Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-02-28

HON. N, L. BANKS MAJ, o. u, Demlsi
formerly of Waltham, Mass, also the
native town and present home OF Gen.
Banks, relates TO US some interesting
facts In the early history OF the General,
with whom In their youthful days, he
was we'll acquainted. The Major, in
those days-lS30-36- was proprietor OF
q shoe store TO which, in the evenings,
several of the young men of the place
were wont to resort, to discuss the cur
rent gossip, read the papers, etc, on
which occasions Banks was usually the
reader for the party, and being a con-
slant reader OF the newspapers and perl
odicals of the day, was always prepared
TO entertain his young friends with
recital of what was passing in the world.
On one occasion, when assembled at the
store, POOR travelling musician dropped
in, out Of money, and proposed to the
young men that If they would organize
a class he would remain and instruct
them. Young Banks declared his will
lingness II he could raise the tuition fee,
his parents being in humble cirCumstan-
Ces, and he himself not blessed with
great earnings. Bemis to this sugges'
tion replied that he Banks could not
even whistle an air, and IL would be
useless for him to join the class. But
Banks, feeling that divinity stirring
within him" which in later life gave
him a seat in the Legislature of his ma
tive State and still later the leader of an
army, and the Representative in Con-
gress, retOrted that "a man can do any
thing" Bemis accordingly agreed to
pay his tuition if he would join his class
and learn to play the flute. The prOpo.
sition was accepted and on leaving his
store in the evening for the night, and
passing the domiCil of our hero, the first
patron Of the embryo general and states.
man was surprised to hear him playing
the old familiar air, "Auld Lang Syne,"
be having in one short evening already
mastered the first elements of music. On
another occasion Banks was to take part
in drama to be played at one of the
halls in the town. He had read over his
part but once up to the day Of the even
ing OF which the performance was to
come off. That morning party OF young
folks Bemis and Banks among them,
went up Charles river to Fox Island on
a pleasure excursion. During the day
Banks frequently expressed his fears to
Bemis lest he should fail, or be under
the necessity of having a prompter,
which he detested. Returning late in
the evening, and near the hour when the
performance was to begin, he repaired
at once to the hail. and after looking
hastily over his part, passed successfully
through the play without making a
blunder or requiring prompter-such
was the vigor of his memory. He after
wards played at the fremont Theatre, in
Boston, and made decided "hit"-when |
he abandoned the stage, not, however,
until he proved that he possessed the
elements of the actor in very high de-
gree He occasionly posted books for
Mr.. Bemis, an old ledger now in his
possession, having great many old &C
counts in it, in the handwriting Of his
friend, some Of which, to the no little
chagrin and loss of the Major, remain
unCOllected. Our friend describes Banks
as having been an extraordinary young
man" prompt to learn whatever he I'M
dertook. His mother is also described
as having been woman of great aCtiv-
ity, industry, and very intelligent. His
father was a carpenter, at which bust
ness young Banks sometimes worked.
One cannot but marvel at the different
freaks of fortune that has visited these
two men-once boys together. Then the
boy Banks was struggling with the hard
ships incident to a state of Indulgence;
now he occupies commanding position
in the highest deliberative body in the
world. Then Bemis, his friend, was
successful merchant, but the credit sys-
TEN laid him on the shelf, and compelled |
him to fall back to making instead Of
selling shoes, which trade he still pur-
sues in our village.-McConnellsr'He COMO |
HTdId.