Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-22
IS GRATEFUL
General Richards Delighted
With Recent Banquet.
Speaks in Warmest Terms Of Cordial
Reception Given Him.
Expresses Hope That National Guard viii
Maintain Nigh standiss.

Adiutant General Richards is enthu
siastic in his praise of the grand tes
timonial banquet rendered to him at
Portland. the other evening. nv the
members of the National Guard. In
! conversation with the Journal, yester-
day, he expressed himself as being
greatly pleased with the high honor
which the boys of the staff and line"
had bestowed upon him.
The cordiality of the reception given
| me. said the general. was SO warm.
sincere and hearty that it nearly over
| came me. Perhaps for that reason T
| was not able in my remarks to express
the deep appreciation felt. because
knew if [ attempted to do so | should
surely have broken down. The warmth
| the sincerity, the heartiness of the
greeting was manifest from the time
| reached Portland until left the city
for home. The boys did me an honor
that shall never forget. The parade
of the Portland troops acting as escort
from the depot to the hotel was a most
pleasing incident of the whole affair.
Eut the spontaneous demonstration at
the banquet was the crowning glory
OF all. admit that | was affected by
II. And then the intercourse | had
with the boys after the banquet was
over the clasp of the friendly hand and
the words of farewell and God speed
which l received from all We're a source
nf infinite qualification to me.
The sentiment of it all was most
touching. ! felt. then. that my labors
for the good Of the Guard had not been
III vain. for ] had the endorsement of
the officers who have SO faithfully
worked with me in the building up of
the service. and | was satisfied. An
officers work is never done while he
can do anything 10 add to the comfort
of his men.
II feel that the change from a bri-
gade camp 10 individual regimental
camps has been appreciated by the
men. II has served to give them bet
ter accommodations and more room.
thus adding materially to the health
The cutting down Of ex-
penses At headouarters. too. has been
Of benefit to the men. for the money
that may have been unwisely spent
there has gone toward adding TO the
mer's comfort. do hope that the reg
Iti'fltdi tdliipS W Ill Dt' continued III l1it'
future. for | firmly believe they are Of
great advantage to the service.
The line is the fighting force Of the
Guard and the duty Of the staff is To
do that which will make them more
efficient and more competent TO per-
form their allotted tasks. The officers
and men of the staff and line, as at
present constituted. are a credit to the
state. and | do hope that the Guard
will maintain its organization. preserve
its morale and grow more efficient. no
matter who may come or who may go.
| want them 10 support my successor.
whoever he may be. and aid and assist
him in every way for the good of the
service and the good Of the State and
nation. 4 good National Guardsman
makes a good citizen.
In the peri ormance of the new du-
tics which am 10 assume l shall spare
many moments to dwell with pleasur
/, bic emotions upon my connection with
the National Guard of Maine, and !
shall ever hav. a kind thought for all
those who have so faithfully and 10y
ally aided me in the work | have had
"a do.