106 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Well, my friends, the story goes, the man died ; the woman followed 

 him ; the children were scattered ; a tramp set the house on fire and 

 it burned down to the ground ; what was once a home was only 

 the dwelling place of wild beasts. I want to know why it is that 

 the only spot which was left to show there was a home there, were 

 the lilacs ; I want to ask you why the man 's work was blotted out — 

 we know not what he did with the labor of his hands — and the 

 only thing that is left is the work of the weak, hopeful woman who 

 planted the lilacs at the front door. I will tell you why they are 

 left. It is because they stood for the spiritual side of the home ; 

 they stand as those things always do, for the hunger and thirst of 

 the human heart, the hunger and thirst of the human soul, which 

 will not be satisfied, and I say, thank God, can not be satisfied 

 with the mere labor of the hands, but goes on striving, it may be 

 hopelessly, for these things, eternal in Heaven. Think of that my 

 friend and brother, that the silent work of women folks in the 

 home will live, and live through all history, after your proud work 

 of the soil may be done. 



Gentlemen, again I thank you. 



The President: We will now stand adjourned until 8 o'clock 

 this evening, at which hour a joint meeting with the Corn Belt 

 Meat Producers' Association will be held at the Y. M. C. A. Hall, 

 where Hon. A. B. Stickney will deliver an address on the subject 

 of "Railway Freight Rates." 



