1892.] FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 63 



eration of species. I have the honor to read a letter from 

 Governor William Eustis Russell : 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

 Executive Depaktment, Boston 



TS, ) 



^', 5 



Feb. 8, 1892. 

 My Dear Mr. Lincoln : I have received the very kiud invitation of the 

 Worcester County Horticultural Society to attend the celebration of its 

 fiftieth anniversary ou the third of March. I regret exceedingly to say that 

 a prior engagement, long since made, prevents my accepting its invitation. 

 Regretting that I cannot be with you, and wishing most heartily for the 

 continued prosperity of your society which has led a life so long and useful, 

 I am, Very truly yours, 



WM. E. RUSSELL. 



The Secretary. — This Society, in its infancy, was somewhat 

 lavish of its treasures, indulging in the extreme luxury of three 

 Recording Secretaries at one and the same time. Across the 

 wide gulf of a half-century, one of the earlier and the latest 

 incumbents clasp hands, the sole survivors of all who ever held 

 this office. I have the pleasure of reading a letter from my pre- 

 decessor of " lang syne," who has lent lustre to high station and 

 reflected credit upon his birthplace. These are the recollections 

 of John Chandler Bancroft Davis, whilom Minister to Germany, 

 and now holding a responsible judicial position at the Federal 

 Capital : 



HON. JOHN C. B. DAVIS. 



Washington, Feb. 20, 1892. 



Edward Winslow Lincoln, Esq. : Dear Sir— When I wrote expressing ray 

 great regret at being obliged to decline the kiud invitation of the Worcester 

 County Horticultural Society, I did not suppose that I could say anything 

 further that would interest any member of that body, and I was rather sur- 

 prised when I received your courteous letter, suggesting that I should try to 

 recall some of the memories alluded to in that letter. If, in doing so, I seem 

 to play the part of the garrulous survivor of his contemporaries, you have 

 yourself to thank for it. When the first exhibition of the Society was held, 

 in 1840, I had not reached my 18th birthday, and so may reasonably be sup- 

 posed not to have had an active part in it. In fact, I do not remember that I 

 had anything to do with it, except as a looker on, although you write me to 

 the contrary. 



The old town hall (Worcester was a town in those days, with gravelled 

 streets and no paved sidewalks, except on Main street and possibly Pearl 

 street and a part of Elm street) — the old town hall was about half the size of 

 the building into which it was a little later converted. In the lower part was 

 the main hall, in which the good people of the town did their voting. The 



