Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-02-22

\RNl luR tTlnute. ana was deeply a11ectBu
during his remarks:
We have met today to perform the last sad
Offices and TO pay our simple tribute of re-
spect Tor ono who in an unusual degree pos
srsseu the confidence and esteem of those
who knew him. In Gods all wise Providence
valuable life has come to lis earthly close,
at time when IT had reached the fulness of
us power and usefulness. The masterful
hand, potent In the direction Of affairs both
IN business and public life, now lies motion
less. The clear brain. which could follow so
unerrngly the gol en- thread of Justice and
equity through the tan gled mazes of human
controversy, throbs no Longer. The lips that
moved 50 often with words of cheer and
affection. are silent forever.
cannot hope on this occasion to present
an adequate account of the life and character
OF Mr. Wilds. Our thoughts are too confused
by the suddenness and greatness of our be.
reavement to speak app opriately of his pro.
tesslonal abilities and his rare qualities as a
man. Our eyes are too dim with tears to read
the record of his achievements. Let me be
content, rather, as an old friend to lay simply
few flowers of affection on his casket.
first knew Mr.. Wids when he entered col.
lege twenty nine years ago last autumn. lie
was then only fifteen years and eight months
ola Tour years younger than the average of
boys VINO enter college. But his preco-
ctous and alert mind enabled him to take
nigh rank as scholar, especially in logical
ana mathematical studies. Let me mention
an incident which at that early age indicated
trait # mind that has characterized all his
subsequent professional work. At the close
OF study in which had been the instructor
gave out ditlcult prob EN-, Offering II small
prize to the student who would furnish II
solution within forty eight hours. | had done
this for several preceding years without Il
successful response. But Mr. Wids, after
lOnrS m Int ion,
that for clearness and simplicity and beauty
OF demonstI alton far exceeded any disposi-
ton of the problem that | had thought pos
sible. Here was revcaled that clear grasp of
logical relations and that persistent study of
difficult question till he had thoroughly
mastered it, that made hin so eminent as a
jurist. 1t is the testimony of one OF his
brother lawyers that he never took up n que 8.
tion before the courts which he did not, in his
treatment of it, illuminate and adorn.
AT the time of his death Mr.. Wilds had OBJ.
tanned wide recognition for his ability and
success as lie al counsellor. After several
years of successful practice in Addison
county he became more and more engaged
on important cases in other courts IN this
and n"lghborlng states. 1t is said of him that
MS success in winning cases before the
supreme court was extraordinary he rarely
II ever lost a case. At one time / had occa
sion to know something of his work in a mum
Der OF suits involving tit es TO land In which
he was invariably victorious. And these sue
cesses were not due as If was some,im.s
vuigarly supposed, any favoritisn OF cour,
or judge nor to any magic OF rhetorical skill
that could make the worse appear the better
cause; our friend was incapable of this. His
success was due to his exhaustless study of q
ca sc before deciding upon n defnite mett od
of procedure: to his profound and positiv,
grasp of the principles of law and precedent
that governed the case: and IN his skii In or
presenting these principles that thew became
luminous and convincin , to other minds
During these In At wears Mr. Wilds,s tine ba
been largely devoted TO the settIement M
legal combinations in the railway svstem n,
Vermont His ability and tact and energy In
bringing these controversies to n satisfactory
termination have won for him a hriIIian,
reputution I'm professional circle. or tbe
esteem and affection IN which he was haid nv
his associates. the nresence of so manv n,
them on This sad occasion sneaks more eIo
nuentlv than anv words that might ntter.
Rut our friend had nut only a dneiv organ.
/ tied brain. he had also a 9,eat heart W.
adn,,rod bin, for h;s in,ollaotrol ,,o,,,ar. h,,,
we loved him for his franz and g.norons
nature his sv,nnatbv and connsoI ,,.oro
shown in oil ,oottcrs mt orao,ad ,ha ,,,,,,,o
interast In nan, on,arn.ins 9, ~ ,,np,.,',e
,ba ~, If,ro ant ,,rosnari,,' -, ia a,i,,. -,
be uos tho loodin, sn,ri, In 1901 h ,
.lao,ed n ,oanhar - ,ha oornoro,ia -, a.,
dl.bur, couaua ana d,,ri,,, tn, s,,,,so,,,a.
wars hos ror,,arat to th., ,ns,i,r,tr, -,
fait mi a,d .r,ciant servica Ra,no n raS;
d,nt trust.e no hos heen ,,Isd mon 20 a,,,,a
n,nch ~ his yaIna h,a ,,,no and thnnabt 70 ,he
| n,,.;,,ass - ,,,,irs 30 ~ ,o,Ilr,,. t ~ a.;
,ha ,ni,,st 30 o,bor nrossi,a d,,,,as ,haaa 90 ,,s
ha,,a oiwo,s ha,, a,,suaro, aho,,i, IA
a;an,,,, o,,1 orot,,ito,,a,,, mr. 49,. H., 80 -,
more loyat and ,,snerous snnnor,er d,,r,no
| ,I,,, ,,,,S, -, -, ~, - -, ~, 7
,n,,a,, p,st so ,o..,SI,, ,a,',, w
Iat M, s,aat; briaf, 90 ,hoso haor,;f,,,,ro
90 ch,raota ,ha, o,, r,,,aaIoa ,,st ,,,,', =,
,,,o''' ,,',, ,.,,1'', ,;' t ,I 'sS :, :.
an eminent degree those noble qualities that
form the basis of the strongest friendship
solomon SAYS there is frlend that stickett
closer than Il brother, Mr.. WIlds was such a
frlend-eVer generous and nm elf -h-as Iowa
and true as the needle TO the pole In The
hour OF sorest flllction he W the first tc
appear with his quiet sympathy; in di-ttes.
or prrnleXftN he was eve. ready with hclp
lhE manu. an" III tle B'"' hollr OF me hl'
coming was rs "c'colne Hs ihe sun nine
M Hu 2" u ma" WIS sur u" nave "'s' "l t'ienus
VI ''h "piull ana o't7p'N !" ms oeh'ur"s