The Newtown bee., 1897-03-12

TEACHER OF MY EARLY CHILDHOOD
 AND MY LIFE LONG FRIEND E. L..
 JOHNSON.
 A feeling of sorrow, sincere and deep, was felt all through our community when the word went forth fe days since that our fellow townsman, Philo Clarke, was d3Ad. It had b3en known for many weeks that he wsa in failing health, but so strong was the desire tha he should recover, we hoped almost against hope that he would be spared yet little longer. Born in Newtown in ISIS, he had almost rounded out his four score years and like shock of corn fully ripe he has been gathered to his fathers, leaving to his children and his chIldren's children the richest of Sll in- heritances, a good name. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." In hls death the town at large loses a wise counselor, a judlcious officer, sympa- thizing friend. President of the New town Savings Bank for nearly 10 years, his good Judgment was often sought as to the character of investments, the value of property, and the udicious placing of loans, and when by adverse circumstances It seemed best to call in loans that had been made, his courteous treatment of those who were made to feel their straightened condition was such as to mitigate to great extent the bitterness that might otherwise have been engendered. Generous in all his Impulses, firm but considerate in all his decisions, honorable and just in all his dealings between man and man, what wonder that 1t could be and was said of him, "Hls word is good as his bond ,' Correct ID his business habits, he was
  and in that way the widow and the fatherless have found in him their stead fast counsellor and friend. Modest and retiring in his disposition, he did not seek political preferment but found his greatest happiness in the quiet life that comes from the home and farm. In ls43 he married Sarah M. Beers, daugh- ter of Alonzo Beers of Brookfeld, Their golden wedding was celebrated four years ago and they had enjoyed 54 years of married life in the same house In which he died. Fifty four years What a stretch of time! How replete with changes within and without the home life. Three daughters were the fruit of the union. One, Emma Frances passed to the rest of Paradise just as she was blossoming into womanhood. The others, Hannah Sophia (Mrs L. B. Booth), and Flora, wife of Alfred Walker of Sing Sing, N. Y., have long been their fathers joy and com- fort and were with him at the last to minister to his neces- stiles until his spirit entered the rest of Paradise. The widowed mother, the two daughters and the two little grand sons, Philo Clarke Booth, and Clarke Skidmore Walker, will sorely miss the loved one gone from them, for he was peculiarly home man. Literary in his tastes, choice In his selection of books, keen of discernment as to the character of authors, his reading was elevating, refining and instructive. His charity was broad. Ever seeming to bear in mind the Injunction, "Let him that thlnketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" he was ready to speak kind words to those who erred, by his con sistent walk beneftting those around him, while by his sweet charity of speech he gave words that would heal as well as teach.
 The writer has often heard him when speaking of suffering humanity quote from the poet Burns:
 "Man's fnhumauity to man
 Makes countless thousands mourn"
 A great lover of Nature, he was passion ately fond of flowers, great friend of the birds, and his sympathy for the brute creation was as boundless as the sea. Few men of his age retained that sprightllness of their whole nature by which they were brought into such close companlonship with the youth and tht little children within and without tn. family as did our friend. His hospital ity was after the Scriptural injunction "Use hospitality without grudging.' "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature nigh stand up and say to all the world; thi was Man" He was worthy commu nicant of Trinity church and dearll loved her services, but at the same tim was ready to acknowledge good wher ever he found 1t, regardless of sect O creed.
 sssuch was our friend. Formed on the goo
 old plan.
 true and brave and downright honest man Ills daily prayer. lar better understood
 In acts than words. was simple doing good.