Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-25
MT. Frederick W. Gum.


 influential citizen, we should state but part of the truth. man of original ideas him. self, he found way of impressing those ideas not only on those immediately about him, and on the school to which his peculiar talent gave SO wide celebrity, but even on the stiff habits of a Puritan community, softening them into freedom of social intercourse, and a liberality of opinion seldom found in re- tired New England township, very intelligent though its people often are. This was not the work of years merely; it was the work of lifetime; wrought out under difficulties such as men striving for radical changes al- ways meet, and only uader peculiarly for tunate circumstances conquer.
 Mir. Gum came to manhood in stirring times Born, Oct. 4th, 1916. he graduated from Yale College in 1887. His father, always held in high esteem and for years Deputy oheriff of the county, was dead, but both his brothers were staunch AboIitionists and the young collegian took his stand by their side. What it meant to be an Abolitionist then, in the town of Washington, an incident will il- lustrate. The minister of the Congregational society at that time was an able, and in most respects an estimable man, but he held most bigoted pro-slavery views. Sunday after Sunday he thundered against the new ideas, and ID vindication of the divine right of sia. very. From the Levitical law and from the practice of Paul he argued out his position with relentless logic that was not easy to an- swer except in one way. The stronger his argument from the Bible the more sceptics he made among the Abolitionists who heard him. It was an old yet an overcoming blunder. He had thrown the bible in the path of prog ress some who went that way went around it 1; others went over 1t. But the Abolitionists were not idle. They called in lecturers who denounced slavery as bitterly as the parson supported it. In 1889 came the woman speaker, Abby Kelley. The Sunday after her arrival, when the lady was herself pres- ent. Mr. Hayes preached sermon, from a text about "that woman Jezebel' which we should not like to quote entire, charging her with improper, and impledly with criminal misconduct* As result of such preaching several Abolition members withdrew from the church and never returned to it.
 In 1887 and '38 Mir. Gum taught school in New Preston. In 1889 he opened his first academy school in Washington. It began with about the usual number of day scholars, but gradually dwindled. The teacher; though much liked as an instructor, was outspoken in his anti-slavery opinions he was 8 strong temperance man; he taught that the world was not made in six natural days. and he entertained and expressed other heretical views-all of which led to the with. dfawal of scholars. till finally only five or six attended his last winter school in 1S43. He then taught again for several years in New Preston.
 In 1S48 Mir, Gum married Miss Abigail Irene, daughter of Gen. D. B. Brinsnade. How courageous an act it was on her part, only those can guess who know how complete. ly his radical views regarding slavery, tenn. perauce and religion had to all appearance ruined his prospects. The year before his mar. rage Mir. Gum had opened school in Towan da, Pa., with Orville H. Platt (now U. s. Sena ter) as an assistant After two years, however, effort in his native place. He did so, now having the powerful help of the younger members of his wifes family, always influen- tial. For two or three years it was sharp fight, but abolition views, If not spreading, had become much less obnoxious, and finally instead of the Aboltionists, it was the pro- slavery parson who had to give way. The vote of dismlsson was carried in society meeting, but the church still clung to the pas. tor, who had been settled over them for twea ty- three years There was serles of church trials; several of the Abolitonists wht had practically withdrawn from the churcf some years before were excommuuicated two most estimable ladies were disciplined for ''promiscuous" dancing, whist playing acting in tableaux, or something of the sort Several opposition schools were set up, but Mir. Gum now held his own. Soon the pas sage of the Kansas Nebraska bill made hall the Northern people abolitionists, and if there was opposition it was from political minor ity.
 In the meantime Mir. Gunn's boarding school, starting as such in 1850. began tt bear a peculiar character and to attrac peculiar support It became known as school where boys manhood and muscle as we'll as his brain were developed. The Abolitionists were true to the man wht had so long, at such cost, identified him. self with their cause. Mr. Beecher and Mrs Stowe sent children there, and the "Gunnery' grew to be an institution in wide and high repute ard decided financial success The queer old Academy building was abandoned new buildings were erected-everyone an or iginal creation, often in hexagonal or othel unusual shape. The adjoining grounds ane grove was tastefully trimmed and laid out There were grand theatricals for which "lo cal" talent was subjected to a selection 30 judi cious and training so severe as to produce surprisingly good results. At last fine hall was built, with stage, scenery, piano and other appliances; the church, no longer hos tile, uniting in the building enterprise, and DC. cupying chapel room below.
 It was during his period of early struggle and failure that we knew Mir. Gum best. Of his period of success and of the Gunnery pro- per, we can only speak at second hand, though always regarding the old school with an interest and our old teacher with an affec. tion that all his ''old boys" seem to feel. The descriptions of the Gunnery to be found in Dr. Hollands Arthur Bonnicastle." and W, Hamilton Gibson's ''Snug Hamlet" are s warm and we believe just tribute to the unique merits of the school. Like Arnold ot Rugby MT Gnnn was born teacher. He knew all the crooks and turns of the boy na. | fura he conld Qvmpothfzo xp;tb +ho;, ...L....