St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-04-30
IN nEnORY OF B. F. STEVENS.
Robert N. Fairbanks and Other "h''e'
friars EuIOgize BRrnet's Noted son
Au,bassa dor ChOate's Tribute.

friars EuIOgiZe BRFueps NOten sun
Ambassa dor ChOates Tribute.
The April number of the Wh1tetrlars
Journal, periodical issued for private
circulation by the Whitefriars Club OF
which he was an honored member, is al
most entirely devoted to the memory OF
the late Benjamin Franklin Stevens the
Barnet boy who became prominent IN
many phases of London life. Among the
tributes was one from Friar Robert
Noyes Fairbanks, formerly of this town,
and now manager of the London house
of the E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. he
said:
Next to his thoughtlessness ofselt GER
tainlv came his simplicity ana straighI-
forwardness of character 1t a perpleX-
mo Droblem of veXed SItesteem or
STRAINED relations were brought to MN
TO solve he simply cut the knot, or united
II so deltly that one wondered if 1t had
ever been. | hesitate to speak OF the way
he sought out occasions TO lend helping
hand, or give still more helpful word,
of how be anticipated the wants OF
friendship and met them before they were
even realized, because there are so many
scores OF others equally indebted to HIM
who can phrase their gratitude much
better. But his unialing kindness, his
endless resources on behalf of Others, his
tact and sound cOmmonsense were gifts
so gracefully offered that they could not
be refused, and | cannot tOrbear adding
nv own tribute.
He seemed to have the rare gilt OF
reaching the hearts of all men equally,
without distinction OF country, rank, or
position. Although he left his home IN
| Vermont some forty years ago, 1t was
most touching to me to find among the
! country people of bis native village an
| afTsctionate remembrance which time did
not erase. | doubt if any man were more
successful in keeping hold on all who
| had ever known MIN. These Vermont
people, too. were much in mis- thoughts
| in his last wears. | recall, with keen
pleasure a long afternoon he spent read
ing to me the diary Of his grandfather S
experiences, as he rode on horseback in.
to the then wilderness of Upper New
| England, and founded a home in the
clearing he made in the forests. He often
talked with me as to ways and means 10
supply the people of his native town with
the opportunities for reading of which he
had elt some lack in his boyhood, and
ended by selecting and giving a large
number of books to help found library
for them. In all his years OF life here, he
never allowed himself to lose the homely
phrases OF New England life, and | have
before me the very cordial letter in which
he said he was real glad" to welcome a
newcomer from his native state; and he
never failed to ask me for news OF his old
home and the friends he had lett.
Surely in this unassuming simplicity
and loyalty lay much of the secret of his
hold on the hearts of those who knew
him"
Friar Richard Whiting, addressing the
club at a meeting shortly after Mr.
Stevens death said in part: "Steven
was such good friar, such a good Eng
lishman, and, above all, such a gooc
American.
"As friar he was always a mansta,
of our meetings by his geniality and hi
genuine lovabeness. He seemed to hav
IN perfection an unobtrusive note that wa
still a positive note in itself. One fel
good near him, to use the expressly
Americanism. He was so iuduIgen
about others, so entirely free from al
manner of evil speaking, that one Away
felt disposed to enjoyment the momen
one saw him in the room. Then he ha
more marked qualities OF frlarhood a
{ need. shall never forget how well h
carried through a little task of brotherl
helpfulness which the club entrusted t
him. One of our members had fallen o
evil days, and the club, after its custom
undertook to see what it could do 70
{ those he had left behind. They wishe
to live in more modest circumstance!
, and they were ready to part with som
( books and artistic objects which the
' would not want in their new home.
] was decided that these things should /
1 sold, and Frar Stevens undertook to sc
them. So he took us all with him to tt
4 house, and there, seated quietly in
! chair in the drawing room as amatet
auCtioneer, he made everything fetC
about three times its value, or four tim
where he bought it in, ostensibly tor tt
family. but really for himself. 1t was
beautiful thing, beautifully done. H
t exaggerations in his new part were
q quiet in tone. and so deliciously extr
t VACANT in substance; perfect little b
e of the fine art of doing good"
n Friar Arthur Warren writes:
l. Among White Friars none has filled
l. larger place in the hearts Of mea the
= Benjamin Franklin Stevens. Everybo(
e who knew this man, and he was know
u by many mem in many countries, kne
a him as the embodiment of kindline:
e His place in life was many.sided. Sor
It knew him as an officer of the America
y government; Others knew him as an h
# torian, Others as bookseller, Others as
+ photographer, or a publisher, Others
q years ago-as partner in the Chiswi
[. Press, Others as an antiquary, and othe
y as the purchasing agent in England