FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 47 



and in the farm-home? I am sorrj that we must accept as true the 

 statement, ^'Wasted opportunities are responsible for many dismal fail- 

 ures in life," Oh^ the wonderful opportunities for growth and advance- 

 ment in these days. As I stood upon the Centennial grounds at Phila- 

 delphia in 1876 endeaA^oriug to com])rehend, to some extent at least, my 

 surroundings, having just held a conversation with an aged Marylander— 

 John Scotti. by name — who, seated in front of the Maryland state build- 

 ing, had related to me how^^, as an engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio rail- 

 way, one of the first built upon this continent, his train had drawn and 

 distributed the material for Professor Morse's first telegraph; and also 

 having read, upon those grounds, this notice to the public, "Telegrams 

 sent to any part of the world" — under the oceans and over the mountains, 

 would the messages be carried, and such progress made in this direction, 

 and all within the bounds of the matured years of one man's life-time — 

 John Scotti had seen it all — and I asked of myself this question, "Is it 

 possible for the succeeding century to show as great progress in the 

 development of the arts and sciences and material things as is shown by 

 the century now closing?" And I could give but this one answer to my 

 question, "No, it is not possible." 



But a visit to the great Columbian exposition of '93 — less than a quar- 

 ter of a century having passed — convinced me that a wrong answer had 

 been given to my question of '76, and that the century succeeding 

 America's Centennial will show e(]ual, if not greater, advancement and 

 profitable growth than was shown by the century preceding it. And we 



FARMERS MAY HAVE A GENEROUS SHARE 



of this growth, which is taking place,, during these bright, closing days 

 of the brightest of the centuries. If we fail to secure this, 'tis but a 

 "Wasted Opportunity." 



There is another line of benefits which come, because of farm-life. It is 

 the benefits of farmers' organizations. The oldest of these, the Grange, 

 has, for more than a quarter of a century, been doing its good work along 

 lines of usefulness and helpfulness. Another one is the Farmers' Club, 

 and though of more recent origin, it also is doing grand work for the 

 farmer and especially for the farm-home. 



The institute also finds its proper place and work, and the trio offer 

 opportunities which every farm-home should find or make possible to 

 enjoy. 



Every properly desirable object has its "price-mark," and may become 

 ours; provided that we are willing to pay the price and, as a general rule, 

 we prize most that which costs us most. Are we willing to pay the price 

 and thereby come into possession of all good which lies within the range 

 of the possibilities of farm-life? 



There is one principal feature of this subject that I would impress, 

 especially upon your minds. It is that of the importance of seeking to 



MAKE THE HOME HOME-LIKE. 



When riding through the country occasionally a habitation is seen, which 

 resembles a "block-house" in so far as any adornment is concerned, and 

 evidently a dreary place in winter and a comfortless place in the heat of 

 summer, and from such a place one cannot wonder that the children are 



