STATE POMOLOOTCAL SOCIETY. 33 



meteorological observations and made up the table of the day's results. 

 Our annual exhibition was to open the 14th, and he had been bus}- 

 for a da}' or two in getting together his fruit, and making arrange-' 

 ments for the fair. On the 10th, he wrote a letter to your Secretary 

 in regard to his exhibit, which was the last letter he ever penned. 

 In it he said : "I fear on account of the drouth and the early date of 

 the fair there will not be so good a displa}^ of fruit as usual. I hope, 

 however, to be able to make a fair show. I have been quite unwell for 

 some weeks but hope to be strong enough to go to Lewiston on Tues- 

 day." He penned a few directions to his head farmer in regard to the 

 exhibit which he was to make, and these were found upon his table after 

 his decease and faithfully carried out. He died on Sunday, September 

 12th. Mr. Merrill took charge of his collection, some thirt}' varieties, 

 and it was given the central place in the Kennebec County exhibit,, 

 marked off from the others b}' a festoon of crape. In the centre 

 was a beautiful floral design, the work of Mr. Roak, which consisted 

 of a wreath of white lilies and buff roses, cut in twain by a sickle 

 of dark pansies, the handle of which was composed of white carna- 

 tions. A mourning card contained the words "Robert Hallowell 

 Gardiner, 1809-1886." 



On the day of his funeral His Honor, Mayor Ladd, issued a procla- 

 mation to the business men of Gardiner, asking them, '-'in respect to 

 the memory of a life-long and esteemed citizen," to close their places of/ 

 business from 4 to 6 o'clock P. M. , and this was universal!}- observedi- 

 as showing the "respect due to an aged and honest citizen." The 

 vestry of Christ Church passed resolutions in which was expressed : 

 "His life has been replete with earnest zeal for the Master's cause 

 and the good of the church, increasing more and more with each 

 passing year unto its perfect end. The communit}^ has lost a valued 

 citizen, the poor a friend and benefactor whose charity knew no 

 bounds, and we a brother, friend and leader whose place in our hearts 

 now thrills with pain at our loss — which is his gain." The Board of 

 Missions of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine recorded its tribute to 

 the deceased in these words: "We, its members, feel that it is an 

 honor to ourselves rather than to him to recognize and recall his 

 refined courtesy, his unvarying kindness, and his unostentatious 

 liberality ; and to have seen in him, one who, through youth, man- 

 hood and old age, was one who received the kingdom of heaven as 

 a little child and has now gone home to his reward." 



