Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-02
AN EVIDENCE OF ESTEEM.
Retiring Auditor Whitridge, of the
z. l. & p, Surprised.
Presented With a Precious Remem-
brnnce from His Co-Laborcrs---A
Pleasant Evening ut supt. sudIow's
Home


low, of he R. I. & p. road. at the cor
ner OF Twentieth street and Sixth ave
nue.. was or New Years eve the scene OF
the largest gathering OF r. |. & P. EN-.
ployes hat has been known since the
popular and prosperous short line was
constructed The affair was wholly in
honor o the retiring auditor, II. c. Whit
ridge and wife, but the extent and enjoy
ment Afforded. as we'll as in another way,
the occasion was great surprise to the
estimab people. 1t was to them q SER
les of pleasant revelations--especially to
Mr.. Whitridge. Mr.. Sudlow had
invited Mr.. aud Mrs. Whitridge to
spend the evening at his residence and
knowing that the other employees of the
road were anxious to present the retiring
auditor with an evidence of their esteem
and good will had, unknown to Mr..
Whitridge, requested the chief officials,
heads Of departments and clerical forces
to call, and had communicated his desire
also to the agents and conductors to
choose from their number as many as
could conveniently be present.
Accordingly there was an assembling of
fully thirty employees of the road at the
depot at the foot of Twentieth street
shortly before s o'clock and all proceeded
to Mr.. Sudlow's house in a body. Mr..
and Mrs. Whitridge had arrived in the
meant me and the importing was to them
a great surprise. The guests were all
cordially received by their chief and his
wife and made to feel at home at once
II WAS but short time before supper
was al nounced and all repaired to the
delightful dining room, where, under
Mrs. Sudlow's direction a most elaborate
and s1mputous feast had been spread
Mr.. Sudlow sat at the head of the table,
with Mr.. Whitridge at bis right and Gen
eneral Freight and Ticket Agent Stock
house on his left the complete list of
those who were seated about the table
being as follows:
General Supt. II. B. Sudlow; General
Freight and Ticket Agent r Stockhouse;
Ex-Auditor II. C.. Whitridge, Master Me-
chanic Joseph Elder; Roadmaster J. f.
Breckenridge; Chief Train Dispatcher II.
p. Greenough; Cashier X. Slsymaker;
assistant TO superintendent. W. S. Full
mpr. aasis,ant 10 Uanara1 fra;nb, oron,
Nj. Z. Patterson, assistant to general
ticket agent, f. G. Spaulding; assistant
to auditor, t. W. Hartley; clerk, Hugh
A. Johnston.
Agents, F. H. Rockwell, Rock Island;
j. NJ. Allen, Peoria; c. W. Purvlsnce,
Wyoming; A. F. Stickney. Toulou; W.
NJ. Hill, Gslva; G.. A. Cooper, Cam
bridge; c H. Lippincott, Orion.
Conductors, J. G. Aud, W. o. Hitch~
cock, H J. Horn, Thos. Doty. l. r. Pit
ney.
Fl. Harrison, book-keeper, P. Greens
walt, cashier, Coal Valley. Mining COM
pany
At side table we're Mrs. Sudlow. Mrs.
Whltridge. Mrs. Stockhouse and Miss
Jenn Warrick. the latter stenographer
in the general offices of the r. l. & P.
company.
An hour or more passed in an appre-
ciative discussion of the delicious variety
with which the tables were heaped, and
after all had partsken shundautly. Mr..
StocEhouse spoke as follows:
My Dear Mr. whitrdge.
In the name OF the officers. agents,
conductors and other employees of the
Rock Island & Peoria railway com
pany, l hereby present this little
gem as slight token of their es-
TEEN and friendship and their good will
toward you. On this occasion, and
after you have concluded to sever the
conn ection, which has for so many wears
existed between you. and those assem-
bled here tonight. permit me to say, not
in the spirit of flattery, not as the utter
ance of empty words or meaningless
phrases. but as a true expression of our
feelings toward you, that "your friends
are many; your foes none" and that
aside from the sentiments of friend,
ship and good will, there is but one
other feeling which accompanies our
gift, that of regret, to lose one. who
by his friendly conduct, his frank and
sincere demesner in all his dealings with
us. has endeared himself to all of us.
Qualities like these. my dear sir, are not
easily forgotten; they are appreciated
and treasured in q world where the no
bier traits of character and human nature
are often being absorbed IN the meaner
disr osition, and are rewarded by kindly
wishes and offerings from friendly hands
Take. then, this little present in the
spirit in which it is offered. of sincere
love and esteem, and good will, and may
1t. bright and sparkling, always remind
you that you have left far behind friends
who will remember you, and will in all
conditions of your future life, feel and
sympathize with you
May yeur future be as clear and free
from darkening shadows as this little
gem. and your path in life even and I'M
troubled by uncertainty. This is the
heartfelt wish of all of us.
He then presented Mr.. Whitridge with
a beautiful diamond stud on the accep-
lance of which the recipient, subjected as
he was again to pleasant surprise, evlnced
deep emotion; but he fittingly acknowl-
edged the high compliment and expressed
his gratitude not only for the lovely gift,
but for the sentiment which accompanied
it. He would always prize and cherish
it, he said. He had been so many years
ass ociated with those who had partici-
pa ed in its presentation that he felt he
had personal acquaintance and endur-
inf friendship with each. He would re,
me mber them all as long as he lived.
in the diversity of amusement which
f.II.....I 49,. .-.-. L.