May  I,  1896.1 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
775 
^oiirespondenoo. 
• 
I'o  the  Editor. 
TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
THE  HIUTLSII  A.SSOCIATION  MEETINCi  ; THE 
PROPOSED  COLONIAL  EXPOSITION. 
Toronto.  March  5. 
Dear  Sir, — read  witli  much  interest  tlie 
letter  of  “ T.  A.  C.”  in  your  issue  of  Jan,  2.Sr(J, 
and  as  we  are  "reatly  intereste<l  in  any  advertise- 
ment that  Ceylon  teas  can  have  in  Canada,  we 
take  the  liberty  of  correcting  him  as  to  the 
place  in  wliich  tlie  British  Association  will  meet, 
which  will  be  at  Toronto,  Canada,  not  at  Mont- 
real. 
“ T.  A.  C.”  also  seems  to  be  under  the  impres- 
sion that  the  proposed  Colonial  e.\ position  is  to 
take  place  next  year,  l)ut  tliis  is  to  take 
])lace  this  year,  commencing  in  May  next, 
and  as  soon  as  we  are  satisfied  that  this 
))roposed  exhibition,  whicli  is  under  “ pri- 
vate auspices,”  will  be  a success,  we  will 
make  arrangements  to  have  a good  Ceylon  tea 
exhibit  there. 
We  have  been  in  communication  with  Mr. 
William  Mackenzie  about  this  for  the  last  six 
months,  and  you  can  depend  upon  it  that  if  this 
exhibition  takes  place,  and  is  at  all  likely  to  be 
a success,  an  exhibit  will  be  made  worthy  of  the 
sland. — Yours  truly,  P.  C.  LARKIN  & CO. 
xNEWS  FROM  MR.  McCOMBIE  MURRAY. 
200  W.  41st  St.  New  York,  March  11. 
Dear  Sir, — I am  ashamed  to  refer  to  the  date  of 
the  last  kindly  letter  addressed  to  me  by  you.  To 
save  humiliation  and  space  in  explanation  1 will 
ask  you  to  let  “ that  flea  stick  to  the  wa.”  You  re- 
quested me  to  write  from  America.  Let  me  now  do 
so,  and  let  bygones  be  bygones.  I shall  endeavour 
to  interest  you  and  your  readers,  and,  if  successful, 
I am  at  your  command  in  the  future. 
My  ten  years,  absence  from  Ceylon  must  neces- 
sarily present  me  to  the  planting  community  as  a 
comparative  stranger,  particularly  as  I have  ceased 
to  act  as  an  adviser  and  prophet.  I remember 
well  my  last  letter  written  at  the  time  of  the  for- 
mation of  the  first  Company  represented  by  Mr.  R 
E.  Piueo — and  the  notification  of  my  retirement  as 
correspondent  therein  contained.  Once  again  I, 
wrote  regarding  Mr.  Elwood  May,  and  since  then  I 
have  been  content  to  look  on — but  I doubt  if  anyone 
has  reviewed  with  keener  latent  interest  the  evolu- 
tion of  theory,  born  of  Ceylon,  into  results  as  a prac- 
tical American  Campaign.  You  must  know  of  course 
somewhat  of  ray  own  experience  from  beginning  to  end, 
how  that  I fought  my  own  battles  in  Philadelphia  from 
date  of  arrival  till  the  end  of  1889,  when  I ceased  to  exist 
as  a Firm  and  that  for  another  year  I tried  to  work  out 
my  own  salvation  at  a desk  in  Shannon’s  Old  Tea 
Store  (now  V.  R.  Harkness)  in  Philadelphia.  What 
I went  through  in  experience  and  money  is  a 
matter  of  past  personal  history,  which  did  not  ap- 
pear at  the  time  to  interest  Ceylon  planters  very 
much,  and  certainly  cannot  benefit  them  in  any  way 
now.  They  have  so  many  able  writers  and  talkers 
to  express  like  experiences  in  later  years  vho  are 
even  now  in  their  midst  that  I may  be  considered 
a back  number. 
One  fact  however  remains  to  me  as  a solace  when 
I look  back  upon  the  past. 
I can  read  every  letter  I wrote,  which  appenred  in 
your  columns  from  the  time  I first  advocated  a 
Ceylon  Tea  Syndicate,  before  leaving  Ceylon,  to  the 
date  of  my  last  writing,  without  withdrawing  one 
single  expression  of  my  views  as  they  are  now. 
Not  that  I wogld  not  do  so  willingly,  and  without 
feeling  ashamed  of  error  in  judgment,  for  I would 
be  excused — but  I have  no  reason  to  alter  my  opi- 
nions as  expressed  in  the  past,  and  therefore  refer 
to  all  past  arguments  as  applicable  to  the  intro- 
duction of  Ceylon  Tea  in  the  United  States  today. 
To  return  to  the  date  of  my  retirement  from  the 
Ceylon  Tea  business,  say  1891,  I,  as  you  probably 
are  aware,  gave  my  attention  to  music  as  a 
profession,  and  studied  ‘‘the  Voice”  as  a specialty. 
I was  comparatively  successful,  and  have  some 
reputation  as  an  authority  on  the  subject.  As  you 
have  in  your  community  a percentage  of  musicians, 
I will  take  pleasure  in  sending  you  such  matter  as 
will  shew  how  the  march  of  science  is  clearing 
jungles  of  mystery  which  have  obstructed  the  light 
of  understanding  in  the  art  of  voice  production. 
I can  do  so  with  the  assurance  that  I am  “up 
to  date  ” in  my  information,  as  I am  in  constant 
attendance  at  the  Columbia  College,  New  York 
where  scientific  investigation  is  now  being  carried 
on  by  a newly  discovered  process  which  is  attracting 
the  universal  attention  of  vocalists  and  prominent 
teachers  in  the  profession. 
When  I say  I have  the  public  criticisms  Ac. 
handed  to  me  for  answer  by  the  authorities  at  the 
College,  you  will  be  more  likely  to  rely  upon  my 
writing,  all  of  which  passes  through  their  hands 
before  publication. 
Until  September  1st  1895,  I remained  in  Philadel- 
phia. I think  I sent  you  copies  of  my  professional  cir- 
ulars  w’ith  cuts  of  my  choir — in  itself  an  innovation 
as  having  vested  girls  instead  of  boys  as  choristers.' 
Even  in  this,  I had  my  battles  to  fight.  The  idea 
was  discountenanced  as  “ unchurchly,”  “ unscrip- 
tural” — by  some — “ High  Church,”  and  “ Ritualistic” 
by  others  who  were  of  Low  Church  persuasion.  By 
winning  over  the  authorities,  however,  a trial  service 
was  granted,  and  being  well  prepared,  the  music  was 
not  only  acceptable,  but  the  appearance  of  the 
innocent  little  girls  in  their  vestments  banished 
prejudice  in  all  but  those  who  “ would  not  have  it, 
or  wouldleave  the  Church.”  ’ 
They  did  so — for  the  choir  was  unanimously  adopted 
(with  but  one  dissentient)  within  20  minutes  of  the 
dismissal  of  the  congregation  which  was  the  largest 
ever  gathered  together  in  the  Church  since  its  erec- 
tion. 
Others  followed,  and  now  I presume  at  least  half 
the  Episcopal  Churches  in  Philadelphia,  and  many 
in  New  York  and  other  large  cities,  are  supporting 
mixed  vested  choirs.  • ° 
To  leave  this  choir,  the  result  of  my  personal 
training  of,  principally,  Sunday  school  children 
of  whom  six  are  now  receiving  good  salaries,  nearly 
broke  my  heart,  but  after  five  years’  service 
I made  up  my  mind  to  make  a change,  and 
by  coming  to  New  York,  look  out  for  a larger  and 
unlimited  field  for  the  creation  of  a greater  choir 
built  upon  the  same  principles.  I therefore  tackled 
'*  Trinity,”  and  while  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan  Dix  dots 
not  as  yet  see  fit  to  increase  the  present  appropria- 
tion of  $13,000  for  music,  I have  not  given  up  all 
hopes  of  at  some  future  time  getting  in  my  work 
there  among  the  3,000  girls  who  are  taught  to  sew. 
Meantime,  I am  honored  with  the  position  of  Bari- 
tone Soloist  in  the  Choir,  and  am  known  to  most 
of  the  prominent  ministers  in  New  York  City,  as 
the  advocate,  of  the  early  training  of  young  girls  as 
choristers  in  every  church.  I have  also  been  suc- 
cessful in  introducing  Ceylon  tea  to  Dr.  Dix,  and 
while  he  is,  of  all  men,  the  most  conservative,  'l  am 
hopeful  he  will  recognize  merit  in  this  one  we?/;’ thing 
even  if  he  gets  it  through  his  grocer,  who,  he  tells 
me  has  provided  him  with  tea  for  25  years. 
This  brings  me  to  present  interest  in  connection 
with  Ceylon  tea,  and  to  the  subject  I will  devote 
another,  bat  more  important  chapter.— Faithfully 
yours.  .J.  McCOMBIE  MURRAY 
200  W.,  list  St.,  New  York. 
all  such  as 
had  become 
Witli  tea  merchants,  grocers  and 
handled  Ceylon  tea  in  Philadelphia,  I 
personally  acquainted. 
Albeit  I was  searching  for  churches  in  New  York 
I could  not  forget  my  old  interest.  I settled  dowij 
