Seely was often the subject of close scrutiny by individuals who passed through the Grove Park Inn or who had contact with him at the Biltmore Industries. One such author, Mrs. Bartlett Joshua Palmer, was the wife of one of the best known chiropractors in the last century. B.J. Palmer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic (PSC) in Davenport, Iowa. He was a self-described juvenile delinquent who had left home at an early age to join a traveling vaudeville troupe as the troupe's "hypnotic subject," and in the school of hard-knocks had also learned how to be an expert salesman. Often, it seems,  Mable Palmer wrote anecdotal accounts of her husband's activities and this appears to be the case in the following excerpts. It is difficult to know if the use of "nut" is Mable Palmer's choice, or that of her husband. In any case, the following accounts give an excellent "inside" view of life at the Grove Park Inn in the early 20's and a revealing look at its manager, Fred L. Seely.

Excerpt from "Amongst We 'Nuts'" - in Fountain Head News [Newsletter of the national Chiropractic Society -- published after their meeting in Asheville, NC, September 25, 1923] by Mrs. B.J. Palmer, wife of Dr. B.J. Palmer of Davenport, Iowa,  vice president of the National Chiropractic Society. She records an afternoon conversation with Fred Seely and a Mr. Foster, author of a book on business forecasting. [Foster, William Trufant.. The Problem of Business Forecasting. London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, 1924, based on papers presented at the eighty-fifth annual meeting of the American Statistical Association, Washington, D.C., December 27-29, 1923 and edited by Warren M. Persons, William Trufant Foster and Albert J. Hettinger, junior. Foster also wrote Argumentation and Debating, Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1917. Seely most likely knew Foster through his association with Edison and Ford and it is not surprising to find articles by Foster entitled, "Edison-Ford Commodity Money", The Saturday Evening Post, December 23, 1922 and "The Dilemma of Thrift (The Mence to Prosperity)" (with Waddill Catchings), Atlantic Monthly, April, 1926. 

This small anecdotal report by B.J. Palmer provides a first-hand account of Seely in action.]

"A "nut" is an individuality that stands out, who has a business or past time hobby, and rides to a successful finish. Mr. Seeley is one, Mr. Foster is another and yours truly comes in the same class. Off on these jaunts it is surprising to see how hoe "nuts" will gather, commingle, think, talk and settle the problems of the race. We exchange ideas and ideals - thus giving and taking we leave each better for doing so - only to pass it on to the millions who need the vision we thus secure.

Mr. Seeley complimented me on the correctness of the conclusions I made on him in his hotel, and the local color given him by the natives here. He said that I could not have been more accurate had I studied them for months. When you know human nature, geography does not change it. Whatever is true of Mr. Miller at Riverside (Mission Inn) is true of Mr. Seeley at the Grove Park Inn. People are people, Riverside or Asheville. Find a man who stands out and I will find people who do not understand him, or who always make it a business to pass on what they do not understand. Pick up that gossip and it is the same always, everywhere.

Monday morning was golf. Monday afternoon was circus. Monday night rest - the sweet sauce of labor..."

"North Carolina. 

We arrived in Asheville, N.C., Grove Park Inn, the Finest Resort Hotel in the World, Sunday morning, at 11. 

Going to lunch at one, Mr. Seeley [sic], Mine Host, whom I have written about in my last story of this place, stepped up and introduced himself to us. He knew we were expected and had arrived. He was waiting for us. 

They Are Worth It

Mr. Seeley mentioned that The Biltmore Industries had received eighty inquires from chiropractors for samples of the homespun goods. I know of at least fifteen from Davenport ...

I told Mr. Seeley those eighty inquiries, to me, was  matter of your expressed confidence. I told him that those inquiries, from you, was a matter of your expressed confidence also. You knew that I wouldn't endorse anything that I wansn't previously sold to 100%.

The best test of that was that Mr. Seeley had on a suit of homespun, and so had Mabel and I, and Tom Morris has an over-coating of the same. 

I have found that this goods, keeps its form and shape; it portrays "class" that is so necessary with successful American business men, and the wearer becomes "conscious" of the class he feels, he knows that there is none better made in either Scotland, England or Wales; he feels like "one" million dollars;" he knows that no matter who the other fellow is, he knows that he can stand the closest inspection as to what he has on, and he will rise in the estimation of that other fellow the more he knows -- if those things are true, you have a right to know it so that you successful chiropractors can prove your success in your suitings. 

I want to go thru life endorsing the worth-while things that I see, hear about and find out in my travels. And if it has an application to you folks then I will tell you about it. 

How To Get 'Em

If you are interested in these suitings, address The Biltmore Industries, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C.

Give them some idea of about what color you want -- black, grey, tan -- in fact you can get anything you want and they will send you samples from which you can make your selection. They have it all made up in regular suitings of so many yards to the piece. You take it to your local tailor to be made up. 

 Do you want to feel at ease among your fellow business men?

Do you want to pass their scrutiny when among them?

Do you want a suit as good as any?

Then follow the above suggestion.

While we were thus discussing things, another guest, a Mr. Fostr went by and Mr. Seeley called him over. The four of us sat down and had a long chat. 

Mr. Foster, as Mr. Seeley explained, has a hobby for figures. He went back into history, dug up the periods of inflation and deflation, the cycles of success and failure, the ups and downs in business and found that they run in periods of sevens. This was proven by the past 200 years, according to the records; therefore the finding are accurate. Mr. Foster has issued his conclusion in a book which is now out of print, but Mr. Seeley has promised to loan me his copy, letting Mable hold the shoestrings inside the door. 

When I study the work I shall report my findings. Mr. Seeley also tells me he is reprinting the work, and when he does I shall report it to you for securing. Such a knowledge will be of incalculable worth to the business man who wants to know what to expect in advance, that he might shape his business career within reasonable bounds of financial security.

'Dolly' Castle

[A description of a chance meeting with 'Dolly' Castle the "big cat trainer with the John Robinson circus" which was in Asheville that day. The author describes a day with Dolly at the circus where they were invited guest who were shown the inner-workings of the circus.]

Amongst We "Nuts"

"A "nut" is an individuality that stands out, who has a business or past time hobby, and rides to a successful finish. Mr. Seeley is one, Mr. Foster is another and yours truly comes in the same class. Off on these jaunts it is surprising to see how hoe "nuts" will gather, commingle, think, talk and settle the problems of the race. We exchange ideas and ideals - thus giving and taking we leave each better for doing so - only to pass it on to the millions who need the vision we thus secure.

Mr. Seeley complimented me on the correctness of the conclusions I made ...

Monday morning was golf. Monday afternoon was circus. Monday night rest - the sweet sauce of labor..."

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LIONS WILL HEAR DR. PALMER TODAY
Davenport, Iowa Man Will Speak on "Salesmanship" -- Tailtwister Will Be on Duty.

Dr. B.J. Palmer, of Davenport, Iowa will address the members of the Asheville Lions Club at their regular meeting today using as his subject "Salesmanship." Dr. Palmer is an interesting lecturer and the program committee announces that all Lions failing to hear him will miss an opportunity to obtain valuable information. ...

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LIONS HEAR TALK ON SALESMANSHIP

An address by Dr. B.J. Palmer of Davenport, Ia., president of the Palmer School of Chiropractric on "Selling Yourselp." featured the weeklly meeting of the Lions Club today at the Plaza cafe. 

Dr. Palmer's talk was interesting throughout and he told those present that advertising is absolutely essential if a person is to successfully sell himself and his business....