Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-24
RAILROAD MEN
Celebrate Natal Anniversary of
Opening of Club Rooms.
Prominent Officials are Present and Speak
Words of Compliment and Suggestion
Librarians Report is interesting,


/ evening in a most successful manner.
At the banquet of last year prominent
officials OF the several roads were pres
ent, and those to appear again at the
anniversary OF last night to eompA-
ment the association upon it's work.
We're: c. C. Elwell, superintendent OF
! the Worcester division of the New York
/ New Haven and Hartford Railroad; A.
1 r. Whaley, agent Of the road at PFoYi-
| dence; c. c. Burnett, assistant supern'
tendent of the Consolidated, and H. V
! Hamm, agent of the Norwich road a,
! Norwich
The rooms mad been prettily deco
rated over the parlor doorway was
suspended a picture Of President MeKin-
| ley, and hung beneath was a red Ian
| term the signal of danger on the road.
This emblematical reference to the stir
ring times and the attitude of President
Mckinley toward Spain as the result OF
| the Names explosion, drew forth warm
| compliment for the decorators. At the
head of the spiral staircase and across
the bridge Of sighs' was stationed an
! enormous headlight.
| The exercises of the evening opened
| with a reception in the club parlors.
| President Theodore b, Wardwell and
| Mrs, Wardwell receiving, from 7.S0 TO
| $50 O'Clock, when the formal program
! of the evening opened with an overture
I by the orchestra, comprising Miss Bes-
/ sic Sheffield Ernest Smith and B. A.
| Berber. Arthur Drake had furnished
| music while the guests We're being pre-
! sented 10 President and Mrs Wardwell
| and he appeared later In the exercises.
| The ]. w, Dick Juniors Mandolin and
| Guitar Club played a well-received Sc
| lection, and were followed by song
| by Miss Feather, which was encored.
Tn.,.a1
! brilliant effort. and the reading, 1.-Two
| Salvador Won" by II. G. Geary, was
| accorded great applause. The Misses
| Jefts of Southboro gave a piano duet
| with excellent effect, and were followed
| by the glee club in the Pilgrims
| Chorus" for which an encore was de-
| manded. Ralph Durkee gave a graphic
| phone entertainment for a few min
utes, and reports We're read by Presi-
| dent Theodore B. WardWell and Libra
rian Charles e. Greeley.
President Wardwell was unusually fe-
| licitous in his words of welcome
| He spoke of the auspices under which
the association had arisen, and of the
success with which its aims and objects
had been accomplished. The year had
been one OF gratifying results As the
association has reached It's aim, it's scope
should be enlarged. New departments
should be added, and the growth of
membership pIONGu lsldl Sutl lHuONd-
|, tions and improvements would be both
welcomed and supported He paid his
compliments to Michael w. Handhn,
who had perfected the organization of
the glee club. He also referred 70 Prof,
Clarence L. Mahoney, who had been the
instructor. In conclusion, he spoke in a
warm manner Of the grand work of Lii
brarian Charles T.. Greeley.
Librarian Greeley was the next to give
| a report, and he presented MANY infer
esting statistics.
He told how as reporter he used to
climb the stairs in search of reports,
and how when he asked for the position
as librarian, he secured it. He laid his
success in this line to the policy he had
observed in the Spy, to get facts and
hold fast to that which was true. This
motto of the Spy had impressed itself
upon him, and been the source Of his
success. In the statistical department
Mr.. Greeley said that the membership
had grown 222, divided among the vari-
Gus roads as follows: Boston e Albany,
80; Consolidated. 65 Boston & Maine. 1921
New England, 20: Fftchburg, 10; and eX-
railroad men, 5. The average attendance
for the year had been 70 daily There
had been 978 baths taken. and 6540 tow
els used, The features of the rooms had
been the library loan department which
had been well patroni2ed, the cores
pondence table, and other advantages.
| There were further needs of the as
sociation, and the librarian sketched in
an able manner his plans for the future
TO increase the present sphere of use
fulness. During the year the course of
entertainments had been attractive, and
had held the interest Of the members
The entertainments had been of an in
tellectual and educational nature. and
afforded great pleasure TO the members.
He complimented Mr. Handltn on his
work and the officers, paying a warm
tribute to the modest but able leader
ship of President Wardwell.
Then followed remarks by c. G. FL
well, superintendent of the Worcester
division Of the Consolidated Superin-
tendent ElWell was very facetious and
witty in his remarks, and his humorous
allusions brought forth the applause OF
the audience. He referred to his visit
the year previous, when the scheme Of
a railroad mems club was looked upon
with doubt by some. When the ques-
tion had come to him for his opinion, he
had said, "Why, certainly" The move
ment originated with some of the mem
bers themselves, and he was glad to
publicly recognize the grand, successful
effort which the association had made,
and to compliment it on its success. He
was glad to see the wives Of the menu
bers present The railroad men should
bring their wives oftener.
Superintendent Elwell engaged In "A
few happy pleasantries with Mrs. e. D.
Knight of the w C. t. u, who has
charge of the railroad work conducted
by that body
Mrs. E. D. Knight was called upon
after the applause had subsided and
after replying to the witty remarks Of
MIR Elwell in happy manner, told the
members that she was highly pleased
with the work Of the association, and
should always have a warm heart for
some other mothers boys.
After an intermission, the ]. w. Dick
Juniors gave another mandolin and gui-
tar concert, followed by "A dream OF
Paradise" by Michael w. Handlin.
which was warmly applauded. A violin
solo by Ernest Smith was a decided ia
| vorite, and was succeeded by an operet-
ia. 1--WE will have to mortgage the
farm" given by quintet Of beautiful
young ladies, dressed in cream. white
and black Miss Mamie lie May was
brilliant in her role of directress.
Those with her IN the operetta were;
4 Miss Emma Guerin, Miss Rose Daniel.
Miss Ida Nault, Charles Vilandre ana
4 Miss Louisa Lambert. The selection was
a hit and roundly encored. "In silent
need' by the glee club was another hit
and was a musical success. Asleep by
the switch" by Fl. G. Geary, was fol-
lowed by Michael w. Handlin in the
Star spangled banner" The audience
Joined in the chorus.
The decorations were in charge OF
President Theodore B. Wardwel and
Librarian Greeley, who were the general
committee Of arrangements, and to
whom is due the success of the evening
A large and apprecdative audience OF