New Britain herald., 1918-07-24
ROUSING SEND-OFF
FOR ". F. CURTIN
New Member Of Consulate Service
Guest al Surprise Dinner

find assembled there about rs of his
acquaintances who had gathered to
have Bill" as their guest on his last
evening, for q while at least, IN his
native city.
Mr.. Curtin was completely over
come as. one after another, his friends
approached and wished him BON
voyage"
Joseph NJ. Halloran, to whom
credit is due for the pleasant event,
and who made all the arrangements,
acted as POSTMASTER during an excel
lent dinner at which J. j. Walsh
catered George Lynch presided at
the piano and talent from Keeney's
theatre furnished entertainment for
the diners John Kiniry also sang.
After "America' and the Star
Spangled Banner" had been sung a
toast was drunk to the President and
our overseas forces. The POSTMASTER
then called on Mayor George A.
Quigley, who had explained that he
would be obliged to leave early be-
cause of another engagement. His
Honor wished the guest of the eve
ming every success and expressed the
hope that some day New Britain
might have a native son as American
ambassador to Brazil. John J. Lane,
of New Haven, who is director Of
public works in that city, and who
has been a lifelong friend of the Cur
tin family, spoke feelingly of the
high regard in which all members Of
it are held, and concluded with the
wish that young Mr.. Curtin may sue
ceed as his father has succeeded be-
fore him.
Former Congressman Thomas L.
Reilly of Meriden was the next speak
er. He recalled his pleasant associa-
tons with the father of Vice Consul
Curtin, and predicted that because
he is the son of such a father there
can be no doubt that he will do
credit to himself, his parents, his
native town and his country at large.
The speaker also mentioned that al
though Mr.. Curtin is to leave the
country, he is not leaving America
he is only going from one part of
America to another, and that where
ever he might go, he will always be
proud of the fact that he is an
American citizen.
Judge B. F. Gaffney said that Mr..
Curtin would undoubtedly keep in
mind the principle which, if followed
is sure to bring success,-namely, to
always strive to excel. A young man,
he added, who goes out into the
world from a university, undergoes a
process of disenchantmen and he
must make an earnest effort to excel
himself, as we'll as to excel what
others have done before him. Judge
Gaffney assured Vice Consul Curtin
that though he would be far away
from New Britain, he could always
be certain that the prayers and best
wishes of all assembled will be for
him and with him until he returns
again
Ed Walsh, the famous White
Sox pitcher of world series fame,
who came up from Meriden for the
occasion, was called upon next. He
extended congratulations to Mr.. Curtin
and then, pleading inability to make
a speech, favored his hearers with a
numerous recital of the brand which
has made him famous as story
teller.
Mr.. Curtin was then presented with
a handsome travelling bag and a cam
era. The presentation was made by
Arthur E. J. Reilly, who told "BilI'
that if the bag were a large steamer
trunk it could not contain all the good
wishes which will go with him on his
journey and that While the camera
was a very fine instrument, there is
one photograph it cannot take-the
picture of the aggregate sentiments of
love and esteem in which all assem- led
hold the young vice consul Mr.. Reilly
requested Mr.. Curtin to take that
picture and to develope it in the dark
Iii
then to print it indelibly on his mind
and to wear it in his heart forever
Postmaster w. r. Delaney then
spoke. He remarked that the Curtin
family had already spread out quite
bit and that now branch of the fam
lily would extend all the way to South
America The postmaster reminded
his listeners of the myth about the
pot of gold at the end of a rainbow,
and he told Mr.. Curtin that when he is
in a far-off land he can think of a
rainbow reaching back to his home
city, where there will be a pot Of
love and friendship for him.
Good wishes were also expressed by
William e. Beers, who said that he
had travelled nearly two hundred
miles by auto to arrive at the dinner
and by Ernest n. Humphrey, who said
thai a son of Jim" Curtin would
'just have to make good"
When Mr.. Curtin arose to speak, he
was visibly affected, but though his
voice trembled with emotion, he i'm
pressed upon his hearers that he
would never forget the eve Of his de-
parture from New Britain. He added
that if he should ever be sad at his
new post, he would fondly recall the
occasion of his farewell dinner, and
the thought of that, he said, would
drive away the dark clouds of lone
someness. When Mr.. Curtin finished,
The guests arose and sang "Auld Lang
SYnp," after which they gave three