Scrapbook and diary: Mary Magruder,1886-1887

An Address.

BY CHAS. F. KIRK, LECTURER, MONTGOMERY COUNTY GRANGE, APRIL 29TH, 1886.

Brothers and Sisters of Montgomery County Grange:

"Whatever you attempt to do, strive to do well!" This, as you will all recognize, is from the Grange ritual; but years before the Grange was organized I heard the idea even more forcibly put by a public speaker. He said: "Do your work well! If it is but to black a boot, black it bright; if to dig a ditch, dig it straight; in short, whatever you do, do so well that God himself could find no fault with it!" There is a lesson taught by these words, upon which we would all do well to ponder. How many of us habitually do our best?

Most are subject to spasmodic, intermittent attacks of remorse, during which they make resolutions, which, to be sure, usually fall due upon an ever advancing to-morrow, and thus never quite come to maturity. But of those which begin to-day, how many endure? We are all continually bemoaning our fate, ill-luck, and the way that we really have never deserved to succeed. In this stern and inexorable, yet nevertheless tolerably just world, we all reap about what we sow.

This rule, like all generalisms, has with it the exceptions which are said to be necessary to prove a general truth, and it is because so many hope that their individual cases may be the exceptions, that so little really good work is done.

It is easier and requires less effort to think that we ought to have a great deal, and that good fortune, in deference to our merits, should come to us as it has to some others of whom we have heard, than it is to go to work and get what we want; but it is a lottery, in which are too many doleful blanks to make it other than very demoralizing even to think of the possibility of any acquisition which is not earned. The fact that we have done badly what we might have done better should stimulate to further effort, rather than discourage. There is practically nothing which will not yield to constant, unflagging, determined effort, and if any man has thus far failed in becoming what he hoped to be, he may safely conclude the reason is that he has not tried hard enough; he has not been thorough in what he has done; he has not sufficiently willed to succeed; for "the strong man and the cataract channel their own path."

To quote from Arch-deacon Farrar, "The ship is not so absolutely under the guidance of a very small helm as our whole life may be under the control of a firm will guided by an enlightened conscience. Just as the muscles are strengthened by exercise and become weak by inertness; just as the intellect is polished by attention and rusts by laziness; so the will is educated by being put in force.

"By doing, we learn to do; by resisting, we learn to resist; by obeying the reason and the conscience, we learn to obey, until we are saved from becoming either the victims of vain delusions or the slaves of passionate impulses. We build resolves on reason. Our lives become a series of right acts built on true principles.

"We secure a calm and tranquil empire over ourselves. Our souls become a holy temple, and duty, and power, and will, and moral thoughtfulness, are its pillars of jasper and adamant."

Every life should have its aim, and each act a step taken toward the goal. It is not for us to indicate what the aim of each should be; that must be determined by every individual man and woman, but be sure to have it high enough and pursue it with a perseverance which, if it must, will be contented to be slow, but will never stop, nor never falter in its determination. Even if the object of one man's ambition should seem trivial, and not worth what it costs, it is still better to have had the purpose, and to have persevered in its accomplishment, than to have been desultory, to have shown some brilliancy in many things, but to have failed in bringing any one to perfection. The day has passed when it was necessary for a man to be "a jack of all trades;" the division of labor which accompanies modern civilization has for its basis the importance of thorough work and implies a recognition of the fact that he who attempts all things will have "but a harvest of barren results."

It is trite to say that there is room at the top of all pursuits and professions; yet it will do no harm to refresh the truth in our memories. If a young man would be a lawyer, a doctor or an engineer, and throws his whole being into his profession, it will make no difference if he be not gifted by nature with more than ordinary powers, he will be a rival not to be despised by his more talented but less industrious competitor; for it is not genius, but application, which wins. The first-class telegraph operator, stenographer, mechanic, or laborer is always in demand and is well paid for what he does. The man who is not thorough can be dispensed with, for his employer knows that his place is easy to fill.

Farmers have a tendency to vegetate along in the lines of least resistance, thinking that things "will do" which do not land them in evident destruction; while all the time their consciences, if questioned, would say that they might do very differently. This must be stopped; for as we have said, the good old easy-going times have passed; competition with newer, richer soils, which though far, if measured by miles, are near, if measured by cost of transportation, have so reduced the cost of farm

products that what is not first-rate is only to be disposed of at starvation prices. An article which is the best of its kind will always sell at a profit. Horses may be cheap, but the very best never are; a fine cow never goes begging for a purchaser. If a lamb, or a calf, or hog is prime, the buyer will come to you.

Gilt-edge butter that never varies in quality is in demand; wheat, that thoroughness in cultivation and fertilization has just made yield the maximum if from the best seed and cleaned perfectly, will bring five to ten cents per bushel more than that which is mixed with rye and cockle and poorly cleaned; pure timothy or clover hay, cut and handled in the best manner, is worth from fifteen to twenty dollars per ton, when an inferior article is hard to sell at ten or twelve; poultry, which is fat and well dressed, will be wanted at sixteen and eighteen cents per pound; when that which is poor or spoiled in the dressing is only to be disposed of at ten or twelve.

In short, first-class services or first-class articles will bring first class prices, and that which is mediocre or inferior will have to compete with a great deal else which is mediocre and inferior, and will bring very little, which is in reality all that it is worth.

It is natural for us to compare our successes or failure with those of others: not that we do not want others to succeed, but that we do not like to be out-stripped by those who have a similar aim.

Have we not all been impressed in this sort of friendly rivalry with what a terrible competition a thorough-going, untiring, unceasing man is? We may seem for a time to have left him behind, and think we can stop to rest for while, but he "goes on forever," and the next thing we know all our energies are taxed to recover, if possible, what he gained while we relaxed. He appalls us! Time have been hard, difficulties have arisen, but he has seemingly been unconscious of it all—he has simply gone on.

We might think him allied to the tireless force of nature. He never seems to hurry, for if he did, his work would not be well done, but he never stops. The finite man has somehow come into possession of an infinite force! And what is the result? No matter what he attempts he succeeds. "And there is nothing that succeeds like success."

LIFE OF MISS FOLSOM.

A True Sketch of the Heroine of the Coming Blissful Event.

Until Sunday last the Buffalo Courier has contained no mention of President Cleveland's engagement to Miss Folsom. That paper is supposed to speak for the President officially. Hence the following editorial article published Sunday was read in Buffalo with great interest:

MISS FOLSOM.

Now that official announcement has been given of the coming marriage of President Cleveland and Miss Folsom on June 2, the Courier, which has refrained from adding to the unlimited and cruel preliminary gossip on the subject, finds it proper to say a few words concerning the approaching event and its heroine. The leading facts in the early life of the President's bride-elect have been so often repeated since the night of late, that it would be superfluous again to go into details concerning them had not innumerable errors crept into these unauthorized sketches.

Miss Folsom, whose Christian name, by the way, is not Frances, but Frank, was born in the year 1864, and will be 22 years old on the 21st of July. She was born in the house No. 168 Edward street, opposite the school-yard of the orphan asylum. As a child she attended Mme. Brecker's French kindergarten. Later the family moved from Edward street to the house now occupied by Mr. George J. Letchworth, in Franklin street. At the time of Mr. Folsom's death, in 1875, they were living at the Tifft House. It will be remembered that Mrs. and Miss Folsom were in Medina when this sad accident happened. After the funeral they went to Medina, where Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Folsom's widowed mother, resided. The Harmon family had good social position and owned considerable valuable real estate, including the Tifft House property. While in Medina, Miss Folsom was a pupil at the high school.

On returning to Buffalo in a few years, Frank entered the Central School, and she and her mother boarded with Mrs. Jonathan Mayhew. One of the Central School teachers has said of her that Frank learned very readily and seemed to remember equally well, and that she "always put a little of herself into her recitations." While enrolled as a pupil at the Central her name used often to get transferred to the boys' lists, and so, in order that it should sound less masculine, she temporarily inserted the initial letter C. after Frank, calling herself Frank Clara. This explains why her name now often erroneously appears with the initial C. She was a regular attendant of the Central Presbyterian Church, of which she is a member. During part of the time she was pursuing her studies at the Central School she and her mother boarded at Mrs. Carpenter's, in the Boston Block. Afterward her mother occupied Mrs. R.D. Boyd's house, in Franklin street, and from there Miss Folsom went to Wells College. Her Central School certificates admitted her to the sophomore class at Wells College, which she entered without preliminary examination in the middle of the school year.

Miss Folsom was a great favorite at Wells College, and her power of winning the love and unswerving allegiance of many friends is a direct inheritance from her father, for a more genial, generous-hearted, and companionable man than the late Oscar Folsom never lived. Her tall, commanding figure, frankness and sincerity made her the queen of the school. She was graduated from Wells College in June, 1885, her graduating essay taking the form of a story. The hampers of flowers sent to her nearly every week beginning about the second year of her college life, from the executive mansion at Albany, and the particularly abundant supply that came from the White House conservatories when she was graduated, was but one of many little attentions paid her, the knowledge of which her collegiates spread abroad on scattering to their distant homes for the summer vacations, thus exciting public gossip concerning Miss Folsom's relations to the President.

Miss Folsom has always been in the habit of spending her summers in Folsomdale, Wyoming county, two miles out of Cowlesville, at the residence of her late grandfather, Col. John B. Folsom. It is the typical homestead, a rambling farm house, set down amid the lovely scenery of the valley. Sundry newspaper reports have made Mr. Cleveland the benefactor of Miss Folsom in a money sense. Such statements are absolutely untrue. Her mother’s income has always been ample for their support, and any extra funds needed were always to be had from the grandfather, or "Papa John," as Miss Folsom called him, and whose recent death will make her the heiress of a goodly property.

Miss Folsom's character is that of an unspoiled, ingenuous girl, full of self-possession, and with too much common-sense to be overcome by the sudden elevation. Her chief characteristic is intense loyalty to her mother, who is as dear as life is known. Between them exists that perfect confidence and sympathy too seldom seen between parent and child. Miss Folsom’s life has had its deeper side. She is old for her years, and too observing and tactful to make any mistakes, which, even should they occur, would be forgiven in one so young and inexperienced, obliged suddenly to regulate her life by the complicated etiquette of society at the capital. One of her accomplishments is a rare gift for letter-writing. In dress her taste is very simple. Her common-sense is shown in naming an early date for the wedding. A postponement would have brought even more annoyance in the way of press gossip, and from the moment of landing to the day of the wedding every movement of the President and bride elect would have been subject to the espionage of prying newspaper correspondents.

Miss Folsom, outside of a very limited circle of intimate friends, is little acquainted in Buffalo, and has never mingled in society. She has never spent but a day or two at a time in Buffalo. Her only regret at this moment must be that her father is not living to be present at the marriage of his only child to the friend who stuck closer to him than a brother. It is an interesting coincidence that the Rev. Dr. Sunderland, who is to perform the marriage ceremony, frequently occupied, while settled in Batavia, the pulpit of the Central Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, the church of which Miss Folsom is a member. Dr. Sunderland, having been an attached friend of the late Dr. Lord, its pastor.

The published prints and photographs of Miss Folsom do not greatly resemble her. One of the best likenesses of her, as the Courier stated last Sunday, is by an amateur photographer. Her hair is soft and brown, of a shade between light and dark. She wears it combed back from her forehead, and loose, wavy tendrils escape here and there. She has a delicate nose and rather large nosemeet. The chief and striking beauty of her face is her mouth and chin. Mr. Aml Farnham, the artist, once said that Miss Folsom had the most beautiful mouth he had ever seen.

MEETING HIS BRIDE. President Cleveland met his betrothed Sunday night for the first time since last September, when the President and his prospective bride parted at the White House. Mr. Cleveland and his party reached Jersey City at 10.38 Sunday night from Washington. They were met by Secretary Whitney and Mr. Benj. Folsom. When the boat left the New York side of the Hudson the President and Mr. Folsom were driven in a carriage to the Gilsey House, where Mrs. Folsom and Miss Folsom were waiting patiently for him. The man who sat on the cab box seemed to think that he could not get the President to his lady love any too quickly, for he whipped the horses into a rattling pace all the way uptown. The cab reached the side entrance at ten [President Cleveland had been?] This colt is 14 [hands, bay?], with [hind?] ankles white and white star in forehead. This is a change seldom offered to buy so well-bred a Colt. Any one in want of such a colt would do well to call or write to owner, where full particulars will be given. ED. B. SCHMIDT, m31-3t 94 West Fayette street.

The State Teachers' Convention. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] BLUE MOUNTAIN, MD., July 6.--A large number of teachers and their friends are here to attend the annual convention of the Maryland State Teachers' Association, the first session of which was held here this evening at eight o'clock. Among those present were C. J. King, J. E. McCahan, F. A. Soper. G. E. Morgan, A. F. Wilkerson, W. g. Cox, Geo. L. Smith, R. C. Cole, A. D. Clark, W. J. C. Dulany, D. Noble, J. G. Wehage, and Misses Sarah Richmon, S. S. Boulden, A. E. Porter, Lydia Ennin, of Balitmore; H. P. Weiner, of Allegany; P. A. Witmer and H. K. Douglas, of Washington county; D. T. Lakin, of Frederick; T. S. Stone, of Prince George's county; E. L. Briscoe and Sylvester, St. Mary's county; Rev. A. W. Neal, Charles county; Rev. A. G. Harley, Queen Anne's County, and Rev. Wm. H. Dale, of Dorchester The convention was opened by prayer by Rev. S. W. Owen, of Hagerstown. Major H. Kyd Douglas, of the same city, made the address of welcome, in which he advised the teachers to follow the example which glorious nature had set for them and make this session one of relaxation. Teachers were too prone to fall into ruts and to maintain the rigidity of the schoolroom outside. It would be better for them to keep themselves young, fresh and green. It has been said that the hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world, and to teachers is given the charge of most precious life in its most critical and formative period--the period of childhood. He agreed with Mayor Hodges when he said that when a pupil left school he must have something to know, something to believe and something to do. All the education furnished by the State should be equal to the remotest demands of every citizen of the State. Every position in the State is attainable by her humblest citizen, and public education should guarantee to fit him intellectually and morally for any position he may occupy. This nation is constantly receiving accessions from believers in nihilism and communism, but the manhood of America will be sustained by the manhood of America's children. Prof. F. A. Soper, of Baltimore City College, Baltimore, president of the association, responded, thanking Major Douglas for the heartiness of his eloquent welcome, and congratulating his fellow-teachers upon their good fortune in having their meeting among the hospitable people and amid the grand scenery of Washington county--the first of all places on the continent to be named in honor of the Father of his Country. Thomas Story, of Montgomery county, read an interesting paper on "Teachers and Patrons," in which he ably discussed the relative duties and obligations of these two classes, dwelling particularly on the necessity of mutual forbearance and support. Among the most pleasing features of the meeting were the singing of the well-known quartet, Misses Rita and Emma Maddox and Messrs. Green and Funck, under the direction of Prof. Jno. C. Wehage, and the reading of Prof. A. D. Clark, all of Baltimore. EDUCATORS IN COUNCIL. Maryland Teachers' Association--Interesting Subjects Discussed. [Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] BLUE MOUNTAIN HOUSE, MD., July 7.--The morning session of the State Teachers' Association was opened with prayer by Dr. Bryan, of Dorchester. Resolutions of sympathy were sent to James W. Thompson, of Queen Anne's county, who was unable to attend on account of illness. Prof. Geo. S. Grape, of Baltimore, Chairman of the committee on good manners and morals, and made a report, in which he said: "All good manners originate in good morals, and all good morals are founded on principle.

The teacher should be able to know and teach the difference between morals and manners, and should enforce such knowledge by his example. Like Goldsmith's parson, he "should point to brighter worlds and lead the way." He should nourish a proper sentiment in favor of humanity in the hearts of his pupils, and hope to build there the foundation of a pure moral life. The safety of that life depends upon our trusting the training of the youth of our land to Godfearing men and women. The State must be protected from atheism and bigotry, and tolerance and liberality should be alike inculcated." Prof. John E. McCann read a paper on School Libraries, in which he referred to the law now existing in the State on this subject. This law provides for the establishment of district libraries, directing the board of commissioners of the several counties to make an annual appropriation of $10 for that purpose whenever the people of the district should raise an equal amount. The law, however, has become practically a nullity, either because the several boards have not approved the plan or from a failure on the part of the people of the several districts to avail themselves of the advantages thus offered. This should be remedied, as these libraries would be not only an intellectual benefit to the State, but a positive moral aid. The value of libraries consists in cultivating a taste for good reading and bringing good books to the attention of those who will read them. As we can most efficiently attain this object through our public schools, it is our duty as educators to use every endeavor to put into active exercise the means for accomplishing this purpose. The teacher, on account of his position and influence, has the power to secure for each district a good school library, and it is his duty to use that power. The report of Prof. McCann was discussed by Rev. Dr. Bryan, of Dorchester; Mr. Porman and W. H. Dashiell, of Princess Anne. Miss Maggie Wilson, of Talbot, read an interesting paper on school decorations. The report from the committee on teachers' associations was read by Mr. Jno. W. Halley, of Charles. Prof. Charles W. Raddatz, of Baltimore made a report on modern languages. Prof. Raddatz said the two most powerful auxiliaries to that study in the last two years have been received in the formation of the Modern Language Association, and the publication of modern language notes. The modern language notes begun this year by Prof. Elliott, of Johns Hopkins, and the American Journal of Philology, published under the auspices of Prof. Gildersleeve, of the same university, need only to have the names of their originators mentioned to assure their warmest commendation. Prof. Raddatz gave also the title and authors of several valuable additions to the text books in French and German. At the afternoon session, Mr. Wm. Dashiell, of Princess Anne, dwelt upon the necessity and advantage of having a State school journal. Mr. J. S. Crockett, of the same county, read an interesting paper on popular education; Mr. A. C. Stiles, of Washington county, one on history, and T. M. Simmons, of Montgomery, one on what constitutes a good teacher. In the evening Rev. Jas. W. Reese read an essay entitled "The Teacher as the Guardian of English." Mr. Reese said that English is the most perfect vehicle for the expression of thought that man has ever known, Greek alone excepted. Its literature has existed twelve hundred years. It is more widely spoken than any other language, and is most likely to become the world language, if there ever be such a language. To teach and maintain the purity of our language should be as much the teacher's charge as the preservation of our liberties. Rev. Daniel J. Magruder, of Calvert county, addressed the association upon the dignity and the sacred character of the teacher's profession. Judge Magruder congratulated the teachers upon the accession of

their calling to that plane which it is now beginning to occupy—a profession second only to that of the sacred teacher. The danger of modern thought is its tendency towards materialism, and it is the privilege of the teacher to correct this tendency. The State seems to have attached but little importance to this profession, paying the teacher scantily and grudgingly, while wealth is wasted in luxuries and extravagance. Judge Magruder hoped that the day will come when the fidelity of the State's servants in this great branch of her service will be adequately remunerated and this department of public service put upon a plane equal to any other in its dignity and compensation.

The exercises were pleasingly interspersed with music by Miss Maddox and Messrs. Green and Funch, and readings by Miss Agnes Durst, of Baltimore, and Professor Merritt, of Vanderbilt University. After the meeting adjourned dancing was indulged in until quite a late hour.

EDUCATORS IN COUNCIL.

Maryland Teachers' Association—Close of an Interesting Meeting.

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.]

BLUE MOUNTAIN HOUSE, MD., July 8.—At the morning session of the State Teachers' Association Miss Laura Skinner, of Baltimore county, read a paper on "Drawing," in which she deplored this country's lack of appreciation of art. She dwelt upon the practical advantage and necessity of drawing to the mechanical arts. The importance of this study seems to be understood in foreign countries, where drawing is thoroughly and generally taught. Prof. Newell has said that the manual instruction of the State would be greatly improved if drawing should hold the same place in public education that reading does. Instruction in drawing will advance every manufacturing art, and add greater worth to manufactory products and to the labors of the workmen. Miss Skinner's report was most favorably received and commended by Messrs. Witmer, of Washington, Weimer, of Allegany, G. L. Smith of, Baltimore, and Stone, of Price George's county. Mr. Smith spoke of drawing as a great auxiliary to the study of the natural sciences.

Prof. Edward T. Briscoe, of Charlotte Hall, read a report upon Latin and Greek. Prof. Briscoe did not disparage the importance of scientific and practical studies, but urged upon the association the dignity and worth of the classics, their disciplinary value and their great formative influence upon youthful minds and tastes. He said: "Our whole modern civilization owes as much to classical learning and history as to any other agency, Christianity alone excepted. Classical culture gives a peculiarly conservative character to the whole moral and social life, which is one of its chiefest safeguards."

Mr. Daniel McSwiney, of Carroll county, spoke upon "Primary Instruction," dwelling upon the necessity of such training as shall correctly form the moral life of the child.

Miss Lena Mellier, of Talbot county, read a paper upon Col. Parker's "Quincy Methods," referring to their peculiarities and benefits in primary instruction. Intellectual development and character-building are considered by those methods as inseparable. It is the teacher's work to teach the child to think clearly in order that it may learn to see its duty plainly and do it cheerfully and well. A detailed account of a work done in the Quincy schools followed, showing how interested observations, accurate concepts, correct expression and good habit-forming are to be developed in children by instructions and exercises natural and interesting to them.

A telegram from Prof. M. A. Newell, who is at Bar Habor, Me., was received, thanking the Maryland State Teachers' Association for their greeting, and expressing the hope that their aspirations might ever be as lofty and as pure as the mountains around them and the air which they breathed.

A letter was received from Hon. L. E. McComas regretting his inability to be present, and expressing his heartiest sympathy with the aims and objects of the teachers' profession, and a sincere wish that the increase of pay may keep pace with the steady improvements in the teachers themselves.

Lieutenant Ford, of the Manual Training School, Baltimore, gave a brief historical resume of the adoption of manual training in France, Germany and the United States. The Baltimore Manual Training School is the first instance of a school of that character founded as a part of the public school system in this country. Lieut. Ford gave a summary of the studies and exercises in the Baltimore Manual Training School, and spoke of the interest felt in this branch of instruction by pupils and parents of the Monumental City.

Dr. Bryan, of Dorchester, made a report upon the subject of attendance, speaking particularly upon the methods of recording and reporting it. The many different methods of recoding attendance and enrollment make it very difficult to compare the schools of different States on these subjects. Maryland has the widest extent of school age of any State in the Union, from six years to twenty-one, and the methods for reporting attendance here are probably the best and simplest.

At the afternoon session the excellent singing of the quartette, consisting of Misses Etta and Emma Maddox and Messrs. Green and Funck, under the direction of Prof. John G. Wehage, was warmly commended, the association highly appreciating the successful effort which Prof. Wehage made to obtain this music.

Papers were read by Messrs. Forman, of Wicomico, and Benson, of Montgomery.

Mr. Wilbur T. Smith, of Baltimore, offered a resolution commending the action of the late Legislature in so amending the State school law that every pupil be instructed as to the effects of alcohol and narcotics upon the human system, and recommending the several county boards to adopt and use text-books when published and prepared under the provisions of the law. This resolution was, however, after considerable discussion and strenuous opposition on the part of Mr. Squier, of Cecil, Mr. Forman, of Wicomico, and other members of the association, laid upon the table.

Prof. McCahan, of Baltimore, offered the following:

"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the chairman, to whom is committed the subject of issuing a school journal, with power to act in the premises; provided that it is the judgment of the association that a subscription of one thousand copies should be obtained before the same be published under the authority of this association."

This the association approved, and a committee consisting of Messrs. McCahan and Miller, of Baltimore; Dashiell, of Somerset; Weimer, of Allegany, and Bruff, of Baltimore county, was appointed to carry the resolution into effect.

Mr. Chaplain, of Talbot, chairman of the auditing committee, made his report, stating that there was a balance in the treasury of $237 50.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, P. A. Witmer, of Washington county; first vice-president, Wm. H. Dashiell, of Somerset county; second vice-president, Miss Sarah Richmond, of Baltimore; recording secretary, A. F. Wilkerson, of Baltmore; corresponding secretary, W. F. Smith, of Baltimore; treasurer, Geo. S. Grape, of Baltimore; executive committee, T. C. Bruff, of Baltimore county; Messrs. Mellier, of Talbot county; H. Wengate, of St. Mary's county; John E. McCahan, of Baltimore; Miss Susie McGee, of Baltimore.

Resolutions of thanks were ordered to the chairman of the association, Prof. A. Soper, Baltimore, for the able and impartial manner in which he had discharged the duties of his position; to P. A. Witmer, chairman of the executive committee, and to the ladies and gentlemen who had favored the association with elocutionary and musical exercises.

Mr. Witmer, in his report, congratulated the association upon the success of its meeting. This success has been due not only to the excellent character of the papers furnished, but to the fine music and readings and to the efficient arrangements of Mr. J. P. Shannon, manager of the Blue Mountain House, who has made very endeavor to render the stay a pleasant one. On motion the association adjourned sine die.