, 1889-12-14
KEEFE REMEMBERED.
An Elegant Present for the Wyo-
ming Capitol Contractor.
His Employees Gave Him a Surprise
Last Evening.
The Callers Elegantly Entertained
by Mr.. Keefe and Wife.

NJ. P. Keefe's Twenty first street resi-
dence was invaded by a crowd of capitol
employees last evening and the contractor
was given a surprise from which he has
probably not yet recovered.
About s o'clock a Jolly party moved up
on the keefe castle from the statehouse.
Mrs. Keefe had been appraised of the visit
in advance and was awaiting callers, but
the head of the family was B~leeping the
sleep of the innocent in the way OF an
after dinner nan.
j. P. Julien. who is clerk of the work
awakened Mr.. Keefe and escorted him
down stairs where the visitors almost
filled the big double parlor. Mr.. Keefe
asked if anything was wrong when Sid
Baker, a plasterer and a jolly good
fellow who is called the bully
boy" stepped forward and COM
menced to talk to his employer. He
said the boys had for a long time wanted
to tell Keefe what they thought of him.
A number OF them were about to leave
the city and proposed to have
their say before departing. He
he had been delegated to do the speech
making, and while he didn't like to hurt
Mr.. Keefe's feelings he proposed to speak
plainly. The grievances were not many,
but in the eyes of some people they were
tolerably serious. In the first place he
had employed Cheyenne aud Denver men
on the Wyoming state house and had
paid thenfth best wages when he might
have imported cheap labor from the east.
Then he had used only the best material
and insisted on first class work. He had
rushed the Job, but instead of domineer-
ing over the men or putting task masters
in charge, he had treated each man like a
neighbor and had employed gentlemanly,
competent foremen. and by general good
treatment made them work SO hard that
the boarding house people kicked on
their appetites. The boys had been
thinking of some way to get even with
him. They had concluded to give him a
Christmas present in advance and believ-
ing that such a decent man must have a
model helpmeet, would stipulate that she
have a half interest in the token.
The present was now brought from its
place of concealment and a beauty it was.
On the beautiful silk lining Of a splendid
blrd's-eye maple cabinet Was arranged a
silver set of unusual magnifcence. There
are fifty pieces, all solid aud one set of
knives with pearl handles. Knives,
forks, spoons, butter dishes. etc. 1t is
tory and cost a pretty bit.
Mr.. Keefe was dumbfounded, for the
secret had been carefully guarded. There
were tears in his voice as he responded to
Mr.. Baker. He said that he had antici-
pated nothingof the sort, but would appre-
ciate the gift and hold sacred the memory
of the occasion. He had only tried to do
the right thing by the boys and by the
territory, and their action was sufficient
reward tor his efforts in one direction and
made him confident of success in the
other. He felt that he would have the
building completed in time, despite the
fire, and the attainment of this object was
due in a great measure to the f~aithfulness
of his employees. He heartily thanked
the gentlemen on behalf of Mrs. Keefe.
The elegant offering was closely in
spected. On the top plate was engraved:
Presented to NJ. p, Keete aud wife by
the employees of the capitol building.
Christmas. 1882"
Below is a copy Of a neatly penned card
which accompanied the gilt:
For Mr.. and Mrs. Keefe. The follow
ing is a list OF the names of those en-
ployes at the capitol who, on account of
the uniform courtesy extended them by
NJ. P. Keefe, capitol building contractor,
have subscribed to the present accompa-
nying: l.. r. Bresnahen, j. P. Julien,
A. Clark. VIM. McCabe. Theo. Schwan,
P. Nemayer, s. Eidleman, E. Carroll,
P. Beck, j. P. Black, Chas, Miller, j.
Linch, ]. DAILY, S. E. Han,SChas. COLLEEN
berg, B. A. Vandyke, S. Merrill, Draper
& Co., G. Berra, VIM. McAdams, Sam
Hathaway, b. Pierson, B. Sage, Chas.
Linn, j. l.. Murray, [. Underwood, T.
Moran, l. f. Wells, Martin Brother. F.
M. Pierce, f. A. Haskell, Geo. Clawson.
s. Baker.
MerrYmaking followed the presenta-
ton and the evening was very pleasantly
spent. Refreshments were served and
there was music, both instrumental and
vocal. About 10 o'clock quite an elabor-
ate lunch was spread under the direction
OF Mrs. Keefe,