The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-10-21
TOWN TOPICS.
REUBEN H. SMITH.

There are few men more esteemed in
the community and in the county at large
by those who have had the good fortune
to know him than the gentleman whose
name heads this sketch, r. I'll. Smith, the
| retiring editor of the BEE, now en- route
for his new home in California.
True to his convictions, strictly honest
in his dealings with his fellow men, he
has won respect and admiration on every
side.
This is not written because the writer
has the rare fortune to be related to the
retiring editor by blood, or with any at
tempt at fiattery. 1t is simply just
tribute to Mr. Smiths upright character,
to his answering loyalty to. duty and
his God.
The writer is not one who believes in
post-mortem praise altogether. One
word of appreciation and sympathy ex-
pres sed while a friend is alive is worth
passed to his reward.
While many have differed with Mr.
Smith on his attitude on public ques-
tions, none have impugned his honesty
of purpose. He has been hard worker
and the splendid condition os the BEE to-
day is due to his untiring efforts.
Not one man in thousand could have
stood the work he has managed to COM
pass and he has been the wonder and adj
miration of his fellow editors throughout
the state.
But the retiring editor has not yearned
He has enjoyed good health and has had
his full share of the joys of this life.
Mr. Smiths career in his boyhood and
young manhood days was characterized
by the same integrity which has been the
rock bottom of his success.
His early experiences, also, were not
cast amid luxury. The eldest surviving
son of country clergyman, with large
family, he soon learned what hardship
was.
When his father was preaching at Bur-
iington, although but lad, he worked
for time in the great ak works at Col
linsvilie and frequently on a Monday
morning in Winter walked the six miles
to work through furious snowstorms.
His tenderness and care in looking af-
ter his numerous small brothers and sis
tiers is matter of history, which broad
ened his heart for the children which in
later years blessed his home.
At the age of Is, he learned type set
ting on the Waterbury American, and in
short time assisted in the make up of
the paper. At the age of p, he entered
Berea college in Kentucky, but only re-
manned year, returning to Waterbury
as the editor of the American.
While at college, he was stricken with
fever and for weeks his life lay in The
| balance. His work on the American
| spoke for itself. He succeeded in bring
ing the paper up to high standard and,
when he left,it was one Of the best known
and most-quoted journals in the state.
| His next position was on the Spring
field Republican, paper which has al
ways had high standing from literary
and news standpoint.
His experience on the American fitted
him for his new work and it was not long
before Editors Clark and Griffin discov-
cred his real worth.
He wrote a series of articles on educa-
tion in the South, which attracted wide
attention aud required months to gather
the material. Although he nominally
held the position as exchange editor,
he contributed largely to the editorial
columns. Night work, however, was
very disagreeable to MrSlnith and il was
with regret that Editor Griffin accepted