Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-10-14
OllN STANLEY EATON.

manliness and meekness
In him were so allied
That they who judged him by his strength or
weakness
Saw but a single side
Mr.. Eaton was a peculiar man, with
some of the finest qualities known, and
these cultivated and developed.
Years ago lie buided the house and
laid the fireplace in which the embers
are falling into whitened ash, as he
watched them, in his quiet way, on the
Sabbath night which was his last among
us. We can see the carved wood and
moulded brick-skillful handiwork-but
tracings not made with hands, nor for
sight, are here, and these he put about
the memories, light and dark, which are
the soul of the material house. All
know how expert and reliable he was as
artisan, and some understand how true
aud constant he was as friend.
lie was naturally silent man, and
would not argue. 1t was never neces-
sary for him to explain his conduct, he
did the best he could He was absolute
ly honest, free from deception or eva
sion. There were many times when he
calmly yielded his rights in equity
| though he could have held them by law,
There are buildings in the town of
Brighton which he completed with the
minutest faithfuness after the consider
alton in his contract had been exhaust
ed. 1t is universally said of him that
| he had a keen sense of moral obligation
| and that he always met it at any cost to
himself. Had there been conspiracy
for which he were proposed, that his sill
yer hairs might purchase good opinion,
like that other one of old, he would have
been left out. He was thoughtful
man, and, after preparation, could ex-
press himself in superior diction. This
is known to men who heard him in
those other days of the Sunday meetings
in the Y. Nj. G. A. One of the finest
figures of speech used there was thought
out by him from his knowledge of elec.
trical machinery, and illustrated the
ideal relationship between natural and
spiritual law by the bringing of two
electric machines into that state known
to electricians as synchronism. His con
versation always indicated clean thought
and no profane or vulgar word ever haC
place in it. Though small of stature
he impressed others with a serious dig
nifty, which might perhaps be illustrated
by recalling the unusual condition tina
even among his business associates Their
were those who did not know wha
names Mr.. Eaton's initials, o. S., indi
Gated; yet this resulted from no manne
} of arrogancy, but wholly from that o
, gentility. He knew he was plain, hard
working fellowmau-others knew h
was gentleman.
, When the Island Pond Electric Com
pany was organized, some ten years age
Mr. Eaton was asked to become a mem
Der of it, and, from the first, he has giN
en- his best efforts to its constructio
and development. AS he was student
, and naturally expert in mechanics, h
r became proficient as an electrician
/ Continuous and most aggravating diff
, culties were met and overcome by hin
, and as the plant grew far beyond hi
early expectations, he took a just prid
: in it, and watched each detail of its o.
g Grafton with ceaseless care. To keep tn
Y lights burning along the line thu
s stretches in triple wires for more tina
= eighty miles over the highways an
r through the villages of this vicinity,
= toiled without complaint under all col
y ditions of weather by day and by nigh
r He handled the delicate mechanism wit
) a fascinating touch, and seemed to gro
7 sensitive to the influence of the who
l system, till he became absolutely fearle
g of its vital energy. The electric curren
whether playingin its wild freedom Of
T. of the clouds, or caught and sent +
d strained along the wires, did not frigh
e en- him. There are two reasons tn
e must have been largely the cause
e this. The conduct of his life had be-
d such that he could look openly upon Il
e elements of the world, some of whit
r make most MEN shrink, and the natu
of his faith was such that he new
Or doubted he would meet his pilot ia
B to face when he had crossed the bar.
knew perfectly the consequence of CO.