1918
A news release from the Allied Landscape Industry tells of honors bestowed on Dick White at its Centennial Convention in Chicago in July. These were the prestigious "Hall of Fame Award" and the "Norman J. Colman Award." The latter takes its name from the first Secretary of Agriculture.
Dick is also the author of a recently published book entitled "A Century of Service," a history of the nursery industry in the United States. Copies can be ordered from the American Association of Nurserymen, 230 Southern Building, Washington, D. C. 20005. The price is $8.95.
The 12th session of Alumni College was in August. Among the students were Red Hulbert and the Woodruffs, including Peg Williams, lone's sister. Some of the oldsters were not too crazy about the books sent out for preparatory reading but the session itself was excellent. Our own Ray Smith gave a very instructive and interesting lecture on foreign aid and our foreign policy. Afterward Red and we three took Ray and Bonnie to dinner which included a lot of interesting talk.
Late last April just after my last copy went in I had a letter from Ned Ross. He sent along a good excerpt from Paul Miner on the Pow-Wow. He wrote, "I have just returned from the Pow-Wow at Ft. Pierce and am glad that I went even though it was a hard trip. Many that we hoped to see were not there due to various infirmities and traveling difficulties. We were to have 25 to 30 but only nine showed, including Proctor, Whipple, Cameron, Ben Mugridge,George Arnold, George Carpenter, Gottschaldt,Park and myself, mostly accompanied by wives. During the course of the meeting the matter of winding up these gatherings was discussed; but the concensus was that they continue and possibly more inducements be offered."
A more complete report on the Pow-Wow has appeared in The Roar. I assume the total attendance was about 18 which I think is good under all the difficulties. I wish to applaud the efforts of Proctor, Cameron, Mugridge and all the other workers and boosters and I think that the decision to continue was wise. "Don't give up the ship."
Syl Morey reports that he has been in an Albany hospital and is now taking follow-up treatments under their direction. A late report indicates favorable progress.
While we were in Hanover the Binghams came to the Medical Center for diagnosis and treatment of some eye trouble Marian was having. An early report showed some improvement.
In early summer Jules Van Raalte kindly sent me a copy of a letter he had written Stump Barr:
"For the past week we have had a most unusual and interesting experience. Our distinguished classmate, Ray Smith, has been here and along with him the excitement generated from the massive and unusual sale of a portion of his extraordinary ancient glassware collected while traveling around the world during the last 50 years. The sale conducted at the Sotheby-Park Bernet Gallery, the worlds most distinguished, was held last Friday. Prior to the sale, we had the pleasure of Ray's being with us for dinner several evenings, which we were hoping to continue, but after the sale, we all, and particularly Ray, were in a state of shock! The prices, item after item, were fabulous, many times in excess of what any one anticipated. At the conclusion of the sale, which was well up into six figures. Janet and a friend brought Ray back to our home, and I gave him a double Scotch and soda. He, who only drinks ginger ale! After Ray partially recovered, he forgot his old New England training and insisted on taking us out for dinner, specifying only that it must be the finest and most expensive cuisine in New York!
"It is rumored that the Shah of Iran had many representatives at the sale, who were the big, big bidders. In any event, I feel 1918'ers will want to congratulate Ray on his accomplishment of accumulating a collection never before equalled. It is a world record, and he still retains enough glass objects for another sale next year."
During Alumni College President Dwight and Peg invited some of us up to his camp for cocktails. We followed the Connecticut and Ompompanoosuc rivers up to Union Village and found the camp nearby. A good time was had by the guests and we hope the hosts as well. Numerous grandchildren enlivened the scene.
A peculiar thing about this Sec. job is that you often seem to have an embarrassment of riches or a dearth of the same. Right now there is a plethora of material; in fact the news made by two men, Ray Smith and Dick White, if given the full treatment, could flood the whole space. Some news will be carried over till next month.
While in Hanover we called on the Barrs and had a very interesting visit. We were so busy with various topics that I'm afraid we didn't really inquire into the state of health of our hosts. It has come to my attention that Stump has been having considerable knee trouble. We hope this has or soon will respond to medical management.
The following seems too good to keep over for November. Bob Fish comes on, "Fred Cassebeer had so many admirable facets it just wasn't possible to get them all together in the very adequate obituary you wrote. Just to save you trouble when my time comes I will mention that I've filed my obituary with Joan Hier, obituary editor, of the Alumni Magazine. You can be certain it was written with no excessive modesty."
Secretary, 1820 Lewis Lane Joliet, Ill. 60432
Treasurer, Old Coach Road Norwich, Vt. 05055
