Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-02-27
LViii NEW SERIES. VOL. xxx.
A sketch of the Life and Benrfactions OF II
Noblc Woman.

! y
occurrec on Tuesday Of this week, will
touch the hearts of our people with pc
culiar sorrow Living in extreme scclusion,
shrinking with native diiidencc en-
HANGED by long illness from all society,
known by face to but few of our citizens,
she nevertheless held place in public eS
TEEN and had hold on the affections of
our community which few, even of our
selves, appreciated until the tidings of her
sudden death yesterday made us all feel
that one of the most prominent figures in
our social group had departed, and that
we had all suffered the loss of Il personal
friend and brnefactor. To her we may all
apply what was once said of another,
Though to few known, to fewer un-
known"
A life of simple and quiet benevolcnce,
such AZ Miss Fletchcr's. furnishes but
few events for biography. She was born
to Thaddeus and Mary l.. G'easleel Flctch
er, September 80, in jericho, where her
father was IL merchant, and from whence
he removed to Essex, where he dId bus-
ness for several years, removing with his
family to Burlington in 1850 Mary
Fletcher and her younger sister Ellen, re
Celved their education in Rev. Mr. Con
verses seminary. in this place. Both girls
were extremely delicate in health, Ellen,
VINO appeared to he much the stronger OF
the two, dying Of OfCOnsumptiOn in 1888. Miss
Mary Fletcher, though OUTLYING all her
family was Il lifelong invalid, death from
consumption seeming to he near
probability at anytime Tor thirty
years past. About eight wears ago
DR.. Bowditch of Boston, after max
ing thorough examination Of her case
pronounced ii Il slow and lingering form
of consumption, which having existed for
twenty years, might hold out for as many
years more, though liable to a fatal ter
mlnatlun At any time from any untOWard
circumstance. This lifelong fccbcneSS
and perpetual struggle for existence will
explain at once Miss Flctcher's secluded
mode of life and her choice of the special
form uf bcncvoicncc to which she gave
her best thoughts and the largest part of
her means. The Mary Fletcher Hospital
is an expression of her deep sympathy
with human suffering, and an embodi-
ment of her earnest wish to do something
for its alienation.
Mr.. Fletcher, having, by prudence in
mercantile business and fortunate invest
mentS at the West. amaSSed II large prop
erty, and foreseeing that his family would
be short lived, turned his thoughts to the
question of Il charitable endowment for
the public benefit. Among the plans
which he considered were those for pub
lie library and IA hospital Death, how
ever, came to him before he had fully ma
tured any of the plans which lay before
HILL l he OILY CDllSliltIuDlt Slll ulttlt ny
Mr.. Fletcher himself was an endowment
of SlO,OO0,to the academy at Essex. Short
ly after his death, Mrs. Mary l.. and Miss
Mary NJ. Fletcher, his wife and daughter,
to whom he had bequeathed all his prop
erty, founded and endowed the Fletcher
Free Library, with gifts aggregating S24,
600. From the proceeds of these gifts the
city now has Il library exceeding 1000 vol
umeS and an invested fund of $4,000. y
plan for the endowment of a hospital, in
,l, t,,,l-
warm interest, was for II time frustrated
by the sudden death of Mrs. Fletcher in
the summer of $50. Not long after her
mothers death, Miss Fletcher set herself
resolutely to the accomplishment of the
project thus twice arrested, the founding
of Il hospital. In this act, or series of acts
by which, ON her part. this plan was con
summated, Miss Fletcher manifested a re
markable business and executive ability.
1t has become almost prOverb that mo-
where do persons of wealth exhibit
50 much weakness us i'll this pro
iect for bestowing good upon the public
by means of their wealth. This quiet but
reSOlute lady, having sought advice where
she Thought she could get the best, ma
tured her plans thOughtiully, announced
her decision quietly, and without discus
sion waived aside opposition, and carried
out her design with a wisdom and firm
ness, which, as well rs her generosity, en-
title her to admiration. Her reluctance
overcome only by the consideration that
il would bear ncr mothers name also.
Her gifts to the hospital, let us say rather
to the sick and suffering for all time to
come, have amounted to over 5000, 900, OF
which Sl3OOOO constitutes IL permanent
fund for the maintenance of the hospital
Miss Fletcher : minor beuefactiOaS were
in number countless, and were always he
slowed with Il thoughtful Kindness Whlcl
more than doubled their value to the re
berleS- solicitations which She was obi gee
to refuse but the necessity of refusal al
ways cost her gentle heart Il panE
Among her latest gifts were an addition
of $1,000 to the funds Of Essex academy
and the endowment of IA free bed in the
hospital by the gift of 5000. in favor Ol
the WinOOSki avenue Congregations
church, with which She had her chulcl
home. This latter gilt, one of the las
acts Of her lie, seemed to afford her
peculiar enjoyment
The closing scene in Miss Fletcher
lite was especially touching. AS soon a
She became aware that her end was near
she desired To be taken to the Hospital
Though informed by her physician, Dr
Carpenter that the removal would be at
tended with extreme danger, she WOulC
not be refused. Taken up from her bee
in the arms of her faithful attendant
she was conveyed in Il sleigh to the hos
p!tal and laid upon the bed in her owl
room, where no one but herself had eve
rested and there, murmurng thanks tina
she was where she was, in very bric
space she breathed her life gently away
attended by the president, the superntcI
dent, members Oi hestatf, and the nurse
\ of the hospital She had founded. 1t wa
all exactly as she might have wished, an
doubtless often did wish, during thos
many days of weakness and pain, throug
which she has now for ever passed
Miss Fletchcrs life, rs we now loo
back upon it, was one of great nteres
and beauty In spite of sickness an
pain, in spite of manifold lin
tations II certain serenity rests upo
it, certain degree even of SUI
shine and charm. our community is tn
richer for having such life treasured Il
in its memory When more noted name
and more splendid careers shall be fo
gotten, this gentle lady, and that whic
she had done, will long be held in lOvin
remembrance. NJ. II. B,
The Philadelphia striking Weayers.