Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

614 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
said, " He wishes to see you." The young man then went to Mr. Goodyear,
who looked up from the desk at whicli lie was writing, and said, " How do you
do? You are from Springfield, and used to be a clerk for Palmer & Clark.
Do you remember a certain red apple which was given to me once? " The j'oung
man replied that he did, and that he was A^ery glad to know that circumstances
had greatly changed ; and also that he had noticed with a great deal of interest
Avhat had been said of Mr. Goodyear, especially in regard to india-rubber pon-
toons, which he was then making for the French government. After a pleasant
conversation, Mr. Goodyear asked the young man to step around to liis hotel at
12 o'clock. The young man did so, and soon he was invited by Mr. Goodyear
to drive with him to the Bois de Boulogne. The emperor, one other distin-
guished party, Mr. Goodyear, and the young clerk from the Springfield tailor-
shop Avere the only ones that drove that day up and down the avenue behind
four horses. Mr. Goodyear showed this young man great attention afterwards,
and they were constantly talking about Springfield. Why, gentlemen, the fact
that Charles Goodyear carried to such great perfection his india-rubber inven-
tions in this town is glory enough for Springfield.
In my travels over the country I find, all the way from Halifax to San Fran-
cisco, men scattered along the railway lines who have graduated from this Boston
& Albany Railroad. And it is only a few days ago, when in the far West, I met
several men of my set, and every one of them said something about tliis beauti-
ful old town. They mentioned the names of friends whom they knew as boys,
and after whom they asked witli most affectionate tenderness. I should do them
and myself injustice if I were to sit down without naming one, a lady, most
beautiful in appearance, most dignified in her bearing, and lovely in her char-
acter, who has done more for the boys of Springfield than any one person that I
know of. She is now living among you, and I mention her with the greatest
veneration and respect, Miss ^largaret Bliss. I also wish to mention three men
(there are others, but these three names come to my mind at this moment), from
whom most of the boys have received kind words of encouragement some time
in tlieir lives, wliich they would never have had if it had not been for these
three gentlemen now living among you. and after whom the boys always inquire
when I meet them in my travels through the country. I allude to Mr. Homer
Foot, Judge Henry Morris, and Mr. Henry Fuller, Jr. And all I desire is, that
the men of to-day will continue and carry out the enterprise and high principles
practised by the men of noble character of the last fifty years.
Speeches were also made by the Rev. John Cucksou, of Spriugfleld,
and IJev. Mr. Harding, of Longmeadow. Many letters of regret