Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-18
A FINE SEND-OFF.
Surprise Presentation to James
Forsstedt at Hotel du Nord.
A WeII-Known Citizen of Worcester VIII
Sail Tomorrow from New York
for Sweden.

Had 1 fully realized how deep-rooted
are the ties that bind me to America and
Americans, to Worcester and it's citizens,
and to my associates at the mill, could
never have brought myself to severing
them by moving back to Sweden"
1t was these words that Mr.. James
Forsstedt, who sails tomorrow for his
fatherland, addressed to about so of his
associates at the Washburn & Moen
Manufacturing Company, Thursday eve
ming. And as he spoke he showed how
fully he felt the truth of what he was
saying.
The party had gathered at Hotel du
Nord on Summer street to show their
respect and esteem for Mr. Forsstedt,
with whom they have been so intimately
connected for a number of years. These
gentlemen felt that simply saying fare
well was not sufficient, that perhaps
some more substantial evidence might
not be inappropriate. So they presented
him with gold watch, American made
throughout, and the finest in every re-
spect that money could buy.
To Mr.. Forsstedt the whole affair was
complete surprise. He did not have
the slightest inkling that such a thing
was contemplated. AS is his custom,
when not attending any meeting of the
school committee or some of it's sub
committees, he was spending the evening
In the bosom Of his family. But his do
mestio enjoyment was for the time dis
turbed by the appearance at his house
of c. w. Bildt, who drove up in a hack
to inform him that some of his friends
wished to see him ION business at the
Hotel du Nord.
Mr.. Forsstedt accompanied Mr.. Bildt
to the scene Of the festivities, and there
he found the party awaiting his arrival.
The number Of his friends assembled at
the hotel staggered him. But he was
still further bewildered when Alfred
Wattes stepped forward and In a neat
and feeling speech presented the guest
Of the evening with the timepiece.
The watch is a beauty. It is of solid
gold, hunter case, full jeweled, and cost
several hundred dollars. The watch Is
one Of those strike the hours and the
five minutes, so that time can be told
almost as readily in pitch darkness as
in the broad daylight. The inscription
upon the watch was as follows: Pre-
sented to James Forsstedt by his as
sociates and friends Worcester, Mass.
U. s. A. March II, 1898"
In Mr. Waites' short but pointed pres
entation remarks, he said that Mr..
Forsstedt's ability was Of the highest
order, and that nowhere was It more
recognized than at the place where he
had worked so long 1t was felt that
Mr. Forsstedt should carry back with
him a souvenir of his associates here,
and he believed something purely Am
erican would not be inappropriate. For
that reason an American watch, made
by American workmen, in an American
shop, had been procured.
Mr. Forsstedt's remarks in response
came out of the very bottom of his
heart. He said no one could rea ~
how hard it was for him to leave this
country, which he liked and loved 30
well, and that, if he had the decision to
make over, he should conclude that he
could not leave his friends here, how
ever tempting might be the offers.
Among the others called upon by G.
w. Bildt, who acted as master Of cere-
monies, was James B. Stone. who said
that as a public man Mr.. Forsstedt had
built for himself lasting monument in
the schools of the city.
Mr.. Forsstedt sails from New York
upon the Etruria, for Swed-
en-, but will leave his family in this
country for the present In Sweden Mr..
Forsstedt will have entire charge Of the
erection of a million dollar plant for the
of many sorts of parts OF
electrical machinery, and after the con-
struction Of the plant he will act aa
general manager