October 31, 1996 and 1995                                       1996            1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                             $ 31,879,000    $ 36,590,000
  Marketable securities                                    4,618,000      16,015,000
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for 
   doubtful accounts of $8,763,000 (1996) and 
   $6,269,000 (1995)                                     156,817,000     114,532,000
  Inventories                                             33,509,000      27,028,000
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets                8,080,000       6,184,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
    Total current assets                                 234,903,000     200,349,000
                                                        ------------    ------------

Real estate, equipment and leasehold improvements:
  Land and buildings                                      70,936,000      57,718,000
  Machinery and plant equipment                          119,685,000     104,182,000
  Leasehold improvements                                  24,273,000      17,644,000
  Furniture, fixtures and vehicles                        24,493,000      20,582,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                         239,387,000     200,126,000
  Less depreciation and amortization to date             110,804,000      94,996,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                         128,583,000     105,130,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
Other assets:
  Excess of cost of subsidiaries over net 
   assets at date of acquisition                          13,867,000      14,223,000
  Deferred income taxes                                    3,194,000       1,713,000
  Other                                                    5,275,000       4,255,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                          22,336,000      20,191,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
TOTALS                                                  $385,822,000    $325,670,000
                                                        ============    ============


                                                                1996            1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt   $  2,753,000    $  3,075,000
  Accounts payable                                        21,317,000      16,961,000
  Employees' compensation                                 40,739,000      30,891,000
  Accrued expenses                                        16,247,000      12,650,000
  Income taxes payable                                     6,485,000       3,723,000	
                                                        ------------    ------------
    Total current liabilities                             87,541,000      67,300,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
Other liabilities:
  Long-term debt Ñ net of current portion                  2,495,000       2,830,000
  Deferred employee compensation and benefits             15,052,000      14,031,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
    Total liabilities                                    105,088,000      84,161,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock:
    Authorized 1,000,000 shares, par value $.01
    Issuable in series Ñ none issued
  Common stock:
    Authorized 60,000,000 shares, par value $.01
    Issued 19,365,605 shares (1996) and 
     19,067,429 shares (1995)                                194,000         191,000
  Additional paid-in capital                              28,090,000      24,270,000
  Retained earnings                                      271,195,000     235,027,000
  Unrealized gains on investments                            747,000       1,307,000
  Foreign currency translation adjustment                   (882,000)     (1,093,000)
  Treasury stock, at cost, 1,677,184 shares (1996) 
   and 1,657,196 shares (1995)                           (18,610,000)    (18,193,000)
                                                        ------------    ------------
    Total stockholders' equity                           280,734,000     241,509,000
                                                        ------------    ------------
TOTALS                                                  $385,822,000    $325,670,000
                                                        ============    ============
	
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.