82 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



^"Tlie richest of the commonwealth 



Are free, strong minds and hearts of health. 



And more to her than gold or grain 



The cunning hand, the cultured brain." 



Upon the success of such depends the present and future 

 pi'osperity of our nation; and any condition of society or 

 government that tends to bind or lessen the chances for pros- 

 perity to this class of citizens by other than natural causes, 

 undermines the foundation of our free government. 



I will think over the people of the farming communities 

 where I have lived and those of them who have been finan- 

 cially successful, and you may think over those of your 

 acquaintance. I know we will agree that the success was due 

 to mutual ability and helpfulness of farmers and their wives. 

 The scales about balancing with the dowm weight in favor 

 of the farmers' wives. 



My mother's work on the farm comes to my mind forcibly 

 as an example of how woman is a business partner with her 

 husband in farming. She and my father began life in the old- 

 fashioned way, i)lanning as they went. Besides doing or look- 

 ing after the thousand and one things incident to a growing 

 household, she managed the dairy, poultry and garden. The 

 family table was supplied with the products of these and the 

 surplus exchanged for groceries and clothing for the family." 

 All indoor work was arranged to meet the needs of outdoor 

 work. If my father wanted dinner earlier for some reason 

 on wash day or any other day, it was ready. If there were 

 men for extra work on the farm, as was often the case, she pre- 

 pared wholesome food for them and beds for them to sleep on. 

 All business matters were discussed. She seemed ready for 

 every emergency, often without efficient help in the house. 

 All this time she had the greater share, as mothers generally 

 do, in looking after the temporal and spiritual wants of a 

 large family of children. She worked in this way, not because 

 my father demanded it or asked it, or even expected it, for 

 her welfare was ever at his heart, but because her aim was the 

 same as his — they lived for a common purpose. It was their 

 home, with its growing comforts, to be made secure. It was 

 their children to be fed, clothed and educated; it was their 

 old age that must be free from want, if possible; no interest of 



