Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-01
SfdneYR Rabcock.

It was our melancholy pleasure th1S day at D. m. (July 31s0 to attend the funeral of Sidney Babcock, the last survivor of the old time booksellers and publishers of our city, and from his late residence at 26 High street. The services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Harwood, and the bearers were John c. Hol- lister, James M. Mason, John P. Futile, George Sherman, William w White and Edward c. Beecher.
 Our friend was about the last of that fine manly race of men who fifty years ago gave to our then little city it's high moral stamina and made it, in connection with it's reputa- tion as seat of learning and place of gar den-enveloped homes, one of the choice spots of many lands. His long life covered every administration from that of Washington to that of Arthur; and he knew all the valuable characters among us, of which we had so many in the early part of this century-such men as Timothy Dwight, Jeremiah Day, Benjamin Silliman, James Hillhouse, Eli Whitney, Ralph l. Ingersoll, Roger s. Bald win, James L. Kingsley, Nathaniel w. Fay Tor, Noah Webster, James c. Percival, John Trumbull, Dennis Kimberly, Aaron N Skin ner, Eli Ives, Jonathan Knight, Ma than Beers, James Brewster, etc. It was great privilege to live in place where one could have such for his fellow townsmen, to say nothing of the hosts of others who, coming from grand old stock well anchored in a strong religious faith, made body of citizens of rare worth and unusual power, to whom the sound of the Sabbath-going bell brought peace and quiet joy to their souls In his prime, forty years ago, MT. BabcOck was very noticeable person, of an impressive, dignifed appear ance He was broad, strong man, the per sonifcation of health and vigor, with broad face and forehead, clear eye, complexion like a peach, and as he moved rapidly through the streets, his brow freightedss with the cares of business-an ever industrious and untir- ing worker-the stranger could but perceive, as every citizen knew, that he was gentle man of the highest responsibility and moral worth.
 In his attire MT Babcock was neatness it. self, and this was the index of his character. He was par excellence a pure minded man. Nothing low or grovelling could be uttered in his presence without instant but kindly re- buke, and no sentiments but those of the loftiest were ever heard to fall from his lips. His mind appears to have dwelt largely upon the pleasant traits of character among those he had known, and he had profound re- spect for those men of eminence in our com munity who by their labors in the intellec- tual walks were aiming to improve the world and to develop themselves after the most noble types of manhood. In fact, he was that best kind of a mana Christian gentleman, with malice for none, with char ity for all and continually acting as though he felt that the eye of God was ever resting upon him and immortality as certain as time. Beautiful is such faith! How it dignifes this mysterious life.
 In his early business career MT. Babcock extensive publisher of picture books for children. Many of these sold as low as single cent. The lone centh of that day was twice as large the cent of ours, and did three times as much buying. Millions of these books with the imprint ''Sidney's Press" in the course of term of years were scattered in every State and territory of the Union. It was pleasant to go into a store where pile of these tiny books were lying upon the counter, for as you took one in hand this lightest of light literature-you could not but think how these were to be the de- light of the little people in many cases even to the remotest cabins in the clearings of the far away western wilderness of Illinois and Missouri.
 MT. Babcock began when boy in making picture books for his father, an extensive publisher who issued them under the name of his son, ''Sidney's Press," which was the origin of this imprint. The Bab- cocks for generations had been book publish CTS; and in succeeding to the business through pride because the Babcocks from time immemorial had been book merchants Sidney Babcock took upon himself debt of $50, 900, an enormous sum for that day, but which he lived to pay in full, principal and interest, and for many years and ever with honor for his guide, truth upon his lips and with integrity and kindness for his love, prosperity smiled upon him.
 ,l-s 1Ioo4 i,4 41,o 1o,@ pening in on a Saturday school holiday into his bindery, when the girls were stitching these little delight-giving brochures; when we learned the art of tying the simple knot which fastens tightly several folded sheets of paper together. This has stood us in good service from that. day of remoteness to the present; and simple and useful as it is to lit l erary men, we have yet to see the first gradu-
 ate of Yale who has acquired the art, ,- which can be taught in a single minute by any book bindery girl
 MT. Babcock failed to acquire fortune by his business. But one bookseller in our city ever did, and he lived before our time; and because perhaps not a soul was dependent upon m,-not wife to listen to the music of his footsteps, not a child to greet his coming. But the world is better for our friend having lived in it, and the few now l lingering among us who knew him in his prime cannot but feel as does the writer a | sensation of pleasure as they think of this l pure and excellent man.
 l HENRY HOWE, 1 Crown, near Temple street. |