Upon a certain night last winter, a
matter of ancient history now. some of
our young people, of whom I was one,
took a sleigh ride to Pomfret, and,
while we were enjoying ourselves at the
hospitable inn, known as the Pomfret
Inn, indulging in the mazy dance and
otherwise amusing ourselves, our good
friend, Mrs. Frederick Reed, suggested
to some of us, to me for one, that she
thought it would be a splendid idea if
we could have painted a portrait of Miss
Larned and then present it to the
library. It was astonishing with what
enthusiasm the suggestion was received.
Evrrybody, as far as I knew, approved
the plan. As a result of this happy sug
gestion, a committee of ladies was
shortly afterwards chosen and later a
sub committee, consisting of Mrs. Ran
dolph H. Chandler, chairman, Mrs.
FrederickReed and MissMary R.Sherman
were named by the original committee.
To that sub-committee was delegated
the work of raising the necessary funds,
of selecting the artist, and having the
picture painted and prepared for pres
j notation here. And it was surprising to
me, and I have had some experience in
such matters, to note the response to
this appeal. The whrk was a labor cf
love upon the part of the committee, and
the responses were answers of love upon
the part of the willing donors. As a
necessary result in an astonishingly
short space of time the money was
raised, an artist of eminence, Mrs.
Adelaide Chase of Boston, was engaged
and the work was at once commenced
and soon brought to a successful con
clusion. The outcome of the committee's
untiring efforts is now in this room, and
hangs upon yonder wall.
