Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-03-26

governor Oh Tie SGate LOT TWO years.
"The unanimitv of the cow ntion,
supplemented by the solicitations of
many friends" wrote Mr.. Fairbanks
in his letter of acceptance, "has over
borne my own Judgment and wishes
and leads me to accept the nomina-
ton" The story of the election that
followed is a familiar one. The dem
ocrats, with w. I'll. IL. Bingham as
candidate, made strenuous effort to
reduce the republican majority, as it
was a presidential year, but without
avail. Mr.. Fairbanks was elected by
a majority of %, 721, his own town of
st. Johnsbury alone giving him 826
votes-more than the total vote of
any previous election in it's history.
Governor Fairbanks message to
the legislature was awaited with con-
siderable interest. He had been
known as quiet, unassuming bust
Dess man, making no pretense to
craftsmanship" His father, the
first war governor of Vermont, serv-
| ed in eventful times and left brilliant
record. Would the son maintain the
| prestige gained by the father, was
the question asked. In answer it is
sufficient to say that the message full
~ equalled the expectations of his
most sanguine friends. 1t proved to
be an ably written, strong and ag-
gressive paper, urging radical reforms
in many directions. He urged the
state to encourage arbitration in place
of the too frequent resort to jury tri-
al advocated reform in matters of
taxation; gave special attention to
| educational matters, recommending
uniformity of text books, consolida-
ton of the smaller schools and the
employment of a higher grade of
teachers, and made other suggestions
| of practical nature. But IA special
| feature of the message was a sharp
! arraignment of the prison system of
| the state, which he declared fstl-
ure, radically wrong in principle, and
demanded a revision of the entire
prison system then in vogue. The
message was received with universal
commentator. The state press pro-
nounced it "clear in expression, broad
and statesmanlike in its views"
The most munificent of all his
many gifts was that the Atheneum
and public library to the town of St.
Johnsbury. The foundations of the
building were laid in 1868. Three
years later it was completed and on
the evening of Nov. p, 1871, was
presented to his fellow-citizens by
Gov. Fairbanks.
The people had hardly time to re-
alize the value of this great gift, when
another was added, that of the beau
tiful art gallery with its rich cOllec-
ton of pain ings, all selected by Gov.
Fairbanks and including a number of
works by the old masters. The |
browning work of all was Bierstadt's |
masterpiece. 1.-The Domes of the Yo-
semitic princely gift in itself and
which holds the position of honor in
the gallery.
The cost of all these things no one
knew but the donor, though it was es
timated that it could not have been
less than 100000. Add to this the
cost of maintenance each year which
has been wholly borne by Gov. Fair
banks, and the original gift has been
almost duplicated.
But it was as a husband, as fa-
Their, brother, a friend, courteous
Christian gentleman, public spirited
citizen, that Governor Fairbanks was
best known in this community. His
luxurious home, adorned with many
evidences of his own taste and cul-
ture, was open at all times for the
entertainment of his friends. He
was quiet man,yet always approach
able, and in his own home the most
delightful of hosts. 1t may be said
without exaggeration that his was an
ideal home.
Giving was to him a pleasure.
Some of his princely gifts are known,
but only by gathering together the
stories of the poor and unfortunate
who have been cheered by his bounty,
of the students who have been quiet
ly aided from his purse, of the mis-
sionaries in our own and other lands
who have been helped and encourage
ed by him, and of the many others
who have occasion to remember his
thoughtfulness and generosity, can
the extent of his benefactions be
known.
Any reference to the life of Gov.
Fairbanks at home would be incom-
plete did it not include mention of
his work in and for the North Con-
gregational church. Fifty-one years
ago he became a member of this
church and has all his life been close
ly identified with all departments of
its work. For seven years he was
Sunday-school superintendent, and
many years he has been one of the
deacons, officiating in that capacity {
at the communion service on the Sun
day preceding his departure for New
York two weeks ago. When, some
years ago, it was decided to build a
new church, he, with his brother {
Franklin took the amount that had
been subscribed for the purpose, to- ;
Al IL Al Il Il, /,