Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-08-06

nowhere else
Within the distinctly gloomy confines
Of this storehouse the whilom NermOnter
labored indefatigably throughout the
years of early manhood, and far on into
period of middle age, until he had &C.
cumuated a fortune that was reckoned
in millions of pounds sterling. Then,
like sensible man, he abandoned the
unremltting pursuit of wealth and de-
voted himself to a wholesome enjoyment
of the fruit of his labors. He acquired a
magnificent estate "ROwlant,' In Sussex,
and there dispensed a charming hospital
ity. In 1913 he became a naturalized
British subject, but he in no wise lost his
loyalty to his native country. He often
returned to it andj on each occasion visit
ed his relatives in New Haven, whom he
always regarded with evident affection,
and during the Civil War his energetic
support was given to the Union cause
LampsOn was no less Jealous than
Cyrus W. Field in his labors in behalf of
the Atlantic cable, and it was his zeal in
this cause that secured for HIM the honor
of a baronetcy.
He it was that sent the one solitary
dispatch borne through the ocean by the
first unfortunate cable. When the first
cable broke and was lost, he thereby
lost thousands of pounds, but he was
not discouraged. On the contrary, he
was one of the chief workers in the sec
ond attempt. When, finally, the second
cable seemed to be failure. he alone
retained a seeming confidence in success.
Conflicting rumOrs filled Chapel Court.
Stock fell with startling rapiditv, to 500,
ZOO 600. 800, constantly lower. Then
favorable telegram from Nalenci car
rin II N n \
for the message was not confirmed. For
three days this suspense continued. and
holders of the American stock, bought
for thousand pounds share. could not
find purchasers at any price. But Lamp
son was undismayed. Others in London
sold their stock; he did not dispose of
single share. None shared his bravery.
This second disaster overwhelmed his
associates. The directors were in des-
pair. They had lost their money and
their credit, and their faith in the under
taking. They determined to abandon
the enterprise.
In this emergency LampsOn came to
the rescue. He called meeting in his
private office at the Queen Street ware
house. At this meeting he declared his
sure conviction that satisfactory cable
could be laid within a twelve-mOnth,
and he asserted his belief that the second
cable would be recovered and restored.
Then he urged the holding of a public
meeting by the stockholders. His per-
ssteut enthusiasm won sympathy and
conquered dstrust. The public meeting
was held, and it accepted, without one
dissenting voice. the series of resolutions
prepared by LampsOn in favor of con-
continued effort.
We know bnu triup1nhapt tha
final vindication of his Judgment, and
we may believe that to him. more than
to any other one man. we owe the ulti-
mate success of the cable scheme. That
the value of his aid was known and APP
preciated in England is proven by the
fact that it was for his services in this
direction thar Queen Victoria made him
a barOnet. and her act was warmly APP
plauded in England at the time.
In person Sir Curtis LampsOn was tall
and straight as an arrow, rather thin,
but of commanding presence. with a
face that showed pleasantly both his
character and intellect. Certainly his
intellect was remarkable, for it displayed
itself not only in business sagacity. but
in his conversation. which was that of "A
man accurately and extensively inform
ed. HIS knowledge was such that none
meeting him would suspect that his only
formal courses of study had been pur-
sued in few terms at district school.
George Peabody was his intimate
friend, and it was at Sir Curtis'- house
that the great philaDthropist died,
We have referred to his strict integrity;
one example of it and Of his fine sense Of
honor Is found in all episode that concern
ed these two men.
On one occasion thp tVvO Americans
spoke cOmmendngly of a new American
railway enterprise. Owing TO their fav-
orable statements, the American COM
pany was enabled to gain an extensive
credit in the purchase of iron and steel
The plan was failure and the company
was unable to make its payments, There
upon, without amy appeal made to them,
without being bound in any way. either
legally or morally, these conscientious
men. Peabody and l.ampson. paid all the
debTs of the company that had been in
CURED through their recommendations -
TO the great surprise and Joy of the sell
ers of iron and steel
Beside being a director in the cable
company. Sir Curtis was deputy govern
or of the Hudson Bay company, and one
of the trustees of the Peabody fund. lie
married early in life, in New York. and
a few years before his death. which Oc-
CURED March II. 1855. he celebrated his
golden wedding on his Sussex estate.
Sir Curtis's brother William, to whom
we have made reference. finally made his
home in Leroy. New York. lie, too,
had business energy like that of the bar
onet, and 1t is his accumulated wealth that
has just made Yale richer by a million
dollars, through his sons bequest.
a sister Of Sir Curtis. who lived in
Ohio, showed the family perseverance,
not by accommodating money. but by liv-
ing to within a fraction of the century
mark.
There is not much to attract the tour
( ist to the hamlet known as the mills"
in New Haven. VT. 1t is nevertheless
distinguished by one extraordinary fea-
ture. In the centre of the scattered
group of houses is "A large and hand
somely imposing building. The visitor
to that rural spot must look on it with