Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-26


 wiESwas stiff in manner and angular in ges- ture, but in diction splendid and powerful, as the laundering of great guns. Both at tained to high positions in public life-Bald- win as Governor of Connecticut and United States Senator, and Ingerson as member of Congress and United States minister to Rus sia. Baldwin died in 1863 and Ingersoll in 1872.
 In the medical profession the list has been long and distinguished. Of the allopathic school: pr. Timothy Beers, Dr. Eli Ives, Dr. Charles Hooker, Dr. Jonathan Knight, Dr. Worthington Hooker, Dr. Nathan B. Ives, Dr. Charles L. Ives, Dr. Edwin Park, Dr. Pliny A. Jewett, Dr. David A. Taylor Of the homeopathic school: Dr. Charles H. Skiff, Dr. E. T. Foote.
 Among the men of letters whose lives have ended during the past half century, James Hillhouse, the poet, is the first in order, al- though the most distinguished name is that of Noah Webster, who died in 1S4S. In this day of broad and accurate scholarship dis position has appeared te depreciate the great merits of Dr. Webster as philologist and to overlook the immense value of his services to the English language in America. But to the extraordinary diffusion of Webster's spelling book and Webster's dictionary it has been owing more perhaps than to any other cause that the development of local dialects in this country has been prevented, and the importance Of this circumstance on our national unity can hardly be estimated. To these books is also largely due the fact that the purest form of English is spoken in America; and it is matter of local pride to us that for two generations past New Haven, the source from which these books have been continually emanating in their course of constant revision and improvement, has thus been and is to-day the fountain head of in- guistic authority-the well of English unde- filed for all English speaking peoples. We may therefore confidently affirm that the purest form of English on earth is that which corresponds most closely with the New Haven veInacular.
 I may mention here as one of the men of letters who were co~laborers on Webster's dictionary that eccentric celebrity, compound of poet-scientist and linguist, Dr. James G. Percival, who, after having immured himself from human sight in New Haven for several years. emerged from his voluntary dungeon and went to Wisconsin, where he died in 1856.
 Two other names bear an honored place in our list, both from their prominent positions and their great public service in educational work. Hon. Aaron N. Skinner was Mayor of the city from 1850 to 1854, and was al ways prominent and indefatigable in every work of public improvement. General Will diam A. Russell held the chief command in the domestic military service of the State during the civil war, and his personal labors bua6 poTlOQ, AS well aS the aSSlBL2QC6 rendered by his pupils of his military school in the drilling of volunteers, were of high importance. More distinctive literary careers were followed by the Rev. John s. c. Abbott, that pleasing writer and estimable man who died citizen of our town; and that excel lent historian of New Haven, whose recent loss we 80 greatly deplore, the Rev. Edward E. Atwater.
 Many are the names which might be drawn frOT1 ha Ia ltrc of life. Who can forget on this anniversary day the benevolent heart of Brewster and the generous bounty of Heaton. two names com- bined in the orphans home and hallowed with the orphans blessings? Who does not ! gratefully recall the dignifed form of Philip Marett, who though but stranger and so- journer among us poured out his bene6cent spirit in wise and prineely bequests to our local institutions and benevolences? How could we fail to remember the splendid and varied munifcence of Sheffield and Farnam, | and the generous gift of Street? And as our l thoughts extend beyond these moro striking ! examples, they recur to the judicious liber- alities of Winchester and Fellowes and the thoughtful bequests of Fitch.
 l have thus far made no allusion to the ! crowniug glory of New Haven that venerable institution which is go inseparably connected with it. If New Haven has always enjoyed a special renown among the cities of our land
 
 lectual privileges and for all other advantages which bring reputation, wealth and happi- ness to a community is it not largely because it's name is everywhere synonymous with Yale? There is not citizen of New Haven who does not derive in some way motherly | blessing from her presence.
 Her progress is our progress, her glory is our glory. As we look back on the list oi those eminent and noble men who during the | past two generations have gone upward from | her service we realize how closely they iden ! ti6ed themselves with every interest of thit | community and how much it suffered in theil loss. We remember the venerable Day, the modest and gentle Fitch, the elder and younger Silliman, the earlier and the later | Kingsley. We remember Goodrich and Had \ ley and Gibbs and the ever lamented Thatch, l CT. We see again the kindly faces of Olm stead and Larned and Norton-we recall the l brilliant Herrick and the faithful Warner | and the young and promising Porter and Packard, both too early lost! New Havenerr all! Nor do we think of these alone. We re member also two veuerated men, for so many years tke revered presidents of Yale, wht still remain among us; whose lives have been benediction to New Haven and whose fame has long shed luster on her name. Far dis | tant be the day when we shalr see them nC more; but when their summons shall come | we cannot doubt that they will respond tC the cali with serener joy because they vii | leave the ancient college developed by thei I labors into great and fourishing university | ever enlarging in usefulness and influence ] ever growing stronger in the esteem of tn, l fellow citizens.
 THE FUTURE OF NEW HAVEN. | The speaker then prophetically viewed Nev | Haven at the close of the next half centur, of its existence when it's population woult l be 300, 900 souls, and said:
 | The questions, what will then be the ap- I'pearance of our town or city? what it's mora ! and intellectual characterization and what it | infuenee9 are not mere matters of idle spec
 ulation. Their answer will depend mainly
 upon the wisdom, the virtue and the public
 spirit of those who are now living within
 it's limits. It is we who are to decide, fol
 instance, what will be the outward aspec
 which New Haven will present in 1888 | Will it be then, as it has been in the past