The Newtown bee., 1901-11-29
The NeWtOWn Bee
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
JUDGE ERNEST HAYWOOD
 STAPLES.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH FROM THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ernest Linwood Staples of Shelton, Conn.,, was born in Monroe, Conn.,, Sep tember 10, 1856, the son of Charles and Rosila Burr Staples. He was edu- cated in the public and private schools of Monroe and Trumbull, and under the tutorship of the Rev James E. Coley, a graduate of Trinity college, and the Rev w. B. Curtiss and Beach Hill, graduates of Yale University.
 Being of studious and thoughtful temperament, and having had excel lent educational advantage, it was nat ural that our subject should first turn his attention to teaching as d means of livelihood, ,and later study profession. He did not wander far afield but taught in Trumbull, Monroe, Bristol, Danbury, Bedding and Derby. In 1883, he began the study of law in the office of Col s. B. Sumner of Bridge port, and having completed his pre- paratory course was admitted to the Bar of Fairfield county, in April, lSS6
 The same year he opened an office in Shelton, and has since continuously practiced in that place. His studies show his belief in the theory that good lawyer must know much besides the law. Though of a retiring dispo- sition, and with no self-Seeking in his nature, MT Staples has been corpora tion counsel for the borough of Shel- ton, attorney for the town of Hunting ton: prosecuting attorney in the Town court to Huntington, since it's estab- lishment, and judge of probate for the district of Huntington. Thus has
 been shown the confidence of his neigh bors and friends in his judgement and probity, and this is a good test of character, for "a prophet is not with out honor save in his own country," and if there is community in the world which shrewdly sifts the chaff from the wheat it is a New England town Indeed, Mir Staples might well stand the test of the shrewdest judg- ment, for he is singularly highminded, and given to the things of the spirit rather than to those of the flesh. Not withstanding professional engage ments, and the many small and big worries of the teasing profession of law, so devoted has he always been to the higher thought that he was admit ted to the Unitarian ministry at Bos- ton in 1895. MT Staples is highly intellectual, and has decidedly poet ic temperament. He is successful speaker to cultivated audiences, and delivers addresses in New England un- der the auspices of the American Uni tarian association. He is the author of an epic poem entitled "A Man of Destiny," having for it's subjec Abra- most important poem, though he ire quently expresses himself in verse.
 In appearance, MT Staples is attrac- tive. He is somewhat slender though well proportioned, and as active in body as in mind. He is alert to all matters of thought, is winning in ad- dress, and makes warm friends among those who, like himself, are pursuing sive to all good things, and is tireless in attempting to develop himself and others. To this quality is due the fol- lowing fact. With Rev Charles w. Park, formerly pastor of the Derby Congregational church, and others he organized the Sunday Afternoon club, now known as the COsmian Circle of Shelton, under the auspices of which one lecture, at least, is given in each
 month and the Article of Union of which is as follows: "earnestly desir- ing to develop in ourselves and in the world honest, reyerent thought, faith | fitness to our highest conception of right living, the spirit of love and ser vice to our felloWmen, of fearless and untrammeled research for the truth in all fields of investigation, and al legiance toward all the interests of morality and religion as interpreted by the growing thought and purest lives of humanity, we join ourselves in all good things, and to advance the cause of pure and practical religion and science in the community, passing our union upon no credal test, whatso- ever, but upon the purpose herein eX- pressed, and welcoming to our fellow Shi } all who wish to help establish truth, right eOusneSs and love in the WDrld.' And in connection with the pure living and high thinking out lined in the above Article of Union comes one of the most distinctive efforts of