MEMORIAL OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 15 



England Historic Genealogical Societ}', for their variety of topic, 

 their compreliensive pictures of the passing years and events, and 

 their just historic and biographical delineations, deserve high com- 

 mendation. 



Besides his distinctions in our own country we should recall the 

 honors he received and his appreciation abroad. He was made 

 honorary member of the Royal Historical Society, and correspond- 

 ing member of the Royal Horticultural Society, in London ; and a 

 fellow of the Reale Academia Araldica Italiana, of Pisa. 



If, as we are proud to say, the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety is known and honored in Europe, to Mr. Wilder, not forget- 

 ting the claims of many others in our association, this gratifying 

 circumstance must be largely ascribed. The tidings of his death 

 will be a grief to the foreign friends of this institution. 



I cannot close without adverting to the high position of Mr. 

 Wilder in private and social life. It was a privilege to meet him 

 in the varied clubs and other associations which he favored with 

 his presence. There we saw not only the breadth of his character, 

 his sober and solid worth, but his genial temper. No one knew 

 him thoroughly as a man who had not sat down with him at the 

 table in the day of his health and strength ; when he would unbend, 

 la}' aside each ^ carking care," and give way to that wit and humor 

 M^hich la}' imbedded in his rich, affectionate, and fertile spirit. To 

 be a friend of Mr. Wilder was indeed an enviable lot. Said one 

 to me a few da^^s since : " We all rejoiced to see him at the dinners 

 of our Board of Trade." 



Who, that ever received from him in these latter days one of 

 his tender notes signed "j'our old friend," can restrain a tear as he 

 thinks of those tremulous lines and reflects that we shall see his 

 face and enjoy the warm pressure of his hand no more ? This man- 

 liest of men, so robust in his prime, had the heart of a child. Let us 

 lay our blossom on that large and sincere gathering of the flowers he 

 so loved, and let our sorrow be turned into joy when we can do 

 our part, however small, to swell the tribute so widely and so 

 gladly paid to our departed friend and brother. 



Charles M. Hovey said that as one of the Committee to 

 prepare a memorial of Mr. Wilder, he took great comfort in sec- 

 onding that prepared by the Chairman. The Society had lost a 

 friend, but he had lost one of his oldest friends. He recalled the 

 day when he became acquainted with him and associated with 



