A little party of fourteen, all foreign employees of the local Telephone Compan; met on Thursday night last at the Astor Bouse where dinner was serve the ex. cellent manner for which the establishment in noted. When the dessert was served, Mani Mr. Oberg the Secretary and General allow workers, ladies and gentlemen, believe you know that it was only two days ago that it occurred to me, that I should ask attended by six of the young ladies here: Miss McInnes, Miss Sayle, Miss Newbury, Miss Smerdely, and Miss Calder, wer then kept just as they are now, by Mi Keane herself, who also attended alone to all the calls on 499. She also attended to the work now in the hands of Mr. Rhode, that of repair. She did work, Mr Einarsen has in hand for the present, of attending to correspondence, applications, writing contracts, and so forth. Then she kept an eye on' the col. lecting business. She looked after. the test room where Mr. Linnestad now is in charge; quite alone, and she performed the duties of x switch-board engineer, not to tion that she looked after and kept an eye on the stores that went out. And you quite understand that while she then, as now, had half an hour in the exchange or more every morning before the rest f us start work at seven o'clock, she did not get away as she does now at five in the after. noon; more often tha not she had to stay after the dionerhour had gone, and, please remember, we had no holidays or Sundays except the China New Year. The present division of Sunday work is quite a recent. institation. I cannot refer to this hard work without mentioning my own experience that hard work is ove of the greatest Peseinge. and as exemplified in me Keane I can assure you that to-night she looks five years younger than she en she joined the Company five lyeers ago.
You all know that when I'was away last year Miss Keane managed the business to mark in some little way the high appreciation I hold of the excellent manner in which she did it, I have brought her a gift that may in the future bring her cheer for many years to cine. And io offering it Lask you all to vin me in dun health, long life, and prosperity; journey and a safe return, A very handsome Japanese silver tea service-tray was then presented to Miss Keene.
The toast was responded to enthusiastic cally and Messrs Rhode and Hamlin spoke to the same effect, after which Mise Keane replied: Thave t- thank you all very sincerely for coming here to-night to wish me farewell and a speedy return, which you make me feel sure will meet with a hearty welcome. Iam grateful to Mr. Oberg for gift in appreciation of my services. I worked hard it is tru be difficult to do oth Manager concerned. To my fellow-workers in the exchange, I wish to say I am confident that you will do your best for the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.