386 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the soul. It not only does not conflict with religion, but 

 it is one of its great demands. I cannot help thinking that 

 many Christian people have a wrong standard of judgment 

 in reference to this great subject, else we should not see 

 such egregious mistakes in moral measurement. 

 Dr. Hill aptly said, in a recent poem : — 



" The body is the servant of the soul ; 

 We want it strong, Ave want it in control : 

 To both which ends these healthful plays will tend, 

 What gi'eater reason need their use defend." 



Dr. Bellows said : " For my part (I say it with all solem- 

 nity) , I have become sincerely suspicious of the piety of 

 those who do not love pleasure in any form. I cannot trust 

 the man who does not laugh." Let us who are older en- 

 courage the 3'oung to meet for social joys and mental 

 growth, — combining pleasure with improvement, joy with 

 groAvth ; and to guide them, and to help them too, let us 

 join them in their enjoyments, to give them right direction, a 

 healthful impetus and an elevating result. All this not for 

 amusement sake, but for recreation and strength, as sec- 

 ondary to some noble purpose in life, worthy of their best 

 thought ; they arc free, but in a wise way, for we have other 

 business on hand. "Life is real, life is earnest" ; and 

 only the earnest ones secure its prizes. Therefore, never 

 allow them to dominate the life. 



Again, the materialism of the age is drawing away from 

 the quiet yet strong influence of home. Too many homes 

 nre now demoralized in their teachings ; the lesson taught 

 is that it is the main thing to get money, to improve our 

 condition, and to get on in the world. This is called suc- 

 cess — to be rich, to wear fine clothing, and to fare sumptu- 

 ously ever^' da}^, without manual labor and without toil. 

 But parents who are educating their children in this way are 

 leading them by a perilous path. Some few succeed, but 

 the way is beset and full of pitfalls ; and with so many it 

 all ends in failure. To them, life loses its zest; enervating 

 disappointment unmans them, and they plod along the re- 

 mainder of the way with weary feet to the end. 



Not such the object and end of life. What we call success 



