THE MINNESOTA 



HORTICULTURIST. 



VOL. 32. DECEMBER, 1904. No. 12. 



THE JOHN S. HARRIS MEMORIAL TABLET. 



S. M. OWEN^ CHAIRMAN, MINNEAPOLIS. 



Mr. President, I will not talk very long, because it will not take 

 nearly so long to tell about what we did as it took to have it done. 

 You will remember, perhaps, that a year ago the entire sum that 

 was received in the purchase of tickets for the usual banquet of this 

 society was devoted to the purchase of a memorial tablet to the late 

 Mr. Harris. The Farm, Stock and Home Company paid the entire 

 cost of the banquet, which left in the hands of the treasurer $110. 

 It was believed that for this sum a simple tablet could be procured 

 that would contain a medallion portrait of Mr. Harris, but the com- 

 mittee was unable to find an artist in Minneapolis or St. Paul who 

 could model the medallion in a satisfactory manner, and subse- 

 quently we found, and largely by reason of great good luck, that we 

 could possibly get a bronze tablet, which would be very much 

 preferable if we could get it, because the bronze is nearly inde- 

 structible, it would go through a hot fire without injury — so it would 

 be a more lasting tribute. The expense of a bronze tablet is 

 very much greater, as a rule, but fortunately we found a lady in the 

 city who, although she is classed as an amateur, has a wonderful 

 aptitude for modeling in clay. Mrs. Backus, the lady in question, 

 took a very small snapshot picture of Mr. Harris that gave a profile 

 view of him. This little picture was about 2^/^x3^ in. in size, and 

 very indistinct, and from that picture Mrs. Backus made the model 

 in clay which you see in bronze here today. It was a remarkable 

 piece of work, and if we had not been so fortunate as to secure this 

 lady to do the work it would have cost very much more money than 

 it did cost us. 



We were also fortunate in having the bronze cast made. It was 

 made in Chicago, and largely on account of the cause it was done 

 much under the regular price. Therefore we were able to secure 

 this bronze tablet as you see it here, representing Mr. Harris in 

 such a characteristic attitude and in such a characteristic occupation 

 that it seems to me it makes it particularly pleasing to all of us who 

 knew him, and especially to you who associated with him so much 

 in this society. The tablet, as you know, is to find a permanent 

 home in the main class room in the horticultural building over at the 



