Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-24

officers and members of the department
felt that the least they could DO "ouiu
be to thank you in person and 10 oHer
this small token of their esteem ana
good wishes.
I'VE hope that it will be of use to you
and that 1t will serve for many years 10
come to remind you of your grateIul
friends who had the honor and good for
tune to serve under you for so many
years"
Mr.. Macfarland's Appreciation.
This is little more difficult than the
public general OCCASION Mr.. Macfarland
replied. because we of the fire depart
ment have been brought closer together
in some ways than any of the rest OF
the public servants of the District or
Columbia. We have been working to-
gether late at night and early in the
morning, as well as during the office
hours. We have been through some
dangers and some trying, as well as some
plea ant, experiences together. l have
had a very special feeling for the ofncefs
and men of the fire department, / had
it long before l came into the commis-
sionership. and shall always have 1t. l
never hear the engines going in response
to an alarm without commencing the men
to God, because | know that it Is In peril
of their lives, whether there Is a, fire or
not. have done everything in my power
to improve the fire department in ma
terial way and to improve the conolt on
of the officers and men. l am we'll aware
that much remains to be done. l nope
1t will be done. and l am sure 1t VIII
be done, under the new administration.
I'VE ought to have what We have asked
for for protection of the city and for the
| comfort and well-being and. therefore. the
efficiency Of the men. They ought to
have more frequent days Oft with their
,, families. They ought to have in all
cases sanitary engine houses. Ihey ouent
to have the apparatus that Will enable
| them to do the work expected Of them
The whole city ought to have the hlen-
pressure fire protection service. SO that
it may be more effectively guarded, and
so that the officers and men may be the
better able to do their duty.
II cannot tell you how much l appre-
ciate your loving kindness and this gift,
which represents it. l shall not attempt
to do so. I want you to know that 1t
will always remind me OF a friendship
which Is precious.
Both Mr.. mcfarland and Mr.. West left
the District building very soon after the
farewells. MIR. West went to his flee In
, the Herald building and Mr.. Macfarland
went to attend u meeting OF the execu-
tive committee Of the Chamber OF Com
merce, after which he went straight to
his new offices In the Evans building. Mr..
Macfarland said today that the story had
gone abroad that he contemplated an
ocean voyage. but that it was not so.
Gifts to Het1r1ng Omc1alS.
The gifts to the retiring Commissioners
| were extremely handsome. The testi-
monial to Mr.. Mcfarland consisted Of
water color painting and a silver coffee
service. The painting. which is the work
| Of James Henry Moser. was particularly
admired by the Commissioner when it
| occupied the place of honor in the 1919
| Water Color Club exhibit. 1t has local
| subject interest in its present alton of the
! Washington Monument and the old carp
pond now gone, this su ject chosen as
| the means to a subtle rendering of a sun
| rise and atmospheric effect of great
| beauty and delicacy.
| The silver service is of elegant form
and simple design The inscriptions at
tached to the gifts are Henry B. F.
| Macfariand, from his feilow-workers in
the government of the District OF CO.
! lumbia.'
| The gift to Mr.. West was a large silver
service of six pieces, all wrought In CO.
I loniai style. 1t consisted of large sill
| yer tray Of handsome design, coffee pot
with an ebony handle, teapot, sugar
| bowl and drip bowl.
The inscription on the tray reads as fol-
! lows:
| ITO Henry Litchfield West, as token
| of appreciadon and esteem from tn sc
| who were associated with him In various
branches of the District service during
| his terms as Comm ssioner of the Dis
| trict Of Columbia. 19Oo-19lO.'