FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 607 



a woman's life when she leels her sphere oT usefulness is no longer con- 

 fined to the home circle, but is reaching out to those less favored than 

 herself. 



The institute is a wonderful developer of latent talents. I know the 

 gentlemen before me will smile when I say that women are backward 

 and slow of speech. When there is not a man present they appear 

 afraid to express an opinion; but after being members of the institute 

 for a little while this timidness disappears; then, in the words of Ed- 

 ward Everett Hale, it seems that ""it is' everybody's mission to ask ques- 

 tions, and then it is the mission of everyone to enjoy answering ques- 

 tions." 



The institute becomes a very bureau of information where every 

 phase of woman's work may be brought up and discussed. Many a wo- 

 man, after attending the institute and finding out how great the field of 

 learning is and what a small portion she has gleaned from it, reminds 

 one of the old lady who, when she had climbed for the first time to the 

 top of a big hiil in her vicinity, exclaimed, "Gracious me! I had no idea 

 the world was so big." 



Women learn to look on housekeeping no longer as mere drudgery, 

 but deem it a worthy life's work, demanding more skill and a wider 

 knowledge than any of the handicrafts or professions, such as dress- 

 making, nursing, teaching, etc. They find that to fill properly the place 

 of sister, wife or mother means at least a general knowledge of cook- 

 ing, sewing, marketing, sanitation, the treatment of simple ailments, 

 entertaining, and many other things. 



Almost every woman excels in some special line; and it is with 

 pleasure she imparts to her fellow-women through the medium of the 

 institute not only her successes, but also her failures, w^hich led up to 

 her present proficiency. In this way in an afternoon the busy woman 

 may gain, under pleasant conditions, a great deal more than much ex- 

 perience or many hours of reading might teach her. 



SYMPATHY AND EXCOURA(iEMEXT. 



I have left one of the most important features and missions of the 

 women's institute to the last namely, its social element. W^omen on 

 the farm, as a class, lead a busy, secluded, monotonous life. Their physi- 

 cal energies are more called into play than their mental faculties. This 

 tends to bodily fatigue, often accompanied with discontent, when not re- 

 lieved by having the mind occupied by pleasant thoughts and fresh in- 

 terests. There is truth in the saying, "Imagination shortens the hours 

 of labor and sweetens toil." The meeting together of the members of 

 the institute enlarges the heart, broadens the sympathies and opens the 

 eyes to see the good in others. The merry laugh drives^ away the head- 

 ache, and one's own troubles dwindle into insignificance when listening 

 to the deeper sorrows of another. 



The heart, like the body, needs nourishment, and many a lonely wom- 

 an by attending the institute finds there the kindly interest and sym- 

 pathy she has yearned for and long felt the need of. 



