FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 1 2 5 



within the hmits of France, packages up to 6j^> lbs. are car- 

 ried for 12 cents; up to ii lbs. 16 cents; up to 22 lbs. 25 cents. 

 For five cents extra, the parcels are delivered at the residence 

 of the man who orders them, this principle being- much the 

 same as our ten cent special delivery system. Under this 

 system, the country people in France are shipping lumdreds 

 of thousands of packages of butter, poultry, fruit, vegetables, 

 and even eggs, by mail. When we come to think of shipping 

 a dozen eggs by mail, we get down pretty close to the very 

 limit of business. The result of this has been that the coun- 

 try people are able to deal direct with the consumers. They 

 dispose of immense quantities of first-class products in this 

 way, sending it direct to the city, avoiding the extortionate 

 charges of the express companies, and also the profits of the 

 middle men. If those merchants and others who opposed 

 the parcels post were as wise as they ought to be, they would 

 see two things. First, that their opposition is sure to be 

 swept away, just as soon as people realize the benefits from 

 this parcels post. Second, that the more they oppose it, and 

 the more they stand up against it. the more their business is 

 going to be hurt when it does come, because people will be 

 well satisfied with part of the system to begin with, and give 

 all a chance to adjust their business ; whereas, if this oppo- 

 sition is kept up, the people will demand more and more, and, 

 in the end, they will get it. This system of parcels post is, 

 in my judgment, of great benefit to the apple grower in New 

 England. It will give the little man a chance against the big 

 man. I don't believe in the theory that the big folks are to 

 gobble up the little ones and live on them. The whole spirit 

 of the future is the fact that the little man in the future will 

 take his chance in the market, not by his size as compared 

 with his competitors, but rather by his skill and ability to put 

 up a first-class article of fruit. 



Mr. Collingwood's splendid address held the close atten- 

 tion of everyone present, and at its conclusion the speaker 

 was accorded hearty applause. Always a favorite speaker 



