FARMERS WEEK IN AGRICUI.TURAL COLLEGE. 43 



is not only the basis of the wealth of our nation in a large measure 

 (especially of the middle west), but you are engaged in an occupation 

 that is now and is to be for many, many years the preserver of the purity 

 of our lives, of our morals, the preserver of our religion, the preserver 

 of this republic. 



It is one of the bad signs, one of the dangerous signs of the age, 

 to see that our population is gradually drifting away from the farm 

 into the towns and cities. The family from the farm that goes into the 

 city is swallowed up and disappears completely in three years — statis- 

 tics show that — they are swallowed up and wiped off the face of the 

 earth as completely as if the earth had opened wide its gaping mouth 

 and swallowed them up ; but in the country these families endure from 

 generation to generation. Now, I hope each one of you will recognize 

 as never before the importance of your occupation to this country not 

 only in a material way, but from a moral standpoint ; and I am sure 

 that when you do recognize this you will be conscious that you are en- 

 gaged in a calling which is not surpassed in dignity, which is not sur- 

 passed in worth, which is not surpassed in value by any occupation in 

 which man is engaged from one end of this mighty land down to the 

 other. It is for this reason — not only because you are engaged in an 

 occupation that forms the basis of our wealth, but that you are en- 

 gaged in an ocupation that means as well the preserving of the purity 

 of our lives — it is for this reason that I am glad to welcome you to 

 this institution of learning, which has been founded here for that very 

 purpose by the people of this State. We are all co-laborers, and as 

 such we welcome you to this University. 



In the name of the faculty and the students of the University of 

 Missouri, I extend to you a most cordial welcome. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOiME. 



(Dr. H. J. Waters, Dean Agricultural Oollege.) 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



You will observe by the program that you are to be welcomed here 

 by a number of different people, and on behalf of a number of differ- 

 ent classes of people or constituents, and this I take it is because every- 

 body in this community and everybody in this State wants every man 

 or woman who attends this convention to feel absolutely at home here 

 and, as has been pointed out by the President of the University, you 

 are meeting in your own house, in your own building — you are in fact 



