WINTER MEETING, 1S77. 49 



the occupants could see out under those left would bo worse than murder; 

 besides, to relieve the cluunber windows the up})er branches would also have to 

 be cut off. To bo suro tlie trees niij^ht be cut down altogether, but that would 

 not do, because the trees are worth more than the liouse, and so beautiful are 

 they that the property would sell for more money with the trees on it without 

 tlie liousc than with the house on it witliout the trees. There seems to be no 

 way therefore except to remove the house. 



Fanners arc not so lilvely to make such a mistake, because in the ample 

 grounds about their houses there is less temptation to it, but there is no city or 

 village of any size probably in the State, where you will not find more or less 

 instances in some degree such as I have described. Large open spaces should 

 be left immediately next the building; you don't want your house shaded nor 

 your windows sliut out. You want pleasant shade near by, but not on your 

 tlwelling, it is unpleasant to have it, and it is unhealthy. 



In your affiliation as agriculturists you have chosen from old song and story 

 some beautiful names to grace your organizations. You did not select them 

 from among interesting characters in holy writ, though there are many among 

 them that would have been well adapted. 



There was Martha, Avhoni witli her sister Mary, Jesus loved, and loved to 

 visit. Careful about many tilings, she would have been a good representative 

 personage for the divinity that should preside over all the cares and comforts of 

 the household and home. 



For a goddess of music tliere was Miriam or Deborah, whose grand anthems 

 will eclio through all tlie corridors of time. There was Ruth, al§o, who presents 

 one of the sweetest pictures among the sheaves, or on the threshing floor, that 

 ever poet imagined. Slie would have b^en admirable for the goddess of all tlie 

 harvest; but I suppose tlie real difficulty in selecting scriptural names resulted 

 from the fact that a natural fitness of things would have made it necessaiy, if 

 you resorted to biblical characters at all, that you should begin witli our sweet 

 mother Eve, most beautiful among all that have lived ; but unfortunately Eve 

 was not a pomological success, so you of the Grange had to resort to the beauti- 

 ful heathen mythology of the Greeks, and adopted Pomona, the charming 

 goddess of all the fruits, and Ceres, said by some to have been the mother of 

 all the earth, but generally regarded as the special protectress of the golden 

 grain. Then froui the same bright galaxy of immortals you selected Flora, 

 fair goddess of the flowers. 1 believe this completes the celestial choir whose 

 names I have seen invoked by the Grange or whose memory is cherished by the 

 appointment of representatives of them from among the fair daughters of our 

 rural associates and fellow laborers. 



Let me in all love and modesty propose that another illustrious name from 

 the same ancient group of divinities be added to your allegorical deities — Silvia, 

 goddess of the trees and the wood, and to whom all sylvan scenes are dedicated 

 and from her named. 



Let Silvia be announced and acknowledged with proper ceremonies, and as 

 you shall become devoted to her, evergreens and other trees will adorn your 

 dwellings and border and shelter all your fields. 



Permit me in closing this paper, which I fear has been rather a trespass 

 npon your time, to express my admiration of that feature in the progress of 

 the. age, which has led those who live by the orchard and the Grange to organ- 

 ize for the purpose of adding beauty and loveliness, as well as profit to agricul- 

 tural pursuits. At the marriage feast of sturdy labor and sweet good taste, I 



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