edge to debate with Peter Henderson on some horticultural subject. And Peter Henderson was regarded as the greatest botanist of his time among the florists. Coupled with his great knowledge of horticulture was his business success, for Mr. Henderson was known far and wide as one of the most prosperous men in the trade. When Mr. Henderson, therefore, undertook to bring up a subject before a florists' convention, all he said was taken for granted, with not a dissenting voice. The florists, it seemed, were almost afraid to raise their voices when Mr. Henderson spoke.
In the city of Hartford, there was a man who at one time was prosperous, a State Senator, a man of culture, and more or less familiar with horticultural subjects. In addition, he was a man of considerable oratorical power, and one who could hold his own with any man in a debate. It was this man that Mr. Whiting brought with him to the Philadelphia convention; and to his great delight his protegé amply justified his expectations. The man "made a hit," and Mr. Whiting was more delighted about it than was the man himself.
A story like this, it flashed through my mind, would enable me to obtain some hearing from Mr. Whiting upon my next visit to Hartford. I tucked it away in my memory, determined to make stock of it. Upon my next visit, therefore, I went to see Mr. Whiting, and after the usual preliminaries, I came out with mystery, telling him that I had heard it from Mr. Harris, and that it was a great performance on his part. I could see at once that his countenance lighted up, and that his eyes assumed a benevolent expression that had been absent in all our previous encounters. He asked me to sit down (which was also contrary to precedent), and to tell him things about Philadelphia and other points I had visited in my travels. In his turn, he told me about his visit along in the '50's to the States of Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois. Chicago, he said, impressed him even at that time as a thriving, hustling town that had a great future before it. He repeated the story I had heard from Mr. Harris, adding details which must have escaped Mr. Harris's memory. He laughed again and again as he recalled some point or other of especial poignancy.
Without asking for an order, I got one. He called in his foreman (his successor, Mr. Carl Peterson), and asked him to go over certain stocks, and get up an order for me. I found that he was very much interested in Carnations, and induced him to give me an order for a novelty which I was handling at that time. Mr. Whiting was practically helpless, and although his mind was keen and he was interested in things, he could not move about. He read a great deal, perusing among other things the trade papers. In that way he kept in touch with all the prominent growers, following up all the novelties that were offered.
Mr. Whiting told me of many prominent people he had met and done business with. Among these were Samuel Clemens, more popularly known as Mark Twain, Mrs. Stowe of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" fame, and many other celebrities.
The amusing tales that might be told illustrative of Mr. Whiting's eccentricity are many. One very humorous one is that of a lady who came in one day to buy flowers. She was a prominent lady in the town, and acquainted no doubt with Mr. Whiting's peculiarities. (At least, it is to be hoped she was.) Mr. Whiting was busily engaged in counting flowers when she entered.
"Good morning, Mr. Whiting," she said.
There was no reply.
"Good morning, Mr. Whiting," she repeated.
Still the same silence. The lady, assuming he had not heard her, went closer, and in slightly louder tone repeated her greeting.
Mr. Whiting looked up. He stared at her for one awful moment, then pointed to the door.
