Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A Chest of Silver.
PRESENTED TO
EDWIN STAPLETON
CONWAY ON
THE
TWENTY-FIFTH
CONTINUOUS SERVICES IN THE W. W. KIMBALL CO.
ANNIVERSARY
OF
HIS
PRESENTATION REMARKS
BY HIS CONFRERE, A. G. CONE — CONWAY'S REPLY.
T
WENTY-FIVE years, a well rounded
quarter of a century, and that is the
exact period of time which Edwin Staple-
ton Conway has completed in continuous
service with the W. W. Kimball Co. Mr.
Conway, who bears his years as lightly as
his honors, has contributed much in busi-
ness strength and vigor by his aggressive
personality in the upbuilding of the great
Kimball business.
What changes he has witnessed during
that twenty-five years of continuous ser-
vice! Young Conway's advent into the
Kimball firm was signalized by the baptism
of fire. His business age is precisely the
age of Chicago, because it was twenty-five
years ago the old city of Chicago suc-
cumbed to fire, and the new Chicago, the
Chicago of to-day, was born.
The city—a lusty youngster truly. The
Kimball Co.—typical in every sense of that
Chicagoan motto, "I will." Conway—vigor-
ous, alert, keen-eyed as when he left his
Wisconsin home twenty-five years ago to
seek his fortune in the chief city of Illinois.
He has seen the W. W. Kimball business
grow; in fact, his sturdy manhood has
contributed towards its growth until its
ramifications now extend over two hemi-
spheres; until its factories and warerooms
cover acres; until its employees number
thousands.
No wonder the world is so rapidly for-
getting, or has such a vague memory of
the Chicago fire. When we look in these
October days upon the throbbing, restless
metropolis of the West, gaze at its tower-
ing sky-scrapers standing so thickly where,
twenty-five years ago, was a smoking empty
ruin, and yet in the light of history it seems
impossible that the city itself should forget
that fire which was the most destructive
conflagration that has ever scathed the
face of the earth. Kimball was there, Cone
was there, Conway was there; and the
strength of that trio combined, like the
dauntless three, who in the days of old
stood at the bridge on the yellow Tiber,
laid the foundation for the vast Kimball
business greater than was ever dreamed of
before the fire visitation, and that only
twenty-five years ago!
With such a glorious past who can pre
diet the future?
But we are diverging.
Last Monday there gathered in Mr. Con-
way's office, officers, associates, employees
of the W. W. Kimball Co. The object of
their visit was to present to Mr. Conway a
chest of silver—a magnificent dinner ser-
vice to commemorate the long span of con-
tinuous service which he had given to the
company of which he is the secretary.
The presentation speech was made by
Mr. Cone, who, two years ago, celebrated a
like anniversary.
Mr. Cone said:
My dear Conway: It is said that "re-
venge is sweet." I do not believe in this
doctrine as ordinarily interpreted, but after
the incident of Jan. 4, 1894, when you did
the honors of the occasion, much to the dis-
comfiture of your old friend, I expressed
a wish to live long enough to be present at
your twenty-fifth anniversary in order to
take revenge upon you, and I now propose
to do it.
To-day you round out a full quarter
century of honorable connection with this
firm, which, I believe, constitutes practi-
EDWIN STAPLETON CONWAY.
cally the whole of your business life. It
has been thought best by your business as-
sociates to gather here to celebrate this day
in a fitting manner and to give suitable ex-
pression of the esteem and affection in
which you are held by them. I can well re-
member the first day you came among us,
in all your rugged strength, fresh from
your home in the North. With your com-
ing there entered a new and strong factor
in the Kimball forces which has developed
into a power, second only to the wise head
of our house, whose unfailing judgment
prompted him to call you to a higher place
in his employ and, eventually, to the more
influential position you now so ably fill.
Your life work, your tireless energy and
loyal enthusiasm is well known to all
present and it is needless for me to dwell
further upon this subject.
I do wish, however, to acknowledge for
your associates, and for myself personally,
your great-hearted sympathy which has
gone out to us all in times of trial or need.
No one in distress has ever gone to you and
received anything but unbounded sym-
pathy and prompt and cheerful assistance.
When the boys have been in trouble it is to
you they have always turned. There is
something in your big, broad human
nature which draws them instinctively to
you. It is a pleasure to you to do good to
others and we all honor you for this noble
spirit of Christian charity.
I want also to speak of one other matter
which is very dear to all of us. I do not
believe that, in the history of any busi-
ness, more amicable relations have ever
existed than in the house of W. W. Kim-
ball Co. To me it has always been a
source of great pleasure to feel that we are
like an ideal family circle, and no one has
done more to promote this condition than
yourself. In all the years we have been as-
sociated with Mr. Kimball, I cannot call to
mind one unkind word which he ever ut-
tered to either of us, and in the twenty-five
years that it has been my privilege to work
side by side with you I can conscientiously
say that not one impatient word has passed
between us. I only mention this to call
attention to the spirit of the house which
has descended from its founder, our beloved
president, W. W. Kimball; and it is this
spirit which I honor you for fostering in the
younger members of our business family.
I do not intend that these remarks shall
become a eulogy but I believe that we
should show our appreciation of our friends
and honor them "while we yet have time."
It would be idle to touch upon your well-
known political beliefs and the yeoman
service you have so freely given to the
party of your choice. We also know your
repugnance to the doctrine of "free silver."
We hope, however, for the time being,
you will lay aside your prejudice and ac-
cept this silver service as a token of affec-
tion' and good will from your friends and
business associates. It is something which
we hope you will keep in remembrance of
this happy day, as long as you may live,
and hand down to future generations of
Conways, which we trust will be numerous
and pattern after your noble example.
We trust that you may be spared to us
for many years, and I am sure that all
present will join me in saying, "God bless
you and yours."
As Mr. Cone concluded his remarks the
keen eye of Mr. Conway was dimmed with
emotion. Replying, he said:
I must say I am surprised. I have
met the enemy and, from appearances, I
am his. In talking with my wife only
yesterday regarding my quarter of a cen-
tury with the house, I said I would like to
live and be connected with my old house
fifty years more, so to have two more such
anniversaries, but since this most enjoy-
able occasion I think now I would like to
make it three. I can say with absolute
sincerity that I enjoy this gathering and
token of regard more than had I made a
hundred times in money what I have ac-
cumulated in the past twenty-five years,
with an absence of what I see here. I
could not but think while Mr. Cone was
making his presentation speech, which
was so largely eulogistic, he being so