Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-13
q 91-1fIL
Hon. VIM. G.. Bradley.


guished man occurred at his residence in
Westminster, on Sunday, the third day of
March, at the age of IS years. Mr.. Bradley
was hardly known to the present generation.
Only as men sought his society, or as they
fell in with him in his short excursions from
home, did they know him at all. His public
life was finished forty years ago. He began
professional life at the bar in Windham |
county in 1902 was elected States attorney
IN 1904; continued in that Office for eight
successive years; represented the town in
the State Legislature four years, and his dis
trict in the Congress of the United States
two terms, and was presidential elector in
1856 That is the external history of Mr..
Bradley in a single sentence.
But brief and uneventful as this was, not
rising to higher positions than many men of
lesser note secure, yet it indicates very little
of what he was. 1t was not his position,
his office, his public rank that made him.
He would have been a man of men, eminent,
noble, honored, had he never held an Office or
plead cause.
lie was one Of the most remarkable look
ing of his day. His face was as the
face of lion, full of courage, of honor, of
self-respect, of confident power His large
and prominent eyes, slowly moving in their
orbs, were full of humor sagacity, intelli-
gence and penetration. OF less than the
average stature of men, he yet seemed to one
who him and heard him converse, as a
maj nf Ia nd Of INV i.a.,1
power and endurance. Deprived by the in
trinity Of deafness from the enjoyment of
professional services he retired in large
degree, while yet in the prime of life. from
public life. He began to enrich his library
with the choicest works in science, art, the
ology and literature, and devoted himself to
scholarly retirement and study. He was per-
fectly conversant with the Latin and Greek
classics, and could have given as good a rem
dcring of job from the original, Prof
Moves.
) He delighted in social life and intercourse
and whenever he found genial hearer, he
would pour forth, hour after hour, the re
suits of his study and the conclusions of his
reflection. Perfectly able 10 enter into the
grave discussion of the most reconcile prin-
ciples of science. or morals or theology, and
: to throw light on the mooted questions which
have vexed the minds of scholars in all ages,
he was vet full of humor and anecdote. His
conversation was always enlivened with the
highest expressions of fancy and wit. And
whenever from distance. his loud and rich
voice heard in continuous strain of
argument or illustration, it was sure 10 be
interrupted often by the hearty utterance OF
the appreciation Of his hearers
> His hospitality was large and generous
+ Whenever he entertained a guest, it was
with that profuseness of physical and intel
: lectual good-cheer which left nothing to be
desired. No one ever went under his hos.
, pitabIe roof to visit him. without being
4 loaded down with such gifts as only the
=, most scholarly and learned Greeks could be
- stow lie was accustomed to translate tn,
classic authors in verse or prose and hi
II scholarship in these directions was hardly in
- feror to that of some Of the English states
men whose works have gained mo re public
fame.
\ few wears ago he lost his only son, j
Dorr Bradley, in the middle of his life il
the ripeness of his powers, in the full exer
else of his own remarkable genius. The blow
was of the heaviest description. 1t robbie
his heart of its JOY and its light, and hi
steps were thereafter along melanchol,
way. For three generations the name o
Bradley had been illustrious and conspicuou
in the annals Of the state. Stephen r
Bradley. WIN. c. Bradley, J. Dorr Brad
ley. were trio of remarkable and historical
:. names that do not often succeed each othe
without interval, in the same family line
And when his own immediate successor pre-
; coded him 10 the skies, it seemed to she
over the rest of his life the sombre shade 0
d a grief that could not be wholly cured or as
t suaged. But now he has passed to the sam
: heavens, and the ilustrious family tablet
complete with the record of three names
three successive generations of almost unes
+ ampled excellence and fame
|, We cannot forbear giving. az appropri
/ ate close t. this imperfect sketch Of this No
VI bic man. brief beautiful lyric, which b
p composed but few years before his death
ID and which we copy from his manuscript
n 1t Is entitled.
n DAWN, NooN. TWILIGHT.
Imprisoned in living Jail,
\ lusty, kicking son of earth,
;, Ready to wake and weep and wall.
My limbs struggling to the birth.
= Let me pass.
T, Now on my feet | lettering stand.
IL Till, by enticements holder grown.
Q, quit the watchful mothers hand,
And 10 ! | learn to 90 alone.
n Let me pass.
tv Now in youth buoyant merry round,
US With quickened pulse my steps advan'
Where music, wine and wit abound.
And blooming beauty leads the dance.
Let me pass.
Z. Now blest with children, wife and friend
a Ambition urging to the van.
=, | strive to walk where duty tends,
n With love of God, good Will to man.
m Let me pass.
n: And now my better home draws nigh.
NJ Free from presumption and despair.
But weary, faint, | wait TO die
And leave this world and all its care.
m Let me pass.
nd