Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-23
Abstract Worth as Typified in a
Distinguished VermOnter.

Written for the HERALD by Hon. c. \. Dale.
There recently lived in this
State a prominent man who
seemed to be in many respects or
characteristics peculiar to him
self-as all men are so more or
less. He seemed to me, who never
saw him except in the public
horizon, to be as guileless by ma
ture as a child. man who did
not seem to have the least idea
that he was adjoining society
with himself, and who was so
wanting in artfil attempts at
impressions that he sometimes
made remarks so plain and art
less as to bring upon himself the
criticisms of a time of stern and
rigid conventionalisms. He was
a man whose natural impulses
and humane instincts had never
been withered by false pride, ar
rogance or the foolish notion
that occupying a high position
it was becoming in him to assume
a patronizing attitude toward
the people, Honest and frank,
he never even excited public jeal-
ousies or suspicious by standing
apart from the masses with little
groups seemingly in counsel con-
corning individual designs. Pure
in mind, honest in purpose, too
frank i'll his intercourse with 9th
ers for the times, he lived less in
the cold conventional story me-
chemically formulated of Yer
mont's distinguished men than
he otherwise would, but as much
in the warm and friendly hearts
Of the people as any other man
of his day and generation. Nc
man in his estimation was his
superior in consideration of his
wants or rights, and none infer.
ior. Men in the remotest parts
of the State are familiar with in
stances in which he has treated
a fellowman (while independent
of all his surroundings himsel
and actuated by no possible mo
tives of policy with a kind con
sideration which the stern con
ventionalists, among whom h
stood almost alone, looked upo1
with disfavor as compromising
the dignity of his high position
and indirectly that of theil own
They did not consider he wa
doing the most royal acts c
manhood. His ambition di
not correspond with ordinar
aspirations. He was ambitious
but | always suspected that i
was borrowed, that it wa
rather the reflection of his sui
roundings, the desires and hone
of Others seeking accomplish
mert through him.
No man in his day by his ow
endeavors and from himself a
the direct source has contribute
more to the enterprise, inventiv
genius, and development of til
material interests of the Stat
than has the subject ofthis sketcl
Modestly and without ostel
tation he had worked almos
with bucket and brush for til
cleanliness, order and econom
of our State institutions. H
got little credit for it at the tim,
The reason is obvious. H
worked to better conditions
detail. He did practical, QUITO
view work. He was in diree
service towards actual need
Much good to others, howeve
is coming out of his interest
those humane and enlightene
institutions, none to him. II
needed none; desired none. Br
he awakened an interest in thel
and by the lights he lit in the
dark recesses the people are a
tracted to their condition
Outer walls are built, more an
more spacious rooms are mad
floors laid, sanitary facilities flu
nished, and the unfortunate al
let out on to the fresh earth, an
green grass, and into the shinin
light of the sun, and given SON
inducements to cultivate brigh
er thoughts instead of beir
maddened to curse God, the
keepers, law and society
gloomy, ungenerous and oppre