Page:The Tales of a Traveller.djvu/33

Rh will all come around to my way of thinking before long. As to the florists who seem to have it in for me because of John Wanamaker, I am not in the least disturbed by them. They have the privilege to buy wherever they please."

Needless to add, William K. Harris's words were realized.

My second trip ended in July, 1897. I had managed to save a few dollars, enough at least to keep myself and family in comfortable circumstances until the Fall season commenced. Not wishing to waste my time during the enforced leisure at home, I took up a line of iron plant stands from a Western house, and managed to sell quite a few in Philadelphia.

Specializing on the Carnation

In the Fall of 1897, I made my third trip. At this time I had no more "tooth-picks and automobiles" to offer, but managed to get along quite nicely with the few lines I had. In fact, I found it greatly to my advantage to reduce my lines, and to make the best of those I had. The Carnation business held out special charms for me. Unquestionably the flower itself, its aesthetic rather than its business side, appealed to my fancy. While pushing the other lines, I made of the Carnation a specialty. The introduction of new varieties on my own account never occurred to me then. I was well satisfied with the varieties offered by reputable houses, and endorsed by growers who saw them in different stages of growth. I may add here that I was always scrupulously careful not to lend myself to the dissemination of any variety the merit of which was questionable.

Carnation Marquisee

It was about this time that the late E. Marquise of Syracuse was about to introduce his new pink Carnation Marquisee, a gem of its time. The Carnation convention was held in February, 1898, in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Marquise's success was most gratifying to him. The judges at the convention (I cannot now recall their names) awarded him the silver medal. At the banquet, I remember ex-Mayor Smith of Philadelphia, who happened to be toastmaster, presented the medal to Mr. Marquise, and made an appropriate speech in his own inimitable style, concluding with these words:

"Mr. Marquise, permit me to congratulate you; for you have made your mark—see? (Marquisee)."

I took up that Carnation and helped in its dissemination with all the energy and hard work I could muster. In connection with this Carnation, I made something of a mark myself. By actual count, I sold about thirty thousand. My commission on the sales netted me a nice little sum, more money than I had ever had at any one time.

But aside from the monetary consideration, my success with Marquisee bore other fruit. It stimulated my energies and proved to me beyond any shadow of doubt that hard work, coupled with enthusiasm and a thorough belief in the merit of the article itself, could not possibly fail to accomplish results. I saw great possibilities in the horticultural line; I saw a great future, well realizing that the florists' business was still in embryo. I became an enthusiast, feeling that I was somewhat of a factor in helping to fulfill those latent possibilities.

Carnation Queen Louise Queen Louise, introduced by J. L. Dillon, was the next variety on my list. Queen Louise was a small bloom, a variety that would have no possible chance today; but in its time it was most meritorious in every respect. The late Mr. Dillon spoke to me about it a year prior to its introduction, and when he finally