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Rh that they had all the salesmen they needed, and that considerable traveling was being done by one member of the firm. There was no other alternative left but to stick to the first job until something, somewhere, might turn up.

Trip to Baltimore

In April, 1889, my employer, who was in the habit of working Baltimore every month, bethought himself to try me and see what I could accomplish. He gave me to understand that if I did well in Baltimore I should go to Washington, Petersburg, Richmond and Norfolk. My delight knew no bounds, for as compared with playing pack-horse to a string of baskets, carrying a sample case into new and unexplored fields was an alluring adventure.

I landed in Baltimore one rainy morning, but rain and sunshine were of no consideration. I was too full of my undertaking to be restrained by the weather. I saw the Baltimore trade, seeing the store men during the day, and working the small places on the outskirts late into the evening. Orders came my way. I felt encouraged, and more determined to keep the good work up.

On to the National Capital

Three days in Baltimore sufficed. From there I went to Washington—to the National Capital. I well remember the impression when I first beheld the brass star at the old Pennsylvania depot, marking the spot where Garfield fell, after being shot down by the assassin. Washington, like many another city, during the past generation has advanced rapidly in every particular. The streets are finer and more attractive than at that time; the new hotels are luxurious. I shall touch more on the subject of hotels as I proceed.

In those days there were but few flower stores in Washington. There were Small & Sons, Hale, Freeman, and a few others. The most successful florists of today in Washington were at that time just about starting. There are Gude Bros., for example. When I first called on the Gude Bros., the genial Adolph was just about completing his first or second house, and it was a modest little plant at that. Will Gude was his able assistant. When I first beheld them, I felt intuitively that these young men were destined to make their mark in the world of horticulture. That my intuition was correct is well attested by the modern plant they have established at Anacostia, and their magnificent store, one of the finest in Washington.

About that time I also met Fred Kramer. Young Fred (and by the way, he is still as young as ever) impressed me as being very kind-hearted, considerate, and an enthusiast. If, for example, an article of merchandise pleased him, he immediately saw possibilities of using a quantity—a large quantity, in fact. As it turned out invariably with him, he was never disappointed in his undertakings. Fred has splendid qualities, chief of which is sincere friendship for anybody who wins his confidence.

F. R. Freeman was of a somewhat reserved nature, at first not easily approached, but upon closer acquaintance, as was proved in my case, a whole-souled, genial man.

Experience in Richmond and Norfolk

My experience in Richmond was of but short duration. With all due deference to the progressive spirit of that Southern city, and its many other attractive features, in my case it proved somewhat of a hoodooed town; in other words, I could never accomplish any results in Richmond. It is not unlikely that older houses that had preceded me managed to hold on to their trade, despite my efforts to divert it in some measure my own way.