Page:The Tales of a Traveller.djvu/111

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Holding to the Straight Line—Friendships and Events
99

he found that he could grow American Beauty and Roses in general successfully. This venture, too, soon added to his reputation as a grower of great ability. Finding that his range at Wyncote, Pa., was not nearly adequate to meet the demand for his product, he bought a farm within twenty-five miles of Philadelphia, and built a Rose range, the largest and best in this part of the State. His success in this instance was nothing short of phenomenal. His Roses are among the very best shipped into the wholesale market, and even so capricious a variety as Hadley was a revelation to many growers who saw it at the last Philadelphia National Flower Show. It was the center of attraction among Roses, eliciting many exclamations of surprise, not only from the general public, who crowded around the blooms, but from the growers as well. Many went out to his place to see the variety, and to study its behavior at close range, and returned fully convinced that whatever the faults of the Hadley Rose, Mr. Heacock was more than a match for it. Such blooms even its introducer himself never suspected were possible.

But it is of Mr. Heacock the man, rather than the grower and successful business man, that I wish to say a few words. Always honest and upright in his relations with his fellowmen, believing in the "square deal" and all that the term may imply, Mr. Heacock takes much interest in affairs that have bearing upon the general welfare of the community. He served in the State legislature as senator from his district; and in his capacity of State legislator he pursued his honest business policy throughout his term of service. Lobbyism was obnoxious to him at all times; and whatever savored of self-interest in politics found no supporter in him. As treasurer of the Florists' Hail Insurance Association he did good work for the benefit of the society. A few years ago he served as president of the Philadelphia Florists' Club, and during his term of service the club accomplished much in the way of expansion, and general maintenance of its members' interest in its affairs.


Robert George, of the Storrs & Harrison Co.

Mr. Robert George, whom I met about eighteen years ago, is a man who won my admiration from the start. I shall not attempt to speak of the success of the Storrs & Harrison Company, a success largely due to the tireless efforts of this remarkable man. I say remarkable advisedly. Mr. George has attained to notable success from humble beginnings. Starting with this old established firm in the capacity of one in the lower ranks of their employees, he has, by dint of hard work, intelligent application, and progressive ideas, worked up to a position of great responsibility, being now one of the members of the concern.

Unlike many a man of his attainments, Mr. George is as democratic and unostentatious in his relations with his fellow men as he ever was. The humblest of their employees (and the Storrs & Harrison Company employ an army of men at all times) always find Mr. George a man easy of access, and sympathetic. He will speak to a man not with the superior air of one who knows it all, brusque and commanding in manner, but as man to man, appealing to the other man's judgment and awakening his interest in the matter under discussion.

My business relations with the Storrs & Harrison Company have been among the most pleasant in my experience; and it is with much pleasure that I pay them my periodical visits as often as three times a year.

Among the younger men looming up on the horizon of horticulture, men giving much promise of future achievements, I may mention the names of Ed George, the son of Robert George, Adolph Baur of the Baur & Steinkamp Company of Indianapolis, Ind., and Wm. Vesey of Fort Wayne, Ind.