Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-12-24

OF the college buildings in those days
Painter Hall alone remains The chapel
and the recitation rooms were in the old
white wooden building, which stood Gas
some of us well remember) on the site
of our present public school. Ihen as
now, the students attended the village
church on Sunday; they listened TO two
or more long and learned dtscourses de
livered from high, old fashioned pulpit
by DR.. Thomas Merrill, who at Dart
mouth college had taken The valedictory
away from his classuate, Daniel Web
ster, and was during Mr.. BattelFs col
lege days in the full tide and glory of
his greatness.
But student life even in those days of
plain living and high thinking was not
confined to books and college buildings.
Mr.. Battell lived in the family of his
relative, Mr.. Starr, and freely partici-
pated in the social life of the town.
There were picnics on Chipman Hill, at
which future Judges and senators and
theological professors sought the com
pany of maidens. as fair and gentle then,
presume, as their granddaughters are
today There were sauntcrings during
the pleasant summer days on the wooded
lodges along the river, when the initials
of loved names were carved on the
trunks of trees. The hand OF ;lme may
eiiace such records in the crumbling
bark, but they linger in the memory OF
the aged man. Up to the very last Mr..
Battell took pleasure IN visiting the
beautiful groves below the eddy lot ana
in building rustic seats and winding
paths along the lodges. Though he
never spoke of his cOurtship even to his
most intimate friends, doubtless tender
I Il. g.,- f,A
about him. as cane i'm hand he walked
beneath the ancestral oaks and saw
again the CLEAN of the sunlight on the
ever-howing river.
Mr.. Battell's father had planned to re
move his son to Yale college at the end
of his freshman year, when his brother
Joseph was to graduate. With this pur-
pose in mind ne drove all the way up
from Norfolk to attend commencement
in 1923, bringing with him his pastor, the
| Rev Mr. Emerson. But the lad of fiji
teen and half years was loath TO return
to Connect, ut. He WAS already strong-
/ lv attached to the college and his com
rades. to the town and its people. He
had made an excellent record as "A
scholar. and upon the urgent recOmmen-
dation of the pastor. the young Philip
was allowed to remain at MiddleburY
until he graduated in 1926.
After leaving college Mr.. Battell
took up the study of law, spending on
wear in the Office of Mr.. Williams of
/ Hartford, Conn and one wear in the
/ Npw Hevon nw School. and was adj
mitted to the bar in 1929
After four wears more, which were
spent principally in further study and
literary work in Connecticut, Mr.. Bat
tell settled in Cleveland, Ohio, then in
the far west. His father at that time
was the owner of large tracts of
land upon which the city of Cleveland
now stands. The five years during
which Mr.. Battell lived here were years
of delightful activity, when many valued
friendships we're formed to be broken
only by death, and when the enthusiasm
and enterprise of the newly formed and
growing community made their indeliblc
mark upon the character.
In 1886 Mr.. Battell was married in
Middleburv 10 the accomplished daugh-
ter of Hon. lIoratio seymour and they
lived together two years in Cleveland
In 1888 her failing health impelled Mr.
Battell to remove his residence to Mid
dlebury. But the tenderest ministries Ol
her husband and of her own family were
unavailiug; and after long illness Mrs
Battell died on the Bird of November
1871, only thirty-tWo years of age. Dur
ing all his after life Of fifty.siX years
Mr.. Battcll continued to cherish hel
memory. placing the early spring flower!
before her portrait, regarded her as ont
who combined in rare degree, strength o
character with wOmanly grace anC
gentleness.
Mr.. Battell with his two children con
tnued to live with Judge Seymour unit
the death of the latter in 1857. Durin!
2 these last years when health ant
, strength were failing, the sOn-in-law wa
! constant in his devotion to the age
, senator, reading to him several hours
day, and ministering to his needs witt
that perfect courtesy which had alway
marked their intercourse.
During all his subsequent years Nj
[ Battell continued to reside in Middle
! bury. Here his best work has bee
t done; here his Influence has been mos
+ felt for all that is good in education
in social culture and in letters.
gracious providence crowned his late
9 life with blessings. He had fondnes
for learning, and leisure to pursue il
He had the love of children and grand
children, the esteem of friends and neigt
n bors. And in the golden sunshine O
p Gods smile his character year by yea
: put forth its blossoms of beauty an
/ fragrance.
r What were the salient traits of thi
character? | would speak first of hi
c generosity. Mr.. Battell was a man c
a the kindliest sympathies. His home wa
s a place where courteous offices an
It genial hospitality abounded. His loya
j. ty to his friends was answering. III
r charity to the poor and suffering wa
e unfailing. But he was always unostel
d tatous in his acts of kindness. He Il
It not his left hand know what his rigl
g hand was doing. 1t is only since h
g death that we have learned how wild
IS spread were his private benefaction
Is Almost daily some poor mans table WI
N supplied with his bounty. We may a.
IS ply to him the words of job:
g, When the ear heard him, then it blessed hir
i'd Because he delivered the poor that cried.
~ The fatherless also, that had none to comic
N him.