HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK 



ing of Home Demonstration Agents! He would have been 

 rejoiced and inspired by their reports of work accomplished 

 and with the prospects of further expansion and evolution of 

 their activities. But he had the vision in advance. He knew 

 what the demonstration principle would do when it reached 

 the average home. So many conversations and so many ex- 

 tracts from his speeches show what he anticipated. His pa- 

 tience was wonderful ! He must have wanted to see his great 

 system of education completed, although he was more than 

 75 years of age when the foundations of the Home Demonstra- 

 tion Work were laid. He was willing to build gradually and 

 steadily. 



Once upon a time, Dr. Knapp and one of his assistants 

 went to one of the states for a conference with the authorities 

 in regard to co-operation in promoting the work. They ar- 

 rived in the afternoon, paid their respects to the Governor 

 and other officials in the evening and then retired about mid- 

 night to the hotel where they had adjoining rooms. At six 

 o'clock the next morning Dr. Knapp was up, and coming into 

 the other man's room, this conversation ensued: '^Well, Pro- 

 fessor, how are yoii this morning f" **Not much, Doctor, I 

 feel somewhat stewed up.'* *'What is the trouble f said he. 

 ^'I am two hours short on sleep,'' said his assistant. ^^Take a 

 cold hath,^' said Dr. Knapp, ^^it will make up for two hours!" 

 Then he added: ^^ Professor, have you figured out just haw 

 things are going to happen today?" '^No," said the other 

 man, ''/ confess I have not." -^Well," said Dr. Knapp, ^^ymt 

 don't have to he a hrilliant mam to succeed in the world. All 

 you have to do is to think ahead of the crowd. ' * He then pro- 

 ceeded to outline the day's conference. He anticipated a dis- 

 agreement, told what position each man would take and then 

 gave his plan for harmonizing them. It happened that way 



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