Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-23

period almost two and one-half times
as many homicides as Massachusetts.
Maine had four and one-half and
Rhode Island six and one-half times
as many murders as New Hampshire,
which had capital punishment. Maine
had twice as many and Rhode Island
three times as many homicides as
Vermont and the figures were practl-
cally the same when compared with
Connecticut. which like Vermont re-
tains capital punishment.
These figures tell their own story
and are of value in helping Vermont
ers to seriously consider the PROPOSE
ton to abolish capital punishment in
this state. In connection with these
murder statistics for the rest of the
country and for other lands, they
furnish strong and practically un-
tion of the death penalty for murder.
-Enosburg Standard.
Edgar Oscar Silver.
In the death of Edgar o. Silver
Vermont has lost one of her most
loyal lovers and one of her most help
full friends. | shall never forget how
he commended me for my decision to
accept the presidency of Middlebury
college. Others of our mutual neigh
bors were telling me that as fool
ish to leave the New York environ
meEt in order to make my home in
! the rural northland but with the quiet
! light in his eye which his frlent
knew so we'll he spoke of the worth
of Vermont youth and assured me
of his judgment that no life could be
more honorable or more rewarding
than service of public institution
particularly an educational institution
in the little northern state whose
chief glory is in the men she has
reared. Mr.. Silver knew Vermont
and be knew the value of college
opportunities for boys of frugal rural
homes and felt the encouragement
he bespoke came from one whose
heart still beat true and earnest for
the welfare and uplift of his native
State, the State he still loved the
| best.
In any company Edgar O.. Silver
was marked for gentleman. Quiet
in manner, almost reserved, gentle
in speech and never forward gracious
in all his bearing, a careless friend
might not have marked him for
country born. or suspected that the
interests of rural commonwealth was
one of the dearest ambitions of his
life. Yet he was born on farm,
and his boyhood knew the hard daily
work of mountain farm in the
northeastern corner of our state.
Success brought him intimacy with the
leaders in large city interests, both
J business and social, and be found
himself an associate of educational
masters of national eminence. but
he never forgot the little Vermont
hamlet whose kindness he had known
as boy. He was Vermonter to the
dav of his death.
How he loved Derby academy, and
the old town of Derby j remember
his warmth as he told me the acad
emy's record, her present needs, and
his enthusiastic hopes for her future.
He wanted to send me all the way
from New Jersey to take part in one
of her commandments 1t is not
uniting that Vermont should claim
the privilege of furnishing the place
where he may rest Until the day
break" Her hills will long guard
his memory, and in hundreds of homes
these many years his praise will be
spoken in quiet gratitude. Mere
success and prominence does not win
such affection In the country men
and women have insight and they
penetrate beneath the lesser qualities
which are sufficient to bring eminence
The discernment of a rural COM
munity, which has seen boy grow
and man live reserves its honor for
those who win that tribute by man
hood worth.
Yet not the smallest slight should
be implied upon the glory of the
success achieved by Edgar O. Silver.
To build up great business in a few
years, retaining the hor or of friends
and competitors alike to become a
valued counselor in a dozen dill Getting
: boards, composed of leaders in bust.
ness, In church and in educational adj
m1nlstratlon, to gain reputation for
wise judgment in affairs of large
moment, national in scope, = to achieve
all this within few decades is to
win honor deserving of high tribute.
Such record testifies to ability of q
high order,-pOwer of organization,
courage in attack of difficult prob
lens, power of enlisting and enthus
ing allies, clearness of intellectual
dlscernment. and character that com
mands by its integrity, probity and
force. He did all so quietly you were
not aware of his power, but he
achieved results, and results worth
) while.
He made his business a great up.
lifting force. extending it's benef-
.. cent influence in every city and ham.
let of the nation, into many parts OF
; our insular possessions and the Orient.
He prospered by the spread of light,
and anyone who knew Edgar O. Sill
; yer knows that if he could not have
prospered without at the same time
promoting the good of his fellow men,
. and not only at the expense of human
ity's welfare, he would have pre-
ferred to take the humblest place
. God could have found for him and left
him his honor and his conscience. II
is no wonder that the little children
. laughed joyously in his home, nor that
his neighbors were glad of his passing
word. You could feel his character
and sense his faith in the atmosphere
with which he surrounded you. and
since his death grateful testimonies