100 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



they went out and sat near the opening under the fence with 

 a dark lantern, and as they heard the old fellow crawling 

 pretty well along, they flashed the lantern, the bull's eye, and 

 said: "Here, where are you going?" "Whah is I gwine, 

 gen'l'men, I'se just gwine to back out!"' (Laughter.) If I 

 had had such good success when the worthy president asked 

 me to act as your roastiiiastcr this evening, I would have just 

 backed out. Lacking that, and also feeling a sort of moral 

 obligation, or duty, to you and the State, I accepted. 



There are two reasons for my being here, one of particu- 

 lar interest to the State, and the other of particular interest 

 to you way down at the other end of the hall. The first one 

 was, that being unable to attend last year and act as your 

 toastmaster. Dr. Jenkins of the Agricultural Station at Xew 

 Haven was substituted in my place. Now Jenkins is a pretty 

 smooth article, as some of you know, and his delightful way 

 of introducing speakers, and the many stories which he tells 

 in an inimitable way, of course you all know. But I felt sure 

 that if I failed to come here to-night, you would get Jenkins 

 again, and should you do that, the entire stock of chestnuts 

 in Connecticut would be exhausted, and then the horticultur- 

 ists of the state, instead of working for the interests of the 

 fruit growers, would take up their time during the next year 

 in producing another crop for the Doctor, so in the pure in- 

 terests of horticulture. I have felt it my duty to be here. 

 (Laughter and applause.) 



Further than that. I had an interest in you way down at 

 the other end of the hall where you are crowded so close to- 

 gether that you can hardly get your knife into your mouth 

 when you want to do as you do at home. (Laughter.) 



Up at this end of the hall there are a whole lot of duffers, 

 would-be politicians, near politicians, and second hand politi- 

 cians, and visiting statesmen of various kinds, and various 

 other distinguished guests who didn't pay a cent to get in. 

 I felt you needed something, and after a little experience of 

 last week, I decided to come. I boarded a sleeper in New 

 York the other night going over to Pittsburg, turned in early. 



