Connecticut western news., 1881-08-24
Fred ~. Gunns

On Tuesday, August 18th, Frederick w. Gum died, at Washington. His name has been widely known in connection with the ssGunnery," he being emphatically the school, and his influence has been so far spread that it would be difficult to find & man who, while living, had more warm and devoted friends, and will be more deeply mourned than Mir. Gum. It is many years since he began the school, which grew larger and more popular year after year, and the "Gunnery" was an earthly Paradise to hundreds of boys, who look back to their life there with deep and unalloyed pleasure. The affection felt for MT. Gum by his boys has been shown all the sum- mer while he has been gradually failing in health, for hardly day has passed without bringing back old scholars, to shake once more the masters hand, to hear again his cheery voice, and to bring yet more firmly in their memories the loved face. For school days at the s'Gunnery" were always happy ones, and the teacher and his wife, who was his cordial and able helper in all his work, were not looked upon as stern task-masters, but called, lovingly, s''The Pater" and ''Mother," and con- tided ill and loved to rare degree. The sys- tenn, lessons, of rewards and punishments, was unique, and calculated 10 make of the boys self-governing and self-respecting men, not mere machines. Certainly no one ever better understood boy ne ture than MT. Gum, and no one ever more enjoyed and threw himself into the work of developing and rouslng to highest power the latent good and noble qualities which are in every heart.
 The funeral was held on Friday, the 18th. In an open wagon, hung and covered with flowers and trailing vines, the body of Mr. Gum was drawn by the old white horses which he has driven for so many years, to the church. and thence to the grave. There were about fifty of the ''boys' present, many of them men now, and the pall-bearers were from among their number. The church was made bright and lovely with golden-rod, wild clematis, and other flowers. fitting indeed for him. whose every association was of cheer and gladness. The minister, the Rev. MT. Thrall, who had known MT. Gum well said. in the course of his remarks, that he had never been with him without being ennobled and eleva- ted, and feeling the power of his grand, Chris tian manhood. ''
 The deep emotion shown by all, and the tear-stained faces, showed the sense of loss which filled the hearts of all those met to pay 8 last tribute to his memory, for he was man of great public spirit, and has done more than any one else for the improvement, in every way, of his native town. In the beautiful burial place his grave was made, and there were many who turned away, knowing that something never to come back had been taken from their lives. It will, indeed, be many generations before the influence which has been shed on so many boyish lives shall fade or be forgotten, for greater than the sculptor, who leaves cold statue of marble as his claim to undying fame, he has left his touch inef- faceably on lives which shall be mighty in the coming years, and has written his name in golden letters on hundreds of unforgetting hearts. D.