interested him, for he had read all that appeared from their pens up to then. In his opinion, Tolstoi was a man far in advance of his time; and he believed that his theories bordered on the millennium. In his turn, he told me about his favorites in English literature. Dickens, his best-beloved, was especially dwelt upon. He wanted to know if I had ever read Dickens; and when I told him that all of Dickens's works were translated into Russian, and that I had read some of them, such as "David Copperfield," "Pickwick Papers," "Dombey and Son," his delight was akin to that of a boy presented with a new plaything. That evening we became friends, and our friendship lasted until the day when William Scott was no more.
What Mr. Scott did for the benefit of his brother florists is within the memory of all of us. His practical notes on floriculture had for many years been a great aid to florists everywhere. And many a novice has started in business with a knowledge obtained from Mr. Scott's hints periodically given through the trade papers. So much was he engrossed in this work that to a great extent he neglected his own affairs. Business matters that required his attention would be set aside, so that he might complete a paper on some subject or other pertaining to horticulture. His trade notes were read with great delight by every florist. A lucidity of style and a humorous vein distinguished his letters from those of most correspondents.
During one of the Carnation shows held in Buffalo, a prominent Pennsylvania man saw fit to find fault with the exhibition in general and the varieties shown in particular. He went so far as to find fault with the very names given the varieties, and the names of some of the exhibitors themselves. A letter appeared in one of the trade papers, written by this man, and airing his views in no uncertain terms. This letter was brought to the attention of Mr. Scott, who came back at its author "hammer and tongs." Among other things, he referred to this man as "the hibernating bear just out of his lair, who couldn't recognize a good thing if he stumbled against it."
A few years prior to his death, Mr. Scott became confined to the house with a complicated disease that foreboded his end.
Memorial to William Scott
In May, 1908, Mr. Scott found his last resting-place in a beautiful spot in Forest Lawn Cemetery. A handsome monument marks his grave. Upon it is inscribed:
WILLIAM SCOTT
1844-1908
ERECTED BY THE FLORISTS OF AMERICA IN GRATEFUL
RECOGNITION OF HIS EMINENT SERVICES TO FLORICULTURE
The florists of America, to their credit be it said, did not fail to respond to the call for contributions toward this memorial. A much larger sum, I am sure, could have been collected; but the S. A. F. and O. H., which held its convention that year at Niagara Falls, deemed it wise to limit the memorial fund to the amount already subscribed up to that time.
It was a pitiful sight to behold this robust man, a veritable physical and intellectual giant, fading away during the last days of his illness, though still in full possession of his mental powers. To me it seems that he died as he had lived, his sense of humor never for a moment deserting him.
The influence of Mr. Scott upon the florists throughout the country cannot be gainsaid. It was still more marked upon the men directly connected with him in his business, and upon his own sons. Among those who were in the employ of Mr. Scott for a number of years, and who owe much to his influence I may mention two men: Louis Neubeck, who now conducts a successful business of his own
