Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - New Ag Building Speech [PAGE 13]

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advantage, to a serious preparation for service. It is probably true that from the single standard of getting ahead financially, particularly in a big way, the farming business cannot now, and may not ever, justify taking it up as a life work. However, unless this country and the men and women who compose it rather speedily reject the getting of gold as their god, we shall see our much touted American civilization crumble. The farmers may, if they will, lead the way, and no group could design a finer purpose. Sometimes I wonder if the fires of that fine American idealism have been put out. They have been smothered by materialism, but underneath, here and there in the open country, they are still smouldering. May not the students and graduates of this College be the kindling and their voices the wind that shall fan these smouldering and charred remnants into a blaze that will burn its way into the hearts and consciences of men, to the end that there may be engendered a proper appreciation of the moral and spiritual values of life? It is well to dedicate a new building to agriculture and research, but this will avail little unless those who teach and those who learn dedicate their lives, tho it may mean sacrifice, to the end that agriculture may be placed on a basis that will give the country boy and girl an equal chance with the boy and girl in the city, and the men and women who live by the land a more abundant life.

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