Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-15
Personal Characteristics.

1t was during this visit to Utica that eX-
| Gov. Holbrook met eX.Gov. Seymour and
formed pleasant acquaintance with him.
As they walked through the streets of the
city upon some errand Gov. Holbrook no.
| ticed that Gov. Seymour, a man of great
| atfability of manner, was constantly busy
with salutations to every sort of people
| whom he met. When Gov. Holbrook men
toned this Gov. Seymour replied, Eyes,
1 always do il; it doesn't cost me ANYTHING
and it gratifes them" Herein was the Sc
cret in large part of his great personal pop
! ularity. OF Gov. Holbrook also, it may be
said, that his native suavty of manner,
and his courtesy and kindness toward every
| class of his fellow citizens has had not a
| little to do with the love and esteem in
which he is universally held, and with the
! loyal support and confidence which has
! always been awarded him. 1t was the late
| Charles X. Field friend and companion
| from boyhood, who said to him after his
election as governor "Why, damn it, Fred.
| it's that cussed suavity that made you gov
emor. You speak to everybody you meet.
but don't see half of Them
Another personal attribute not TO be
overlooked is the caution and conservatism
with which he has always tempered his
ability and energy in every public work.
MS suggests shrewd warning which
Epaphroditus Seymour, president of the
old BrAtteboro bank, gave Mr., Holbrook
about the time Of his election to the state
senate. Calling him into the bank one
day Mr.. Seymour said "I am an older
man than you; / forsee that you are likely
to receive further public preferment, and l
wish to make one suggestion. You can
60 to GOO
and he Will understand you as you mean;
out e. and put that same thing on paper
and it may be construed to mean almost
anything. SO what l want to say is, be
very careful what you put on paper"
This" the Governor says, 81 have often
remembered, and observance of the caution
has proved very beneficial TO me"
Briefly Said in Conclusion.
| This story has already grown long enough
| to end, but not by any means from lack of
material to continue it, Let us briefly add,
N conclusion, that since 1852 GOV. Hol-
! brook has been a member of the board of
/ trustees for the Vermont Asylum for the
/ Insane, now the BrattlebOro Retreat, and
/ that in addition TO his wise oversight in
/ the general management of that iusttu-
ton, his lifelong agricultural experience
has been of great benefit in shaping and
directing the work of the Retreat farm,
for so many years past model in its man
agement and in the results accomplished.
For a quarter of century, also, Gov Hol-
brook has been the president of the Yer
mont savings bank, an institution which
for strength and sound management has
few rivals and no superior.
Three sons were born to Gov. and Mrs.
Holbrook, all of whom are living-Frank-
lin F. of Boston, William c., colo mel of
the 7th Vermont regiment, now lawyer
in New York, and John c., resident in
Pennsylvania. The death of Mrs. Hol-
brook took place, after brief illness, in
September, 1887. The union of husband
and wife had thus continued for 80 years
and had been a genuinely happy and fort
innate one. Mrs. HolbrOok was woman
of strong character, of fine presence and
pleasing manners, equal in these respects
to all social requirements; while on fine
domestic side it was peculiarly true of her
that 'She looketh well to the ways of her