146 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



mostly of farmers, he told them how he used to be a farmer and 

 how much he knew about it, and finally he says; "Gentlemen, I 

 was raised between two corn rows"and a farmer spoke up; "By 

 thunder boys he's a pumpkin." I would also like to tell you 

 something about butter. I am reminded of another story of the 

 boy who was told when he went away from home it was good 

 form, if he saw something pleasing or especially nice, to say 

 something about it. This young man when he sat down to his 

 friend's table, saw that they had Shady Grove creamery butter 

 on the table. "That's pretty nice butter what there is of it." The 

 people at the table all looked at each other and it rather inclined 

 him to spread himself and he continued : "There is plenty of it, 

 such as it is." 



I have been asked to talk on this program because I occupy 

 the position of Mayor, and it sometimes gets a man into unpleas- 

 ant difficulties. If I am to talk that way, I have nothing to say 

 excepting to brag of the city and say all the nice things I can 

 about the city, not however, about its management. But the 

 first thing I will brag about, is our educational advantages, our 

 public schools which are unexcelled. They are as good as any 

 in the United States and under as good government and control. 

 We have a high school building which will soon be occupied that 

 is unexcelled in any town of this size in the state of Illinois. I 

 am sure of that because it is certainly a model. Our churches 

 are as good as there are in any other towns under just as good 

 management and have as good attendances. Our library, which 

 is a gift from one of our own citizens is splendid, and we are all 

 proud of it. We have a summer resort near us where we all 

 unite in making our Chautauqua a greater and grander success 

 than any of our neighboring cities. We must not leave out the 

 Illinois Central shops and all the business it brings here and 

 means to us, and whose superintendent is one of our number this 

 evening. We must not forget an industry that has been here 

 many years and which gives us many of the comforts in hot 

 weather which is our ice plant, and we are all proud that they 

 have added to their business the Clinton Creamery Company, 

 which bespeaks for itself a great future. We feel it stimulates 



