for the very same purpose. And as it is impossible even for 

 the most dissimilar persons to be near each other, to be daily seen and brought 

 into contact in the business of life without insensibly producing deep impres- 

 sions and working changes of feeling and character not easily removed, the 

 books we choose as companions leave deep impressions upon our natures. 



Our mind was forcibly impressed with the above thought from reading a 

 short article in the Inter-Ocean entitled " What do your boys read:" Four 

 boys in Milwaukee were arrested upon numerous charges of incendiarism, 

 which revealed the fact that they had a pirate's den; kept on hand a large 

 supply of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc., and swore in members with a cast 

 iron oath. It was reported that these boys were members of respectable 

 families, regularly attended the public schools, and were in good standing in 

 theiT classes, but were instructed in such depravity by vicious literature. One 

 called himself "Peck's Bad Boy," another had a "Cowboy story" on his person. 

 The father and mother in these days who, when there are floods of good books 

 and magazines of the most beautiful and interesting character for the young, 

 permit vicious and pernicious publications in the home, incur a fearful respon- 

 sibility; are treading on very dangerous ground, "sowing the wind only to 

 reap the whirlwind." 



A few farmers have made for themselves a position in society, and they 

 deserve much credit for perseverance and energy, as they had not the social 

 advantages their friends in the city possessed. The young farmer who does 

 not seek to rise in the social scale will, in the far busy future, look back to" 

 these golden opportunities and regret that he did not grasp them. Knowledge, 

 that pearl of great price, is given to those only who prefer it to ignorance, and 

 we can make it truly and usefully our own by appropriate application. 



LIFE ON THE FARM. 



BY D. M, OKR. 



[Read at Caro Institute.] 



Me. Chairman: — Life on the farm may be one of the happiest conditions 

 a man can be placed in here on this mundane sphere, or it may be one of the 

 most miserable — he may live, simply live. 



