THE ART AND THE SCIENCE OF LIVING 
A PERSONAL LETTER — TO YOU 
Dear Floral Friends, 
Since I have 30,000 pen pals, it is obvious that I cannot write individual letters to 
each of you. To do so, I would need to write 30 letters per day for 1000 days; three 
years, six days a week and 13 days vacation each year. I don’t believe I could write 30 
letters a day if as long as this one may be, as I write slowly. But suppose that I could 
and that one person could type that many. The typing would cost about $7,000.00 or 
more. In good office practice, it is considered that letters cost 50c each in labor and 
material, so it might cost me much more than $7000 for the typing. The postage would 
cost $900.00. Stationery, $300.00 or more. 
My disposition, on account of the prolonged, intense effort and nervous strain, 
would become so bad that no one would work for me. My wife would divorce me, 
my friends and relatives desert me. Heaven only knows what else, but this would be 
enough. : 
I will continue therefore to. write you this letter twice a year as an introduction to 
our Spring and Fall Catalogs, and will usually talk to you about flowers and anything 
or everything that pertains to the Art and Science of Living. The discussions are often 
rambling because I am frequently interrupted. But they will be chatty, like a 
conversation between friends. 
I believe this reductio ad absurdum reasoning will explain to you why you do not 
always receive replies to your letters. This catalog is written to furnish the information 
that is usually asked for. The expressions of good will; of satisfaction for the results 
obtained by planting our bulbs, for the advice given in the catalogs and for many other 
generous and kind remarks made in your letters to me are always very much appreciated. 
Sometimes an especially gratifying letter comes to me at a time when the uplift of such 
a letter is most helpful, because when you are pleased, I am pleased. When you have 
had a higher degree of success with your flowers, I am sharing your happiness. 
But now and then I receive a caustic letter. I am accused of being “high hat” when 
I frankly admit I cannot answer all letters. Invited to come down out of the ether. 
Bulbs are sometimes accused of being the cause of failures since the grower could not 
have made an error or neglected any requirement of their culture. 
It is difficult to admit that one has been at fault. It is much easier to blame the 
bulbs. This human fault extends into many other cases which we try judicially, in foro 
‘interno. The decision, “I was right, the other fellow was wrong.” It is more comfortable 
to blame the bulbs, the plants, seeds or setting of eggs for our own failure than to blame 
ourselves. It is just as reasonable to blame the rock you stub your toes against or the 
ingredients of a cake recipe if you fail. Poor stock can be the cause of failure but 
incorrect handling is a 1000 to 1 cause. 
Only the wise are able to say, “I don’t know,” or “T failed.” When we admit that, 
we have learned. 
Happiness is universally desired but few know how to attain it. They often mistake 
thrills and excitement for happiness. Others make their own happiness the purpose of 
all their actions. Vain quest. We gain most of our happiness thru service to others. 
Success for our undertakings is always expected but all too often, not realized. 
It is said that 90% of all business enterprises end in failure. The greatest enterprise of 
all is “living.” Within this generalized term are included such components as Marriage, 
Raising Families, Occupation, Affiliations with Church, Lodges or Friends. Success in 
all these departments of life, depends upon our approach. One must not ask what he 
can get out of marriage but what he can put into marriage; not what he can get from 
his church, his lodge or his friends but what he can give them. One must give first 
before getting. 
Life is an experiment. We learn by trial, failure, success, observation. We are lucky 
when we learn by observation and thus escape a few personal failures, or when we 
weigh the advice of others. It is only children who do not do that. Those who teach us 
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