Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-11-05

life and services of our late associate and Presl-
dent, we may briefly take general view OF his
claims as a remarkable man and useful citizen.
1t is obvious that he owed little to adventitous
| circumstances lie derived not his birth from a
long line of storied ancestry, which elevates the
individual to high position. and in whom little
merit passes for great deal more than its real
value. II was not his name that drew attention
to his talents; it his talents that gave promi-
nence to his name. lie forced his own way from
obscurity, and by the power of his own genins
carved out for himself an h0nored name. Nor
was he at birth usherel into the regions of ele-
cance and refinement, and surrounded by those
social attractions which tend to polish of the as
perities Of nature. Nor Was be nourished in the
lap of afluence, and aided in his pursuits by
the facilities which wealth secures. He sprung
from the substantial yeomanry of New England
He attained his eminence and position by the
force of his own genius, by patient, lahorious,
untiring industry IL was the quickness of hrs
observation which enabled him to appropriate TO
himself whatever WAS useful His memory was
capacious and retentive. Witness the stores
Of information he had collected His imagina-
tion was lively and vigorous. With all
these characteristics Of mind. none Of US know
how much he might have accomplished had be
lived TO the ordinary length of life. Owing to
his versatility Of talent he was ready upon every
subject. and could accomodate himself TO all oc-
casions. lie possessed fund Of ehsstenei bu-
NOR and harmless satire. We have seen HIM in
deliheratiye assembly, when angry feelings
were enkindling, by one stroke of humor avert
the gathering storm and change the whole cur
rent Of feeling
He dreaming visionary or learned re-
cluse. he gained knowledge for practical pur-
f.l.r
that could not be turned 10 utility. As writer
and speaker he adopted artificial mode Of eI-
preston; he simply sought that phraseology
which would convey, with cearest directnes., hrs
own ideas His words were Of the old Saxon
stock; his sentences we're not modelled by Roman
measures. but 10 the more negligent simplicity
Of native English syutax. Il had been his life =
early ard late business to address popular as
semblies. and commune with the common mind 4;
and the habit Of constant, hasty, popular sd-
dresses, with AT It's simplifying benefits, produe-
"a It's corresponding defects. IL lowered BIZ.
standard of rhetorical finish The main excel
leuce Of his style consisted 10 rs clear yernacu-
Tar, consecutive train of manly thought and Of
methodical arrangement
Such is a brief sketch Of the life n Mr. white;
such, at lels', be was. 20 the fallahle view, and
10 the hastily expressed phrase of one whose
pleasure It wes 20 enjoy l's friendship and to
have been the associate Of some Of his early a.
bors. it personal feelings were likely to color
the expression. stll the euIesvor has been to
draw the liueaments from memory, and 10 spe l.
with the impartn'iiy of history.
Gentlemen Of the Vermont lIstoric,l Society
You have come TO your place u annual gather
ing with no voice Of joy among you. have
come At Jour kindly hillirG, from the labIrs q
busy life. to speak o. tho chief light Of your ss-
sociation, which is queuched and gone We,
the partners Of his gh0rs gather ourselves TO
our place Cf counsel but our number is di-
minisnel. We look for our gu De-, and our
familiar frieud-but be comes not lie shall be
here 10 more b-Ing YOU not that heart
that beat in the cause flr which YOU are banded I;
I bring You not that voice which pleaded for
your cause; for rs words are gone bring not
his form, which once stood before YOU, but hold
before you his example Co guide Won in the cause
fr which YOU at1r iou have The surviving
monument Of his talent aui bis tolls Orphaned
Of him, the Vermont H-t0ric,l Society claims
new adoption into your zeal II enterprise. Il
WAS hist IS yours. BY i-s past and success
ful career. and IT, prospects fIr the iuture-by
what il has already done. aud by what it may
do for our beloved State ask that while hi-
arm that sustained Us has gone. that you would
relonbie your effort and substitute your energies
70 supply the vacuum Of IT, withdrawal. Let
his hcueliction rect with vou, and TO memorial
will Dee more honorable 90 yourselves or appro-
pirate % him than the succ' rss of this Iciety.
10 whose existence bis lth1rs courIioued-iu ali
elements Of whose prosperity his prayers were
iu,erminCl,,i. around whose columns his mem
0rses -fe enshrined.
Vermont hti the honor of his birth, the beue-