DAIRY MEETING. 229 



the distance and discouraged the enterprise and nothing was 

 done at that time. But by the persistent efforts of Mr. Alden 

 some two or three years later the Maine Dairymen's Association 

 was organized with Rutillus Alden as its president. It was, to 

 be sure a puny, weak little child, but it was born of good par- 

 ents and it had good blood ; and in twelve years it has grown to 

 be a healthy, strong boy, and not only that, it is one of the most 

 important agricultural organizations in the State. Now this is 

 old history, and my mind seems to be filled with a newer his- 

 tory, a more modern one, and it would read like this : For three 

 score years and ten in Winthrop he staid, and never, not even 

 once, from his home has he strayed ; through all his prosperity, 

 his adversities and woe, he still loves dairying and his State 

 also. He sees here before him a class of young men, who from 

 the cradle to manhood have grown since then ; who are out for 

 a living with fame to win, and have taken the places of those 

 that have gone in. He sees here before him men whose heads 

 are silvered with gray, who have stood by him shoulder to 

 shoulder in his efforts for the dairy interests by night and by 

 day ; they have always found him square and honest in his busi- 

 ness relations, in prosecuting the business of the Maine Dairy- 

 men's Association. The new dairymen are here, right under his 

 eye; and it would not be him to pass them by. They are his 

 neighbors and friends, and the owners of land, and for the dairy 

 interests they are doing what they can. Oh, I know him so 

 well I know that is his kind of a man, whether he is a Dem- 

 ocrat or a Republican. Yes, he has been faithful and loyal to 

 the dairy interests of Maine we know ; he is a man of few words 

 but he is not very slow. His intellect is clear and his eye is well 

 trained, upon that man who acts detrimental to the dairy inter- 

 ests of Maine. 



Now, Brother Alden, I have been requested by the old guard 

 of the dairymen of Maine, to present to you that beautiful cane. 

 Take it, old Comrade and use it in your declining years, and be 

 of good cheer; it is their appreciation for the good work done 

 year by year. We bid you success, good health and God speed. 



Mr. Alden : My brother, you have given me a great sur- 

 prise. I did not have the first idea that any of you had it in 

 your hearts to remember me for the work I have attempted to 

 do for the dairy interests. It has all been done for the benefit 



