The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-01
1t is now Postmaster Fitch.

L
Ten years ago YoX populi turned the
wheel of fortune and its great unseen
hand trembled and pointed to Democracy
With that turn of the wheel the late
lamented Frank B. Smith bounded into
the postoffice. -Four years ago last night
he retired.
The wheel turned again and the hand
this time pointed to the Republican party.
Its revolution brought z. b. ,Jewett into
the postoffice four years ago last night.
The giddy goddess turned the wheel again
and its hand turned backward to its old
mark. The revolution brought with it
into the postoffice Thomas O.. Fitch, who
succeeded Mr.. Jewett last night.
Thus it is that the world and all things
in it revolve
All day yesterday Mr. Jewett was turn
ing over to his successor bundles of
stamps envelopes, money orders. and, in
fact, all the stock of a well kept and well
regulated metropolitan postoffice. They
smoked together, they laughed together.
they joked, and stranger seeing them
would never think for a moment that they
were representatives OF hostile political
parties aud hat IN the revolution of the
wheel of political fortune one of them
was evicting the other.
At o'clock last evening an EAGLE
reporter called to witness the presto
change. The interior of the postoffice
was filed with Boys in gray, but not the
gray of historic fame. Three ladies peeped
out from behind the card cases with their
faces wreathed in smiles and expectation
of something happening.
''By the way jadge, l want to see you
moment, d" said Mr.. Fitch, and he lead his
unsuspecting predecessor into rear room,
While they were gone Janitor Sam Viii
llams, the coored pillar of the govern
ment in the federal building, darted down
IN the cellar and reappeared soon like
Aladdin with a wonderful lamp in his
arms. This same lamp was lit and
adorned with beautiful red shade which |
softened the light into mellow glare |
1t stands five feet high on a handsome |
marble stand and is richly adorned with |
designs from the classic arts. The gas |
Jets were turned down and when all this |
was done Mr. Fitch led the still unsus- |
pecting postmaster out Of the room.
''Mr. Postmaster" said Mr.. Fitch, sin |
behalf of the ladies and gentlemen who |
have been associated with you in the work |
of this postoffice, / present to you this |
beautiful lamp as token OF their high |
esteem for You. / assure you that its pre- |
sentatlOD Is accompanied with the most |
sincere feelings of respect for you aud the |
highest appreciation OF your efforts and |
enceavors at all times to make their posi-
tions agreeable to them and the bur-
den of their labors light upon them.
You have corps of employees
unsurpassed by any others for faithful
ness to duty and loyalty to- you"
Mr. Fitch followed up with an eulogy on
the retiring postmaster which was credi-
table to his own generosity and liberality
of spirit and highly ana deservedly COM
plimentsry to the retiring postmaster.
Mr.. Jewett was very deeply affected by
the scene and the words of his employees
as spoken by their representative and his
own successor. He replied in a very
felicitous speech remarkably well fitted
for such occasion. He referred to a |
similar scene that took place four years ago
and with deep feeling recalled the fact
that the late Frank Smith then stood
where he stood. "He was my personal
and warm friend" said Mr.. Jewett; 'he
was a friend 10 you, ladies and gentlemen,
and my sorrow at his departure from US
all is mitigated by the fact that he has
gone where merit IS rewarded. You need |
not think for moment that 1 deemed it |
necessary that you should use an outward |
sign of your good will aud kindly feelings
towards me- l know you all by your
faithfulnes to your duty and your loyalty
to myself l have always regarded the
employees of the poStotiice something APP
preaching family. ! will not forget you.
I will live in this community and |
want to state before proceeding
farther that my official life has not onl,
been made pleasant by the employees of
the office, but by the patrons as we'll The
patrons OF this office-the business men OF
ane community-are the most excellent |
people l ever knew. They are considerable
in their dealings with the Office, aud most
pleasant and agreeable" He then re-
ferred to his successor. lie paid Mr.. Fitch
a high compliment and congratulated the
employees upon their good fortune in hav-
ing him in charge OF them for the next
four years. Mr.. Jewett was cheered sew
eral times during his address. aud whis-
pers passed around TO the effect that the
retiring postmaster had a great big heart.
General handshaking followed. Mr..
Jewett's hand was shaken in farewells aud
Mr.. Fitch's in congratulations.
Mr.. Fitch opened a box OF fine Havana
cigars and passed them around.
As fiitiug close to the festivities Mr..
Jewett escorted his successor and all the
employees of the Office. and the attached
postal clerks TO Frzel's where they ban
quoted on ice cream while Professor
Biume's orchestra played line selections
from the national music.
Mr. Fitch said: Il seek no higher re-
ward after four years service than mani
festation of such friendship from the em-
ployes of the office as that rendered my
predecessor"
Mr. Jewett made model postmaster and
he retires holding the respect ana conf
rence of the entire community OF patrons,
which, j: is unnecessary TO say. i fine
tribute to his personal ana official worth.
The following resolutions were rendered
him by the employees:
WICHITA, Ksn,, July 2S, 1894
To the Honorable +. Is. Jewett.
DEAR SIR: The term Of Office for which
YOU were appointed postmaster OF the city
of Wichita having expired, and your suc-
eessor having been appointed and con
firmed, and your retirement from the
position which you have held Will necessi-
tate the severipg Of the relations which
have heretofore existed between yourself
and the undersigned. employees In the post
office in this city, We desire while the old