THE FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE INSTITUTE. 27 



Such influence as emanates from an institution of the 

 character of yours promotes an instinctive desire for, and 

 a respect towards, law and order in any community. 



The history and heredity of our people must be made 

 the most of; such characteristics as are found in the 

 history and historic things of Essex County, are truly 

 capital to any locality ; and are as essential to the best 

 results, as is a sound and golden rule of value. 



The influence of such collections and library as you 

 have, and seek to accumulate, here in Salem, is by no 

 means confined to Essex County, nor to this historic State 

 of Massachusetts ; you have been leaders, in your line, 

 at the largest exhibition of this country at Chicago, in 

 the interest of both State and Nation, and thereby set a 

 standard before the public that carried your name and 

 fame beyond the bounds of this Nation. 



Our eastern coast boasts of more accumulated history 

 than elsewhere in our Nation ; and the children, who have 

 gone from us, west and south, are proud of that history 

 because it is theirs also. 



Besides collecting our relics in-doors, let us be the 

 medium of preserving relics out-of-doors. 



So far as is possible, and besides some interesting houses 

 in old Salem Village, let spots in nature's landscape, that 

 mark the life of men and women who have lived to help 

 us by their wisdom and example, be preserved to continue 

 to help us by a bright remembrance of the lives there lived ; 

 as, Mr. Eliot, you have done in Cambridge at the Long- 

 fellow home, and are trying to do at the James Russell 

 Lowell estate. A like work has been accomplished at the 

 early home of Whittier, and in some other Essex County 

 spots. 



May you also promote the preservation of spots now 

 beautiful from what nature has made of them ; and may 



