No. 4.] RESPONSE OF VICE-PRES. SESSIONS. 59 



out so it could be printed. I had no idea I was to make a 

 speech ; all I came for was to give you a hearty and cordial 

 welcome to North Adams. I want you to enjoy yourselves 

 and to feel at home, to feel free to look into anything we 

 have, to inspect anything that may interest you, especially 

 in the agricultural line ; we want 3'ou to look at that and 

 o-ive us your sus^o-estions. The manufacturino- interests in 

 North Adams are always worth while for visitors to look 

 into and examine ; and we know the doors of our mills, and 

 everything relating to our mills, will be open to you ; and 

 so we cordially invite you to look into anything that will 

 interest you in that line. 



The old Berkshire hills are always interesting to look 

 upon. If you can find time to go about our streets and get 

 on to our hills and look at our fine views we shall be glad 

 to have you do that ; and when you leave North Adams we 

 hope you will go away feeling that you want to come back 

 ao;ain and see the old hills once more. 



RESPONSE FOR THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE BY 



FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT WILLIAM R. SESSIONS. 



]Mr. Mayor, citizens of North Adams, and members of the 

 Board of Agriculture, in reply to this cordial and hearty 

 welcome of the mayor you do not expect a long speech from 

 me, and if I were to undertake it yon would wish for some- 

 thing else. 



I am reminded as I look over this populous city, this 

 place where so much is being accomplished, so many earning 

 their living and building up their interests, — I am reminded 

 of the first time I came here. I came over the mountain in 

 a four-horse omnibus and enjoyed greatly the beautiful views 

 all along the way. At that time North Adams was a parish 

 of the town of Adams ; to-day it counts its population by 

 thousands, — 25,000 I believe, — and the change in the life- 

 time of the man who does not seem very old to you seems 

 something wonderful. 



This Board has had quite a long life. Its fiftieth anniver- 

 sary was celebrated last summer. The achievements of the 

 Board were looked over at that time and related with more 



