Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-08

trusted by all the different classes of
varying opinions and in times of di-
vision OF public thought he became as
it were. the town s chosen arbitrator
the one man by whose judgment all
were satisfied to abide, sure that is
would be honest, reasonable, unbiased.
Of him it would be Incomplete to say :
write him as one who loved his fell
low men, for it should also be added /:
"And who was loved by them. "
The passing of life like his from
among us is not wholly loss for so
much OF the best of him remains and
must ever remain in our hearts-an in
huence that will ever be an inspiration
to the best endeavor, to us and to
others through us.
Since thou art gone. friend so true and dear
Earth has grown darker for us. missing SO
Those smiling eyes, the steadfast frlenaiiness'
But tender memory, following after thee,
Makes bright path into the vague Beyond,
Where thought may stray with no more doubt
Since thou art there, why should we be afraid?
There must be love and Kindness where thou art
A. ID. X.
DIR. Conland was born in Brooklyn,
N. Y, Feb. 10, 1851, of Irish parent
age. At an early, even a tender age,
he began work, and his labor contin-
ued up to the time OF his death. His
was life of ceaseless activity, and be
was a self-made man in the truest
sense Of the words. AS boy on the
farm, as newsboy, at the age OF ten
working in a naval Office, and as a
sailor for many years, from Boston to
the West Indies, he saw much OF life.
gained stamina and broadened. In
Cuba he saw many Of the horrors of
the ten years. war, and in his trips on
fishing smacks to the Great Banks he
gained the inspiration and love OF the
sea which never left him. His summer
earnings were spent in winter schooling
in rural districts.
DIR. Conland came to Brattleboro in
1875. taking a clerkship in the drug
store of the late H. G. Willard. AT
the same time he pursued his studies
for his favorite profession in the office
OF DR.. II. d. Holton. In 1878 he grad.
uated from the medical department OF
the University of Vermont. 1t is char
acteristic of the man that he partly
earned his own way through college by
working as janitor, and at graduation
he received diploma as one OF the
first five honor men in his class.
Returning to Brattleboro DR.. Holton
took him as his assistant, and he re-
mained year. Then he went to Yes
ton, VT, for few months, thence to
Westmoreland, n. H.. and later to
Cromwell, Conn. There DIR. Conland
remained two years and there he mar
ried in August, 1880, Miss Matilda Nc
Guirk DR.. Conland and his bride re-
turned at once to Brattleboro. where
he spent the rest of his life. He then
formed his partnership with DR.. Hol-
ton, which continued for 20 years un-
til Jan. /, 1900, DR.. Holton retiring to
do less work and take up official duties
in connection with the state board OF
| health.
As a man in this community and
| throughout the state DR.. Conland won
foremost rank. In his profession he
also stood high in his legislative WORK
he was an acknowledged leader, digni-
fed, forceful. resourceful, skilled in
methods of efficiency. In his home life,
among our homes, he was manly, faith
full, splendid.
Prominent in Democratic state cir
cles for over 20 years, DR.. Conland was
in 1884 elected representative from
Brattleboro, the first Democrat the
town ever sent to the legislature, de-
feating the late Col Hooker and the
late George S. Dowley, who were at
that time perhaps the two strongest Re-
publicans in town, and this in pres
| idential year. He introduced and
championed the local option bill OF
that year, which was for the most part
of his own preparation. Last fall he
advised in framing and introduced the
Conland bill, which is practically the
new local option license law OF the
state. He guided the bill in its pas
sage and was the recognized leader in
the cause. To, day it is his monument.
He was a hard worker. intense in his
purpose, and there can be no doubt
that the exactions of his Legislative
tasks had much to do in shortening his
brilliant career He was his party's
choice for state senator and for Con-
gress. and in 1894, but for his unqual-
| flied refusal, he would have been nom
mated for governor. He last fall ac-
cepted the nomination for town repre-
sentative with the greatest reluctance,
and defeated Lawyer G. c. Fits by a
majority of nearly 200 He had nat
ural love of the game Of politics but an
aversion to holding Office.
DIR. Conland's close friendship with
Kipling was characteristic. The men
found in each other natural channel
for their thoughts and it is said that
DIR. Conland was the man most ad
mired by Kipling in all America. To
him Kipling dedicated Captains
Courageous, and he gave him the
manuscript copy of the book as SOU
venir. DR.. Conland aided the author
in gaining the dialect. atmosphere and
material for the work, accompanying
Kipling several weeks to his sailor
haunts on Cape Cod. And in Kipling''s
illness in New York with pneumonia II
was to DIR. Conland that he instinc-
lively turned for help. How we'll the
doctor responded and with what skill
and courage he fought and won the
battle are remembered.
In his leisure moments DIR. Conland
found time to indulge his rare taste
for books, and his collection of first
editions and old and rare prints Is
quite remarkable in extent, consider
ing his busy life and his activity IN
other affairs of life. He loved books
on antiquarian research and was at his
happiest in his library.
L