46 ANNUAL REPORT. 
generosity-had taken upon herself to educate in the place of him, the once ais 
fond father, who now rests in hallowed memory beneath a soldier’s tomb. 
Within its walls system and order reigned supreme; whether in the assem- 
bly or class room, each one seemed to know his place and work, and all went. 
on as if by some magic rule or mechanism; it seemed as if a wink or nod 
was understood and with alacrity obeyed, so perfect was the discipline in 
all its parts; and I felt proud, that these young men and women were to be 
the future instructors of our children. But when I looked around I thought 
that something might be lacking still to fit them out, and make them all that 
we could wish. The grounds are not enclosed, the lawn was but a public 
square where cows do congregate, without a tree to shade, a plant or shrub 
to beautify, not even a plat of grass to hide the face of mother earth from 
view. And this is but one example of the whole. Thought I, the pride of 
this great State lies not in this direction. And what have you better here 
to adorn this temple of learning, except a few majestic oaks that nature’s 
hand had planted there in her great park, long before the foundation stones 
of this building were removed from the silent quarry? 
Not only have the grounds around our public institutions of learning been 
neglected, but the wheels of education itself are now clogged for want of 
the usual and necessary appropriations. Shall we excuse the State? We 
might as well, it was no free act of hers that did it, but it was done through 
the neglect of servants. Let the State once educate her children up to a 
proper standard, and then our representatives would not dare hold back the 
means as they now do, seeming so willing, yet so slow, for if they then re-. 
fused to act, it would be well they should know if there is a power behind the 
throne, and we hold the lever in our hands. 
If once the grounds about our State institutions of learning were made 
what they should be, how soon would the example be followed and carried _ 
out by all the other institutions, even down to the common schools in every 
district of the State, and how much better could the cause of education be 
maintained where knowledge and beauty are combined. Let us elevate our 
standards high, and cultivate and educate to all that is noble, pure and 
good. 
If you have no room for trees and shrubs, then let us plant our plat of 
ground ir flowers. I would strew them around with aliberal hand. I would 
plant beside the humblest cottage of the poor as well as the stately mansion 
of the rich, in all our cemeteries and public grounds, about our charitable and 
benevolent institutions, and especially would I plant them purposely at the 
reform school, to improve the hearts of those little novices in crime, and I 
would even plant them where they could be seen from within the prison 
walls. 
But some will ask, what benefit have we in the cultivation of flowers? 
I answer, muchevery way, socially, morally, and intellectually. Flowers 
portray the poetry of the heart; they educate to neatness and propriety, 
and elevate the mind above the common things of earth. Flowers always 
teach the language of love, and we would not enjoy them alone if we could, 
we would distribute them among our friends while living, and weave them 
into wreaths and immortelles to place upon their caskets when the last fare- 
well was said; we would also make them into bouquets to place as incense 
upon the altars of our devotions, and especially would we give them to the 
poor to gladden their hearts, and also as mementoes of affection to place 
