I hardly know how to express my appreciation of this gift, as showing the sentiment of the society towards me.  Of course, I have tried to do what I could for the society.  Sometimes, perhaps, I have gone a little too far, something like the man who was appointed in charge of a flag station.  He had never done any such service as that, but he understood the business of a flagman was to stop trains.  The first train that came along was a heavy express train, eight or ten or a dozen coaches, and he rushed out and flagged the train.  The conductor got off, all in a hurry, and looked around.  He did not see anybody but the flagman.  He said:  “Where are your passengers?” “Well,” he says, “there ain’t any passengers to get on, but I didn’t know but somebody would like to get off.” (Laughter.) Sometimes, perhaps, I have overreached myself here.

Twenty-five years is quite a while to look back, and as I look over the faces of those present I can scarcely see one that was a member of the society twenty-five years ago when I became secretary.  Mr. Long in his address before you at the banquet last night spoke of the meeting that he first attended of the horticultural society, held in what is now the Metropolitan Life, on the ground floor, and he spoke of the surroundings there.  No fruit on exhibition.  If a man had two or three apples in his pocket, he showed them around on the sly as though it was a crime to let people know there was such a thing and that he had a few at home he could eat.  Quite a remarkable thing!

That was the meeting of the horticultural society in which I was first elected secretary, and I recall well all the circumstances connected with it.  So many of our members that I thought so much of in those days are gone.  Of those who were present at that meeting, the only person left that I recall is Mr. Underwood.  I had forgotten Mr. Long was there; I think he reported the meeting; I guess the first of our meetings that he reported, too.

I am not going to make any more of an address.  President Vincent is here and will address you.  I thank you very much indeed. (Applause.)

Mr. Vincent:  I am very glad that I got in in time to be a witness to this delightful and gratifying little ceremony which has just taken place.  I can not imagine anything more satisfying to a man who, in spite of all his modesty, knows he has done for twenty-five years good, genuine, valuable work than to have other people intimate in so pleasant a way that they are not entirely oblivious to what he has done.

It always does one good to see efficient work recognized, and, while I cannot own, I am sorry to say, to an intimate personal acquaintance with Mr. Latham, I have come into association with him often enough to be able to share a little what you feel toward him and toward what he has done.

The President:  I am sure you will all be delighted to hear from the very popular president of one of the greatest universities in the United States, President George E. Vincent of Minnesota State University, who will now address you. (See index.)