Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-12-24

vcstment ne spared no money III MINUS
the hotel an architectural ornament to the
place, while in It's internal arrangement
has no superior among the hotels Of Ne
England His home in Brattlchoro has cw
since been in the Brooks House in handsom
apartments especially arranged and iite
up for the accommodation Of himself an
his sister, the late Miss Ellen Malvina Brooks
a year ago last October Mr. Brooks bought
the old GoOdhue homestead on Main street
and about that time he mnde known 20
few intimate friends his purpose 10 build up
on a portion Of the lot building to receivc
and permanently hold the Brattleboro free
library. In due time the scheme took def
mite shape and was made public. and before
his departure for San Francisco for the
winter he had decided upon the general
plan, named his trustees, and left the de
tails to be worked out and all needed ar
rangements 10 be made ready ~ begin work
on the building Mt the opening Of the season
of 1886. In order that not n day should he
lost he anticipated the time Of his usual re
turn from San Francisco by more than
month, and ever since then his whole time
has been devoted 10 watching and further
ing the construction of the building, save
only the few weeks spent as the towns rep
resentative at Montpelier His mind seem
ed wholly absorbed in the work and moth
ton as TO know that his townsmen appre-
ciated the good work of benefcence which
he had attempted 10 do fsr them and for their
children after them. Within two DAYS of
his death he positively refused the appeal Of
a relative 10 20 to New York to attend TO
matter Of important business saying in an
swer that he could not leave the library
building, but must stay 30 see the work
pushed diligently forward. The fact that
the final development of his plans called for
a total sum Of money largely in excess Of
that which lac at first intended seemed only
10 increase his pleasure and satisfaction in
his proposed gift His labor was purely
labor Of love, and on every lip, as his death
has been spoken Of has been an expression
of keenest regret that he could not have
been spared b. see his building finished, 10
make the gift to his tOwnsmen by his own
hand and word of mouth, and to share IN
the services Of dedication which are 81 near
at hand Among his papers has been found
partial draft of what he meant 10 say
| when presenting the deed to the town at
| the dedication services.
In his personal character Mr. Brooks was
a man of absolute integrity, Of purity and
| simplicity of thought, Of rare singlencss of
purpose, and Of warm and generous i'm
pulses. His success.n life was due 10 solid,
i substantial qualities of mind, which showed
him things in their true perspective, refused
! to be carried away by any passing whim,
| and sought the end in view by methods Of
plain, straightforward directness. From
his earliest beginning in business he scorned
the ways Of those who seek TO accomplish
| their own ends 10y indirection or by circum-
venting and breaking down the interests of
others. His handsome fortune was won on
principles and methods of business upright
1 III Il.
mended themselves to his Judgment because
of their solid and permanent value He'was
slower than some men in reaching conclu-
sion but. the conviction once reached, he
held by it with the absolute frankness and
sincerity of one who had nothing to conceal.
And this was as true Of him in matters of
religion, politics and personal friendship
in affairs of business and the world at large
We have spoken Of his liberality and earn
estness in building up the cause Of religion
as represented 10y the Unitarian church in
San Francisco He was equally ready and
helpful in his devotion to the church in
Brattlehoro, and in both eases his activity
had its source in sincere personal convic-
ton. He believed absolutely and entirely
in the principles Of liberal Christianity as
taught by Charming and Ware and King:
ON them his personal conduct was founded,
and IN him these principles found a sturdy,
unfinching advocate at every suitable time
and place. In politics his devotion 10 the
principles Of the Republican party was
5 equally warm pnd pronounced Though
not "A bookish man, he had broad and in
telligent knowledge Of the affairs Of the
world. and his interest in those affairs en-
E braced everything that aimed at the public
good.
E In his own circle Of intimate friends and
lac fha aud liul
. Of men his personal attachments were
e strong, and not the less 50 for being quiet
and undemonstrative. Always a bachelor
he found his greatest pleasure in the love.
r and devotion of his circle of brothers and
sisters and their children and families If
r. the public at large thought of him rs re
( served and reticent, it was only because he
e was man who was self-contained. and be
= cause they had never had occasion to ap-
proach him in any personal way for no
e man, of whatever class in life. was ever
o brought in contact with him without finding
5 himself met on terms of equality and easy
e Representatives, and familiarity He was
+ everywhere felt as a genial but unobtrusive
J. presence and as such he will be sincerely
missed and mourned in this community.
e His mOdesty genuine. and all his acts
: of hberality and benefcence were done qui
Il city, without ever being made virtue or
= receiving a second thought or mention.
a As we have already said Mr. Brooks was
l. the fourth in family Of seven children
is who lived to maturity Their names in or.
p der were VIM F.. Horace. Ellen NJ. George
IS j., Francis W, Mary F.. and Lucy T.
Another son of the family. James. wa
drowned in Spofford Lake. near the outlet
" IN 1872, aged about seven years. OF thi,
II family the only survivors now are Mary F.
u wife of Francis Goodhue, and Lucy r.. wifi,
Is of y. f. Cabot
IA Mr.. Brooks leaves a will for the proper
y distribution of his large estate. the terms al
which and the executors named will not b,
III made known until the document is filed foi
30 probate While the title deed conveyin.
r the library property to the trustees in tris
III for the town had not been fully complete,
81 and executed its terms had been careful,
Is considered and the wishes Of Mr. Brooks ii
m this respect are well known. There need h
he no fear that his plans will not be fully car
es ried out
e Owing to the uncertainty as to the tim
ga of arrival of relatives from a distance tn
. the day and hour of the funeral cannot b
he positively named, but it will probably b
m held from the Unitarian church at o'cloc
dS next Tuesday afternoon The Unitarian Sc
y ciety being without a pastor at this tim,
er the family friends of Mr.. Brooks have yer
he suitably decided TO ask the Rev. John +
lc- Moors, d. D., formerly of Greenfield. and
ey personal friend of Mr.. Brooks, to oficiate Il