Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-04

here tomorrow. But we are just simply
notes floating on the eternal stream of
time Thinking il over, it does not seem
as if we had been here in work and in
comradship for II weeks. the time has
gone SO quickly. When time drags
heavy. then it is generally disagreeable.
but the converse is time here.
The average mans time is made up
or divided into three parts, work. recre-
alton and sleep. Our work at the Leg
islature has been governed more or less
by the hands of the clock, or watch.
We have met at certain stated periods.
We have deliberated as long as there
was anything which called us SO to do
Our time has been freely given to the
State in work as long as there was
work to be done. And l wish to state
right here that there is no man that
ever appreciated any more than l, how
much the Senate has done for me. Be
cause l am not infallible. l have made
mistakes in rulings sometimes. l have
had some shortcomings in matters, be-
cause | am simply human. | am not
like this watch. strict, unyielding. abso-
lutte, but have some limitations. But
you Senators have put up with that very
gladly. i also appreciate the unfailing
courtesy that has always been shown
me upon all occasions by you in my
duties as presiding officer. and wher-
ever | have felt called upon to enforce
the rules-and I can say very gladly
that has been very, very seldom, be-
cause the Senators have certainly
known the rules and observed them
win No
cheerfully. SO you may be very sure
that l appreciate your forbearance of
my shortcomings. your forgiveness of
my faults, and your courtesy in every
respect.
There is another period of our time
which is given to recreation and that
which the Senator from Knox has so
beautifully and SO graphically portray
ed that part of our time which we can
sue for ourselves. That part of the
time which we shall work is governed
more or less by the clock and by the
watch. Nature requires that certain
amount or our time be given to sleep.
but that which we give to recreation is
our own. We can use that as we see
mt And as we have met one another
ideas in the corridor of the State
House IN the Hobbies of the ho-
tets or at our boarding places.
why we have had that play of
Ideas which is always broadening and
helpful. We have had what You might
say good fellowship. not good fellow
snip as used in the vulgar sense of
depravity or degeneracy or dissipa
lon, but in helpfulness and cheerful
ness. In kindness and in appreciation
OF a fellow senator's good qualities
anu trying to help one another along
in this work in which we arc all en-
gagged.
! sometimes think that in this world
we are too much afraid of those stern
people who would want all our move
ments to be as regular and fixed as
those in this watch. There are aus
tere people in the world, in the state
of Maine. who say that if everything
was ruled as rigidly, as unyieldingly
and as absolutely as the movements
of that watch, that all would be well.
f. ] am sorry to say that l cannot agree
with them in that respect Perhaps
some of us, or some people, stand in
too much fear of that class Of people
THOSE people say that we should not
act unless we live in accord with GER
tain rules which they wish to make
themselves; that our very actions
should be governed by sort of wheels
and cogs like these in this watch
| that our thoughts should not be re-
! leased except by some springing of a
lever the same as there may be in
this watch, and that our emotions. our
sentiments, should be kept in restric-
ton as some Of the motions of this
watch are held in check by the diff
ferent springs. And you can see what
cold and cherries world this would
be. There would be no spontaneity of
emotion or sentiment. There would be
no love, no consideration or pity for
the shortcomings of our friends or of
our neiGhbors.
Sometimes I think we make too
many. laws restricting people accord :
ing TO the ideas which these very
stern. austere people have And 1t
seems to me sometimes that their onlv
purpose and object is to add to the
sum total of conventional hypocrisy.
Another thing that impresses itself
upon my mind as | look at this match :
less piece of machinery is that it will
keep time for long period to come !:
that is. it will serve as q mirror upon
which will be shown the different
memories which must come to me
whenever | think OF this legislature
When YOU come to think of it, fellow
senators. life without memory would
not be worth very much. And as a
man grows older | ina CINE that sense
increases, because when we go along
the darkening shades of life and turn
down the back side. with many q man,
all he has to console himself is the
memory of his happier and younger
days. SO this time piece. Us I look
into it in the future, will be o token
to bring TO my recollection very pleas
ant and very happy memories spent
with you in these halls, and in the
different gathering places where
have had intercourse with you And
you may be very sure that appreciate
what the Senator from Knox, Senator
Butler. has said. and | appreciate the
tangible and concrete inspiration Of it
in this form.
! thank you again, senator's, for
this. tApplause.)
Mr.. HASTINGS of Androscogein: Mr.
President ordar 1-;.l, ~ 49,. e.z.