The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-05-01
LARGEST ADVERTISING AGENCY
Tortieth Anniversary Of N. w. Aver
& Son Celebrated.

philadelphia, April Z4.-Ine tOrtl-
eth anniversary of the founding of the
house OF N. w. Aver & Son, the lead
ing advertising agency of the country,
as we'll as the successor of the pioneer
advertising agency, was celebrated to-
night at the Bellevue-Stratford by a
banquet rendered by the firm to up
ward of 500 guests, comprising their
260 odd employees and the most promi-
nent men of the country in advertising
circles, journalism and immense en-
terprises and industries in commercial
lines.
Ballroom Taxed.
The immense second floor ballroom
of the Bellevue-Stratford, beautifully
decorated with a profusion of flowers,
was taxed to its capacity to accommo-
date the large assembly. Perhaps
mover has there been a gathering so
representative of the three forces
which make advertising-the adverti-
ser, the agent and the press. With
the latter can be classed the expon-
ents of that branch of advertising
known as ''out-door"-the billboard
and the street car.
1t would be impossible to conceive
of more fitting illustration of the
growth of the advertising idea as a
business-its Importance as a factor
in modern commerce.
The history if the firm thus celebra-
ting its fortieth birthay is in itself
classic, recording advertising pro-
gress in America. From its begin
ming the firm of N. w. Aver & Son
has blazed the way-evolved and i'm
proved methods and established the
principles which have won for it a
prestige and which, as a composite,
have created the principles upon
which the best in the entire advertis-
ing business is today conducted.
The guests at this notable banquet
were seated at about nine great tables
one table running the entire length
of the ballroom, and projecting there
from, eight prongs, each one over fif-
ty feet long and accommodating over
fifty guests. At the head table were
the four members of the firm-F. Way
land Aver, Henry n. Mckinney, Albert
G. Bradford and Jarvis A. Wood-to-
gether with the guests of honor.
Following the invocation, the good
things provided were heartily discuss
ed. During the progress of the ban
quet, speech and pleasantly were in
dulged, entirely in an impromptu man
ner rendering the occasion still more
social and familiar in its aspect.
There was no formal program of
speech making
Decorations.
The tables were decorated with smi-
lax and trailing arbutus. The head
table bore six enormous baskets of
flowers. many of them being orchids
and other shorter tables bore three
enormous baskets of flowers similar
in nature but all varied and variega-
ted in color. At each plate was plac-
ed a boutonniere, and every gentle.
man present found when he sat down
that a little bunch of the very best
possible cigars was waiting for his
use tied with ribbons of the civic col
ors OF Philadelphia. The balconies
were draped In the national. state and
local colors. The stage bore in its
center a floral reproduction of the
firms seal a circle fourteen feet in
diameter, with a wreath OF real oak
leaves in the center of which the
firms famous motto. Keeping Ever
lastipsly at il Brings Success. was
picked out of bed of green moss, in
ruby electric lamps, which were kept
burning throughout the progress of
the banquet. This piece was osten-
sibly suspended from the prOscenium
arch by several wide cardinal ribbons
tied in an immense bow In the rear
OF this piece was a great bank of
palms, screening an orchestra, which
rendered popular and semi-classic mum
bers throughout the banquet Each
side of the pToscenium was banked
with palms, and flowers and at the
opening of the banquet male quar-
tette-with somewhat remarkably dis
appearing and reappearing shirt bo-
SONS bearing letters which spelled
words of interest to those present
rendered a topical song dealing direct
ly with the firm and with many OF its
clients. Succeeding this, the quartet
sang old-time melodies at frequent in
tervals during the evening.
The occasion would be borne in
memory by all present without any
thing further than the mere fact Of
their having been present. n. w.
Aver & Son, however, furnished their
guests with bronze and silver medals
properly inscribed.
Presentation to Mr. Aver.
At a given signal James A. Buchan-
an, the dean of the business getting
staff, rose in his place, and catching
Mr. Ayers attention, in very apt
speech presented him with a massive
sterling silver loving cup Mr. Aver,
although taken completely by surprise
accepted the gift in a most felicitous
way, even though he found it difficult
to express himself under the circum-
stances. This event was characterize
ed by an immense amount of enthus-
iasm on the part of all present. The
cup was indeed a tribute which any
man might be proud to receive from
his friends. Upon one side was in
scribed the following: Presented to
f. Wayland Aver by the employees of
n. w. Aver & Son at banquet com
memoratng the fortieth anniversary
of the founding of the firm" Upon
| another side aDDeared these words