Hence we infer: Intelligence brings happiness, wealth and refinement; ignorance is the positive cause of misery, wretchedness and crime. The correctness of these propositions is obvious, and can easily be shown from reasoning, from history, and from experience. Simply a comparison of the savage that roams through the forest with the enlightened inhabitant of a civilized country, would be a brief but impressive representation of the blessings resulting from intelligence.

The evils of ignorance are not few in number nor small in magnitude. The whole history of the word justifies the statement that an ignorant and uncultivated mind is prone to sensuality and cruelty. In what countries, may I ask, are the people most given to the lowest forms of animal gratification, and most regardless of human life and happiness? Is it not in pagan lands, where moral and mental darkness broods, and where degraded humanity is vile and cruel, without shame and remorse? Then as we pass to civilized countries we find the different nations virtuous, prosperous and progressing, wretchedness and crime diminished, and the arts of peace cultivated in direct proportion to the general intelligence of the people.

It is with feelings of genuine pleasure that we behold the mighty and mysterious changes that have taken place as the centuries have rolled on. In a grand survey of the changed and changing conditions of man, perhaps none is more remarkable than the relatively recent improvements of those arts by which human life is sustained, and human existence is comforted, elevated and embellished. It is a remarkable fact that astronomy, sculpture, poetry and oratory had made great progress hundreds of years before the era of the "useful" arts. In fact, the era of discovery and invention has just begun. Who were the Edisons of former generations? Why should the discovery and application of scientific principles be the latest achievements of the human mind? The answer is plain. The universal spread of intelligence has transformed the thoughtless masses into intelligent observers of nature. An enlightened mind cannot pass, either blindly or with the dull and stupid gaze of brute creation, by the great objects and wonderful processes of nature without ob

serving the several existences and relations, and their adaptation to the uses of mankind.

These observations resulted in great innovations upon the prim. itive methods of the different industries. In agriculture, the advancement has been from the rude wooden instrument to the steam plow, from the hand sickle to the self-binder, from the flail to the steam-thresher.

In the arts of transportation and locomotion, from employing domestic animals as beasts of burden, to the steam engine, and the railroad car, having a velocity of a mile in 60 seconds.

In navigation, from the bark canoe to a Great Eastern that proudly traverses the stormy oceans.

In the art of copying and printing, from the slow process which required a lifetime for the transcription of a single book, to Hoe's power press of to-day, producing 15,000 sheets, folded and ready for delivery, in an hour.

In the art of telegraphing, from communicating information by signs seen from one station to another, to conveying intelligence with the velocity of lightning.

These are only a few of the numberless contributions to human welfare that have been derived from intelligence - the intelligence which directs the employment of those natural agencies which have existed, though in a dormant state, ever since the origin of the human race. But what is wind and water and steam for mechanical purposes, until man constructs the proper wheels and the piston rod, and place them between these agents of nature and the work to be performed? Our age differs from the past only in having addressed great nature in her mother tongue, the language of science and art. For thousands of years the Creator had to wait for an interpreter of His works.

That "knowledge is power," has become a proverb. The truth of this is evident everywhere, and in all conditions of life, and not least in those avocations requiring manual labor. The labor of a man is worth more than the same amount of physical force exerted by a brute, simply because it is directed by intelligence. Hence, an intelligent person is able to earn more than his less favored co-laborer. The uninstructed may work by the side of 24-W. S. A. S.

the intelligent, but the mental difference will place them in different relations and conditions. They may employ the same implements, exert the same physical force, still while the one only has an arm, and the other an arm and a mind, their work will be stamped with the marks of inferiority and superiority.

But intelligence when contrasted with ignorance, presents other views of far greater importance. Intelligence is not only a power of removing physical evils, but the source of those exquisite pleasures, man's highest and enduring joys. A being immersed in total ignorance is destitute of those nobler feelings of human na ture. He simply grows, lives, and dies. His views are confined to the objects around him. Of the aspects of the globe, its oceans and continents, the animated beings of the air, the land, and the seas, the revolutions of empires and states, these are things to him unknown. Of the boundless regions beyond, in the firmament, and the bodies that roll there in magnificent grandeur, he has vague ideas. Whether the stars and planets are large or small, move or stand still, are matters of no importance to him. He spurns the revelations of science. That the sun is more than five hundred times as large as all the planets taken together; that the planet on which we live is rushing through space with a velocity of one thousand miles per minute; these facts are regarded as by far less probable than the wonderful exploits of Baron Munchausen.

Not so with the enlightened mind. He can trace back the stream of time, and gliding down to the present day, survey the events of the past and the progress of civilization. In his rural walks he observes nature, its beauties and harmonies - enduring monuments of an intelligent Creator. He can trace the huge earth, flying through unlimited space with its beings, almost infinite in number and variety. On the wing of imagination he can transport himself to distant worlds, and there contemplate the unnumbered millions of starry systems that grandly move through the boundless space of the universe. Mysterious mortal, whose comprehensive mind can scan creation, whose heaven-aspiring spirit can soar beyond the boundaries of time, contemplate eternity, and behold at once the past, the present and the future.

Probably the most valuable paper read at this convention was Prof. Daniells' last paper, on "Feeding, Watering and Sheltering Stock."

Hon. W. W. Field, from Madison, was then introduced as a representative of the State Agricultural Society. He spoke briefly on several topics, particularly the importance of such gatherings. Complimented the ladies for their interest in this meeting.

After the convention had been briefly addressed by several gentlemen present, Hon. Hiram Smith was introduced to deliver the final oration. This, indeed, was the climax of wit and eloquence.

Introductory scene: Mr. Smith, with becoming dignity, takes the platform and commences:

"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: - The more I learn""the less you know." These latter words were uttered by his friend Steven Faville, who sat close by him. After the uproarious laughter had subsided, the speaker continued: "the more I see the importance of someone else learning something also." This was delivered with a graceful bow towards Mr. Faville. The laughter this time was at Mr. Faville's expense.

"The more I learn the less I feel disposed to talk to others on this subject. The sages of all ages have written on this subject; perhaps there is not a more prolific subject in the whole range of literature. If we look back over the different conditions of agriculture, it may be a source of encouragement to press onward." The speaker eloquently described the mighty progress of civilization. Coming down to more recent days, he contrasted "that honest age when there were from nine to twelve children in a family, where a youth had to pass through the terrible ordeal of measles and marriage. Those were the good old honest days." (Laughter.) The speaker thought the ladies should pay more attention to self-improvement, and less to fashion. "If they can. not get a new dress as often as they would like to, they can easily change an old dress so that no man can tell the difference." (Applause.) Amid storms of laughter the speaker recited the comic poem about the lady "That shook out her trail, as long as a rail," etc.

The peroration was simply magnificent, and held the audience spell-bound.

Complimentary resolutions were adopted thanking the commit. tees of music, arrangements, president and secretaries. The convention adjourned at 10:30 by singing "Old Hundred."

The second of the series of agricultural conventions, instituted by the Regents of the State University, was held at Auroraville, Waushara county, January 20, 1880, and was opened by Lieut. J. Mathews, who said that the local agricultural society and the citizens of Auroraville are glad in their hearts to welcome people to this meeting; while here, our homes are your homes, our tables are your tables. He believed farming to be as Washington had said, "the noblest work of man."

Response by W. W. Daniells, of the State University, who stated that the interest which is taken in these agricultural meetings generally results in much good. He regretted that President Smith was not here. Thanks for the welcome. Thought that the proffered kindness would be accepted; we will be at your homes and tables, and not go away hungry. Hoped we should all go home brightened up and able to think more. The motive power of these agricultural meetings, as some of you may know, is the agricultural department of the State University. In order to help this along, last year $5,000 was voted to pay expenses of men to help at agricultural meetings; but in order to conform to the law, the account has to be charged through the State University to advertising, so hoped the University would be well advertised.

The first address was by Gen. Geo. E. Bryant, of Madison, secretary of the State Agricultural Society, who spoke as follows:

Wheat is the most valuable of all the cereal grasses. It is not known in a wild state; has long been cultivated by man, forming the principal breadstuff of all civilized nations from a time antedating the historical era. Chinese and Egyptian history and records testify to the antiquity of its cultivation. Botanists are inclined to the opinion that it had its home in central Asia.