ILLINOIS STATE BEE-KEEPEES' ASSOCIATION. 183 



When we begin to can beans, we have the industry of canning — 

 but my friends, the poor old bee never quits its parents. The bee 

 belongs unto entymology; entymology is a familj^ of bugs; we study 

 June bugs, mosquitoes, bed bugs, flies — all the branches of insects which 

 hurt our plants and trees; all the wicked insects which hurt our crop; 

 in fact, the whole family of entymology has a rotten reputation, and 

 the family of insects is the biggest in the world; they say they found 

 196,000 different species, every one as bad as the other except two, 

 that is the silk worm, out of which we get our silks. Now this worm 

 has left his associates and the word has established the industry of 

 the silk production: it is a big industry now — but the poor old bee— r^ 

 she is still in the department of entymology. and she is handled in 

 just the same old wixy. And she belongs in entymology just as much 

 canned beans belong in botanj^ or butter belongs in zoology. 



Bee-keeping has grown away from the study of zoology and I 

 dare say that in the new era towards which we are coming we will 

 have to make an industry out of it just hke the dairy or canning in- 

 dustry; I do not believe you are ripe to take such a wonderful step 

 now: — but probably you may find it opportune to begin some of these 

 ideas now, and you may use them again in the future, and I do hope and 

 wish bee-keeping is going to be organized on the basis of a solid Amer- 

 ican industry. 



As soon as we begin to realize that bee-keeping is an industry we 

 will go into it as industrious people and begin to produce honey on an 

 industrial basis. 



Just like our boys over in Europe have made a record for them- 

 selves and have shown to the whole world the metal of which the 

 American spirit and character is made of — so the Europeans look 

 to us Americans for ideas and leadership in all branches of human 

 knowledge, and also they look to us for light and guidance in matters of 

 bee-keeping. 



Are we going to be true to our standard and reputation which the 

 nations of the world are giving us or are we going to be just fakers 

 pretending that we are great lights when in reality we know in the 

 secret of our hearts that we are not. 



I was surprised in Europe the last two summers, wherever I 

 was, what an admiration the Europeans have for everything that is 

 American. In the first place — for our boys. When they came over 

 to France they braced up the drooping spirit of the French and allies; 

 they came there with smiling faces and courage, and they joined the 

 army of the allies — and you know what they did — they broke the 

 German line — and how did they do it? Just with the "I Will" which 

 nature has put into the American people, by which they simply go 

 ahead — a "Will" which nothing in this world can stop' 



It is no secret at all with our army in France; that when we first 

 appeared in the front we had pity for those innocent boys; the French 

 gentlemen said, " I tis a crime to have those boys killed and slaughtered" 

 — and I heard in Paris, again and again, that the pohcy was to retreat; 

 they were ordered to step one step backward. They asked, "Why step 

 backward?" An American to take a step backward, never. It was 

 positive rebellion against the military rules. One of the boys said, 



