472 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



where. A nice looking boy sat on one side of him and a girl 

 on the other. Prof. Mayne says he is one of the best students. 

 I said the Ethiopian cannot change his skin, but there is a 

 chance for the Ethiopian to establish a good character in the 

 world. A man doesn't amount to much unless he has character. 

 Some of the worst scoundrels that were turned out in the last 

 ten years were men with a good education, but they lacked 

 character. 



You have the largest horticultural society in the United 

 States. Our friend Blair gave you some nice compliments. I 

 always like to hear him compliment anybody, and I like to 

 hear him speak anyway, that Scotch sounds so pleasant when 

 he says he was "oot" there. I have always liked Prof. Blair 

 since I first met him. You have several things in this state that 

 are the best. It has just been decided, and that without argu- 

 ment too, that Minnesota has the best state fair in the United 

 States. Minnesota cleared $75,000, while the next best state 

 cleared only $30,000. Wisconsin, where Kellogg and I live, 

 and where we take away all the money we can in premiums, 

 cleared only $15,000. Another thing you have to be thankful 

 for. The Indians came out here from Carlisle and beat you at 

 football. That is all right, too. The Indians were here before 

 the white men came. The United States has taken care of them 

 and is trying to educate them like white men, and the Indians 

 said, as I say here, "You Minnesota people are all right, you 

 are the best people we have ever seen, but you can't play foot- 

 ball." I think I have said about all you will stand, and I am 

 just going to say that I thank you for your kindness. (Ap- 

 plause.) 



The President : The program says the president shall make 

 some sort of closing remarks. I don't think it is at all neces- 

 sary, and I am going to call on the secretary. 



Secretary Latham : I would like to ask members of the 

 horticultural society who were members in 1867 to stand up. 

 (One rose.) Just one ! You can realize a little how I feel in 

 regard to the horticultural society when you see my brother 

 here, the lone representative besides myself of the society as it 

 was in 1867. There are a few others alive that were then members 

 of the society, but not many, and since I have been secretary, 

 fifteen years, the roll of those who have gone to their reward 

 has been constantly growing, and it is always in a sense a sad 

 one to me, because I have had to do with the workers of the 

 society who have helped to make it so successful. There is 

 another thought that comes to me as I look upon the faces 

 that are more or less familiar to me here, and that is that in 

 the large and growing membership of this society there is still 

 room for advancement. I presume no other member of the 



