139 



ber 2 following. A committee was appointed consisting of Dr. 

 HoUick, Mr. E. E. Sterns, and Professor Newberry, to deliberate 

 and report to the Club whether it were advisable for us to take 

 any action for the furtherance of this mov^ement. The possibility 

 of the realization of our long cherished hopes now began to take 

 possession of our minds, yet without any very strong hope being 

 entertained. The Club had no political influence and little acquain- 

 tance with those financial interests, the aid of which was rightly 

 deemed to be essential to success. As it resulted, however, some 

 of these men u^ere led to interest themselves in the proposition, 

 largely through the influence of Judges Addison Brown and 

 Charles P. Daly, and of Mr. Charles F. Cox and Mr. \Vm. E. 

 Dodge. For a long time the idea was regarded with favor in 

 influential circles, but without any definite steps being taken to 

 execute it. Finally, it was remembered that all history teaches 

 that w'hen you have wearied of discussing a project, and are at 

 length really resolved to carry it out, you must call in the assist- 

 ance of the women. So a ladies' committee was appointed and 

 held a memorable meeting at the residence of Mrs. Charles P. 

 Daly, which some of the men, your favored speaker among them, 

 were graciously permitted to attend. This influence, while but 

 one of many, each of which was necessary to success, seemed to 

 give the final impetus needed. Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt assumed 

 the financial and executive management of the enterprise, and the 

 stage of organization was reached. 



One element in the success of the Garden that has already shown 

 itself to possess a value beyond price, and which is certain to do 

 so with increasing clearness in the future, is the protective influ- 

 ence of its charter. Born of the learning, long and wide experi- 

 ence and ripe judgment of Judges Brown and Daly, and occupy- 

 ing their attention for considerably more than a year before they 

 were willing to regard it as satisfactory, it seems to provide for 

 every important contingency that it was possible to foresee, and 

 it promises a safety, permanence and stability that are too often 

 wanting in similar organizations. 



To enter upon a discussion of the personal credit due in the 

 membership, the board of managers and of scientific directors, and 



