Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-07-28
From he 1i6dHy Caitirutor.
Memoir Of Thomas Green Pesscnllen.


linciion in his profession, and long settled
III the ministry at Walpole. His early edn.
cation was such MS the district schools Of.
lorded He soon evinced those habits Of
inquiry and close application which so
much distinguished him in aner life, and
rendered that life so valuable 10 the agricu.
iural world. His active and inquisiiiye
mind turned to the best account the facil-
ties afforded by his fathers library, aud 30
rapid was his progress in study, that, at the
early age of sixteen he became himself the
Instructor Of the village school, Most Of
his time in the summer months, however,
was given TO labor on his fathers farm, to-
wards the support of large family in mod
crate circumstances. His deMeriiy and ef.
hciency in the use Of the scythe, in his
younger days, was matter OF much honest
pride with him in after life aud il was his
frequent custom for several years after he
left the parental roof, to spend the haying
season with his father, assuming the brunt
of the labor himself
Soon after the age Of manhood, Mr. Fes-
sender entered Dartmouth College, where
he supported himself by his own industry,
without calling upon his father Tor assist
ance. THIS was done mostly by the wages
earned in teaching district schools, aud
classes in sacred music, during the winter
months. He was equal to the performance
Of any Of the sacred music Of those days,
playing one part very efficiently with his
bass.yiol, and carrying another with his
voice; and il was Immaterial which part,
he being always ready TO sustain the weak
est.
In his "Jonathan's Courtship," truly
original effusion produced while in College,
we have early evidence of that witty aud
humorous turn which few years after, was
the source Of so many fanciful sentiments
and poems. He was remark able, too, for
his satirical humor, and he possessed SIN
gular combination Of the strange and lud,.
crous; and yet i; was evident TO all who
knew him that his satire was wholly free
from hatred or ill-will, aud that it was i'm.
possible for heart SO generous as his to in.
dulge any feelings of this kind.
Mr. Fessenden graduated at Dartmouth,
in l796. and entered upon the study Of the
law at Rutland, Vermont, with that emf
ent practitioner, Nathaniel Chapman. Esq,
with whom he afterwards formed a connec-
ton in business. He was not in his proper
element, however, in the practice of law /;
for his ruling taste for literary and scientific
pursuits and his child.like simplicity of
character, poorly qualified him 10 succeed
in profession where shrewdness and tact
are so essential.
In the year 1901, company Of nechan-
les who were interested in some newly in
vented machine, employed Mr. Fessenden
TO go TO London for the purpose OF obtain
ing a patent. After arriving there it was
found that the machine was destitute Of suf-
ficent merit. and his journey proved fruit
less one. He found himself a pennyless
and Irendless stranger in that great city,
thrown entirely upon his wits for sup
port and here those qualities Of salirical
humor before mentioned soon afforded him
a resource. He became acquainted with
one Perkins, the paientee OF the famous
Metallic Tractors. which were represented
as performlng the mos, marvellous and ex-
iraordnary cures Of various diseases. This
had gained considerable favor with the peo-
pie although sioutly opposed by the profess
ional corps. AT the request Of Perkins
Mr. Fessenden made il the subject Of HUI
dibrastic poem, entitled "Tenible Trac.
toration," which, for its satirical and
strangely ludicrous humor, was much ap-
plauded. and won the author quite repuia
ton. 1.-THE poem" says his friend Haw
thorne, "professes TO be poetical petition
from Doctor Christopher Caustic, medi
cal gentleman who bias been ruined by the
success of the Metallic Tractors. and who
applies to The Royal College Of Physician,
for relief and redress. The wits of the
poor Doctor have been somewat shattered
by his misfortune; aud with crazy ingenu
ity he coniTiyes 10 heap ridicule on biz
medical brethren, under pfeience Of railing
against Perkinism. The poem is in fou
cant0s, the first of which is the best, ant
The most characteristic of the author. 1t i
occupied with DR.. Caustic's description o
his mechanical aud scientific conirlyances
embracing all sorts of possible and inpossi
BILE projects; every one OF which, however
, has a ridiculous plausibiliy. The mex
haustible variety in which they flow forth
proves the authors invention unrivalled IL
its way. Long afterwards, speaking Of tn
1 first conception of this poem, the aulho
told me that he had shaped it out during
c solitary days rambe in the outskirts Q
London and the character Of DIR. Caus
tic so strongly impressed itself on his mind
: that as he walked homeward through III
crowded streets, he burst into frequent fit
r of laughter" This poem ran through sev
eral editions at that time, and a revised ed
!. ton. win a new satire upon the men an
!. things Of the day, was published by the at
|. thor, in 1887.
C In the year 1904, Mr. Fessenden return
!, ed to New York city, and soon after con
. menced The publication of the Weekly il
J. spector," paper chiefly Of poelical cha
acter he also published book enlille
= 1.-THE Register of Arts" lie afierward
removed TO Philadelphia, where he was er
gagged in literary pursuits, and publishin
his humorous poem, "Pills, Poelcal, Polll
c cal, and Philosophical, by Peter Peppe
IS Box, Esq, Poet aud Physician :" and ais
i !; his satrical poem, entitled "Democrac
% Unveiled"
e In 1907 or g, he removed TO Braiilebor'
u Vermont. where he had two brothers resi'
" lug, and edited with much ability, 9Th
"A BTattlebOTO nennrter - N weekly and mi