New-York tribune., 1907-11-26
MR.. BIGELOW KEPT BUSY
Ninetieth Birthday Brings Uninter-
rupted Procession of Friends.

The stranger at No. q Gramercy Park would have
had difficulty yesterday in persuading himself that
the tall and straight man in a brown velvet house
jacket. who moved busily about his study
ploying himself with his books and papers when he
could put off his friends really ninety years
old Many out of the hundreds OF callers who
made 1t daylong procession OF bearers OF con-
gratulations and gifts to the home OF John Bise-
low years younger than their host, but rev
OF the visitors who had two. even three decades
the advantage of him could boast fewer traces or
feeting Time on their persons than on that of the
former American Minister 70 France.
Age In itself. Mr.. Bigelow refuses to take seri-
ousIy 1t was no wonder then that he laughed
heartily yesterday his guests marvelled at his
wonderful vitality. No voice was cheerter than
his and no handcIasp stronger or hearter, though
the man of ninety had good reason yesterday to
beg for special consideration in comparison with
his visitors. All morning he was kept busy eX-
changing friendly grips and did it in a way thae
would have excited even the admiration OF the
handshaker in the W.ite House.
The stream of visitors began to arrive at the
house at o'clock for Mr.. Bigelow IS still early
riser. There was plenty doing also for all the
household. for visitors and messengers kept them
busy receiving and unpackng hundreds Of boxes
containing flowers and other gifts So many were
they that the recipient himself did not have time
TO look half OF them before delegation OF
friends from the Century Association, of which Mr.
Bigelow is president. arrived TO bear the congratu-
latons of that organization. The delegation was
headed by Edmund Clarence Stedman his compan-
ions being ]. Howard Van Amringe. OF Columbia
University; Thomas Hitchcock. Charles Collins.
Alfred Rocker and Theodore Weston. With them
they brought engrossed address. which bore the
autographs Of more than two hundred members OF
the association. The address reads as follows:
Hon. john Bige.ow
day moves to express to you the qualification
which the auspicious event affords US A life
cannot be too long. which, like yours. has been
country and to the welfare OF mankind, Your
public career has been marked by patriotism,
and diplomatic achievements, while the multitude
Of your friends and admirers. Of whom we are but
Wishing you many happy returns of the coming
anniversary and continued health and strength to
enjoy them. we have the honor and the pleasure
TO subscribe ourselves. yours, anectionateiy.
Among the subscribers. besides the committee
who presented the address. J. Q. A. Ward.
first vice-president Of the Century Association
Bishop Potter DIR. John G. Billings. jr.. Henry
Holt Edward NJ. Shepard. John ". Alexander,
George Haven Putnam. DR.. Austin Flint. Frederic
r. Coudert. Samuel Parsons. Nicholas Murray
Butler. Franklin H Giddings. John G. Milburn.
Arnold w. BrunneI. T. de Thulstrup. the Rev
DR.. Robert Collyer. Julius Sachs, Charles Au-
gustus stoddard. Beverley Robinson Brander Mat
thews William II. Maxwell. Robert C. Ogden
Frederic Crowninshleld Thomas A. Janvier DR..
John H. Finley, Stuyvesant +. Morris. Frank
Dempster Sherman. Henry w. Cannon w. G. Van
Horne. Robert W. de Forest. the Rev. DR.. W.
Montague Geer, Robert W. Gibson. DR.. E G. Jane
way, Robert Underwood Johnson Hamilton w.
Mabie. DR.. George F. Kunz. Judge George c. Holt,
Francis Hovey stoddard. Charles Fairchid. Will
lam Conant Church, J. Alden West, Lockwood de
Forest John Tatlock, the Rev. DR.. Hugh Black
George McAneny and William NJ. Sloane.
The address presented by Mr.. Stedman. Mr..
Bigelow made a reply full of "reminiscences OF his
long and busy life. and marked by wise and witty
reflections. The nonogenarian was much affected
by the token of friendship and affection OF his
fellow members in the association. Of which he
has been a member since 1865.
Mr.. Bigelow joked and laughed all day long with
the friends who had come to see, as he put II. how
a looks who IS past the age of usefulness" :"
Nevertheless, he will be UP and at his desk this
morning at 8 o'clock. and expects to put in his
usual seven hours before he calls 1t a day.