134 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



borne wondrous harvests for 3000 years. We have here, sir, a climate 

 as genial as that of Southern Italy, a sky as blue as that which haug^ 

 over Greece in the days of Alcibiades. We have here, sir, unlimited 

 opportunity for honest industry to achieve independence. We are 

 very glad, indeed, to be favored with so large and representative body 

 of ladies and gentlemen, and we doubt not that you, coming from les» 

 favored localities, and seeing the exceeding beauty of this Canaan'* 

 land here, we doubt not that some of you, at least, will conclude to 

 marry and settle down among us. 



In conclusion (and I really beg pardon that I have been so prolix), 

 but I represent the mayor, and he is somewhat garrulous, and this 

 gentleman here, Mr. Alexander, who is a sort of sub-mayor, has prom- 

 ised to endorse everything that I have said. I repeat it therefore, in 

 the name of his honor, the mayor, whose absence I greatly deplore,, 

 and which I only excuse, because of the fact that he may possibly have 

 gone off to secure one of the National conventions to meet at Neosho^ 

 and it does not matter to me which one, I vote both ways. I only 

 excuse his'absence, because I know that he is living, fighting, and I 

 hope praying for Neosho tonight. In his name I welcome you to our 

 fair city, in the name of the citizens of Neosho, who gladly recognize 

 the stranger within our gates, and feel for him ( not for his pocket-book ) 

 all the sympathy that is meet they should. In the name of our com- 

 munity I welcome this convention to Neosho. In the name of educa- 

 tional interests — one of the most magnificent and complete public 

 schools in the State of Missouri, and a college of some promise and 

 dignity, I welcome you in the name, last but not least, of the ladies of 

 Neosho, who will do all they can to break your hearts — in their name, 

 sir, I welcome you to Neosho. 



* This Is a local allusion, aad refers to a petrified man of the "Cardiff Giant' ' species, 

 which created much wonder and amazement among the worthy townspeople. 



President Evaus* Response. 



In behalf of the Missouri State Horticultural Society, I thank 

 you for the most cordial welcome you have extended to them. Your 

 good people invited our Society to hold this, the Thirty-eighth annual 

 meeting in your beautiful and prosperous city, and we have come, trust- 

 ing and expecting that they will assist us in making the meeting one 

 of the best in the history of the Society ; and already we see indica- 

 tions that point to such a result. 



We came to help you to promote and develop the horticultural 

 interests of your section of the great orchard region of the world. If 



