The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-31
NONOGENAR|AN
JUSTICE SMITH
HOneSdale'S Oldest Public
Official Surprised
THE OLD COURT HOUSE GANG
GIVE HIM GIFrS-M. j. HAM
Ian AND HOMER GREENE,
ESQ, MAKE SPEECHES.,

the Court House know they hadn't
forgotten him, Former Register and
Recorder Emerson w. Gammell and
other members of the old Court
House gang" framed up a pleasant
surprise for Squire Robert A. Smith,
Tuesday morning, on the occasion
of the ninetieth anniversary of his
birth.
Promptly at FIVE minutes past ten
O'Clock, the conspirators who had
assembled in the County Commits
sioners office, headed by Former
Prothonotary and Clerk of the
Courts NJ. j. Hanlan, marched into
the 'Squire's office at the end of the
corridor bearing with them gifts of
cigars, cigars, cigars, etcetera, etce-
terra, etcetera.
Gentlemen, I'm glad to see you,"
said the Squire as the unexpected
guests filled his office to overflow
ing. The District Attorney NJ. E.
Simons congratulated him on his
"sixtieth birthday" Silence restor-
ed, Michael J. Hanlan made the pre-
sentation speech. He said:
Now, Squire Smith, there's an
old adage that absence makes the
heart grow fond Some of us have
been here in the Court House a
number of years. We have labored
in the Court House. We have per-
formed our official duties. Some of
us have gone forth never to return.
While here we formed an attachment
for the Court House.
81 believe l express the sentiments
OF all the eX-officials when l say
there was nothing in the Court
House for which we have a deeper
veneration and greater lover than
our old genial friend, old Squire
Smith. (Great Applause).
Il know we've spent many pleas
ant hours together. We've disputed
over the domino table. We've dis
puted over points of law. We've dis
puted over political questions. But
there has been no person in my rec
objection in the Court House that l
recall with more respect, love and
veneration than you. We knew We
could always rely on you. We knew
when Squire Robert Smith gave us
his word he would keep it. 1t af-
fords me pleasure and qualification
on behalf of my colleagues and
friends to present you with these
tokens of esteem. Though not OF
great intrinsic value, they represent
the love and veneration we have for
you. If you are ever in any difficult
ty, if you ever are in need of a
friend, you need not hesitate to
come to any of the ex-ofTicers.
(Great Applause.D
Responding Squire Smith said:
Il thank you all. l can't make
long speech this morning. l feel
it right here" (pointing to his
heart).
Calls for Homer Greene to respond
for Squire Smith were loudly
made. Equal to the occasion, as
story tellers always is, he said
1T seems to me children should
be seen and not heard. I'm just a
child in the Court House. They took
me in as waif. They found me on
the doorstep one morning. l want
to say for you that you feel very
kindly toward these gentlemen
you've been associated with here.
esquire Smith was my neighbor
at the foot OF the hill. For many
years he was my next door neighbor
! used to go back and forth with him.
The secret of the 'Squire's long
healthy life is his supreme optimism
"
a good cheerful word for everybody.
I'm going to take that lesson to
heart. If | want to live to be as
old as he is, / am not going to let
anything worry me, and take things
as they come; make friends of every
body and have everybody your
friend, Just as Squire Smith this
morning. Squire congratulate
you"
Good luck, happiness, long life
to you!" esquire we love you!"
Lets have a game of dominoes!"
Such were a few of the many words
of goodwill spoken by the conspira-
tors as they left the ninety-year-
young 'Squire's office, and went out
to the daily round the common task,
| cheered and strengthened, to do the
| days work by seeing a man who had
| fought the battle of life and put up
good fight for almost a hundred
years.
Young in feeling but old in years,
Robert A. Smith, for over twenty-five
years Justice of the Peace of Homes
dale, passed the ninetieth year in his
career on Tuesday. A venerable
man, who has seen sorrow and also
the joys OF life and who has profited
thereby, who has lived life worthy
of retrospection and who now in this
| nineties is respected by all who know
him, has been identified for many
years with the best interests of the
community and it is safe to say that
no man stands higher in the graces
of his fellow men than he.
Mr.. Smith was born Jan. 80, 1922.
! just 80 years ago this Tuesday, in
| Orange county, New York. In his
youth Mr., Smith received a practical
education and when he was 16 years
OF age he accepted a position of clerk
In general store at Newburg and
! later In life he was employed in the
same capacity in a wholesale house
in New York city. The knowledge
! he thus gained OF the mercantile