Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-26
That Hartford Gathering.

Vt1B
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The annual meeting and winter supper of the Connecticut Commercial Travellers Asso- citation was held Thursday evening, January 22, at the United States Hotel, Hartford. Thinking that many of your readers in New Haven and elsewhere will be interested in a full account of the gathering. we have taken some pains in a few moments snatched be- tween train times to get together the following items, which we submit with best wishes The business meeting was called to order by the president, Frank Cowles of Hartford, at 7:s0 p. m., and after the transaction of the ordinary routine business design for an as- sociation pin, consisting of gold order book and pencil, was adopted. The executive com mittee reported AT new names since the last meeting. A committee of seven-A. Howard Abbe, of Hartford, being chairmau-was ap- pointed to select time and place for summer meeting.
 These matters being finished, the associa- ton proceeded to the election of officers, with the following result: Frank Cowles, of Hart ford, president; Eugene 0. Hill, New Haven, secretary; vice presidents. George Oomstook, Bridgeport; 0. H. Tompkins, Norwalk; Ralph J. Miner, New Haven N. H. Ames, New London William B. Young, Norwich John Fl. Marsh, Hartford William B. Stevens, Willimantic; Frank o. Bushnell. New Haven.
 The former treasurer, 0. G. Beckwith, of New London, having changed his business, felt compelled to decline reelection and Charles T. Ward, of New Haven, was elected treasurer in his place. At 8:3O p. m. the bus mess meeting closed, and nearly 100 commer- cial travellers, who had been swarming into LI~- msk- l. mingled together for an hour in pleasant con- dition, living over again the excitement of for mer meetings or recounting few of the num- berless experiences, either pleasant or comical, that filed the pages of their memory, and had served from time to time to break the monot- ony of samples or smooth down the asperi- ties of sharp competition, or render sunny the incidents of sume cloudy day ana many times the hearty laugh or the cordial greeting rang out loud and clear as some new conner arrived to increase the group. A pleasing feature of the occasion was the fact that many faces new to the gatherings were noticed. Among them were noticed W. H. Clarke with Chidsey, W. J. Bradley of the Singer Sewing Machine Co.,, J. D. Dewell of New Haven, J. D. Hunt of Brooklyn, A. K. Folman, presi- dent, and M. B. Cole, vice president of the N. B. Commercial Travellers Association of Bos- ton, s. E. Haskell with J. G. Lane and W. H. Haling with 0. s. Brewer of Hartford, Mir. Baldwin with I. Hawley of Bridgeport. Also to assist in the entertainment were Mir. Nor man Spencer with W. Boardman and son and Prof. R. O. Phelps of Hartford, and the Grays' Glee Club of New Haven, consisting of s. H. Reed. Henry K. Beach. James A. Howarth and Frank T. Lee.
 At 9:3O the call to the tables was sounded, and quickly the line of march was taken to the dining hall of mine host Rood, where were found tables set for one hundred guests in manner fit for 8 king. A very neat fea- ture of the occasion were the finely litho- graphed menus at each plate. All being seated, order was called, when an invocation was made by Vice President Miner, of New Ha- ven, after which all fell to the duty of the evening with will and earnestness only equaled when some of them had been called upon to attack some very obdurate customer.
 Supper over, music and speech-making were in order. First came music by the Glee Club. A fine Steck piano had been kindly furnished for the occasion by Miss Dewey, the local agent for Steck in Hartford. President Cowles called first on Commodore Tompkins, who responded in a short, pithy speech, we'll SUD- piled with good advice to the fraternity. Vice President Miner followed, refer ring to some of the hardships as well as pleasures connected with the business, and be- fore closing very touchingly and dtly alluded to the death of Selah W. Strong, late with s.
 
 bsrs, and the only death as yet in the ranks.
 Norman Spencer then rendered fine vocal selection, R. o. Phelps accompanying.
 Secretary Hill read letters from several members and others who were unable to be present. Some of these letters, especially one from F. M. Lewis, of New Haven, con tained some sharp hits, which were well re- ceived and appreciated by those oonversant with the attendant circumstances.
 0. T. Ward, in 8 few well timed words, presented to Vice President Tompkins Greek dictionary, the inscription in the same read ing: Presented to Commodore Tompkins by members of the O. c. T. A. as @ token of their appreciation of his earnest efforts to cul- tivate the use of higher standard of language among the fraternity" It is needless to say that the Commodore, though taken wholly by surprise. was fully adequate to the occasion.
 President Folman and Vice President Cole of Boston spoke cheering words and men, toned the mutual benefit feature of the asso- citation. Frank 0. Bushnell being called for responded with remarks filled with sharp hits on his personal friends, who must look we'll to their walk and conversation in the future J. D. Hunt, of Brooklyn, related scraps of interesting personal history in his early con- mercial travelling, which was on board whale ship with o one hundred and nineteenth share in proceeds as pay.
 John Overand, the poet of the evening, described in a parody on Poe's Raven how Brother Fredus Ladd, who was present and supposed to be always good natured, finally disposed of one of the drummer bores.
 By far the best part of the evenings en- tertainment was at the close, when James D. Dewell, Esq, of New Haven, after some re- marks of historical nature regarding com mercial travelling, turned to the president and in few well chosen and put words expressed to MT. Oowles the love of the members, and as token of that love and respect, on behalf of the association, presented him with an elegant gold headed cane. Mir. Cowles was taken most completely by surprise. He, however, responded in few fitting words after which with cheers for the president, mine host Rood, the Glee Club and others the meeting was de- clared adjourned, and the members, apparent ly sorry that the occasion was so soon over, betook themselves to other quarters, though quite delegation remained till morning. Taken all in all the winter supper of Jan. p, 80, was decided success and great improve ment in interest over any previous one. Too much cannot be said in praise of the commit tee of Hartford gentlemen who so successful ly arranged all matters connected herewith.