214 ANNUAL REPORT 



President Elliot. Before we adjourn to the room below, I wish 

 to say that we have a gentleman with us that we have never met 

 before in our conventions and whom we would like to have come 

 forward so that we can give him a more formal introduction. I 

 refer to Prof. McLain. 



Prof. McLain then came forward and said: 



I don't know of anything to say to the members at the present 

 time. I have consented to talk to you this evening on the struct- 

 ure and business of keeping bees and have come prepared to do 

 so. I have not very much strength as I am just recovering from 

 la grippe, but I will endeavor to do the best I can, this evening. 

 I shall be pleased to meet you, each one, individually, and make 

 your acquaintance. 



THUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. 

 JANUARY 23, 1890. 

 After partaking of the excellent lunch which had been prepared 

 through the kindness of the ladies of Excelsior, the meeting was 

 called to order by President Elliot. 



President Elliot. We have with us to-day a few friends from 

 the farm school and I would like Dr. Perkins to say a few words 

 to them. , 



REMARKS BY DR. PERKINS, OF EXCELSIOR. 



Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen and boys: I say "boys" 

 advisedly, for the most endearing term of my life has been "boys", 

 comrades with whom I associated during the war, and who 

 stood shoulder to shoulder with me, and as I have formed 

 the acquaintance of those great men here to-day, I have been al- 

 most tempted to say "boys" to them. 



I was thinking a little while ago about the wonderful opportuni- 

 ties that the boys of this present age have, — the golden days of 

 youth. I can remember in my school days when the greatest 

 requirement of the school teacher sought by the committe was to 

 "whale," or in other words to hold school. They went on the 

 principle that there was no learning without "licking," and the 

 young man who graduated the best, at the close of the winter ses- 

 sion, was the young man who had vigor enough to put the school 

 teacher out of the window. My mind goes back to the old school 

 house where the boys smothered out the fire in the stove, and 

 where we whittled the ink-streaked desks. What little we did go 

 to school, we went under the spur and the whip, because there 

 was no such thing as sympathy then; and I have on my head to-day 



