. As a result of this corn contest
much of the danger that all the farmer boys will seek the great cities
may be averted, and it was felt that the great exposition should
encourage the boys in their worthy enterprise.

There were installed by the Illinois commission 14 separate and distinct
exhibits, including that of live stock. Each exhibit was in charge of a
superintendent and a committee of the commission.

As soon as the Illinois commission had been appointed the members of the
Illinois State Historical Society felt that the society should make an
exhibit. As the appropriation of $2,000 was small and the time brief for
the preparation of the exhibit, the trustee decided that no better and
more appropriate exhibit could be made than a manuscript and pictorial
life of Abraham Lincoln, these manuscripts and pictures to be arranged
so plainly that they could be understood and appreciated by all.

The plan of the exhibit was to utilize all the space possible, and as
this was the only exhibit in the Illinois Building it was made as
handsome in appearance as possible. Accordingly 16 large wall frames
handsomely labeled in gold letters were prepared. The labels read as
follows:

(1) Ancestry of Lincoln.
(2) Youth of Lincoln.
(3) Lincoln at New Salem.
(4) Lincoln as a Surveyor.
(5) Lincoln in the Black Hawk War.
(6) Lincoln as a Lawyer (two cases).
(7) Lincoln in Congress.
(8) Domestic Life of Lincoln.
(9) Lincoln and Douglas.
(10) Lincoln and Douglas Debates.
(11) Lincoln and the Foundation of the Republican Party.
(12) The Campaign of 1860.
(13) Lincoln in Washington, The Cabinet.
(14) The War of Rebellion.
(15) Assassination and Death.

The titles indicate the character of the contents.

The agricultural committee was organized, and the scope and character of
the exhibit to be made by Illinois was carefully considered.

It was determined to devote entire attention to the exploitation of
those products which can be grown most successfully and profitably
within the limits of this State. While the interests of Illinois were,
of course, always given the first consideration, such an exhibit was of
just as much interest and value to adjoining States, or, in fact, to any
countries of the Temperate Zone where similar conditions of climate and
soil exist as in the State of Illinois.

Accordingly it was determined to exploit the principal crop of the
State, which surpasses all other in value--that of corn.

It wa