ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
59 
ment. Like begets like, and the advance is from good to 
better—not from bad to best! You must have all the inert 
materials which compose living bodies, and then the fullest 
application of the “ vital forcesdeep soil and well pulverized 
for plants, and generous food and shelter for animals. It’s 
not the true policy to get the worst breeds of animals, and then 
shelter them on “ the south side of a snow-bank,” and feed on 
“oat chaff!” That is the true art of sinking ! Get the best 
breeds and the best seeds, and keep both in good growing 
order. Any strain upon the vital energies of plants or ani¬ 
mals is ever to be avoided. Thus not in the frozen regions, 
where cold pinches, nor in warm climates where heat enervates, 
do we find the highest types of animal development and beau¬ 
ty ; but in the temperate zones, the freedom from extreme s 
allows the highest development. But herein is man blest above 
all other animals, that he is an operative. The little quail 
comes into the world clothed against the inclemencies of the 
season, with one beautiful covering ; and with instinct at once 
escapes its enemies. Of all animals man is born most nude, 
and most helpless, for long years of infancy ! But by his 
intelligence and operative powers he masters the masters of the 
forest, and with such textures enrobes himself, that the Lilly of 
valley is not clothed like he ! The quail has but one covering, 
but behold the infinite variety of human habiliments—see his 
palaces—his statues—his paintings—his landscapes—his ever- 
widening development of all natural surroundings? The green 
earth, the boundless sea, the infinite heavens are his resting 
place and home. To this operative power—to labor, does he 
owe his capability of accommodating himself to almost any 
climate. To work also is owing his highest development. So 
not in the so-called highest class, where indolence, ennui, vain 
ambitions and wasting cares, enervate, must we seek the true 
types of humanity ; nor among the lower strata, where igno¬ 
rance and crime, and the abuse of all the laws of health— 
where the use of mean tobacco, and meaner whisky, debase the 
human form—but in the middle classes , where frugality, indus- 
