Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-08-18
Pheasant Incident.

Last week Randolph q. Berkeley son o
DR.. Carter Berkeley of this city, stood al
examination which entitled him to al ap
pointment to the marine service and he ha
been appointed End lieutenant of marines
and has been sworn in. He was at the time il
the employ Of the Southern R'y at Washing
ton and was so popular with his fellow EN-
ployees that on last Saturday they present
ed him with sword and cap. Mr.. l.. s
Brown, Pass. Agent for Washington city, ii
whose officeMr. Berkeleyiwas. made the fol
lowing presentation speech:
Lieutenant Berkeley:
| A man may be called upon to do many
things that may add to the pleasure Of his
life, but few, if any, can afford him more
| real qualification than that of attesting the
esteem which he and his friends hold III
| common for fellow man.
In being commissioned, sir, as have been,
| to present to you these accoutrements of
military service, on behalf of your many
| friends in the employment of the Southern
Railway, as token Of their cordial feel
ings and the high regard in which they hold
you, l am dOubly pleased in being able to
add my CONGRATULATIONS to theirs. l wish l
had language at my command to fittingly
extend to you the good wishes of your CO la
borers in entering upon your new field Of
duty and express the pleasure experienced
over the news of your preferment, but judg-
Ing from the manner in which you have
heretofore performed the work allotted to
you. not one OF us has the least misgiving
that any task assigned to you will not be
reformed with equal satisfaction to us and
to the powers that be. In fact, sir, your own
name wOnld indicate the existence III your
composition of the best elements of success
full qualities. The names Of Randolph,
Carter and Berkeley figure prominently in
the brightest pages Of Virginia history, and
no section of the old Commonwealth has
contributed more than the glorious Valley
of Virginia. rich with historic gems. from
which you hail, to give to the old State her
prestige and ren0wn.
But. sir, it does not follow because you
enter the Marine service-a very important
and, from recent fighting records, most
notable and pugilistic one-that you can or
will be easily misled by doubtful stories or
suspicious platitudes which. when not be-
lieved by others. are said to be told to the
marines, nor will you necessarily be assign
ed to the Company of Captain jerks, of the
Horse Marines, nor limited to feeding your
own horse on corn and beans; nor will it be
expected of you to cable yonr friends ashore
highly interesting sea stories Of serpents
so often let loose upon cOnfding public,
and assure you one will harbor for q mo-
ment thought that the long distance be-
tween our friendship moorings will neees.
state the use of marines to bring US togeth-
er.
But aside from pleasantly, my friend, IL
can say without the slightest reservation,
that no friends you have had, have now, or
can have will more heartily wish you
greater success or follow you in their hearts
more closely, or more warmly rejoice in
your success, than those from whom now
present to you this sword and cap, with their
affection and best wishes for the future.
To these felicitous remarks Lieut.. Berk-
eley made fitting response. The sword is
\ beautiful one. and the friends of the re
'ipient hope he may never draw it without
cause, or shield it without honor.