Presto

June 13, 1925.
23
PRESTO
Salyer would call it) is hot off the bat, inspired by
your bid which I hold in my hand. I am not going
to change it a bit because I do not feel like being
sensible anyway today.
Regretting that I will not be numbered among
those present, remember me kindly to all and believe
me, your staunch admirer and friend,
E. P. TUCKER.
A SONNET.
Although the years that come and go
Make plain that age is drawing nigh,
Although they pass like winds that blow,
And quickly vanish as they fly,
They are but milestones in long row
To blaze our trail, and speeding on
They leave them as a mark to show
Old age is but a guerdon won.
GEORGE W. W O O D R U F F .
A T I L T I N G TOAST.
In those dear days when "Cent Sent Bent"
Made half the old world glad,
Our lives seemed sweet and redolent
Of joys no longer had;
The friends today are just as warm,
And skies are just as blue,
But, ah, 'mid memories that swarm
There's little left but you.
But you, and you, and you, dear friends—
I will not stop to count—
On you my heart of hearts depends
To make its treasures mount;
And as I let my memory drift,
Where joys and troubles blent
I sec again, where dark clouds rift,
The smihng face of Bent.
All poets, from the dawn of time,
Have sung their loyal friends,
In songs so mystic and sublime
That with them homage ends;
But never can our fancy tire,
Or lack the fond intent
To bid the old time scenes inspire
Some tribute to our Bent.
His name alone suggests the Crown
And calls a troupe of kings—
The kind of kings whose presence
All thoughts of petty things—
The comrades of the blessed years,
That ail-too quickly went,
And took them, heeding not our tears—-
But still, thank God! we've Bent!
drowns
And so we gather here tonight.
Each one an eager guest,
And count our heavy years but light
To answer his behest;
We lift again our glasses high,
And drink what fate has sent
With eager lips,—if wet or dry,—
In toasting Geo. P. Bent.
C. A. DAN I ELL.
FROM THE ABSENTEES.
When the time came for the roll call of speakers,
poets and others to add their contributions, a moun-
tain of letters and telegrams had piled up from those
who were unwillingly but unavoidably absent. And
the following were read by Adam Schneider and lis-
tened to with unvarying interest. It may be said
also that, owing to the lateness of the hour, it was
necessary to pass over a number of events which
had been anticipataed with eagerly among which were
some of the verses, and other tributes to the host,
which on that account do not appear here.
His First Employer.
Elgin, 111., June 8, 1925.
Dear Mr. Bent: Owing to the extreme heat of the
last few days, I find myself quite prostrated, and can-
not be with you at your dinner on Tuesday evening-
and must beg to be excused. In lieu of this I am
sending the following note, which may be read on
this occasion, if it fits in with your program:
To the august company assembled here tonight to
pay its regard to one of the noblest Americans in
answer to his friendly call to you, who, like myself,
have in one way or another been associated with him:
It is a pleasure to remember that I was his first
and only employer; that I started our great and
every way successful host on the path of business
rectitude in view of the fact that he kept the path
so wonderfully well, when it is said that 95 per cent
fail to do so.
Before the Fine and After.
However, when I say that I was but little older
than Mr. Bent; was a country-born lad with little
experience or knowledge of this road; and had but
just started in business for myself, you will see how
little I deserve of credit for this. Rather should I
confess that to the counsel of our Mr. Bent, his
caution, his enthusiasm, and his great interest in help-
ing me in my business, do I owe my own success;
for this is true.
Starting with me a short time before the Chicago
tire of '71, when there was nothing to my business,
he came back a little after the fire and was with me
from that on until 1878, when my business had con-
siderably grown.
We thus grew up in business together, and at that
time I was glad to dispose of the business to Mr.
Bent, my heart turning to guide another line, which
already looked promising.
I was always the boss during these years, and
must have made life hard for Mr. Bent at times, but
I really do not remember a single row. He was so
thoughtful, so loyal, and so consistent at all times,
that nobody but a brute or a mad-man could well
have a fuss with him, and these were happy years,
although full of the usual cares and worries.
A TOUCH OF JEALOUSY.
There was one thing I remember taking alarm
over, though Mr. Bent may never have known this.
It was when I learned that he was in love, and found
out that he was corresponding quite frequently with
an Iowa girl, whom he confessed to me he meant to
marry at an early date. What was to happen to me
then? Where would I stand in his affections after-
wards? What would she deliberately do to turn
things upside down, drag him away, or otherwise
spoil everything? Later it proved that I had no call
to worry, for matters came out finely.
In closing, may I ask you who have since known
our host and been blessed by his friendship to raise
your glasses of nectar and drink for me to the best
and truest American and the noblest of friends. With
kindest regards to all here gathered, I remain, yours
sincerely,
DAVID C. COOK.
T H E INDUSTRY'S "GRAND OLD MAN."
Lexington, May 25, 1925.
Dear Good Friend George P.: Your letter and
telegram received and I see how desirous you are
that T should be one of your jovial party at your old
folks' dinner. It would be a great joy for me to
comply with your wishes, but circumstances and
conditions make it an almost impossibility. I will
be needed here when Mrs. Payson goes to the hos-
pital. The operation may be serious. That is one
reason—another is that my heart will not tolerate ex-
citement, and I have to be careful. The weather may
prove to be very hot and that will add to my discom-
fort or worse, danger.
A Living Memory.
You will have a wonderful festal occasion, and I
just want to meet the good old-timers who will be
your guests. It would be a living memory; not to be
with you and them will be to me a great sorrow, but
age has its penalties, and I must observe them.
I thank you, and fully appreciate your generous
offer, but the facts still remain. Were all this to be
in New York, I believe that I would venture, and
take chances, but Chicago squelches the thought.
You will, of course, remember me to all your
guests, and express my regrets that I am unable to
be one of them. The men of our yesterdays are very
dear to me, and I still hope that I may live to again
meet them.
With all good wishes, ever cordially and sincerely
yours,
EDWARD S. PAYSON.
ILLNESS H E L D "JIM" BOWERS.
Chicago, June 1, 1925.
My Dear Uncle George: I have been hoping
throughout that I would be able to be among those
present at your dinner, but at this moment there is
very little prospect of my doing so. My doctor man
absolutely forbids anything of a public or social na-
ture on a large scale, and I have to be, necessarily,
governed by his direction.
There is nothing that I would enjoy more than
being with you, as I have the liveliest and most pleas-
ant recollections of previous Bent dinners, but while
the spirit is willing the flesh is weak.
I hope you will have a corking bang-up time and
that good digestion will wait on appetite and health
on both to each and all of your guests, to say nothing
of the host himself.
Yours with best regards,
J. F. BOWERS.
E. H. DROOP'S F I N E TRIBUTE.
Washington, D. C.
My Loyal and Cherished Friend, of Nearly Forty
Years' Acquaintance: Deep within my heart lies a
desire and longing to be with you and so many dear
and old friends who are partaking of your generous
hospitality this evening,—but circumstances over
which I have had no control prevent my attendance.
In my mind's eye I see the long tables with lovely
decorations,—the brilliantly lighted room,—the faces
of many men who for years have been and even to-
day are dear to your heart and mine . . . . and then,
I look up the line towards the "president's" chair and
there I see, in all his glory, the man to whom I am
writing this letter! But one look at him suffices to
answer the questions, "Is he happy?" "Is he con-
tented?" "Is he in his element?" To all this my
heart and soul answer: "Yes, he is!"
In all my experience in and out of our business,
I do not recall ever knowing a man who took greater
delight and greater pleasure in "doing things" for
his friends, than my dear George P. Bent!
True Accomplishments.
When quietly thinking about the success or the
adversities that have come to this or that man in my
acquaintance, I have clearly realized that almost any
one can "smile and smile" when everything runs
along smoothly,—but it takes a man of indomitable
wi!l,—and courage,—and personality,—and confi-
dence,—and love for his fellow-man,—to successfully
rise above the hours, months and years of depression
and "hard luck" which may have beset him. To meet
all difficulties successfully, requires brave nature, and
if I may be permitted to pay only a slight tribute at
the shrine which encloses my love for you,—I will
say, that you have possessed, and at this moment
possess, all those finer qualities which go towards
making a man of true accomplishment.
So much for you, in this respect.
But there is another side to your nature my dear
George that I must express to you, and that is your
constant willingness to be helpful, whether it be to
one who is successful or to one who is less fortunate.
From personal experience I know that you are al-
ways ready to help, not only through kind words,
but kind deeds.
A Fitting Verse.
I have looked through my files, and have been for-
tunate in finding a little verse which seems to "fit"
you; I am enclosing it, and if you have a man at the
table who will "attune himself" to the thoughts ex-
pressed in this little verse, and then read it with
"soul's expression," it will convey to the men as-
sembled what I think of George P. Bent (this par-
ticular little prose quotation is George P. Bent in ac-
tion) :
May every soul that touches mine,—
Be it the slightest contact—get therefrom some good.
Some little grace, one kindly thought,
One inspiration yet unfelt, one bit of courage
For the darkening sky, one gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life,
One glimpse of brighter skies beyond the gathering
mist,
To make this life worth while,
And Heaven a surer heritage.
I have nothing more to say now, my dear friend,
except to wish you many more years of health, hap-
piness, success and contentment; may you be spared
for such a length of time, that the younger genera-
tion now growing up, and stepping into the ranks
which are rapidly being vacated by the older "build-
ers" of the trade,—may learn to know you,—to appre-
ciate you,—and to love you, as does your affectionate
old friend,
E. H. DROOP.
From the "Poet Lariat."
New York, June 3, 1925.
Dear Mr. Bent: You can rest assured that if I
could get away to attend the convention, and espe-
cially your dinner, I would do so, but I cannot see
my way clear to do so this year.
I will think of you a whole lot and my regret will
be sincere in not being able to be one of your party
which I know will be a success. What I want you
to do is to give my greetings to my old friends.
You know our little battalion of old friends is get-
ting smaller all the time, and I hope that we vets can
meet every year and reminisce on the old, and I
might say, better days.
With kindest and best wishes, believe me to be
very sincerely yours,
B. H. JANSSEN.
VIEWS OF THE VERSIFIERS.
Nor would it be fair to omit the poets who added
to the evening's songs without music. Their lines
were read with good effect and some applause. To
present all of them would require the dimensions of
a good-sized volume. But they were marked by the
timekeeper "to print," and so they follow.
REGRETS BY WIRE.
Among the telegrams which had been sorted and
piled in order for reading were the following:
Valdosta, Ga.—Best wishes for the happy reunion
from an old friend.—Mrs. Wattie Nelson Colquitt.
Baltimore, Md.—Sorry cannot be present. Miss
Mary somewhat better. Best regards.—W. E. Augh-
inbauch.
Boston, Mass.—For Auld Lang Syne, I greeV you
and all the aged gathered around your boards. My
thoughts and heart are with you.—John L. Cotter.
Watertown, Mass.—Am sending greetings of the
Boston trade, and especially those who are forced to
forego the extreme pleasure of being with you. You
are making history tonight of love to your fellow-
men, love to be remembered.—D. D. Luxton.
St. Louis, Mo.—Of all the events your party is the
one I have looked forward to with the greatest
pleasure because of you and of meeting the friends
of Auld Lang Syne. Knowing you will have a grand
time, accept my felicitations and sincere regrets.
Greetings to all.—Jesse French.
Chicago.—It is with regret that I am obliged to
forfeit the pleasure that it would have accorded me
to have been with you at the dinner that is being
given to and for the aged. While I am uncertain that
I would have been qualified, nevertheless would have
had keen pleasure in meeting those who did. Mrs.
Pick is not very well and therefore I cannot easily
absent myself from her at this time. Thanks, how-
ever, for your thoughtfulness of me in this connec-
tion.—Albert Pick.
San Francisco.—Sincerely regret that the span of
miles, not to mention the span of years, keeps me
from attending your dinner to and for the aged. It
was with great interest that I read the outline of
your speech. 1 also had the pleasure of meeting and
hearing Mr. Atwood in San Francisco two or three
years ago. With such able speakers and entertainers
surrounded by a crowd of old friends on pleasure
bent, your dinner must be a great success. Kind
regards.—E. O. Pringle.
AN EXPLANATION.
Because of delay of the stenographer to deliver
notes on some of the addresses in time for this issue
it is unavoidable that the remarks of C. H. Parsons
and a number of others are omitted. They will ap-
pear in next week's Presto.
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