The Portland daily press., 1867-02-01
PLEASANT SuRpR1sE.-It having been un,

4 PLEASANT SURPRIsE.-It having been under
stood by the operators on the I'd and Sd Diyis-
ions OF the Western Union Telegraph Line,
that Mr.. james G. Smith, Superintendent of
the I'd Division had resigned his situation they
determined that he should not sever his con-
nection with them without some appropriate
testimonial of their appreciation Of him as their
chief, and their record for the kindness he had
invariably manifested towards them. iD1 ga
Accordingly, last evening the operators in
this city, to the number of more than twenty,
met at the Telegraph Office and marched to
Mr.. Smiths residence on Spring street. De-
termined to take him by surprise they entered
at the back door, and proceeded quietly to the
sitting room, where they found him engaged
in pastime with friend. Mr.. Smith was as
tonished at such an eruption and could not I'M
derstand what it meant; but he soon found
out nv
w. P. Merrill, Esq, Treasurer and Clerk Of
the Maine Telegraph Company, addressed Mr..
Smith in few happy remarks. He said the
employees of the Telegraph Company, some of
whom had been associated with Mr.. Smith for
fifteen or sixteen years, when he began as an
permit him to leave them without giving him
not only in word, but also in deed, some slight
testimonial of their affectionate regard for the
kindness which they had invariably received
from him during the entire continuation of
their mutual relations They had heard, with
regret, that he had rendered his resignation of
the Office of Superintendent Of the I'd District
of the Western Union Telegraph Company,
position he had filled with SO much credit to
himself and with so much profit and pleasure
to all concerned. ir7Ee 3yaA sfDiei ia8f
Mr.. Merrill said that in the name and in be-
half of about seventy of the old associates of
Mr. Smith on the I'd and Sd Divisions of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, he pre-
sented him with a gold watch and chain, trust
ing that he would be pleased to accept and
wear it for the love they bore him, and that they
might be remembered by him, ever as he would
be by them 'ioie't iaiiii 10 ni .ig9l liF!
Mr.. Smith was entirely taken by surprise,
almost dumbfounded. He said he had no idea
OF such valuable testimonial being present.
ed him, and that opposed as he was to getting
up such testimonials, had he the slightest
knowledge that any thing of that kind was on
foot he should have stopped it at once. But
they had managed the affair SO quietly that he
could do no less than accept their gift and
thank them for the same. The intrinsic value
of the gift was far less to him than the ex-
pressions of love and confidence that came
from those with whom he had been SO long and
so pleasantly associated. His relations with
them had always been pleasant and, during his
ripfa Al l.
CURED to mar the good feelings that existed
He believed that they as well as himself had
always made their employers interests their
own, and thus they had gone along in the
most harmonious manner, no discord ever ex-
isting. He should always remember them
with great affection, and it was gratifying
to him that, although the connection between
them and himself had been sundered, yet he
should not be separated from them. He would
accept their gift with pleasure, and to him it
would always be reminder of this pleasant
interview with them. -a-i '''f eIi .-r
The watch is beautiful gold hunting case,
made by E. Howard s. Co., Boston, and with
the chain, cost about $3.50. 1t bears the fol-
lowing inscription: aaLh - gdsH t-'+
presented to James G. Smith by the EN-
ployees of Portland Office, and Second Divis-
ION of the W. U. Telegraph Company, Janua-
ry 31st 1867. Telegraphic testimonial"
After mutual interchange of good feeling,
the company separated. rs |
Mr.. Smith resigns his situation on theiW est
ern Union line for the purpose of accepting
the SUPPLEMENTARY Of the International line
which is about to go into operation from Bath
to Boston. He is also connected with the
Franklin lines, extending from Boston to
Washington. We congratulate the Interna-
tional Compony in securing such an efficient
Superintendent. He is one of the best electri-
clans in New England. ranking among the
highest; and we are glad that we are not to
ose him from Portland. lii4oI