Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09

poo.e, W ,pullu Inc Norman Wllllams
Public Library"
In II personal, selfish, temporary view,
would have preferred that the old house
should have been kept and occupied by
the family, but old houses will after
awhile decay and become by change and
contrast suggestive of sadness Behold
the dilapidated and tumbling down birth
place OF Hiram Powers on yonder hill
| Besides, sometimes families pass altogeth-
er away, or, If continuing, there may be
no one after two or three generations who
will care for the old homestead. Think
of the family of Charles Marsh with its
hospitable and famous home on another
| hill with now not IA single direct male
descendant living bearing the name.
SO the library is far better. Indeed
nothing could be so appropriate. There
! will be a monument in the lovely plat
across the river to mark the silent graves,
but that will point to the past and awaken
its memories. a memorial of Mr.. and
! Mrs Norman Williams should do more
than that 1t should be II living power to
stir up activities in the present. to inspire
wisdom and refinement and beneficence
all the way down the years into the ages
to come. If the lmmortals behold NOR
! tai things, we who knew and loved those
whom this loving work of u devoted son
commentaries, are sure that they are
spiritually here tonight with their love
and blessing.
If the old church had been destroyed or
gone to decay, new church might have
been built. If this were u region of ply
steal trouble and sickness there might
have been an asylum or a hospital If
the community were not alive to educa-
/ ton and active in its interests there might
nave been founded Il grammar school.
But it was the library that was needed
and nothing could be so useful Think of
/ 1t Open doors, wide open doors, forever,
without money and without price, for ali
this region, to the most instructive litera-
ture OF the past and the present. Who
can forecast the abiding, uplifting and far
reaching influence of the opportunities
and benefits of such a gift ? The build
ing itself, built without regard to eX-
pense, OF the finest architecture lovely
and exquisite and complete in all its APP
1 pOintments, will be even to those who
never avail themselves of its treasures, an
education and an inspiration. And then
to think provision is made to keep its
shelves supplied with new coming attrac-
tons, and that increase of books, care and
maintenance of building and all the cX-
penses of management are to be met by
ample endowment, how can / help eX-
claiming what noble, generous, graceful,
Denencent work is this which you, Ed
ward ii. Williams, have done for your ma
tive town of Woodstock and as Il memo
rial o. your beloved father and mother.
For Woodstock and all this region I
ments OF gratitude from all the people Of
every class and condition who are living
mere now. | speak too for all those VINO
i'll later years will dwell in these valleys
and on these hills and enjoy the Norman
Williams public library. And trust If
Will not be deemed irreverence when |
say | speak too Tor those who have
uWelt here III the more than Il hundred
years of Woodstock's history. but are no
longer with us. And beg to join with
your name that of your brother Norman.
whose annual coming with his family
brings sunshine to our hearts and homes
and VINO, with characteristic enthusiasm
lalthi illness and taste, has done 50 much
to aid you in your work
This Woodstock, II place of great nat
ural beauty, has been the home of many
distinguished families and remarkable
tor the high character of its population
IN every sphere of life. 1t was unsur.
passed by any other centre in Vermont
in culture, refinement and influence II
we could hear voices from the heavens
above us, how thankful would be the eX
pressions of those who founded it, built
1t and contributed to its worth, for this
work so helpful in keeping up the attrac
tiveness and usefulness of the place they
loved so well.
When the fathers and mothers pass
away the children can bring no greater
tribute Of love to their old homes than T.
and more remunerative fields of labor and
these New England villages, many OF
them suffer greatly in the change. But
there Will be some compensation if now
and then they will come back, perhaps
making their summer homes in the old
places bringing their children with them
and above all if they will never forget the
old church, the village school, and build a
public library.
The old traditional characteristics, as
sociations and influences must be kept
alive and cherished. For there will come
time, II may be some way off, if do not
live to see it | shall die in the hope of it
when there will be a retluent wave of emf
grafton. The far west with its tempting
fields of enterprise and great activities
will not forever draw away youth from
these regions, and some of those who have
gone there will find their way back again.
The abandoned farms will be sought after.
Many barren hillside will once more
glow with the glorious autumn foliage,
and many quiet village will see itself
back in its old life and power. So may
it be.
Thanks, everlasting thanks, dear Mr..
Williams, for what you have done in the
line of the fulfillment of this prophecy,
and to secure to Woodstock the old pres
tlge and power. 1t deserves much more
impressive recognition and acknowledge
ment than this simple reception to You
anu yours mere tO-Hlpnt. But Won, so
like your father, and pre-eminently so in
your modesty, have forbidden formal GER
emonies, and, reluctantly we have yielded
to your wishes. Ii we are not allowed
anything more, we rejoice to gather here
IN this informal way to look you in the
face and take you by the hand, and to
see so many of the family relatives. We
wish they were all here to take delight
in this superb library and see what a
blessing it is to be-
And now as | close, | beg to tender to
you, my lifelong friend, sincere congratu-
lations. First, that you were born a
Williams, of such parentage, IN this old
town of Woodstock, right here on this
spot where we stand. You bear a his
toric name. Your great grandfather,
Phineas Williams, settled in this town
two years before the Declaration of In
dependence, and you are of the fourth
Williams generation here. Next | con-
graduate you on the rich qualities of
heart and head of which this library and
ever so many other good works are the
legitimate flower and fruit, and then on
the deserved success in life which has