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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



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NOTES ON THE ST. JOSEPH CONVENTION. 



BY W. Z. HUTCHINSON. 



How much watching, planning and contoiving, and how much hard work is 

 required of an editor that he may be absent even for only a few days. Monday 

 morning, Oct. 8th, found me at the end of such a preparation for an absence of 

 nearly a week to attend the St. Joseph (Mo.) convention. The " Review " was out 

 and mailed, all possible correspondence answered, all queens mailed, Mrs. Hutchin- 

 son given numerous instructions as to how this and that was to be looked after, and 

 such and such answers made to such and such inquiries ; the coal stove was blacked 

 and set up, coal in the bin, wood in woodshed ; care taken that there was a stock of 

 groceries on hand, that the good wife might not be obliged to leave home on a 

 marketing expedition, the little black sachel, that had been standing for several 

 days on a shelf near at hand, so that when I thought of anjfl^hing that I might wish 

 to take with me, I could put into the sachel and thus not forget it, received a dainty 

 but wholesome lunch as its last consignment, and I kissed the wife and babies and 

 was off. 



I have several times been over the road between here and Chicago, hence there 

 would be nothing new in the scenery, so, to pass away the all-day's ride, I had sent 

 for a book to read. It was " Picter Making by Photograph." It came a day or 

 two before my departure, but I resolutely put it away without even looking at it, 

 because I knew too well what even a glance at its pages would mean. 



I reached Chicago between five and six o'clock, and went at once to the office of 

 the "American Bee Journal," where I found Bro. " George" putting the finishing 

 touches to a preparation for absence. Six o'clock found us on the train for a six- 

 mile ride out to where the editor of the " American Bee Journal " and Dr. Peiro live 

 as neighbors. Bro. York has a pleasant home. Mrs. York is not only an excellent 

 house-keeper, but, if I mistake not, she is also an excellent " business manager." 

 Bro. York once wrote me that although Mrs. York was not publishing the " Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal," she knew all of the time pretty nearly what was going on at the 

 office. As I am more than willing to admit that Mrs. Hutchinson is a better busi- 

 ness woman than I am, I feel sure tliat Bro. York will not be offended at my throw- 

 ing out these vague hints. 



I had supposed that there would be something of a little crowd gather in Chicago 

 to go on the same train to St. Joseph, but when six o'clock came, and Bro. York 

 and myself and Dr. Peiro climbed aboard of the " Eli " (the train is given this name, 

 I suppose, because it " gets there"), we were all the "crowd " of bee-keepers there 

 was on board. Out at Aurora, 111., we picked up Dr. Miller, which, in one sense, 

 doubled our crowd. Soon we were snugged away in one of the compartments at the 



