Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1906-03-09
Presentation TO II. W. Blake

PieAsaht surprise Wednesday. the Isl
inst, the day of seyering his connection
with the Custom House at this place
"hen lie nas presented With a solid OAK
roll Top desk. chair, fountain pen aud
ihkstand. just after o'clock =. NJ. the
Custom House force aud other friend,
10 the number of about twenty, gathered
In his Office, and after the arrival of Mr..
Blake, Col. L. IL. Dale, deputy collector
IN charge of this port. arose aud spoke
IA part as follows
Brosler Blake. | have been asked to
make an argument, but shall make it
oriei. At this time when you are about
to withdraw from the Customs Service.
We, your associates for years past. have
come in here to congratulate you. aud
extend our good wishes. We can con.
graduate YOU for many things. Among
Others, your tenacity of purpose in gain.
ing an education, aud then an entrance
to your chosen profession, aud because
you have done this while generously
meeting the duties that mist ortune in
your family made unuaturally difficult.
We congratulate you that you have the
friendship Of your associates, a. ex
pressed here today, and that they are
honestly hoping lot your success. We
wish Tor you only the good and sub.
Stantlai, and that the memory OF your
association with us NAV aid to sure
accomplishment. Yon have known the
associations ni 4 college, and know what
1t Is 10 reflect upon them, aud We wish
that you may look back to the years
when YOU we're with us in somewhat
the SAME manuer-that through the
future We here may he, as it we're, alum,
nj OF the same institution, and that YOU
NAV IN that sense expect our Interest ia
your welfare. As slightly expressing
our congratulations and our good wishes.
We ask YOU TO accept this desk, and ia
the intervals of rest as yon toll over il.
We trust you with have good and helpful
thoughts OF us, as We all now have tor
you.
Mir. T.. j. Parsons then rose, and pre-
scented MIR. Blake with a fountain pen
and a chair TO match the desk, the gift
Of the members af thu local lodges of
Old Fellows aud Knights OF Pythias,
remarkiug that Mr.. Blake in his Custom
House service had learned to luve rest
and repose, and that his fraternity hro-
theirs, mindful OF this. had picked out a
chair most adapted for that purpose,
having a double set of springs, 50 that
the occupant could almost recline while
using it and that they hoped he would
enjoy ii to the full
After this Mr. Blake expressed his
complete surprise at the Kindness OF his
friends, and told them that the Custom
House here had certainly been, as sug.
gested by Col. Dale, second college for
| him, and that the friendships there
made would be cherished no less dearly
than those of the other college attended
in the days gone by. He sad that he
had no speech to make on this occasion,
but would have 10 60 to the barrel and
repeat sentiment spoken on another
occasion, namsly-that wherever a man
might 60, he might find climate aud
works Of art more to his taste, but would
never fluid truer hearts, or more friendly
spirits, than those OF the residents OF
Island Pond That this was his senti
ment soon after commencing to live
here, and that it had never changed
and that he thanked his friends sincerel,
for their manifestations OF kindly feel
inss.
Mr.. Adams, of the Canadian Customs
service, on the same day presented Mr.
Blake with fine inkstand, so that HI
could start in life completely anew.