Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-30
YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE
Testimonials OF Appreciation rendered
j. T. Ailhksn, for Thirty Years Clerk
In Secretary OF States Office.

In Secretary OF States Office.
Yesterday At 5 o'clock P NJ. the STATE
House officials began to drop into the en-
crossing Office one by one, until about
twenty-five had collected about the center q,
attraction, a. Squire" Milliken The Assem-.
bly, was called 70 order, and S. J. Chad.
bourne, Deputy Secretary Of State, delivered
the following address
Mr.. Mlliken About thirty years ago. In
this room where ue are now assembled Won
and met for the first time. Since then i.
whole generation has come upon the stage
acted its part, and passed away. These
years are the measure Of your service 10 the
State. You were then in the prime of .
vigorous manhood. 1 we'll remember the
ave with which l approached you for the
first time, and preferred a modest request,
for little paper and few envelopes. To
me IAN unsophisticated yopth) you were
more potent thai Any man had then met
for you held the keys to closets filed with
stationery, pocket knives and postage stamps,
which longed in vain to obtain sight Of,
Tor you were stern custodian and 10 small
and live.
But as | gained an insight into your true
nature and discovered underneath the seem
ing austerity Of manners truly kind heart.
this fear gave place to respect and then
there sprang up between US a friendship that
has grown with the years and has been
strengthened as time has rolled away |
believe | may safely say that no harsh or
unkind word has ever marred that friend
ship.
our duties in the office OF Secretary of
State have been nf varied nature-arduous
always and OF lines perplexing; but you
have been faithful to every trust and dis
charged every duty with acknow lodged
ability. Those of US who have been asso-
clated with you, remember the Old DAYS
when all the engros-lng done with the
pen and you had charge, in this room, of
dozen or more wild clerks, whose antics
would sometimes vex your very soul and try
your patience beyond measure, but you al
ways accomplished your work in due time.
and the legislature was never detained be-
cause of any delay in your department. We
remember, and SO do you, the trials ard tor
lures you endured at the hands of stupid
town clerks when they monkeyed with the
election returns.
| might proceed on this line and present
history of your long service, but that is
known to all men who have done business at
the State House and | need go no further.
In view of this don't believe | could be in
duced to offer you personal violence; never
theless | have been solicited and cajoled to
assist in giving you good, sound Gaming.
| was put forward to do it only because of
our long association in the service of the
IL. A
serve it. 1t being understood that your con-
nection with State affairs is soon to be
severed, these associates, remembering your
good conduct and faithful public service,
desiring to show their appreciation of
your worth, and that you shall bear away
with you some slight token of their great
respect present you this cane and this easy
chair, and ask you to accept them as mark
of their great friendship.
Take this cane, my dear sir-let it be a
stay to your steps as you pass along the
pathway of life-and reminder, that up
here in the old State House, where you have
spent so many years, are those who cherish
only pleasant recollections of you and who
will ever keep your memory fresh and green.
| bear to you their best wishes for your
future welfare. May your last days be your
best days, and when lfe's titful dream is
over, may we all meet where town clerks
shall cease from troubling and canings are
unknown.
A fine gold-headed cane, willow chair
and box of cigars were then presented.
Squire Milliken, taken wholly by sur
prise, replied | am exceedingly obliged
for the kindness you have shown to me-
Had | known | would have prepared
speech | leave this office, and might say
knowing not where shall go. but | shall
always bear in mind the many events that
have transpired here that afforded me both
pleasure and qualification. As said before,
if had fifteen or twenty minutes notice
would have been prepared to say something,
but will do better the next time.
Then followed an informal handshaking
aud farewells on the part of all, the Squire
leaving next week for Cumberland.
What would have proved curiosity for a
dime museum was shown us yesterday. 1t