Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-10-17
WILLIAM WRIT CIRCUIT.

WILLIAM WRIT CIRCUIT.
Sad tidings at last while the clock is
striking in the morning. How sub
dued and solemn the hour seems to
strike 1t always strikes so when we are
lonesome, and when our thoughts are
tuned to quiet sadness. While the
clock is striking now We pause and for
a moment contemplate the magnitude
and fullness of time, whose horologue
has struck off almost unnoticed more
than $50, 900 hours since the enthusiastic
young Grout and the distinguished Bart
lett of those days came dashing into our
village on an autumnal day between
muddy roads and bright skies like those
upon us now. The latter was exhibit
ing specimens of horse racing which |
Gen. Grout used often to mingle in |
anecdotal form with those tales of way
side inns which the lawyers of that
period were supposed to have on hand
for any idle hour to illustrate each 9TH
er's traits and fill the pauSes in their ell
thusiastic lives. Those were zestful days,
when everybody spoke animating words
and wore an animating presence. The
pursuit of both enjoyment and knowl-
edge and especially of professional skill,
was hearty, intense, constant and enthusi-
astic. Forty years have made individu-
alities less prominent. To the great
credit of today it may be said that more
attention than formerly is given up to
the building of the whole, to the i'm
provement of laws, customs, institutions,
and whatever belongs to the stock of
general good. At the same time he
makes little proficiency in his work who
loses sight of his own advancement and
does not feel its inspiration. The judge,
the lawyer, legislator or politician who
does not feel thrill of pride in the
beauty, symmetry, harmony and efiici-
ency of his own work is wanting in the
most essentials of his equipment. No
longer ago than the time of which | am
speaking SO much interest would often
centre in successful individuals as to at
tract public attention from their work
to themselves. He was regarded with
the greatest commentator who built
himself up with the greatest industry,
and justly too, to certain extent, for
no man can elevate himself in the scale
without lifting others up.
Such ideas of the individual duties
and destinies of young men prevailed to
large extent when the stirring figure
of young Grout appeared. His nature
was adapted to the times. He was open
frank and reliable. He was intensely
ambitious. He was filled with ardent
desires for success. He graduated as a
legal student, went to the bar we'll equip
ped and soon came to be recognized as
an active, aggressive man. His work at
tracted attention. AS lawyer and
legislator he was somewhat impatient
and studied intensely the most available
things for present use. He did moi
study theories, nor balance or adjust
counterparts and oppostes in law and
legislation so much as he secured the
field to gather all the information he
could acquire, and learn the nature anG
uses OF legal principles, so that he could
have means of offensive or defensive
contention, and he made such proficiency
in their uses, backed by perfect cour
age and an undaunted will, that he soor
became quite formidable as lawyer.
He had been laying the foundation O
his professional career for four or fv,
years when the war broke out, and lik,
many other young men of the times hi
path became confused, but not for long
A temperament like his could not Ions
resist the inducements of the stirrin,
drum and so he went into the armv
plainly induced by patriotism becaus
in order to do it he had to lay down tn
cherished ambition of his life, and hi
intimate friends know how deeply he re
GREETED the interruption of his life wor
to defend his country. By commo
chance in war he was not fortunate. Hi
experience was unlike that of his brotl
er, the Major, who went into the thickes
OF the fight and had the satisfaction
among other things of meeting Moseb
with desperate courage and coming O
alive. The Generals regiment, con
posed of the very best material, drille
and disciplined, equal to any emergenc,
was wanting in opportunities. 1t was
source of great disappointment to til
General and his men that they had nc
an opportunity to engage more activel
in the war during the period of time f.