We were taught that new milk was a most healthful dirt, For the infant, the aged, the well or the sick; But now in our wisdom we scarce dare to try it, Unless "Pastuerized," "sterilized," or some other trick. While beef-the backbone of health's preservation, We eat now well cooked with due reservation, Tho' the germ has been killed, its remains are still there, There's a problem in dust that puzzles me greatly— Will help you to solve it, the problem is this: If a spoonful of dust from a clean parlor casement And when the result you have proved-to a fraction, So, adinfinitum around and above us, Bacteria swarms in earth, water, and air; The worst of it is, since knowledge is growing I fear I have wandered far over the border, At the noon of life's conflict, dust-laden we tarry, Has the dust sifted over our early endeavor, With the brave eager trust we hailed at dawn? Youth's beautiful castles in ruins forever With sun-lighted turrets dust-smothered and gone. Has the good we would do, the right we would cherish Or neglected, forgotten, been fated to perish, Are there "germs" that inhabit the dust of the spirit, Till strangled and helpless it grasps in the coil? I leave you to answer these "dust" inspired questions, But since there is doubt let us use disinfectant, In all of life's bye-ways wherein dust may lurk, To receive its full share of the dust-mission work. (Applause). Music by Orchestra. President Peck introduced Mrs. A. B. Manchester, of Randolph, who read the last paper of the evening, as follows: THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC, LITERATURE, AND ART IN THE COUNTRY HOME. Much has been said and written on farming for profit, but in the controversies, pro and con, I have noticed very little about the home of the farmer, which I consider to be of vital interests to successful farming. Close observers have deplored the fact that so many farms in the more rural districts have been abandoned. The boys and girls born and reared in the country home as they approach mature years, leave the homestead and drift away to the cities or elsewhere, to search for fame and fortune. I venture to say if the childhood of farmer's sons and daughters were made bright and pleasant the power of association and memory would do much to keep them on the farm. And nothing can transcend an attractive home for that. To save the children for the farm, rather than to save the farm for them, is the problem we must solve. An hours' drive in the farming community of any rural district will convince one that too little thought and care are given to the appearance of the average country home. It should be an ideal home; the home of the beautiful, for it is cradled in the realm of nature, which is at best only copied by art. The ever varying landscape of mountain, hill and dell, our crystal rivers flowing towards the sea, our flower bespangled meadows, are a theme for inspiration to every lover of nature, and add fervor to the pen of the poet, the brush of the artist, and to the sculptor who can chisel a goddess from the granite in our cloud-capped hills. I bave often thought the untidiness so often seen, with unkept lawns or littered grounds, and a lack to appropriate the beautiful in nature to our benefit has had its influence to sicken the boys and girls of the farm. I do not decry farm labor in any of its departments, but I contend that while we are raising crops for the physical realm, we ought also to provide for the support and culture of the mental and spiritual realm of our being. I maintain they are our demands, and hence God's commands to us. The hand that places the pink in the shell and the perfume in the rose, placed the aspirations and possibilities in us, that we desire that which is beautiful and beneficent. Music, that grand diapason of nature, thrills us with ecstatic joy as we listen to its symphonies, and elevates and refines the rudest spirit. It is said that Howard Payne though immortalized in song was redeemed by music. Lying one evening on the curbstone in front of a mansion in a state of insensate debauchery, he was aroused from it by strains of sweet singing wafted from the open window to his ear. In his half consciousness it was to him like the voice of an angel, and as the melody stirred his brain to action, the tears coursed down his cheeks as he exclaimed, "That is a song my sainted mother used to sing." The man was stirred in his soul, and he was saved. Literature and art are also essential in making a home attractive. We are living in a wonderful age in the world's history; it is the blossom of the centuries, whose fruitage we can gather in from the accumulated thoughts, of poets, sages and philosophers of all ages. The air is filled with its richness, and is borne in on the tidal wave of advanced civilization, until the boys ploughing on the farms and the girls in the home are filled with longings for its anticipation. No one can afford to deprive themselves of all the current literature, that is found to-day. We want to keep in touch with the trend of the world at large, to feel somewhat the pulsations of the living thought of the present age. It is the source of great pleasure and restfulness of an evening to find Harper's or Scribner's Magazine, or better, the Review of the Reviews, lying on your table, that you can read, with, of course, the daily and weekly papers. "The homes of a nation are its strongest forts;" and in view of the fact that in the hours of our greatest emergencies the farming community proved to be the bone and sinew of national safety, is it wise, at least to consider if this source of strength can be saved. Much advancement in the right direction has been made among the farmers since the Grange came among us. It is ennobling the farmer through his calling and uplifting his vocation, causing him to stand peer beside his brother in other pursuits in life. It is paving the way for a broader introduction of music, literature and art into the homes of the farmer with a stronger intercourse with the great world about us. It is a power to make farming and its homes more attractive to the noble youths and fair maidens of our land. And while the purple fringe of the twilight of the nineteenth century with its depression, is closing around us, the orient glory of the twentieth century looms in the distance, and with one of New England's noble sons, who will not prove to be a broken reed to guide us till the dawning, will hope to find less abandoned farins and more ideal homes. (Applause). Music by Orchestra. President Sanford: There is yet a little time before we need close the meeting and I think Professor Sanborn will give us a few remarks. Professor Sanborn: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: It always gives me pleasure to meet with a Vermont farmer's audience. Such a meeting is not entirely new to me, for in the more northern villages of your state I used to travel with Hon. John B. Mead, and I have been over your hills and shook hands with the men and women of Vermont. Your president has taken me quite by surprise this evening. Men who have roamed about as I have are hardly ever caught in such a state of surprise, but I have to admit that from what I have heard to-day and this evening a man would indeed be a poor observer if he was not at least able to speak admiration of so grand a meeting as we have had here this evening. We can but highly appreciate these applicable and very excellent addresses. It is a grand theme and an appropriate time. Morrison has told us about the times, if we read them correctly. Now is the time for the farmers to read the times, and to read them right. There has come into New England agriculture-the agriculture of the world—a motive force to give agriculture such an uplift as has never before been known in all the ages. The morning of progress is now dawning to the farmer. "The little red school house" stands at his door, and he is opening up a new book. It is only recently that we have become aware that there is unfolded in our day a science, an art, more beautiful, more perfect than any other art. The art of arts, the science of science-our agriculture. People have come to look upon this industry as one requiring men of learning and of culture. Now it is true that our industry requires a wider knowledge of the sciences, a more thorough understanding of all the powers a man has possession of to make a good and successful farmer, than it does to be a man of ability in any other of the leading professions of our day. In conclusion let me say, as the last speaker alluded to the force of women in the Grange, that that organization has done more for farming than any other force that has entered into our New England agricultural life. It is giving to us a new political force, and it is the strength of our New England homes. President Sanford: Hon. Z. A. Gilbert, of North Green, Maine, is with us this evening and we would all be pleased to hear remarks from him, It Mr. Gilbert: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is a very embarrassing position for me, farmer as I am, and without even bearing the prefix of Professor, to be called upon at this stage of the meeting to add anything to the entertainment or to the rich treat you have listened to this evening; but being, as I am, a servant of this Association I feel obliged to respond to anything that may be asked of me to the extent of my ability. I am glad of the opportunity to congratulate you on the aid or assistance you are receiving from the organization which has had the entertainment of the evening in hand. I have many times told my people in our state that Vermont was leading the world in the dairy instruction of the country; first to organize and first to take the lead, and being first of all in the leadership in this direction, you have again been first to allow and invite the women to come into your Association. (Applause.) It is in full conformity to the progress of the age, and day, and hour. is not well for man to be alone, neither is it well for an organization of men to work alone. Gradually, and step by step, we are inviting our women and associates to come in with us; but I have to congratulate this Auxiliary in the very appropriate and able program they have furnished this evening. When you can, from among the citizens of your state, from the residents of the farm, invite to your aid such assistance as has been brought forward this evening you are to be congratulated, and for the success that has come from it. This effort that we are making in these directions has a power in the land, and these ladies are building better than they know in popularizing this special feature of our farming, this industry, and thus influencing the young to remain with us and aid and assist in embellishing the life around and among us with their life, acts and associates that will be brought to the front from this association that is at work with us at the present time. Again I say, you are building better than you know and accomplishing more than you are aware of at this time. It is true that we, perhaps, should not expect from you instruction and teachings in the direction of practical work itself, but labor is a burden unless popularized and materialized; and where the young men and young women are at work on the farm and giving their attention to the farm, I say whenever and wherever their manly faculties are engaged in it, then that work becomes pleasant, elevating and enjoyable. It is always so. The hands cannot work alone. There must be this intellectual to go with it hand in hand in connection with this industry, and I have to congratulate you on the benefit you are receiving from it. In doing so I bespeak the congratulations of twenty thousand patrons of husbandry of the state of Maine, for the good work you have done in elevating this standard of manhood and womanhood among us. This organization is a power; and now let me say to you, see to it that it goes on in this line of work in which it is interested and that no scheming politician seizes upon your efforts to gain control and extort your work and lead it in the |