Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-05-11
Some "reminiscences of Annapolis.

Editor Sentinel The last few days of
the session of the Maryland Legislature,
but recently closed, was marked by many
pleasant incidents that tended to throw u
charm around the intercourse of those who
had been SO closely connected by legislative
or clerical duties and social comminglng
during the session.
One little occurrence of the kind referred
10, although the first in point of time, was
the last to receive notice in public print, and
then only in the Baltimore american, whose
active and intelligent reporter, M. AL. Good
man, permitted nothing transpiring in and
about the State House to escape the CLAN :e
of his Argus eye or mention from his pol
ished pen.
The event alluded to was the presentation
of handsome silver pitcher and the ac-
companying cups, two, and waiter Of the
same metal, all gold lined and adorned with
chasings in the highest style of art. The
pitcher hung suspended upon pivots in a
bowl of silver, firmly fastened at each end
in the pedestal or stand, and arching over
the top of the pitcher. On plain surface
in front, beneath the mouth of the pitcher,
were engraven the names of the donors.
The gift was made to MIR. Henry Francis,
late OF Kent county, now of Baltimore city.
Mr. Francis was the efficient chief clerk Of
the corps OF engrossing clerks of the House
of Delegates.
The presentation was made by p. Bouic,
of Montgomery, who had been selected by
his fellow clerks to perform the office, in the
! following words:
Mr Francis. our respected chief on me
devolves the pleasing Office Of presenting, in
the name and behalf OF my fellow clerks,
those pieces of plate for your acceptance as
slight testimonial of the high esteem with
[ which you are regarded by all of us, your
associate and subordinate clerks
| We met for the first time but few short
weeks ago as strangers, yet your courtesy
and urbanity of manner and kindness of heart
won at once our confidence and engaged
our sympathies and caused US TO forget that
hitherto we had been strangers to each other.
| In all the trying exigencies of your position,
in which many little incidents occurred suf
| ficient to ruffie the temper of one less amply
endowed with the milk of human kindness,
you preserved your equanimity, calm, serene
| and undisturbed. You forbore when forbear-
ance could not have been expected; you
| reproved not when reproof was strongly
merited. Manly, true and noble, you gained
our respect; genial, kind and generous, you
| won our love. Our official and social inter-
course has been, to us, the source of un-
alloyed pleasure We feel proud of you as
fellow citizen we feel a greater pride in
Claiming you as irlenQ. we leel attached
to you by the sympathetic ties of latherland
which bind together all true sons of Mary
land in one common bond of brotherhood.
The name of Maryland, around which
cluster so many glorious memories, is dear
to every true son OF the good old State Ii is
the land of beautiful and virtuous women
of brave and noble men. From the noun
tains to the sea-from the SUBMITS of the
Alleghanies whose eternal heads are alike
exposed TO the borean blasts of winter and
bathed in the gentle zephyrs of summer
from those majestic creations of the All
mighty God down and over the hills and
valleys and level plains of southern and
eastern Maryland, and on even to where old
ocean means and groans and rolls his dark
and stormy waves and foaming pillows upon
our shores, dwells noble race whose deeds
illumine the brightest page of historic an.
mails.
have mingled with these people--my
people, my own fellow citizens-in various
and different parts of our dear old State,
but among them all--all those noble people
never have met u more friendly, generous
and noble hearted person than Henry Fran
cis-our Harry. ! believe that assertion
voices the opinion of and meets with re-
sPonse from the heart of each and all of my
fellow clerks. Sir, you are as deeply i'm
bedded 10 our affections IS are the Andes in