The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-09
NOAH WEBSTER MEMORIAL.

Cause. l Hyman r. Smith recently addressed l the Young Mems union of the First Congregational church of West Hart ford on the subject of the proposed l Noah Webster Memorial, which as is known, is to take the form of library, The association was formed some time ago and the following are it's officers:
 Charles Dudley Warner, president. Charles Edward Beach, vice presi- j dent.
 Fannie A. Clark, secretary.
 John o. Binders, treasurer.
 Directors-Dr. Henry Barnard, Gen. eral J. R. Hawey, Rev. w. w. Belden, c. D. Warner, c. D. Hine, J. M. Thomp- son, c. Edward Beach, John o. Binders, Philemon R. Day, Hyman F. Smith, Mrs. c. H. Lines, Mrs. Kate E. Way, Miss c. M. Hewins, Mrs. Frances A. Clark
 The following is MT. Smiths ad- 1 dress:
 l In advocating a Noah Webster me- morial l am advocating only what is practical, only what is reasonable. only l 1 town where he was born, grew up and taught school, His father was a deacon in this church and a squire of the town, his grandfather's grand ftaher governor of Connecticut. This is to your honor in whose faces l look, in whose veins mingle and flow genera tions of West Hartford blood. This will not hurt our church, or the other churches, or make any one of us poor. I should know what a dollar is worth. I one worked a month for one dollar when a boy.
 It may distinguish this town more than any other one thing and be a lasting honor. For every dollar that goes out more dollars will come back by way of growth and culture. It may help the schools, as no other thing can "a memorial to the "Sehoolmaster of the Republic" And it is meet and fit that there should be a Noah Webster day each year in all the schools in the town. He was attached to this town and In is old age came thck to look at the place of his birth, and took a per- sonal interest in it's trees and shrubs, his native home.
 Twas well twas something he could
 stand.
 Or in New England earth be laid, That from his ashes might be made The violet of his native land.
 Tis little but it seems in truth As if the quiet bones were blest, | Among familiar scenes to rest, And in the places of our youth. | A sentiment can be created, and sen- l timent of a lofty and noble kind-sen- timent which improves the individual, the family, the community; distin- guishes our town, our state, our nation, honors the language for which he did so much language that is. and in the Providence of God is destined to be, one of the crowning glories of the world.
 His influence on the minds of men is more than you think He was CO., temporary with the birth of great nation and his influence is seen in tie development of national character. It is doubtless true that the twentieth century will give him greater credit than bis own time, Seventy million copies of his spelling book have been sold and it is still selling. His lexicon or dictionary has had q great influence in shaping the expression of the thought of the English speaking race in America. Several million copies of his various dictionaries have been soAl Perhaps 100 100000 of all his books all told. Even Worcester, the great rival, first made an abridgement of Webster's lexicon A conservative estimate is two hundred million of the mother tongue, he has directly influenced in educational ways with his books, mind with mind And if we include all whom teachers and missionaries, learned from him. have taught to others of other speech it may mean more than four hundred millions, living and dead. There are one hundred and twenty seven million of native English speak ing people to-day. 1900 In 1900 there were only twentytwo millions He predicted that in two centuries the English language would be spoken by more people than any save the Chinese in Asia (about four hundred miflion) and might exceed that, and four hum dred million it is thought our nation between oceans is to reach with wealth of four hundred billions or four hundred thousand millions Among all these millions his influence of thought will go on and on.
 Till the sun grows cold
 And the stars are old
 And the leaves of the Judgment book
 unfold.
 He accomplished the task of giant and alone. He left his influence on a whole language.
 There were giants in those irreclaima-
 ble days,
 But in these days of ours N
 By dividing the work we distribute
 the powers
 For dwarf on dead Giants shoulder
 sees more Than the eyes of that Giant availed to
 explore.
 In a community, we have a commu- nity of interest. His is common heritage and fame for the town of West Hartford henceforth, and this movement should have the support of every society, every club, every social and civil organization in this town. In my Judgment the most distinguishing and lasting thing West Hartford could do would be a fitting memorial to this distinguished teacher, this "Schoolmas- ter of the Republic" and so distinguish itsn1f for all lime