Norwich bulletin., 1911-08-12

John W. Gates, the financier and
lover of sports. who died in Paris this
week, spent the summer with his fam
lily at the Guthrie place in the Pequot
colony a few years ago, and became
deservedly popular with the people
by reason of his democratic ways, and
with the boys for his generosity and
forethought at the ball games. In this
particular he was of-the same type as
DR.. William Appleton, who is always
trying to make others happy, and fire.
quently raced with the doctor to the
baseball games by automobile to see
who would get to the gate first and
pay the admission fees for the big
crowd of boys in waiting and who
could net raise the price themselves.
These boys loved Mr.. Gates, regretted
his departure from the city, scanned
the newspapers during his sickness in
Paris. and felt grieyed when they
learned of his death. His wealth never
changed his general mannerisms or
his thoughtful consideration of the
condition of others. A striking illus
tration of the appreciation of a kind
act was made by three OF the boys on
Wednesday afternoon, who used to
LAY for Mr.. Gates at the entrance to
the baseball field. and it is best told
in the words of one of the boys, the
oldest of the trio of typical boys of
the street:
Yes, we know that Mr.. Gates is
dead; for we read it in a paper down
on the old Ferguson wharf. l read. it
first, then Ikey read it, and then Tom
read 1t. We just looked at each other,
and, say, we just cried, for we couldn't
help it. We did more; for I tell you
the fellows loved Mr. Gates, so we
couldn't help doing what we did. Tom
and men knelt right down and said
our prayers, and Il1ey knelt, too, but
l guess he didn't know his prayers.
After we prayed. key said that we
ought to pray again, and we did.
God to forgive any wrong that Mr..
Gates might have, done. We said he
never did wrong, but 1key said he
might have been bad fellow when he
was a kid and that it would do no
harm to ask God to do the right thing
and after key told God of the good
things that Mr.. Gates did for us kids,
he asked God to pay him back in some
of his coin and we all said Amen.
Amt that going some, and we meant
just everything that We did, and to
show that we were not fooling, not
one of us three are going to smoke a
cigarette or say a cuss word until aft
er we read of the funeral of our friends
Mr. Gates
The court of common council men,
bers of the city of New London, the
ma joFity Republicans, have laid aside
party considerations, and paid honor
to a democratic mayor in a way that
was never done before in this city.
Before his administration is half over
they rendered Mayor Mahan a banquet,
a stric' ly nure surprise. and at the
banque~ they sprang another surprise
on the mayor by presenting him a
solid silver loving cup of handsome
design and appropriately inscribed.
The whole was an expression OF eap-
probation of the successful efforts of
furthcrng the interests of New Lon
don in the state legislature and Of rep
ate as it was never before represented.
The presentation speech by Alderman
Downey was a repetition of all the
good things that had been said of the
mayor senator by his fellow towns
people, and the loving cup was to serve
as a reminder of the recognition of the
securing of an appropriation of $1,000,-
600 for the development of. New Lon
don harbor.
Alderman James F.. O'Leary con-
ceived the idea of giving a testimonial
to Mayor Mahan, and he quietly put
the proposition up to his fellow alder
men and received their unanimous and
hearty approval, each pledging the
other to absolute secrecy as to the
banquet and the presentation. The re-
suit was just what it was planned to
be-a surprise to Mayor Mahan, and
also a pleasure to him and his assoc
ciates of the court of common coun-
Gil. A plan that was also satisfying
to the aldermen without regard to
politics. Mayor Mahan. when assum-
ing office, said that he did not pro-
pose to permit politics to interfere
with the city management, if he could
prevent it. and the republican majority
assured him that he would have their
hearty support:in all his undertakings
1or the .city's good, and that playing
the game of politics would be eschew-
ed The banquet and presentation are
a fulflment of these promises.
YAe big fleet of the New York Yacht
club has made its annual visit to New
London harbor, which was appreciated
by the whole people. although aside
from the receptions in fashionable
homes and in the hotels there was no
dc monstration of welcome. except per-
haps the many who visited the anchor
age in small boats and waved a well
come to the natty yachtsmen and to