The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-28
good recolleotions Of their visit to this

good recolleotions OF their visit to this
city.
Toastmaster Lamb introduced ex-
Mayor James R. Kenney Of Reading,
whose speech was in part, as follows:
1.-THE capacities Of Pennsylvania men
are noted the world over but being
banqueted every two hours has the eff
feet of making the mental machinery
lazy, and this reception by Worcester
veterans and active firemen and the
city officials, has been such that I must
admit that there is limit to the ca
pacities Of citizens OF Reading.
Il thought Worcester was known as
the heart of the commonwealth be-
cause of its geographical location but
after this reception Of today, it seems
that the city has been so known be-
cause the physical hearts of the best
men of the commonwealth are centered
here. In behalf Of the Friendship COM
pany, I extend sincere thanks for this
round Of pleasure.
Our trips are not made solely for
pleasure. 1t is our aim to incorporate
the good qualities observed in the cit
liens of cities we visit, with those Of
the people of Reading. l respect the
| loyalty of your citizens to their native
| city, and nothing marks the good char
acter of a man more favorably than
| loyalty to hearthstone, home and
country.
Worcester has fine public buildings,
| excellent streets, stately residences
and other distinguishing features Of a
| modern city, but it is the wish of the
| Friendship company Of Reading that
| the veteran and active flremen and
| citizens of Worcester be entertained in
| our. Pennsylvania city. Our Dutch dty
will extend its hospitality to Worces-
1 tA,. Nyicit hn L.
| neTs of the Reading fire company,
| Friendship" will be found in the
heart Of every memberNof the volunteer
| fire department of Reading, who has
! shared in the entertainment rendered
us in this city"
Rev. Almon Gunnison said: Il have
visited Reading, and memory of my
| reception in that city still lives, The
Dutch people of Berks county are very
| wide, especially when they occupy the
same seat in a railroad car. The best
description I have heard of the Dutch
citizens of Reading is that they are not
| tall UP, but wide out. The Quaker
| garbs of the Reading firemen Is in
| dicative of a more sombre feeling than
| is in the hearts Of our Massachusetts
veterans who wear the Notwithstanding
| red shirts.
I'm this trip of the Reading company
|
citizens Of two cities touch hands and
| hearts, there is always good resulting
from it, When the Friendship COM
pany enters New York, Saturday, re-
member there is another man there
| sharing the honor of reception, that
] loyal, modest, American hero, Admiral
Dewey" Cheering and applause)
| Chief John Morrison of Friendship
| Fire company, No. A. thanked the Wor-
1 Aro1 hn fart 70 Yo1 er1f
| provided, and repeated ex-Mayor Ken
ney's invitation to visit Reading. He
| said that the u fire companies of Read
| ing had a total membership of $500, al
volunteers, out of population of g.,
| 500
Chief E. L. Vaughn, of the local firt
| department, welcomed the visitors, anC
invited a thorough inspection of the tirf
| system of this city Vice President J.
| Russell Marble of the board of trads
said: Worcester labors under peculiar
| conditions. There is no water front.
! age. The coal and iron we use comes
| from Pennsylvania, largely from Read
| ing, but the city has become one of the
| greatest manufacturing centers in the
| country. 1t owes this honor to the gen
| ius Of Worcester inventors and the skill
| of its mechanics. No class of people
| can be compared for thrift with the
mechanics of this city.
There are heroes of peace as well
| as heroes of war. In my mind the ac-
| tive firemen Of every city deserve a
| much larger salary than they receive.
but if this is not forthcoming, the fire.
| men are worthy Of the greatest hon
or"
POSTMASTER Lamb, after limiting that
| the visitors had met with but one mis-
| hap, introduced John p. Roe of Friend
| ship company, who failed to understand
4 why he was called upon, but made a
modest speech of gratitude. Roe's
wonderment ceased when Toastmaster
| Lamb related a tale founded upon
| Tuesday nights adventures of Roe,
when he retired with his false teeth in
cup by the bedside, and awoke yes
terday morning and found them gone.
Roe visited every pawnshop in town,
| but did not find the teeth. President
Lamb presented Roe q nursing bottle
and box Of baby food. Roe dared not
| grin, but bowed thanks
Inspector of Wires William Brophy OF
| Boston, former superintendent Of the fire
alarm system in this city and an ex-
member Of Worcester Veteran Fire
mems association, spoke feelingly Of
| the sadness attached to long service in
| the fire department. He believed thai
| fremen were underpaid, and continued
II remember the disbandment of Tiger
No. Hose company of this city, and
the parting of the members. i am not
in the fire department service as n
| fighter now, because the need of money
led me to accept my present position
THE fire department Of today is
| more appreciated than those of 80 wears
ago. The sight Of mayor at the fes-
tivities Of firemen In those DAYS was
rare. but the advancement Of education
In the citizens Of this country has