1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 283 



farm homes, or that such harsh features and dark lines are 

 inevitable accompaniments of farm life. Their existence 

 may not be denied, but the necessity for them is denied. 

 But, if they do exist, and are not necessary, they ought to 

 be removed ; for, in themselves and in tkeir effects, they are 

 evil and hurtful. Not only do they sorely limit and mar the 

 lives into which they intrude themselves, but they cripple 

 the powers which should be used in the service of the public, 

 and thus the evil comes home to everyone. This condition 

 of things amounts to a disease in the social organism ; and, 

 medically speaking, association is the remedy indicated. 



For the work we have to do, we need an association com- 

 bining the elements of permanence, strength and flexibility. 

 It must be permanent, for the dangers against which we 

 would guard are permanent in their nature. It must be 

 strong, for the work to be done is both great and difficult. 

 It should be flexible, for it must work under widely varying 

 conditions, and be operated by persons of every shade of 

 temperament and every grade of ability, and of the widest 

 possible range of differing opinion. To every one of these 

 it must present some attraction, to draw him within its en- 

 closure ; some tie to bind him there, some stimulus to make 

 him work, and results which will compensate him for all his 

 expenditure. 



Is there in existence any association which proposes to do 

 the work thus outlined, which confronts these evils with 

 power of resistance and machinery of conquest, which finds 

 large acceptance with those whom it proposes to aid, and 

 which brings in its hands the fruits of its work to accredit 

 its claim to attention? If there be such an organization, 

 bringing good credentials, every farmer should give it audi- 

 ence. If its credentials are sufficient to establish its ability 

 to do the work we need to have done, then every farmer 

 should welcome its coming, as hard-pressed soldiers on the 

 field of battle welcome the coming of a strong reinforcing 

 column. And I think such an association should receive a 

 kindly welcome from good people in every walk of life. It 

 is not for the advantage of any one that farm life be emptied 

 of brightness and made repulsive to those whose tastes would 

 naturally lead them to adopt it, and whose ability and enter- 



