M.u i, 1910.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



277 



Rubber Sundries Manufacturers' Association. 



FOR a number of years past the Rubber Sundries Manu- 

 facturers' Association have followed their annual 

 meeting, in New York, by a banquet at Delmonico's. 

 This year, urged perhaps by the impulse that is moving 

 everything uptown, their dinner, on the evening of April 

 14, was given in the "New Banquet Hall" in the Pla/a Hotel. 

 1 he hour of assembly was 7, at which time the members of 

 the Association met in one of the cozy parlors adjoining the 

 banquet hall and enjoyed some fifteen minutes of friendly 

 converse. Then the President, leading with the guest of 

 honor, all filed into the banquet hall. 



In former years the members of the Association have been 

 seated about a huge round table. This year the table took 

 the form of an elongated ellipse. The center of the table 

 was occupied with what appeared to be a miniature lake. 

 upon the unruffled bosom of which floated snow white swans. 

 Surrounding the lake wtre first, diminutive sandy beaches; 

 then stretches of green sward, tiny houses and stables ; and 

 in the fields browsing cattle and sheep. Although the 

 flowers that adorned the table were not tropical, il was sug- 

 gested that the scene was Amazonian, a compliment to the 

 Editor of The India Rubber World, who, just back from a 

 trip to South America, was fortunate enough to be the 

 Association's guest thaf evening. 



The Plaza proved itself equal to the occasion, and fur- 

 nished a feast that for quality and service was beyond criti- 

 cism. During the dinner a quartette dressed in urn ite 

 Mexican habiliments played and sang Spanish selections, 

 and even rendered some of the latest popular airs. 



With the coffee Mr. H. C. Burton arose and delivered his 

 valedictory as retiring President. He paid a high tribute 

 to three members who during the last twelve months have 

 passed to the Great Beyond. They were Joseph Davol, 

 George M. Allerton, and James Connolly. He sketched 

 briefly and appreciatively the characteristics of the departed, 

 and the company, rising, paid a brief silent tribute to their 

 memory. 



Mr. Burton then introduced to the assemblage their new 

 President, Mr. George B. Hodgman, as one who by inheri- 

 tance, training, and capacity, was especially fitted to be at 

 the head of their Association. Mr. Hodgman replied briefly, 

 modestly deprecating his own fitness to succeed the brilliant 

 and capable presidents that had preceded him, but pledged 

 himself to carry on the work of the Association to the limit 

 of his ability. Mr. Burton then spoke of the many tropical 

 trips that had been taken by the Editor of The India Rubber 

 World and welcomed him back from the Brazils and invited 

 him to take as much time as he saw fit in speaking of his 

 visit to the "Rubber Country.' Mr. Pearson spoke some 

 twenty minutes, giving a brief outline of his trip, the detailed 

 story of which, he explained, he was hard at work preparing 

 for publication. 



Mr. H. E. Raymond was next introduced. With the 

 utmost seriousness — that is, as far as demeanor went — he 

 read extracts from a booklet published by one of the firms 

 belonging to the association, and by clever comment, timely 

 interpolation and elision, made it such a jumble of absurdi- 

 ties that the room rang with peals of laughter, and even the 



BANQUET OF THE RUBBER SUNDRIES MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION. 



