l68 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Swedes, Russians and Irish, Scotch and Swiss all went wild with 

 enthusiasm as each listened to the music that reminded them of 

 their nativity. Finally, at least one-half of that immense aud- 

 ience which could almost be calculated by the acre, rose to their 

 feet and shouted until they were hoarse when they heard ''My 

 Country 'Tis of Thee, America," the National Hymn of the land 

 of the free and the home of the brave, the greatest nation on 

 earth, the native home of nearly half that crowd, and the adopt- 

 ed home of a large proportion of the rest. 



The climax had not been reached, the flood gates of en- 

 thusiasm had not yet been opened, pandemonium did not reign 

 supreme until a band began to play "Home Sweet Home," the 

 rest all joined. Everybody rose and sang and 50,000 people 

 joined in singing of the one spot sacred to them ; of the one spot 

 more to be prized than all others; of the one spot that knows no 

 country; no nationality, no creed, no sect; the one spot that 

 occupies the same place in the hearts of the civilized world; of 

 the one spot in which everybody from every direction had a com- 

 mon interest. Home — what a wonderful word, and I am im- 

 pressed that there are none to whom it appeals so strong and 

 means so much as to the occupant of the home on the farm. 



These are the people who played a conspicuous part in that 

 wonderful war. They ploughed the ground and harrowed the 

 field and cultivated the soil and raised the grain and fed the 

 stock and protected our homes, and took care of our mothers 

 and sisters and wives and children and sweethearts, and they 

 quietly and persistently discharged their duty without excitement. 

 No martial music there, no hurrah, no demonstration. In some 

 instances they were even slandered for not fighting. Shall we 

 forget these, the bravest of them all? Never, and it is of these 

 we would talk. It is for these this meeting is held. It is sub- 

 jects that interest them that we are here to discuss. 



While in my very meagre and hurried preparation for this 

 occasion, I have not overlooked that question that interests me 

 more than any other and that I am always glad to discuss^ 

 some phases of dairying. I am desirious of impressing you with 



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