Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-16

. George Peabody, the benefactor of tw
. continents, having spent short periot
3 within our boundaries when a poor boy
. in hamlet in Northern Vermont, afte,
he had amassed millions and sat will
kings, and known among all the nations
he remembered the quiet neighborhood
, and with noble impulse planted there /
5 monument to his memory far more valu
} able than all the gold in the vaults of hi
: London Banking House. This was {
kindly impulse in the heart of the great
/ benefaotor of the age.
: Trenor W. Park having sought fame
: and fortune on the golden sands of th,
} Pacific, and having accomplished what /.
allotted to few men to perform, and turn
ing his footsteps toward his early home
among his first thoughtful acts is the
erection of commodious public hall and
the Enlistment of free library for the
community, bestowing upon them an in
heritanee that shall inscribe his name on
the public records of his native State al
one of its benefactors.
! In one of the Furnishing towns of ou1
State quiet, cultivated. transformations
gentleman has his home. By life OF
patient industry and invention, which has
not only enriched himself bnt his town
and given to Vermont a world wide fame
in one particular branch of industry, in
the kind impulses of noble heart con-
ceived the idea of donating some of his
gathered wealth for the adornment of the
town, and place within the reach of his
fellow citizens the privileges of enlighten.
ment and pleasures of reading, intelligence
and refinement, has erected a safe and
substantial building, and placed therein a
free public library, and so long as culture
learning and beuevolence shall remain in
the hearts of the people of eastern Ver-
mont, the name and benefaction of Hor-
ace Fairbanks of st. Johnsbury will be
honored, for he has built more lasting
monument for himself than could be
sculptured from the granite or marble of
his native State, for it is written upon
the hearts of the people,
In early times some of the towns of
Vermont planted beside the school house
and the church the town library. What
benefits have resulted to the State and
her sons scattered amid our mountains,
and throughout the length and breadth
of the land, afford ample testimony. We
have case in mind illustrative 4, of this
point. In town in the Western part of
Rutland county, early in its history there
was established town library of some
four hundred volumes. After many years
use by the people of the town, there came
into their midst two poor boys, each to
learn trade, one that of printer, the
other that of a carpenter. Both early
sought the advantages of the library.
They spent their spare hours in devour,
ing the contents of the volumes to which
they had access, until one had read every
volume, and commenced a second perusal.
The other had read them nearly all. The
fortunes of life called them to other
spheres of labor. They have both occu-
pied high place in the regard of the peo-
pies minds. and have both had much to
do In moulding the public mind and
heart of the American people. The one
became a leading journalist and has
swayed the million, the other became the
President of Harvard University, and the
best and most voluminous of American
biographers. Who shall say that the
knowledge and inspiration gathered from
this old town library did not serve to
make these men what they were and
their names famous in two worlds.
These libraries, scattered here and there
amid our mountains are voiceless in |
themselves, but they have spoken in thun-
der tones at the bar, from the pulpit and |
in the halls of our national councils. |
Through the sons of Vermont scattered in |
sections, these silent voices have |
been moulding the character of the gen.
erations, leaving their impress on the So
ciety and institutions of the country. This
is what has been accomplished through |
the instrumentalities of the libraries of
our commonwealth. Let us cherish and
guard them as we guard our households,
and teach our children that their value is
more priceless than gold, and may kind
Providence give to Vermont more noble
men who shall bless her by such benefsc-
tions as shall distribute rich blessings
among her people. Cherish and support
the legacy committed to your care, and
may rich streams of intelligence and vir-
tue gush forth from the crystal fountain
Of knowledge planted in this community.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Clarks re-
marks, the President closed the services
with fitting and appropriate words.