The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-05
81ST LEG| 81 LATURE To
ADOPT GOOD WILL LAD
Robert VI. Senergie VIII Have ls2
Foster Parents and u College
Education

When, at the opening 9 the S1st
legislature, Speaker Franka H. Hoiley
of the House OF Representatives nam
ed RoBert NJ Senergie to be one Of
the House pages, he builded better
than he knew.
AS a result OF that little aet Of
kindness and humanity by Speaker
Holley this lad, a waif, in sense
friendless and alone, today has lS2
staunch friends, foster parents, per
haps. would be Il better way OF stat
ing it and is assured of an education
which viii tit him for the work of
life, give him an equal schance with
other boys to make something OF him
self. II IS, i'll way, the greatest
achievement of this legislature that
it has adopted Mike" for that is the
name by which he is known to all the
legislature They have taken him
under their protecting care and
agreed that he shall he cared Tor and
given the chance which. three months
ago, seemed 50 hopeless, SO improb-
able to this loyeable little chap.
The story Of Mike isp't partic-
ularly long one, but it is interesting,
especially to Tie people. OF Somerset
County, for Speaker Holley is Of
North Anson and Young Senefgie IS
Good Will lad.
All the way this matter OF Mikes
has been departure from thy things
that used to be. Always pages Of the
House and the Senate have been on
recommendation of some prominent
member or leading politician. This
year it was different When Speaker
Holley was convinced that he was
bound to win the election as speaker
he vowed that he would do something
for some needy person as an appre-
citation of how good life had been to
HIM With this thought in mind he
inquired of the State Board of Ghari-
ties and, Corrections if they knew a
deserving boy who would be benefited
If appointed a page OF the House.
There is one at Good VIII Farm
was their answer. They then told
him the story of Mike He Was ap-
preaching his sixteenth year and was,
to all intents, an orphan. for his
mother had died some time ago and
his father had deserted him. it Is
claimed, a very, very long time in
the past. He was bright they told
the Speaker TO be. who visited the
farm and saw Michael, after which
it was all settled.
The Legislature met Many mem
bers, many mon Of wide political in
fuence called upon Speaker Holley to
intercede for this or that boy to have
pages job No. WAS the answer
each and every one received and they
were told the story. Each agreed
that the Speaker was right and so
Robert NJ. Senereiee.was made page
of the House of Representatives.
From the first day of his service,
his enticing smile, his affectionate dis
position and his amiability and ankle
ty to please began winning him
friends. Inside of the month there
wasn't a member of either branch of
the Legislature but what WAS fond of
Mike, by the end of the second month
they all loved HIM and then came a
day when there was an informal joint
convention and Speaker HolleW and
Senator Croxford put the proposition
of what was to become Of Mike up
teen and cease to be a ward of the
State: was the legislature to forsake
him and leave him 10 work out alone,
unaided and friendless, his future,
The answer was an emphatic no.
Every member present voted against
it and they further voted that the leg
islature would adopt and educate the
boy. A committee was named to
make the arrangements and it is be-
leved all the details will be worked
out by the time the final adjournment
of the session is reached
Already individual contributions to
the fund have come in The Cover
nor was one of the first to participate
sending a check for 500, while checks
have been received from several and
so, Robert NJ. Senergie is going to
have a college education and his 1872
foster parents are going TO foot the
bills and see to it that he lacks moth
ing while making the four years
course at whatever institution he at
tends