The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-02

EdS0N ana as one oI uer associates said, she was more re- faxed than she had been at any time since she took the job, 12 years, three months, and 20-some days be- fore. You'd be, too.
 Only few of the 1700 ennjloyes who filed by to shake Miss Perkins's hand and hear her say goodbye and thank you had been in the De- partment that long, but they all threw her this farewell party. They took up a collection and got $375, or nearly two bits per employe, with which to buy her a going-away present.
 There was quite an argument about what to give Miss Perkins as a going-away present. The men were all for giving her pearls. But the women said she had pearls - wore 'em all the time. The men probably had never noticed that but she did have double strand at the going-away party.
 MISS J. TAKES OVER
 The committee finally decided to have the question put up to Madam Perkins herself. This delicate mis- sion was entrusted to Miss J. which is all anybody ever calls the Sec retary's administrative assistant, red-headed Frances Jurkowitz. At first Miss Perkins said she didn't want anything, but when Miss J., told her the money was all collected and she had to pick something, Miss Perkins said what she would really like was an air conditioning unit for her apartment
 Well, the committee went to work on that and though they moved heaven and earth they couldn't move WIPE - the old meanies - to give with priority on an air con- ditioner for Miss Perkins's going away present. So if some manufac- turer of air conditioners or some labor union that makes them reads this, why they ought to be ashamed of themselves and see to it that Miss Perkins gets her last wish, WIPE priority or no WIPE priority. Maybe somebody should take up arl- other collection.
 Anyway, when the committee found they couldn't get an air con- ditioner for Miss Perkins's going away present they went back to Miss J. and Miss J. went back to Miss P. to see what did she want next.
 Then Miss Perkins came up with the idea that she hadn't had any new luggage since she came to Washington 12 years ago, or she might be needing a new typewriter because the government wouldn't be furnishing her with a free type- writer after June 30. She probably never thought she would get both, but that's how much the employees of the Department of Labor think of their Miss Perkins. They got her not only one handbag, which is par in going-away presents, they got her three, big, little and medium sized.
 It took g good bit of wire-pulling to get the priority for even the new typewriter, but the Department of Labor employees never give up on any project, once they start, except maybe the first time. So there was typewriter on exhibit at Miss Per- kins's going-away party, along with the three-piece matched luggage set and - this is the best part yet - a $50 war bond which the committee had enough money left over to buy. Lucky Miss Perkins got that too. ONLY A STAND-IN
 On close inspection, the type- writ looked pretty well beat up and secondhand, but there was sign in the roller which read:
 This is not new machine but 1t was loaned for the presentation ceremonies. A new Remington standard typewriter was shipped from the factory on June 25 by express to replace this one on ar- rival"
 Miss Perkins will pack her new matched bags and on leaving Wash ington will go to Maine for the first vacation she has had in 12 years. She will then sit down at her new typewriter and make an announce ment of what she will do next. The bond she intends to save.