OCTOBBB 13, 1921 



The Rorists^ Review 



29 



The Tone of Progress. 



Might it not be added that the dawn 

 of the day for which we look will not 

 be ushered in with a flourish of trumpets 

 and a beating of drums, but rather will 

 it steal along the byways and down the 

 countrysides where men and women are 

 consciously or unconsciously scattering 

 the flowers and the fragrances of fellow- 

 ship and community and brotherliness, 

 where the good old golden rule principle 

 is being remembered and where there 

 is not only preached but practiced the 

 gospel of the human heartbeat? And 

 who shall dare to tabulate the contribu- 

 tion to the world's stability, the world's 

 peace and prosperity, the world's right- 

 eousness of an international intermin- 

 gling such as this? From this high view- 

 point we may well rejoice in the faith 

 and vision of the pioneers and the im- 

 agination and cooperation of those all 

 along the line whose work has its result 

 in the great organization as it exists 

 today. 



But I may be pardoned for adding 

 that there can be no resting on our oars. 

 Today's goal must be tomorrow's start- 

 ing point. There is still need for the 

 clarion call to fellowship and commu- 

 nity. In this glorious era of rebuilding 

 and reconstruction there are gulfs to 

 span, wrongs to right, opportunities re- 

 vealing themselves at every point for a 

 closer application of those great, abid- 

 ing principles on which, as F. T. D. 

 members, we pride ourselves. 



I.et us nil get together and build a bridge, 



Tlie rhasm between to span; 

 l?nil<i bigh and wide from ridge to ridge, 



And mingle as man to man. 

 Dream our dreams and sing our songs, 



Wliile sharing each otlier's load; 

 Helping to riglit the old world's wrongs, 



liy mending the gap In the road. 



Yes. biiiid it strong: cross and recross, 



To look in each otlier's eyes; 

 And skim from onr human hearts the dross, 



As Jealousy's hot flame dies. 

 For well I know, someliow I know. 



That the strife and tlie din shall cease: 

 As over tlie great white bridge we go, 



The bridge of love and peace. 



Trying to catch sometliing of that 

 fine spirit, realizing more than ever the 

 dignity of the profession to wliich we 

 belong, believing intensely in the rock- 

 bottom ])rinci])les on which the F. T. 1). 

 structure is being reared, with lips that 

 trcniblp, because of their incnpncity, but 

 witli a heart that is back of every word 

 I :iin trying to say, my simple message 

 on behalf of those for wliom I am proud 

 to speak is "Welcome, a thousand times, 

 Welcome!" 



WORDS OF WELCOME. 



Both Countries Eepresented. 



I am glad; indeed, I am more than 

 glad, I am proud of this ojiportunity to 

 welcome to Canada tliis organization, 

 which is composed of the best and most 

 ]irogressive retail florists. 



A l.'irge majority of your iiiembers are 

 Ainericiiu retailer.s, but Cntiada is well 

 represented in your membership. I hojie 

 the acquaintances you make with the 

 Canadian brethren at this meeting and 

 the impressions you receive in Canada 

 will convince you tliat the Canadian re- 

 tailer is a wide-awake business man like 

 yourselves and that the land he lives in 

 is a fine place, too. 



In Canada we have not the density of 

 population you have; so in the country 



Address of welcome to those attending the 

 sixth annual convention of tlie F. T. D., at 

 Toronto, October 11 to l.S. delivered on behalf 

 of the Canadian Ketail Flo-ists' Association by 

 its president, S. A. McFadden. 



S. A. McFadden. 



(President Canadian Kctall Florist*' Association.) 



and smaller places we have not such 

 numbers of retailers as are found in your 

 country. But in the cities, in the larger 

 center.s, the retail florists' business is 

 well developed and there .'ire many large 

 establishments handling large business. 

 The Canadian retailer has his prob- 

 lems of buying and selling, of publicity 

 iind delivery, and of business metliods. 

 For some of us these problems have been 

 fairly well solved, but we are looking for 

 better solutions. 



Eyes to the Future. 



The F. T. D. has done a gre.-it work in 

 solving jirdblems of the retailer and in 

 making more business, but there are still 

 ■.\ great many who are not members of 

 the F. T. 1). and who do not receive the 

 helj) lliis organization stands ready jind 

 willing to give. We realize that it is 

 only by exchanging ideas, hearing the 

 ideas and methods of the other folio. v 

 ami getting acquainted with him that 

 we can hojie to make improvement. 



Home two years ago it occurred to a 

 number of retailers that a CanadiMii 

 organization of retailers would and comM 

 be helpful. The need of it was also felt. 

 Only by getting together and practicing 

 cooperation could many of the common 

 diflicUlties and jtroblems be settliMl. AVe 

 can do almost anything if we go at it. 

 Those who think they can't are always 

 right. We went at it, and the Canadian 

 Retail Florists' Association was formed, 

 and while as yet we have not accom- 

 plished anything great, still we are mov- 

 ing in the right direction. 



This is the organization I represent 



today and on whose behalf I welcome 

 you to t'anada and to Toronto. I know 

 your meeting will be helpful. The sub- 

 jects on the program for consideration 

 and discussion are of vital importance 

 t;i us all. The matter of standard griul- 

 ing (if roses, etc., I am glad, is to be 

 taken up and discussed. In Canada we 

 ha\e been agitating for some time for 

 a standard grading, but, as yet, have not 

 been able to get the growers to come 

 together on this important matter. I 

 hojie a stamlard will be adojited at this 

 iiueting, a stand.'ird tliat all retailers 

 and growers will subscribe to, and in 

 doing so clear up a ]iroi)lein that has 

 needed coTqH'ration and action for some 

 time. 



I trust your visit will be pleasant and 

 enlertainiiig. We Canadians will do all 

 in iiur jiower lo make it so. Meetings 

 such as this one are always benefici.-il. 

 One nu'cts his brother and sister crafts- 

 men and becomes better ac(|uainte(l. 

 Misunderstandings and prejudices are 

 wiped out and a sjiirit of friendliness 

 ;nid cooperation is engendered. 



Again I welcome you. Again I say 

 we are glad you are here. 



FLORISTS OF THE WORLD. 



(The response of W. J. Smyth, of Chicago, to 

 tlie addresses of welcome liy Canadians, deliv- 

 ered at Toronto. Octolier 11. lOL'l.J 



The remarks of welcome from our 

 friends and brother members, Messrs. 

 Gammage, McFadden and Groves, to 

 which we have just listened, speak vol- 

 umes for the hospitality and good will 

 which, I am glad to say, is characteristic 



