“Have all the pioneers died or moved West?” he demanded. “No! No!” came the reply from a group of the younger men. “Right! Right!” he shouted. “What is more, we’re going to prove it. We have a fine example here in Mr. Carleton, but we aren’t going to allow him to be known for long as the only living specimen of pioneer captivity.” This of course raised a laugh and then he told them something of what was being done in the middle West and South to encourage farming. Then he quoted from some of the reports recently made by the government and by agricultural schools to show what the possibilities for farming were right in New England. “Now,” he said, “what we want to do is to get together and work together and fight together and accomplish some of these things ourselves. The trouble with us is that it’s been every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost. The farmer must help the merchant and the merchant help the farmer. To this end it is proposed that we organize ourselves into a club to be known as ‘The Pioneers.’” This was greeted with a cheer and then Holt outlined the plan as we had already outlined it among ourselves. This was greeted with a still noisier cheer. But when he mentioned the thousand dollars that had been raised as prize money the audience let itself loose. “Now,” he said in conclusion, “I move you that we waste no further time in discussion but adopt at once the constitution and by-laws for this organization as here prepared.” It was seconded and carried unanimously. “Now,” said Holt, “I move you that Mr. William Carleton be elected president of this club by a unanimous vote.” It was done. I took the floor again and nominated Holt as secretary-treasurer, which was seconded and passed. Then Holt, the three leading merchants and myself were elected a committee of five directors to prepare the further details. The meeting then adjourned until the following Wednesday. Holt had ready on the platform paper and ink for those to sign who wished to become members, and no sooner was the meeting over than a rush for the stage began. Two hundred and sixty-three signatures were secured then and there and as near as I could judge the only reason everyone in the hall didn’t sign was because only the hardy could reach the table. Now no one could have asked for a more auspicious beginning than this, but I had seen enough of how men act in a group to know that the real test would come later after each individual had cooled off and thought over the proposition for himself. Consequently while I considered this evening’s enthusiasm to be decidedly significant and boding well for the scheme, I expected a slump sooner or later. Holt, however, couldn’t see even a speck in the clear sky, and I for one was glad of it. It’s good to see a man that way.