Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-08-03
ROWLAND E.


\ sketch of Addison County's Famous
Writer of Books.
The kindly reference in a state daily
to "Rowlaud E. Robinson of Ferris
burgh, Vermont's loved and honored
author" comes home to US of Add.
son county with peculiar force, now
that our n%eighboring townsman has been
compelled by the encroachments of age
and i'll health to keep his bed and with
draw his interesting personality from the
lives of those who have known him well
and respected the man and citizen.
The writer of this article was recently
privileged to call upon the gifted author
of "Vermont," 'Danvls Folks" "a
Danvis Pioneer" and other books of
national reputation. His residence is a
combination of the old-fashioned home
stead, so long familiar and characteristic
of Vermont, with more modern rooms,
built and arranged in latter.day fashion.
The visitor, ushere' into the spacious
library, cannot fail to be struck with the
literary and artistic treasures gathered
there. One wall of the large room ia
lined with books, closely packed in
compact cases, while recent literary
successes have their place on other
shelves and tables. There are a few
excellent paintings, some interesting
portraits and a large grand piano.
Evidences of good taste are everywhere.
From this part of the house to the
room where Rowland f. Robinson is
now obliged to spend his days Is a
transition from the modern to the an
Client. 1t is a light, airy apartment, but
in every way suggesting the past. The
door and window castings, the shape Of
the room and the big comfortable
kitchen, through which the visitor must
pass to reach it, all suggest Dlnvis.
The authors appearance is patriarchal.
Snow-white hair and beard, fine, slender
hands, together with the pallor of
illness. seem exactly what we should
have expected. The eyes are sightless.
but do not wear the haunting, panied
look of the lifelong blind. There is, in
stead, more than a suggestion of the
vigorous mind and healthy outlook that
have made the author of the Danvis
tales celebrated.
He talks clearly and cOnnectedlv, but
with visible effort. The quickness of
youth is gone, but there remains the
careful elaboration Of a well-savcd age,
where no word Is needless or illcOnslder-
ed. His writing pad lies beside him. 1t
is formed of smooth manila paper. with
embossed ruling, clamped on a light
board. Mr.. Rohinson's writing Is fine, a
little faint, but perfectly legible. After
being guided to its starting point by the
loving hands of his daughter. his pencil
moves slowly but accurately along the
raised lines. In this manner MIR. Rob-
iuson's latest success, "a Danvis Pho
neer," was written.
The mind of the writer and historian
dwells principally IN the past. He re-
grets that he was not able to secure, for
his history, more of the unwritten record
Of the historic ground suhioining the
Otter. which he says is rich with the
heroic effort of the pioneer and soldier,
woodsman and naval fighter.
Mr.. Robinson was interested in the
traditions of the Dug-wav, r%ecounted all
that had come to his notice and directed
our attention to sources which might
produce the Information. lie seems glad
to meet the visitor and delights in talk.
ing to those whose voices he can hear.
but whose faces are hidden from him by
the shadows of age.
\ fine, Well-pTeserycd nature. bearing
upon bis face the stamp of q well-lived
and useful life, is that of Rowland f.
Robinson, historian and author.-Ner
gcnnes Enterprise.