The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-16
TRIBUTES PAID
To the Worth and Integrity Of
The Late James {. Cranslon.

- the current issue OF Book Notes Mr.
ute to the late James f.. cranston for
many years connected with the old Ma
tional Bank:
Not many months since. James Il.
| Cransion came to the writer. and after
talking in gentle way for a while, ask
ed the writer II, In case OF his Cr?.es-
ton'sl death, he lthe writer would not
write something about him ] will try.
for Mr. Cranston died on the ith of
AlRl; since my last regular issue.
con The 18th dsy Of April, 1871 little
hoy CmyseIr was placed in Charles Bur
netts book store. al No. 3 Westminster
street James r. Cranston and Samuel w.
Brown. the latter the father Of the pres
eut 4 : District Judge, were there then.
employed as clerks, We called them.
Mr.. Brown soon went to New York; but
Mr.. Cranston remained. and ] became
fcuow clerk after a while. and served
with Mr. Cranston ten years.
.NeVer was there = wicked word be-
tween us This was his character-Mod-
est and Of course always gentleman.
Honest. and OF course never pretending
10 be what he was not, Pleasant 20 every
body. and of course entirely devoid OF
impudence. Under good self control,
hence his passion never ran riot From
early morn tin late At night he attended
patiently and steadily 10 his duties 10 his
employers: no employer could have been
more honest 10 himself than James +.
CTanstou was to Charles Burnett and la
ter 10 George II Whitney.
He was invariably popular, In truth
among the customers, | never saw the
man or woman who did not Ike him.
With "A pleasing smile he greeted every
body. His books might he stereotyped.
but this smile was not II was not al
ways the same. hut IL was always mag
netic and pleasing He had not large
knowledge Of books indeed IL was not
then needed. Had some eccentric reader
have asked him for Procopius Caesari-
enss Anecdota sive historic Arcana.
accedunt descriptiones pestis ct famis
Constartinop et IN alis orbis rom etc, he
could not have answered the call In
truth this was done by Ethelbert Billings.
"SomeWhere in Gibbon. Mr.. Billings
saw reference 10 these anecodets by
Procopius, and that they were hrimful OF
the secret and scandalous histories of the
byzantine courts; and hence like younger
men, Mr.. Billings was wild to see them.
hut Mr. Cranston knew them not; in
those days photographers were no more
known in book stores than they now are
known. Such was the young man James |
T.. Cranston, for IN those days no young |
man held. nor deserved more fully than |
Mr.. Cranston did. the confidence, and es- |
TEEN OF the best educated here"
RESOLUTIONS OF REGRET.
Resolutions passed by the directors of |
the old National Bank, Monday, April l5 |
1901
Mr.. James Edward Cranston, who for |
years has been identified |
with the Old National Bank OF this city |
died at his late residence In the city of |
Providence on the fifth day OF April, 1901 |
The board OF directors place this min |
ute upon their records as an expression
Of their appreciation Of MIR. Cranston's
long and faithful services and their high
regard for his integrity and his loyalty
I'm all matters pertaining 10 this institu-
tion
The board deeply feel the loss caused |
by the death of Mr.. Crsnstpn and extend |
most heartfelt sympathy 20 his family.
WILLIAM O.. NIGHTINGALE,
CHARLES 4. HOWARD