FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 165 



tributing seeds and seed grain; in selecting and killing animals and distributing the 

 meat for family use; in gathering and selling perishable fruits in their season; in 

 raising and feeding animals for export trade; in shipping wool, grain, and other 

 produce to the best markets. In each one and all of these plans there is room for 

 from ten to thirty farmers in every locality. More than that, the benefits will not 

 end in buying and selling. True co-operation will bring a better understanding of 

 our relationship to each other, and to all, and we will become better farmers, better 

 men. and better citizens. 



As individuals, we can learn to cooperate; and in this line I will urge you to co- 

 operate with your home merchant, but not by having your name placed on his books 

 as debtor. Remember that the cash buyer can discount your credit 15 per cent and 

 win every time. Pay as you go. If you do so, and have a crop slow of sale, the 

 merchant and his wholesale house in the city can help you to find a market. This 

 has been proved. 



Learn to co-operate with the consumer. The consumer pays the best price for 

 what you sell and the highest price is what you want. To get that highest price, 

 you must first learn to give a good article, nicely handled, and faithfully de- 

 livered. Such co-operatioii is a pleasure to the buyer and a profit to you. 



SELF-RELIANCE. 



MRS P. C. GOLDIE, Tawas City, at WOMEN'S SECTION, IOSCO COUNTY Institute, 



Tawas City. 



This is a characteristic that at one time was thought to be the sole prerogative 

 of man. And a womanly woman was the one dependent upon the opposite sex 

 for subsistence, counsel and support. 



There has been a long and progressive stride in the self-reliance of women. No 

 longer do they cling like the ivy, fastening their tender though harrassing tendrils 

 upon the affections and aspirations of men, but growing together as God intended 

 them to do, man and woman become the nucleus from which the most beautiful 

 life of earth springs up everywhere ovef this fair land of ours. 



One is sometimes tempted to deplore the absence of the good old days of chivalry, 

 when knights were so plentiful, and Dulcineas were waiting to be liberated by 

 some Don Quixote, but the very self-reliance of women ihas made this unnecessary. 



One can see no particular virtue in a woman having to wait on the pleasure 

 or caprice of the male sex for the doing of almost anything about the home. 

 Intleed, we have known v»-omen who claiiued to be able to put up stoves, shake 

 carpets, harness a horse, and the thousand and one other things if need be that liave 

 heretofore been considered only work for men. I do not say that women yearn to 

 do these things, but if necessity arises, the self-reliant woman does not hesitate 

 to do her best under all circumstances. 



TO BE SELF-RELIANT IS TO BE SELF-RESPECTING 



for with every difiiculty overcome, there comes with it a sort of exultation that 

 sends the healthy blood' buoyantly through our bodies, so that Ave feel a disregard 

 for whatever impediment lies before us, and with confidence take hold of the next 

 duty with courage and zeal, knowing that we can do whatever God places before us. 



We have only to look about us to see how many self-reliant women there are. 

 Widows with little families dependent upon them, who are bravely fighting the 

 battle of life for themselves and their dear ones; delicate women they are, too, 

 many of them, but with brave hearts and strong minds they do their best, and by 

 their self-reliance surely deserve the respect of every citizen and the love and 

 lasting devotion of their children. 



The woman who is not a widow, but either on account of the sickness, laziness, 

 or infidelity of the husband and father has the position of wage-earner forced upon 

 her, deserves our commiseration and respect also. If the husband is sick and un- 

 able to do his part, we know how the true and loving wife will be glad to bravely 

 put lier shoulder to the wheel, and with busy hands and loving heart she keeps 

 a cheerful face, so the sick one may feel neither care nor want. If the husband is 

 shiftless and lazy, God pity her! No loving thoughts move her then, but plodding 



