The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-10
MRS. EDWARD J. PHELPS
Tribute by Ex-Gov John c. MecuI-
Tough of North Bennington

Tough of North Bennington
The following tribute to the memory
of the late Mrs. Edward }. Phelps APP
peared in the Burlington Free Press
of Tuesday:
"The death of Mrs. Mary Ha'ght
Phelps on the 9th instant. after a lin
gering illness brought on and fatally
terminating by reason of her deep
sympathy for a dear relative. who pre-
coded her by few short weeks to the
grave. will recall TO the many who
have known her during the past gen
Grafton in Vermont and Washington
and New Haven and New York and
London, the memory of a most noble
and gifted woman, of truly exception
al refinement and of nature ever over
flowing with most tender sympathy
Born in the quiet and seclusion Of
country township of Vermont she
was so richly and generously endowed
by nature, that when the careers OF
her father and her husband in later
years called her into other and higher
spheres In Washington and London
and elsewhere. she was easily equal
with her winning personality, her qui-
ct dignity, her superior intelligence,
her grace and her perfect self-possess-
ion, to every occasion and to all de-
mands upon her.
Her husband, Edward John Phelps,
was a great lawyer. a distinguished
diplomat an eminent statesman and
sound scholar When sent as min
lister to England by President Cleve-
land in 1885, with his trained intel
lect, his literary culture, his artistic
temperament and his wonderful YER
satility he soon took high rank among
the distinguished scholars and lawyers
and statesmen, who make up the otlic-
ial life of Great Britain and by com
mon consent was regarded an ac
knowledged peer
During the years of his London
life Mrs. Phelps was ever at his side,
and she was a true help mate and to
her wise counsel and unfailing sup
port, in large measure is due the great
success of Mr.. Phelps in the Epglisb
mission.
Especially was this true in all the
demands of soci6i 70. Her pOise.
her sweet dignity, her quick concep-
ton, her never failing intelligence
solved every situation easily and sue
cessfully, however, embarrassing or ex-
acting.
Her smile was benediction. She
won all hearts by her gracious bear
ing, from the queen down, as the
many testimonials received by her on
leaving England would attest
1T was after the late hour of a
banquet in honor of Mr.. Phelps in 1889
when he babe farewell to his disting-
uished hosts and to England in a
speech of matchless grace and eleg-
ance, that Lord Roscberry on going
home sat down and wrote to Mrs
Phelps. 1 cannot go to bed without
sending you a line of congratuation
on your triumph tonight The assem-
bly, was unique in its character and
its warmth, and what 1t gave In en-
thusiasm. Mr. Phelps restored in a
speech so exquisite, that, on an occas-
ion which seemed beyond the reach
of eloquence to improve, II crowned
the sensations of the audience. The
only thing wanting was your pres
ence
On returning from England Mr.. and
Mrs. Phelps went back to New Haven,
he to assume the Kent professorship
at Yale, and she to take her place
once more amid the social and artistic
literary life of that college city. And
there for the next decade they lived
their lives in the performance of their
high duties and in the congenial com.
partnership of the brilliant and kim
dred spirits-scholars and artists and
musicians who ever enrich and adorn
the beautiful and delightful and en-.
obling society of that university town.
Mr. Phelps died at New Haven.
Upon his decease, Mrs Phelps passed
the remaining years of her life in Bur
lington and New York Though sore
| ly bereaved by her great loss, her SER
entity in her sorrow-the charm and
beauty and nobility of her character
still made her to the last hour of her
life beloved by all who knew her.
J, G. Mccullough