State Bee-Keepers' Association. 21 



versation. Of course he had to tell about it at home, and years afterwards, 

 after both these man had yielded up their lives for the Union, mother would 

 tell it to us little folks, and how big we did feel, to think that father had 

 walked and lalked with Abe Lincoln. , 



"And a few years ago perhaps 30,000 people craned their necks and 

 spread their eyes, lined the windows and balconies, balanced themselves on 

 the picket fences; small boys, it is said, rode stick horses in their frantic 

 efforts to get up in the world, all to get a look at the illustrious Plumed 

 Knight on his western tour. A little clannishness in it perhaps. He was 

 their man — the hero of the hour . A 



"Now we bee-keepers think that a big bee man is a little the biggest per- 

 son in the world. We little fellows can go home now and tell the folks that 

 we have seen bigger elephants than Jim Blaine himself — aye, took them by 

 the hand and talked with them face to face. 



"A Sunday school superintendent once put this question to his school : 

 'Whom would you like most to see when you get to Heaven ?' One little 

 tod shouted 'Gerlier.' If such a question was put to us beekeepers we 

 would perhaps sing out 'Mrs. Harrison,' 'Mr. Newman,' or some other 

 worthy of our ranks. Seriously, there is something nobler involved than all 

 this. I have used the word clannishness, but I do not mean the more oft'en- 

 sive type of clannishness. It is something loftier, profounder than that- --a 

 kinship of spirit, prompted by kinship of occupation. 



"One day last summer I was attracted by the sound of drum and fife to 

 Revere House, to find it was the occasion of the reunion of a regiment of 

 soldiers. I took the badge of one in my hand and read '73rd Reg. 111. \'ol. 

 Inf.' That was my father's regiment, I said. With a kindly remark the 

 old soldier grasped my hand and gave it a warm shake. You understand 

 the feeling that thus went out toward even the son of a veteran . It is a 

 spirit akin to this that bee-keepers possess for one another. A kinship, not 

 sanctified, perhaps, by the toils of campaigning to dangers of battle or even 

 the sacredness of cause, yet one consecrated by the pursuit by which alike 

 we obtain our bread and butter. 



"It is a feeling that wells up and flows out when bee-man meets bee-man 

 — a chord of sympathy that vibrates at the slightest touch. 



"Yes, we are glad you are here. We trust you are glad to be here. W^e 

 hope you will enjoy yourselves. We hope we may all have a mutually 

 pleasant and profitable time, and all go home feeling benefitted and happy. " 



Response by Mrs . L. Harrison, of Peoria. 

 "Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen — Our thanks are due to the 

 gentlemen who has with kindly words and happy phrase welcomed us here 

 today, and to the good and hospitable people of Springfield, the beautiful 

 Capital City of our Empire State of the West — grand old Illinois. 



