52 State Horticultural Society. 



between an optimist and a pessimist, in my opinion, is that one can make 

 a speech under the influence of hot cofl:ee, while the other needs the 

 inspiration of a "cold bottle." But according to another authority, an, 

 optimist is a man who builds air-castles, and like the American eagle, 

 soars among the clouds; the out-stretched wings of his imagination fill 

 the sky, and in Missouri he regards himself the intellectual crown of 

 the universe. 



The pessimist, on the other hand, is said to be a man of a conserva- 

 tive temperament who deals in facts and figures, and, like the frugal hen 

 that scratches the earth for worms and insects in order to lay more eggs, 

 he is after apple growers to increase his bank account, always has an 

 eye for business and takes no stock in sentiment. 



But Mr. President, I do not wish that this explanation of the dif- 

 ference between the optimist and the pessimist be considered as a com- 

 pliment to the apple grower nor as a reflection on the apple shipper. And 

 yet it is true that the apple grower is the best man of the two, because 

 he plants the apple trees. And in poetical language, 



"What does he plant, who plants the apple tree ? 



' 'He plants cool shade and tender rain, 



"And seed and bud of days to be, 



' 'And years that fade and flush again, 



' 'He plants the glory of the plain, 



"He plants the people's heritage, 



' • The harvest of the comin g age, 



"The joy that unborn eyes shall see, 



'•These things he plants, who plants the apple tree." 



Yes, it is true that the apple grower is the best man of the two 

 because he is engaged in the divine calling of horticulture, while the 

 apple shipper is employed in the wicked avocation of commercialism. 

 The very existence of the apple shipper is dependent on the apple grower. 

 Without an apple grower, there could be no apple shipper, and the latter 

 would be compelled to go into some other business to make a living for 

 himself and take care of his poor relations. 



The apple grower is a proud man, superior to the ordinary man 

 who tills the soil, and if any dude apple shipper from the city doubts my 

 assertion, just let him call him a clod-hopper or a mudsill, and then 

 see what he will do to him. 



The apple grower, especially if he hails from Missouri, is regarded 

 by the best people everywhere, as a messenger of peace, joy and good 

 will. The angels of heaven are supposed to hover around him, to guard 

 and watch over him, and to inspire him with beautiful sentiments and 

 thoughts of poetry and song. In the language of another: 



"He who would worthily speak of a Missouri apple grower should 

 be inspired by a muse of fire that should ascend the brightest heaven 



