THE FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE INSTITUTE. 53 



With pleasure, and doubt not that the occasion will be to us both a 



pleasure and a profit. 



Very respectfully, 



William Little, 

 President of the'Old Newbury Historical Society. 



28 East 36th Street. 



New York. 



Feb'y 10, 1898. 

 Mr. D. F. Applkton begs to acknowledge the honor of an invitation 

 to join in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding 

 of the Essex Institute, which he very much regrets that he is unable 

 to accept. 



To Henry M. Brooks, Esq., 

 Secretary. 



Union Club. 



Boston. 



Feb'y 10, 1898. 

 Dear Sir: — 



I regret that my immediate departure for Europe will 

 prevent my acceptance of the kind invitation to attend the fiftieth 

 anniversary of the founding of the Essex Institute on March 2d. 



I am very truly yours, 



Henry K. Oliver, "M.D. 



Florence, Feb. 10, 1898. 

 Hon. Robert S. Rantoul, 



President of the Essex Institute. 



Dear Sir : — 



I am very glad to hear that the Essex Institute is to 

 celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its organization. 



We natives of Salem of course are deeply interested in the history 

 of the old town and its sons and daughters should help to make its 

 coming celebration an occasion of the greatest success. 



I am in the habit of speaking of our County to strangers as the 

 Mother of Counties. We would not, in the least, detract from the 

 high regard in which Suffolk, Plymouth and Middlesex Counties are 



