Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-16
Let each
The adamautine coat grid well and each

Let each
The adamautine coat grid well and each
Fit well the helm,
for they shall be as a thousand times, ten
hundred tongues against you, these books
you have-in your short comings to the
goal of life.
At the conclusion of Col. Merrill's ad-
dress, the President introduced Henry
Clark, Esq, of Rutland.
REMARKS OF MR.. CLARK.
In commencing, the speaker said he
came as a listener, and not to make an
elaborate address, and whatever he might
say would be in desultory and rambling
way. He had listened with great interest
and profit to the interesting and able in
augural address that had just been pro-
nounced. A few years since it had been
his lot to present a paper on libraries be-
fore the people of that locality, and he
should not therefore attempt to trespass
upon the ground so well cultivated by the
speaker who had preceded him, but rather
speak of Vermont libraries.
This was the frat gathering for the in
, Nuguration of public library in this COM
~, >uwealth, and was an event as rare as
II u AS important. An examination of
the fletcher Library had disclosed the
fact that is was one of great value, not
onIv to tive immediate community which
was to enjoy its benefits, but to the State
at large. Without fear of contradiction,
Il NAV be pronounced the most valuable
collection of books in Vermont, surpass-
inc in general value to the professional
and public man than that of any of our
IL, 30 10 70 Mt
would be appreciated by those in whose
custody it had been placed, when the citi-
zens of other sections commenced pill
prinaee to their town to consult these its
choicest volumes of American and Eng
lish literature and official documents and
rare historical works which had been the
accumulation of a half century of profess
sional life of one of the brightest scholars
and distinguished iurists of New Eng
land.
But four public libraries previous to the
Fletcher Library, had been established by
private munifcence.
The individuals who had established
them were Hon. Thaddeus Stevens at
Peacham, George Peabody at Post Mills
in the town of Thetford. Trenor W.
Park at Bennington, and Horace Fair
banks at st. Johnsbury, and now we could
add the name Of Richard Fletcher at Cav
endish These gentlemen, true to the
feelings of love for early scenes, and
thoughtful for the present and future
generations, had made benefactions more
precious than gold to the people of Yer
mont.
Vermont has, in the establishment o.
public libraries by public contributions
and private munifcenoe, been far behine
Ter sister New England States, but al
though the public donations had not beer
so numerous as in other localities, ye
they were rich in the few men who hae
thus become her public benefactors, as al
analysis of their lives would Indicate
Thaddeus Stevens, the leader OF these
noble enterprises, was poor lad, borl
! and educated in the town he honoret
with his legacy. He early emigrated t.
one of the middle States and rapidly ros
IL the profession of the law, and wa
ed to the higher sphere of the nation
cali, ellis, and dying with an ample for
al ooun not forget his early provision
time. did >escy for its perpetuation
and left q Il. stmself and bis nativ
thus honoripg T. the inspiration
state Stat remembering >antain home.
Gathered in his early M