The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-29
Mr.. GIFT.
Continued from Page 1.)

the wishes and the interests OF q large
portion of the community. Yet he so
carefully and skillfully managed that he
lost not the esteem and respect of bis
fellow townsmen nor the confidence OF the
government.
The condition of the poor of his native
town seems to have awakened his deepest
sympathy End induced him to make gen
erous provision for their wants. IL was
found that by his will he had committed
in trust to the town OF Providence what
must ever be regarded as princely dona-
tion.
The Rhode Island American, OF the date
OF August 70, 1924, few days after the
death OF Mr.: Dexter, which oc-
farm in Providence neck, part
OF this liberal bequest, is given on
the condition that the town shall erect
thereon, within five years, an aims
house which Is to be inclosed
with an extensive and permanent
wall, within 20 years and we hope ere long
to see Dexter Asylum rearing its walls
in these pleasant and productive fields.
The freemen In town meeting, Novem-
ber %, 1924, voted to accept the gift
thus generously bestowed, upon the con-
ditions upon which it was made Dy the
donor and directed that the property to
tion" should be kept distinct from other
property and funds OF the town by the
town treasurer. The far-seeing sagacity
and benevolence OF its donor have secured
for the poor of the city q comfortable
home for all time to come, not surpassed
by the almshouse Of any other city in the
country.
Mr.. Dexter married January I, 1906, Miss
Waitstill Howell of Providence. They
had no children.
He lived to make the world better by
his living. He gave the accumulations Of
his life to the noblest virtue, charity.
The many who are gone, the living and
the innumerable who are to come, will
owe him monuments in blessings for
sheltering them in the days Of their ad-
versity.
Now, Mr.. Mayor, we trust, in passing
the statue into the care of our City
Fathers, that they will continue to
beautify these grounds in honor
OF the dead philsnthropist, al
ways remembering that thing of
beauty is not only Joy forever but an
educator.
'The Star Spangled Banner" was then
given by the band and Acting Mayor
Daniel II. Ballou accepted the memorial
in behalf of the city. The dedication ode,
Sarah G. Padelford and the music by
Emory p. Russell was sung.
Grafton by Hon. Thomas Durfee.
Hon. Thomas Durfee, ex-Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court, then pronounced
the Grafton which was q scholarly and
finished production and was listened to
with the closest attention. Following is
an abstract:
"Ebenezer knight Dexter created for
himself, in the will that he left, monu-
ment which is more imperishable than
bronze. That he did SO, however, does
not make the erection OF q statue to his
a laaS annrnnriata His
mentary benefactions were in intent,
dedicated not to himself, but to the town
which he loved and to the poor whom he
pitied; and they are the beneficent
expressions OF his love and his pity, Ii is
only incidentally that he is commemor-
ated by them. The statue is directly dedi-
Gated to him for the city, and it declares
10 the world the city's gratitude to him
for his benetsctions and the city's ad-
miration OF him for his virtues. 1t iden-
titles and accentuales the senti-
men ment which 1t expresses in
] congratulated the donor on the happy
thought that inspired him to have il
modelled and cast, and to offer it for
erection on site so altogether fitting for
it. trust may be pardoned IL further
say, what SO naturally occurs to me to
say, that he can set an example highly
worthy Of imitation, even should his
VI nave 10 kO DdCh
to the old days of Canonicus and Mianto-'
nomi for another such subject"
Ebenezer Knight Dexter was born
April 20, 1773, and died August 10, 1924.
His whole life was spent in Providence.
He was descendant in the sixth genera
tion of Gregory Dexter, the dear and
faithful friend of Roger Williams. The
father OF Ebenezer knight Dexter has left
on record adequate proof OF his regard for
education, and we may, therefore, pre-
sumo that the son received as good an
education as the local schools then exist
ing could afford. We may also presume
that when he left school it was to enter,
permit, upon his business career. His
success was probably due, not " holly to
his own skill and industry, but partly also
to his having had the good for
tune to embark in business on
that rising tide of prosperous
trade and commerce which followed
the adoption OF the federal constitution.
marshal for the District of Rhode Island.
lie held the Office until death removed
him, and his administration was salts
factory both to the government and the
community. As marshal he superintended
the taking of the United States census
heavy affiictior in the death OF his wife,
an excellent and accomplished lady, a
daug hter of the Hon. David Howell, then
district Judge for the Rhode Island dis
trict. She had borne to her husband only
one child, who lived but a few months.
Five years after her death he himself died,
still widower.
when the contents OF Mr.. Dexter's
will, executed some two and half
months before his death, became known
they exhibited him in a new and in some
respects still nobler aspect as munifcent
public benefactor. The will gave to the
town the spacious plain around us for
perpetual use as a training field; the 40
acres OF land where the Dexter Asylum
now is, for the use and accommodation of
the poor OF the town; and finally, subject
to some comparatively small legacies, and
to the charge OF a few annuities, all the rest
and residue of his estate, real and per-
sonal, to be kept, with power to convert
1t into other forms of investment, as a
permanent fund for the benefit OF the
poor of the town. The worth OF the
property to the town, when given, was
estimated at sec, 1000 and it now has risen
to very, very many times as much. Since
then rs years have brought their changes,
with increase OF riches then undreamed
of, and yet no second benefactor OF the