Amiug0uls[;ma5™'}       Albert  Plant.— An  Appreciation.  383 
"  The  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  The  Merchants'  Association 
of  New  York  hereby  record  their  de^p  sorrow  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Albert 
Plaut,  which  occurred  on  Thursday,  June  17,  191 5,  in  this  city. 
"  Although  charged  with  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  a  large  and 
successful  business,  Mr.  Plaut  never  iailed  to  respond  generously  to  every 
demand  made  upon  him  in  connection  with  the  welfare  of  the  promotion  of 
the  trade  of  New  York.  His  unfailing  energy  and  zeal  have  been  important 
factors  in  developing  the  capacity  for  usefulness  on  the  part  of  The  Mer- 
chants' Association  of  New  York,  and  in  creating  its  ability  to  serve  the  city. 
The  confidence  reposed  in  him  was  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  a 
director  of  the  association  on  February  25,  1909,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
since  served  continuously,  and  by  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  successively 
to  each  of  the  three  grades  of  the  office  of  vice-president  of  this  association. 
"  As  our  associate  on  this  Board,  Mr.  Plaut  has  commanded  the  respect' 
and  affection  of  its  members.  Although  he  possessed  a  strong  personality 
and  was  tenacious  in  his  support  of  what  he  regarded  as  right,  he  was  always 
generous  toward  the  opinions  of  others ;  was  invariably  a  friend  of  prog- 
ress and  improvement,  and  took  a  keen  interest  in  all  projects  for  the  better- 
ment of  conditions  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The  wide  range  of  his  active, 
vigorous,  and  well-informed  mind  made  his  counsel  of  high  value. 
"  Mr.  Plaut  loved  the  city  in  which  he  lived,  rendered  his  services  freely 
and  unselfishly,  and  represented  the  best  type  of  worthy  citizenship,  both  in 
his  business  career  and  in  the  performance  of  his  civic  duties. 
"  To  the  members  of  the  family  we  extend  our  sincere  sympathy  in  their 
loss." 
Mr.  William  A.  Marble  made  a  brief  address  to  the  Board  in 
which  he  said  that  during  his  term  as  president  of  the  association  no 
member  had  proved  more  helpful  to  him  than  Mr.  Plaut,  upon  whose 
assistance  and  judgment  he  was  always  able  to  rely.  In  expressing 
his  sorrow  at  Mr.  Plaut's  death,  Mr.  Marble  applied  to  him  the  words 
of  the  poet  Halleck : 
"  None  knew  him  but  to  love  him, 
None  named  him  but  to  praise." 
Mr.  Plaut  possessed  a  keen  intellect  and  was  exceptionally  well 
informed  with  regard  to  all  efforts  for  progress,  social,  political,  and 
commercial,  throughout  the  world.  Although  one  of  the  city's  most 
active  business  men,  his  interests  took  a  wide  range  and  his  views 
and  opinions  were  strongly  individual.  He  was  a  tireless  worker, 
and  with  the  growth  of  his  business  the  burden  which  he  carried 
increased  to  such  an  extent  that  he  often  complained  that  it  left  him 
so  little  time  for  himself. 
By  his  will  Mr.  Albert  Plaut  directed  that  $25,000  be  divided 
among  twenty-seven  employees  who  had  been  associated  with  the 
