Mauch I, 1905.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



201 



NEW ENGLAND RUBBER CLUB MIDWINTER DINNER. 



A NOTABLE event in the history of the New England 

 Rubber Club was the annual midwinter dinner, at 

 V'oungs' Hotel. Boston, on P'riday evening, February 

 24. It is customary at these gatherings to get to- 

 gether early, /'. ^., at 5.30 in the afternoon, and have an hour 

 of social converse, after which comes the dinner and then the 

 oratory, all being finished in time for the out of town members 

 of the Club to catch their trains without undue effort. Such 

 a program was observed at the recent dinner. 



In the hotel reception parlor the officers of the Club acted 

 as a reception committee, and at 6.30 o'clock, headed by the 

 Hon. L, D. Apsley, president of the Club, and the distinguished 

 guests, the diners proceeded into the large banquet hall, where 

 covers had been laid for 170 persons. In the middle of the 

 speaker's table was a handsome floral centerpiece, while at the 

 plate of each guest was a neat boutonniere. 



The gentlemen at the speaker's table were ■ — 



Messrs. L. D. Apsley. president of the 

 Club ; John D. Long, late United States 

 secretary of the navy ; Samuel P. Colt, 

 president of the United States Rubber 

 Co.; the Rev. John Baltzly, William R. 

 Dupee, Robert D. Evans, George H. Hood, 

 Joseph Davol, A. H. Alden, Arthur W. 

 Stedman, Erskine M. Phelps, John H. 

 Flint, Frank Poel, Henry C. Morse, Ex- 

 Governor A. O. Bourn, George P. Whit- 

 more, and Henry C. Pearson. 



At right angles to this table were four 

 long tables at which the Club members 

 and their guests disposed themselves in 

 accordance with a somewhat elastic but 

 well arranged seating schedule. The menu, 

 which was Young's choicest, is reproduced 

 on this page. The music was furnished 

 by Partridge's orchestra, of Boston, and 

 was most excellent. 



A list of those present reveals the fact 

 that not only was the whole of the New 

 England rubber trade out in force, but 

 New York, Chicago, and other centers 

 were well represented. Members of the 

 executive and manufacturing staff of « 

 the United States Rubber Co. were 

 also present in force, and showed by 

 their attention and applause that their 

 president was not only respected but 

 most popular. 



PRESIDENT aPSLEY'S ADDRES,S. 



Gentlemen: To our distinguished 

 guests, members of the Club, and friends, 

 I extend a most cordial welcome. 



During the year just ending our Club 

 has sufTered the loss of five of its mem- 

 bers by death, among whom were Hon. 

 Elisha S. Converse, honorary president 

 of the Club and Mr. George A. Alden. 

 one of our honorary vice presidents, both 

 of whom, by their conspicuous business 

 ability and integrity, made their way to 

 the very front rank in their respective 



HON. L. O. APSLEY, 

 President of the Cluh. 



Chicken Okra 

 Celery 



Boiled Halibut, Egg Sauce 

 Potatoes HolUndaisc 



Sirloin of Beef Larded, with Mushrooms 

 Roast Duck 



Vol au Vent a la Reine M argot 

 Oysters, Poulette 



Pears, Richelieu 



Bombe Glace 



Ice Cream 



Fruit 



lines of business, and at the same time won the highest regard of 

 the members of this Club by the e.xcellence of their personal char- 

 acters. 



The New England Rubber Club was never in as prosperous a 

 condition as it now is, its membership being the largest in its his- 

 tory. Our banquets, smoke talks, and midsummer outings have 

 .ill been largely attended and most thoroughly enjoyed, and I trust 

 that these most agreeable gatherings will ahvays be as successful 

 and will afford equal pleasure, but 1 must repeat once more that I feel 

 that trade organizations in general, and this Club in particular, 

 should justify themselves by something besides having these good 

 limes. 



I recall our first banquet after organizing, given some years ago 

 at the Trade Club. When asked to say a word as to the desirabil- 

 ity of clubs, I made the claim then that their existence could be 

 amply justified, and went further and said that they were as essen- 

 tial and as helpful to men in business as the 

 schoolhouse was to us when we were boys. 

 I made this declaration believing that by 

 coming in close contact with each other, the 

 narrow business men rubbing up against 

 the stronger ones, all are broadened arid 

 greatly benefited. 



The great business brains and wealth of 

 the country are found in these clubs, and if 

 these organizations could be ma:de to think 

 less of the social features and be made to 

 realize what a power they possess, what a 

 mighty influence they could exert, my claim 

 would not be too broad. 



I would like to see every reformer, educa- 

 tor, and especially the clergymen, made 

 members of these clubs by special invita- 

 tion, without paying the initiation fees or 

 annual dues, as they would be helped in their 

 work by meeting and getting the views of 

 these practical business men. 



It is not the plodder in business who does 

 not belong to clubs and confines himself 

 closely to the four walls of his counting 

 room, that makes the greatest success for 

 himself or does the things that make such 

 mighty progress and advancement in civil- 

 ization. It is the Morgans, John Wana- 

 makers, and Marshall Fields who, through 

 ~ the environment of churches and clubs, 

 meet and confer with their fellow men, 

 who help themselves, and confer mighty 

 benefits upon those who come in contact 

 with them. 



So much for clubs in general. Now a 

 word about trade clubs. There are some 

 forty of these organizations in the state 

 of Massachusetts with memberships vary- 

 ing from too upivards. I refer to trade 

 clubs only, or business men's organiza- 

 tions. 



What an influence they might exert 

 on state or national questions where the 

 judgment of sound, practical, experienced 

 business men is needed — judgments free 

 from the influence of political organiza- 

 tions or of any organization composed of 

 theorists— the judgment of men who 



MENU 



Cotuit Oysters 



Consomme Jardiniere 

 Radishes 



Chocolate Bavarian Cream 

 Sherbert 

 Cheese Olives 



Coffee 



