ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. ^ . ^ 



interested in the military drill, having occupied about every position in 

 the battalion from private to adjutant, and had, in the absence of the 

 commandant, during the Spanish- American war, had charge of the bat- 

 talion and taught military tactics.. Suddenly, he had two careers open 

 to him. If he chose the one, the government would see to it that he 

 suffered no real pecuniary need throughout his life time. His abilities 

 are such as reasonably to assure promotion. He might even hope to 

 occupy a position in the army second only to the President of the United 

 States. If he chose the other career, and at that moment there was no 

 immediate opportunity open to him, he must seek a career where there 

 was ever present the ever unpleasant duty of providing bread and meat. 

 He was up against (this is not slang) one of the great problems of life. 

 He, of course, sought advice, but I believe he decided finally for himself. 

 He does not lack in bravery and I do not believe he had any special sen- 

 timent concerning the agricultural life. He had chose the art of peace. 

 Did he choose wisely? It may bo of some significance to note here that 

 lie subsequently entered the govornment service, but it was in the De- 

 partment of Agriculture and not in the Department of VvT'ar. 



This then, shall be the theme for a brief time this afternoon — Does 

 the opportunity in Agriculture furnish a worthy career. I shall discuss 

 it in two aspects, viz., the character of the education, which a course 

 in agriculture offers, and the opportunity for one so educated. Nor is 

 the subject to be treated from the agreeableness of the occupation. The 

 l)eauty of sitting under your own vine and fig tree shall not enter into 

 this discussion. No one will claim that the occupation of the President 

 of the United States is a particularly pleasant one, but every man is 

 ready to admit, if not by word at least by deed, that the position is 

 worthy of the ambition of any American born citizen. Whether a man 

 likes to wade around in the mud in the pure air rather than to walk 

 on a carpet in the foul atmosphere (both literally and figuratively) 

 of a criminal court room, is largely a matter of personal preference. 

 It is a case of head vs. feet. I, each year, become more gratified that I 

 4id not choose the profession of law, because of personal dislike for 



