Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-15
LAST EARTHLY TRIBUTE.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES AT FUNERAL OF
COL, GEORGE W. HOOKER.

vice at the Baptist Church KEY X, X, Mar
vim Delivers Feeling Eulogy to the Memor
OF the Dead Soldier Body in State Unde
Guard of Honor From Grand Army Promi
nent People Present From Out OF Town.
The quiet and solemnity of the Sab
bath reigned in Brattleboro Saturda,
afternoon during the funeral service
of the late Col. George W. Hooker. Al
business on Main street was suspended
curtains in stores and offices wer,
/ drawn, and crepe-trimmed flags tioateC
from windows and roofs. The publ,
ceremonies, which took place in tb,
T Baptist church, were attended by hun
dreds who reckoned themselves among
the friends of the dead man. The ser
vice was brief and simple vet nothing
could have been more impressive.
Prayer was offered at Col. Hooker :
late home at l. 30 O'Clock 10y his pas
/ tor, Rev. r. Il. Marvin of the Univer-
salist church, after which the body was
taken to the Baptist church where il
lay in state until > 80. During that
/ time hundreds of people took "A last
leave of their late friend and fellow
townsmen, The casket was surrounded
by masses of floral tributes which hid
completely the platform and pulpit.
The casket itself was covered with "A
mat of 1000 roses interspersed with
lilies of the valley, the offering of Mrs
Hooker. \ broken wheel of roses and
pinks was the tribute of the employees
Of the Hooker, Corser Il Mitchell fac
tory, while a floral badge representing
that of Col. Hooker'S army corps came
from his old comrades. \ new flag
from the Loyal Legion was draped
across the casket, and on the coat of
the dead man were pinned his corps
badge, badges of honor from the 10y
al Legion and the medal which had
been presented him by Congress for
distinguished gallantry in battle.
While the body lay in state it was in
charge of guard Of honor from Sedg
wick post, q. \. K.
When the services began the entire
church as we'll as the chapel was filled,
A large delegation from Hooker, Corser
II Mitchell's factory attended in body
as did the officers of the Valley Fair.
members of Sedgwick post and represent
tatives of the Loyal Legion. Rev. L. X.
Marvin read from the scripture after
which Mrs. Harriet Brasor Pratt sang
Just Ger Today = Mr. Marvin then
gave a brief but fitting tribute to the
memory of Col, Hooker. He spoke in
part as follows
Friends, if we have come here today
in the spirit of gloom or despair, We
have not come here in the spirit that
this man would have Us come 1t was
not possible to associate anything dark
or pessimistic with his bodily presence
us. 1t should be just as impos-
sible to remain dismal in the thought
of his translation.
Sunshine was the essence Of his life.
Who that has known them can ever
forget the genial smile. the cordial
greeting: He had one of those rare
that transform every No
vember into June. that drive away the
spirit. and restore the mid
summer mood. Thinking of him. let
us not say as Longfellow said Of his
friend.
Something has gone from nature since he died,
And summer Is not summer nor can be-
but rather let our thoughts of him
make perennial that spirit of optimism
and of sunshine that is so lacking in
our day and that is able to surround (
Us with perpetual summer Summer
must not be less summer because he
mas gone but more summer because he
has lived. richer and brighter
His, however. was not the optimism
hat disregards the bard facts Of life.
Il was not the optimism of the iledgling
who lives on the uplandS, aloof from all
hanger and sorrow and toil..lt was the
optimism of the strong man who had
.tood on the battlefield and faced the
oe; who had seen blood and wounds
md defeat and death who had learned
he lesson of duty and faithfulness in
he stern discipline of the worlds most
Notable war. Yet in spite of it all, he
,ould come through the ordeal with the
mistaken confidence that all things
urn out right in the end. that good
triumphs over evil, that
Gods in His Heaven, ais right with
he world. = 1t was the optimism of
he man who knows. And when the
asst foe of all confronted this man. it
vas characteristic of him TO face the
nemy with a smile and say. II never
cit better in my life. y Death can
ever claim the victory over such in ]
incible spirit,
The president of the United States
as said that the ideal American citi- I
en- has two characteristics. personal i
Jrce and charity. Does not the life of /
ur brother meet this formula; He
as man of personality. of strong
in politics. in religion and /
4 all subjects to which the man of to- Q
ay is called upon to give his thought. e
nd vet he was tolerant to those of OPP a
DSite views He rpuld number init I