158 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



address this noted organization on this auspicious occasion, your 

 thirtieth annual convention. I am not only deeply impressed 

 with this honor, but highly gratified at this opportunity of ex- 

 pressing to you who are here, and through you to this enterpris- 

 ing, progressive, resourceful and historic state, the greeting, the 

 highest appreciation and the deepest feeling of gratitude from 

 three million warm-hearted hospitable Missourians for what you 

 have shown them, and for the inspiration they have caught from 

 you, sufficient to encourage them in the developing of the greatest 

 resource in their own land, and the most interesting, elevating and 

 renumerative branch of agriculture in any county where condi- 

 tions are favorable. 



To me, this is not only a great state because of its history, 

 its resources and its people, but it is a hallowed spot and T. am 

 permitted to press my feet on its soil with mingled feeling of joy 

 and sadness, of satisfaction and disappointment, of tranquility 

 and turmoil, because it was here I saw consigned to their last 

 resting places the mortal remains of an indulgent father, and of 

 her who bore the sweetest name in the English language — 

 Mother, and although it does not seem long until a half a cen- 

 tury will have elapsed since I, almost unconsciously, followed her 

 to that sacred spot, and almost a quarter of a century since I laid 

 him, whose helpmate she was, by her side. The memory grows 

 greener, and with each succeeding year the spot seems more 

 sacred, and with the name of Illinois is associated hallowed mem- 

 ories and the most sacred recollections. 



With the utmost faith and most implicit confidence in the 

 business represented by our organization and the very deepest 

 heartfelt interest in its progress and the unlimited success of 

 those engaged in it, recognizing as I do the universal Fatherhood 

 of God and the brotherhood of man, it affords me pleasure to have 

 this opportunity of exchanging confidences, interchanging ideas 

 and bidding you God speed in your well directed efforts. You 

 have attained the high standard in your work, the world wide 

 reputation you enjoy and the satisfactory results from your labor 

 by following the precepts of the little girl, who, when she said 



