The Press., 1891-06-18
Number 12.


 business, and also to do good with the earnings of his head and hands. Prob ably large proportion of his benefactions are not nor ever will be known to the pub- lie. When the ladies of the Congrega- tional church, feeling the need of kitch- en and other additions to their fine new church building, were discussing ways and means to build it, MT. Chaffee quiet ly set at work, and quickly it was under way and all bills paid by him.
 Years ago MT. Chaffee conceived the idea of giving sum of money to build suitable memorial to the soldiers who went from Windsor Locks. Some five years ago himself and family went to Eu- rope, and before going he made his will, appropriating $2O, ,OOO for this purpose if he never returned. This was known un- til recently only to his lawyer, J. Warren Johnson, Esq. When not long since the local post had bought the old Haskell homestead for a site for hall, exhaust ing in the purchase money earned by series of fairs and other toilsome devices, A. w. Converse, the commander of the post, one day consulted with MT. Chaffee as to ways and means. MT. Chaffee, it is safe to say, had done his full share in the work thus far done, and he now complete ly paralyzed Mir. Converse by telling him to go ahead and build and to count upon upon him for $15, ,0O0. He has done more than he promised. From the start he has seen that not slighted point appeared in the work steadily the building has grown in perfection and cost. $30,000 is the lowest estimate of drafts already made upon MT. Chaffee's purse, and the draft will be honored until the building has no incomplete detail, till the scars of the workmen are healed upon the grounds now rough from the work, soon to be beautitied and made to be in keeping with the building.
 If there has been anything that MT. Chaffee has not enjoyed in the matter it has been the ostentation of the giving. It would have been more to his taste to have conveyed the gift to the post with as few formalities as the law would per- init. Perhaps the event of last Wednes- day least enjoyed by him was when it was insisted that he stand up before the mul- titude and be seen. No man upon the ground so little realized the greatness of his deed of giving in honor of the mem- ory of the country's defenders, an object lesson of patriotism to the growing youth of Windsor Locks-of the world. All honor to the Chaffee family-father,m ,moth- CT and daughter-all of whom join cheer fully in this deed of patriotism
 |. We have selected for publication this week the address of J. l.. Houston-from am ong the many made-chiefy because it tells so well the story of the gift and the character of the giver:
 It is my pleasant privilege to-day to stand here to represent the donor of a munificent gift, and in his name and at his request to make formal and final pre- sentation of this beautiful building to the J. H. Converse Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
 In conferring this privilege upon me, Mr. Chaffee stated some facts as reason for his choice, which may be pardoned for repeating in my own way.
 Many years ago, in the first half of this century now drawing to it's close, away back in the forties-which do not seem so very far back to those of us who re- member them-Mr. Chaffee, a young man, and I, small boy, became acquainted. This acquaintance, in the course of time, ripened into warm personal friendship, and although we have never been asso- ciated in business, nor very closely in any other way, yet we have always kept in touch as friends and neighbors, and l think I can truthfully say that, except ! during the absence of one or the other, scarcely week has passed during all these years that we have not met and exchanged the usual greetings of friends. It was, therefore, not altogether a surprise to me that MT. Chaffee should pass over many persons belonging to the large circle of his newer friends, who could have per formed the duty assigned to me more gracefully than can, and, remembering our almost half century of friendship 1 beginning nearly score of years before l he became resident of this town-that l he should, upon an occasion so memora- ! ble in his life and so memorable in the history of this town, grant to me this 1 guerdon of his esteem.
 we'll know that my friend is modesty incarnate and that l could do him no 1 greater displeasure than to speak of him
 before this audience and in his presence ! in terms of eulogy however we'll deserved. Nor do think it necessary to do so, foI
 we all know him. His is one of those
 transparent characters, always shining | a1o a@n Ixy .x,1 d
 and respected of all who live within the
 circle of his influence. But may at least
 be permitted to make brief allusion to the
 public spirit of the man; to his genuine
 altruistic feeling; to his generous con
 captions of duty toward circles lying out side of his own domestic hearth and tho
 group of his own immediate personal
 friends and associates to his attitude towards all movements and causes thai Et'make for righteousness' and for the in
 terests of the community as whole
 During all of his busy life he has yet found I time to think of these things and has act
 ed fully up to the high standard of his owI
 onscientiousness. Shakespeare has de
 scribed man as type of class of goot
 men, one ,..
 | ss Trusts few, and does harm to nons" l My friend is all this, but think he is I something more. He has always been personal force, operating for the good O
 the community in, which his lot was cast
 We all know that he has been mode
 husband and father and head of house
 hold, faithful member and officer of hi,
 church; but he never let his conception of duty stop there, as too many of us do
 His hand has always been held out gen
 erously in promoting the general good ant in appreciation of everything pure ant
 noble and worthy.
 | And so it has been, as we see to-day
 in the manner of his showing his patriot ic love of country and his appreciation { and admiration for those who, during tn I giant struggle of our civil war, sprang t,
 the front and formed themselves into living wall in defense of an imperiled re q public. During those days of fiery tria l he felt an obligation stamped upon hi very soul, and he has never ceased to re member that Ohliuati0u