HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 215 



the scar of a cut caused by the teacher throwing a ruler at another 

 boy which struck me. I was over near the University the other 

 day and called at the home of one of the students, and when Willie 

 came in he went over into the corner and sitting down began tap- 

 ping on a little instrument and in a moment his tap was responded 

 to. I found that he had a Morse telegraph instrument and was 

 talking to one of his comrades in another part of the city. I men- 

 tion this merely, as an illustration of the opportunities of the time 

 in which you live. You are naturally bound to absorb learning as 

 it is introduced to you to-day. I say you are living in golden days 

 and have golden opportunities. You boys, surrounded by these 

 opportunities, ought to do ten times as much as the men have done 

 who today are old men, and I believe you can do it with less labor 

 I believe as I visit the schools which are so comfortably heated, 

 with ventilation perfect and the air as fresh in the schoolroom as 

 it is out of doors, and think of the opportunities and surroundings 

 you have, that much must be expected of you because much is 

 given unto you. Many of the men here have obtained whatever 

 schooling they have got amid doubt and trouble; they have had to 

 work for a living and they have had to study out this system of 

 horticulture by hard knocks. You have heard to-day the results 

 of green houses, etc , but these men have had this experience all 

 to make and the rich experience they have had is laid before you. 

 I say to you "God bless you." Set your standard as much 

 higher than your father's as your father's was than theirs, and I 

 will close by saying as the old Indian did to some students he was 

 addressing "Go on, go on, go on." (Applause.) 



The President then called on Col. J. H. Stevens to say a few 

 words. 



REKARKS BY COL. J. H. STEVENS. 



I don't know as I can add anything to what has been 

 said by Dr. Perkins. The whole State is watching you with 

 much interest as you are among the first that have ever attended a 

 school of this kind. In a few years mere you are going to take 

 our places here and I have no doubt that with the chances and 

 opportunities you have, you will conduct the matters of life in a 

 much better manner than we have been able to do. (Applause.) 



REMARKS BY WM. SOMERVILLE, OF VIOLA. 



I truly feel incapable of saying anything of interest before 

 such an intelligent company of young men as I see here 

 before me today. Having had myself only the advantages 

 of some thirteen days' schooling in my life you could 

 not expect that I had very many of the advantages of 



