77 



compensation works in nature. Whatever nature destroys as 

 not being wanted by one class of plants is exactly suited to 

 another class, so that nothing is thrown away. 



We inspire the air in breathing. We expire moisture, 

 mostly water and carbonic acid gas. Now, what does the tree 

 require? By its leaves it inhales air. It must have the carbon. 

 What does it expire? Oxygen! and see here how beautifully 

 nature compensates one with another. We want the oxygen, 

 we must have it, the plant wants the carbon and it gets the car- 

 bon that we are constantly expiring; takes it up and utilizes it 

 in the plant and plants give to it again the oxygen that we 

 absolutely need. Could you have any more beautiful illustra- 

 tion of the economy of nature? 



One of the most wonderful things in the world under the 

 microscope is a minute drop of water teeming with its minute 

 life, and still more beautiful is a crystal of water when it freezes 

 and takes a solid shape. Water is a solid, water is a liquid, water 

 is vapor, and water is gas, and more beautiful than in any other 

 state when it becomes a solid. There are scientific people who 

 say that the time will come upon this earth when there shall be 

 no water upon the surface. I do not think that it will come 

 either in your time or mine, nor for a good many generations 

 that shall come after us. If such time ever does come the God 

 of nature will have prepared the earth's inhabitants to exist 

 under the changed conditions, and since so far each succeeding 

 generation has been superior to the preceding, it is a fair pre- 

 sumption that in the eons yet to come that man will be brought 

 nearer and nearer to the Creator. 



The following committee on butter was appointed by the 

 president : 



D. C. Woolverton, Belvidere; W. H. Hintze, Elgin; Robert 

 Harley, Lanark. 



Music — Double duet — Misses Melendy, Wildie, Blake and 

 Becker. 



The convention adjourned to meet again at nine o'clock a. 

 m. the next morning. 



