News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-26
George L. Waterman.

him by way of information. His
health failed early in 1884, and, in
spite OF the best medical skill and do
nestle care, he gradually yielded to
the power of disease, and verified the
old proverb-''nothing more certain
about life than that we must lose it,
Mr. WATERWAYS ancestors were among
the early settlers of the State and
county, and were men of strong char
acter and large influence. These
family traits he inherited, but in him
they were combined with fine feelings
and keen sense of social kindness.
He was endowed with critical and
brilliant intellect, and his love of
study and his ease of mastering books
were early known, and never forsook
him. He was a born scholar and
thinker. The common school in his
native village, the Peoples Academy
at Morrisville, and the Vermont Uni
versity, one after another witne ssed
the steady, upward tread of the faith
full student, the correct, the moral.
tie honorable, the promising young
man. Always at the head of his
class; always beloved by his compan-
ions in school, academy or college;
always respected and honored by his
teachers, his career was indeed I'M
usually promising and brilliant. GA
wise son makes a glad father" and in
this case a father, who had done so
much for such son as Hon. V. w.
Waterman had done ind was doing
for his. had every reason to be justly
proud and expectant. Here, as al
ways, theSboy US TIT sather aud type
Of the fssSs The ss. aii careful indus
try characterized his early profession
al work. His mind was well fitted to
the judicial work of his profession
and his brethren at the bar have often
said that he was well equipped to fill
the highest seats in JUDICIAL life. He
loved his professional work, was a
fine special pleader and q strong jury
advocate. But few men in the State
have carried as much care and profes.
sional responsibility during the last
20 years as he. He was a startling
example Of the truth which young at
torneys sometimes forget, that great
parts can never be substituted in the
line of success for old fashioned work.
There was plainness and genuineness
about him that was both refreshing
and winning. 1t was hard for him to |
be as indirect as lawyers are some
times compelled to be. He hated |
shams and pretenses. In his attach
ments and friendships, even to his
own harm, he maintained this same
commendable quality of character.
So in his professional work his best
efforts were as likely to be put forth
for the poor as the rich. The spirit
of caste or social distinction, howev-
er well understood, was seldom en-
forced by him in his own favor. As
in boyhood and youth, he was model
of politeness and polish, so in mature
life he was a model of professional
courtesy and social kindness. AS he
had no enemies IN school, so he had
none at the bar or among his neigh
oOho' W ALiO hC AOfCl IOob vi OVER
looked an advantage to his client, he
was always accommodating and gen.
erous of fayors to his adversary. 1t
is honestly believed that no man
lives who does not remember him
with kindness and good will and re-
grets that he died so young.
His natural sense of honor and JUS
tice, which in his personal affairs he
always practiced to his utmost ability
his keen sense of professional honor
than whom no man at the bar had |
more his hatred of fraud, oppression
or injustice of every kind, even
toward the most undeserving, and
therefore unprotected, member of So
ciety made him a strong advocate
and an homo ed man. AS a matter
of course srch man could not fail to
be often elected to positions of trust,
and often nominated to high political
offices. In politics he was always a
patriotic Democrat, : ID as such rep
resented his tom, mo through per-
sonal friendship than the strength of
his party. Had he survived the re-
turn to power of his party, he doubt
less would have been called to fill
some important POI tical place. His
generous, amiable and social nature
naturally, as so often before with the
highest and greatest of men, disqual-
flied him to assert personal conviction
in social life with an emphatic mo"
The living will find in their memo
ries of George L. Waterman very
many qualities of head ard heart
which all may do well to copy.
eff we miss the law of Kindness
When we struggle to be just,
We shall know each other better
When the mists have cleared away"