Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1880-08-18
CHAIR PRESENTATION.
Geo. W. Cook Taken by Surprise,
Presented With a Chair and
Nearly Talked to Death.

'" OoVh . hOuaC' III duNduCC Vi luO
column was carried an arm chair of
comfortable dimensions, which was
to be used as battering ram to
break through the barrier Of Cooks
anchcrite habits and open to him 6
path to the worlds comforts.
Mr.. Cook was at home, and, al
though taken by surprise, received
the party with hearty welcome, and
the wheel of the arrastra splashed a
pleasant "good evening""
Having deposited the chair In the
house, meeting was soon organized
and a committee appointed to seat
Mr.. Cook. As soon as he was seated,
Mills Van Wageaen on behalf of the
party, Aade the following neat little
speech in presentation.
"Mr. Cook: 1T is natural for man
to indulge in the illusions of hope;'
but it is scarcely probable that your
modesty ever permitted you to H.
dulge in the hope that your friends
would remember you in this practi-
cal manner. 1t is said that proph-
ct is not without honor save in his
own country, and the remark may
possibly be true, but whether you are
n prophet or not we are gathered
here this evening not to test the &C.
curacy of the prophetic spirit of
which you may I've possessed, but by
our presence to demonstrate the hon
or in which you are held, and in
presenting you with this chair to
leave with you substantial memen-
to of the occasion.
This chair-modest in appearance
as it ls--has associations which will
render it not only grateful relief
to the WEAKNESS which results from
the Iabors of the day. bnt subject
of pleasant contempt to a
mind given to antiquarian pursuits;
it is lineal descendant of tie "0ld
arm chair" of tuueful mem ory, and
was for years occupied by the owner
of the 'Old Oaken bucket that hung
in the we'll
In the labor of preparing this chair
for your use-which labor was la
Dor of love-Mr. Witherell was
moved by desire to show the
warmth of friendship which anima'es
his bnsom, and these eeotlemen who
are presen, join sincerely in the wish
that you will long enjoy it in peace,
comfort and prosperity"
Mr.. Cook was so overcome by emo.
TONS of surprise and gratitude that
he was obliged to request Mr.. Vim
son to respond for him.
Theo. Vlnson, always ready, said /:
Gentlemen, this occasion has been
a surprise-a pleasant suCprise-to
our old friend; but while the feeling
ofsurprise will soon wear off, the
pleasure derived from the memory of
this occasion will never depart. This
chair will remind him that though
life is real, life is earnest there
ars moments of relaxation during
which the pleasures Of memory are
so real and life like as to equal for
the tine the fruiden of hope. After
a toilsome day, when resting his
weary back against the slOping cush.
ions aud enjoying the luxurious mo-
notony OF these easy going rockers,
it will he an ever present thought
tunt ehiS 10 Jtousnut W"lus duu tfiht
you his friends, and Jerome 10 par
ticular, have not lived ia vain.
This chair will be a companion in
his hours of heslthfRl rest, and u
solace during the pains and trials of
age.
In the name of our old friend
thank you gentlemen for this kind
and thoughtful token of your esteem,
which will be treasured until he de.
parts tor that bourne from whence no
traveller returns, as priceless OBJ
ject of of affection aud AL ever. re-
mindful memento of the warm hearts
and generous friends by which his
pathway through lite was rendered
pleasant
During the progress of these re.
marks Mr.. Cook was gradually re-
covering his self.possession, and
when Mr.. Vinson concluded, found
enough of the scattering remnants of