Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-19
THE SPEECHES.
HON. j. L. MARTINS ADDRESS

HON. j. L. MARTINS ADDRESS.
When in the midst Of plenty. with de
lghtful homes all about us. filled with tn,
best Of people, it is well that we SHOULD
pause and reflect, that we may contemplat,
the great forces that have contributed tC
this prosperity. Day by day the parent
observes the growth of his child from baby
hood TO manhood or womanhood and only
realizes its marvellous development or the
wonderful change in himself. when in
memory delicate chamber be goes back in
review over the footprints of his life
In ls49 the late honorable and lamentet
Jacob Estey first gave his attention to tn,
manufacture of reed musical instruments
and in short time thereafter. his wonder.
full mind in business way became alb.
sOrDed in this great enterprise. The DOB.
uiation OF the town Of BrattebUro in SjC
was 2624, and its appraised valuation
sl.l,t, 400. Today We have about ZOO
people and a valuation of -. $50. 334
There has been great growth in the man
utacture of reed musical instruments in
different parts of the world since 1850: but
greatest of them all has been by the Estey
Organ company. Forty years ago, there
were about ten men employed in this busi-
ness who received from 10 10 II cents per
hour Tor their wages; then from 80 TO 1O
meiOdeOns were manufactured in a year.
Contrast this limited business in melode-
Ons with what there has been since 1873
in organs, and the cause of the constant
growth in wealth and population of this
beautiful town is readily accounted for.
Since 1873, the disbursement of this
company for wages alone amounts to about
Sj,OOO,OOO; and In considering It's local
advantages we would add to this sum thou
sands and thousands of dollars distributed
for material. Their manufactured product
has been sent TO all parts of the world and
the money returned therefor to be paid out
here. Ii has supplied the heads of families
with plenty: furnished many homes with
the comforts OF life: rocked the cradle Of
many babes TO the joyful song Of the
mother; while merchants professional
men. and other manufacturers and people
OF trades. have shared in the success of this
great business.
] have known the Estey Organ works
from my childhood. and since j have re-
sided in Brattleboro have enioved a close
acquaintance with each member OF the
firm and with many OF their workmen:
and speaking from the standpoint of a
citizen. have observed that the workmen
OF this great industry have no caste in so
clety. there is no distinction in rank. no
division in social lie between them and
the members Of the firm or the other people
Of the community We find many OF them
the owners of good homes scattered about
on the same streets with our learned and
professional men, with a judge Of the SUI
preme court a judge of the United States
district court, and a distinguished eN-roy-
ernor of Vermont
In the manufacture of an organ higher
degree of skill and better class of work
men are required than in most of the EN-
ployments OF toll This. in part. NAV be
the source of the excellent moral. temperate
and social standing of the people Of Brat
ileboro. ! et, there is another important
factor TO be considered: all OF our politica
economists and mental philosophers agree
that diversity of employment develops
the intellect Often do We hear grand
words OF commentator for our forefa;hers.
who were pioneers m this beautiful land
with education limited their comforts
few. the means of obtaining news slow and
uncertain yet their minds were necessar-
~ active in all directions. As they were ever
graphing with obstacles that were con
stanuy besetting their pathway in life. II
was the diversity and activity of thought
that gave them such mental strength.
The performance of a single operation by
the toilIng hand does not tend 10 expand
the intellect. IL such labor the skill r--
quired is partial and the tendency is a.
sacrifice the intelligence of the operative
10 his work and thu, 10 lower III destiny.
The members of thi, firm were fully aware
OF this principle OF political economy and
OF metaphysics, They clearly iuresaw that
The remedy of this evil tendency must rest
In the higher degree of workmanship re-
qulred, and IN the social Developments Vi
the workman, his education and that of
his family. Labor is not the whole of life.
II the operative lives the other parts OF his
life well. bee viii wholly escape the threat
ened evils of a single or even narrow en-
ployment
have observed that il has been the con
slant effort OF this company 20 promote
the cause of education al home and IN
communities around Us, even 10 the estab-
llshment and founding of schools. TO pro
mote an interest IN religious affair, and
Keep the social standing of the town in
prompt step with every advancement OF
the age. Their efforts in this behalf have
been wonderfully aided toy the excellent
habit, and intelligence of their workmen.
and their natural tendency To sobriety and
good morals: and also 10y the fact that their
labor Is mol of class which makes the man
machine. but OF a diversified order that
promotes a high degree of etiiciency
The evolution of man from barbarlsm
toward civilization like that of the indi-
vidual from poverty toward thrift. has ever
been marked by an increase of the higher
parts of our emotional nature. The appe-
tile for food the desire for shelter. and the
determination 10 defend the spot OF earth
selected for the den or lair are qualities Of
mankind that may be traced through the
darkest ages OF the world and 10 the most
secluded spot inhabited by man: bur the
love OF ettectinU useful results through in
dustry, the desire 10 be deemed truthful
kind. faithful, sagacious, brave. enterpris-
ing and learned are fostered and nourished
through the development of social life.
Social life sustained by temperance, virtue
education and industry, makes every man
the 'Piato OF his own academy" and the
autOcrat of his own household. He be-
comes equally happy if not to say happier,
than the baron in his castle surrounded bv
broad acres and hundreds of peasants.
say without tiattery. that these work
men, as well as the members of the firm,
are possessed Of that social wealth which.
among the men, embraces enterprise, in
dustry, art, science, religion and philoso-
ply; and among the women those social
attractions which develop prestige. rivalry.
grace and personal merit.
Material wealth reaches the climax when
social wealth embraces such virtues Ma
e..n III