The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-08-29
FOUNTAIN IN USE
At BENNINGTON
CENTER
Handsome Granite Memorial
Has Been Located
NATIONAL HUMANE ALLIANCE
Gift Provided Tor by Herman Lee
Ensign Secured for Bennington by
Mrs. n. S. Bingham.

handsome granite drinking fountain al
Bennington Center and the gift is now
ready TO perform that kindly Office to
man and beast for which Il was de.
signed by the will OF the donor.
The fountain IL entirely OF polished
Maine granite. II IN six feet six In.
ches from the base 10 the top and the
large bowl for horses N four feet from
the ground. high enough 40 that un.
checking will not be- necessary. Al
the base are four cups or basins for
dogs
Above the bowl Is a large bronze
plate with the following inscription:
1906
Presented by the National Humane
Alliance
Herman Lee Ensign. Founder
In connection with the gift. which
vas secured for Pennington by Mrs
II. =. Bingham. Il Is appropriate 10 say
something OF the life aud purposes Of
the man who Is responsible for the
memorial.
lie was born In Carbonate. Penn
on June 80. isis. A. an early age he
moved with his parents 60 Sheffield.
III When % years OF age be- acquired
knowledge OF telegraphing and soon
became an expert operator. Soon az.
ter that he went TO Davenport. Iowa.
and later 20 Denver
lie was reared under religious influ.
enccE. was a member Of the Congrega.
tlunal church. and when twenty Year,
old decided TO become minister
With that object he entered Phillips
academy. Ills health or finances soon
failed and be left school and went 10
Chicago where be- began business with
a bridge company.
During the great ere OF 1871 he rcn.
dcred important service 10 this com.
pany By saving from the ONCE valuable
books
A few years later he became the
manager Of a brilliantly written paper
called the Alliance a weekly Journal.
mildly religious and widely humanltar.
Ian. His experience In Journalism he
turned 90 practical account by later
engaging IN the advertising business.
following u with marked success aud
acquiring a fortune In 20 years.
Fertile In fancy aud quick Ia exper
iment he devised a new form OF news.
paper advertising. known az headline
reading advertising lie also invented
the stereotype plate with removable
base
In 1852 be moved 20 Rochester and
two years later 10 New York whore he
lived until his death In 1883
Without advantages OF birth or for.
tune. living the life OF n quiet Ameri.
can citizen and dying before he was so
be- had rounded out a notable life To
his business and general friends be
was known az a genial aud companion.
able man. successful iu his Affairs.
light hearted aud satisfied with life
tits more intimate friends know that
he had other interests aud feelings
which represented the deeper aud
more vital side Of his nature lie had
an eager and imaginative temperament
an Instructive love Of shat u good and
true and a hatred Of what % wrong
From childhood be- vas a lover Of do
nestle animals This love made him
detest all that vas cruel or unklnd In
the treatment Of animals by their nat.
ural protector Il became more
than sentimental became a pas.
Sion. growing upon him and nc last
dominating his life
To him animals we're not merely IN.
fcriora OF slaves they we're compani.
uns and friends. deyoiing themselves
10 man aud dependant upon him Tor
their lives and happiness The ethics
Ut the relations with lower animals
have seldom had more practical and
forcible expression than from this hu.
name man. he vas an ardent disciple
Of Henry Bcrgh. aud felt that II he
could leave behind him such a record
~ did Mr. Bcrgh. be- would regard Il
~ the best monument that he could
desire.
tie accordingly founded the National
Humane Alliance 90 carry out his ideas
for the welfare 81 animals. lie intend
cd to give his time and fortune 10 the
work But just az Il was started he
died lie left his fortune for this
work and the society ~ administering
the trust OF Mr. Ensign on the lines
OF his ideas. for humane work. educat
ing children in kindness 90 animals and
other similar work
The Humane Alliance has Offices at
No. 5t3 United Charities Building. New
York city The officers are. Harrison
Grey FiHke. president. Frederick u.
Tilghman. vice president. Lewis ~.
Seayer. secretary and treasurer.