Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-28
INSPIRATION OF THE LIFE AND SERVICE or USEFUL MAN

INSPIRATION OF THE LIFE AND SERVICE Of US :EUL MAN.
The death of Fletcher D. Proctor would be public
calamity said States Senator Carroll Page immed
atey following announcement of the formers serious i'll
ness That unquestionaby voices the feeling of the
people of Vermont today now that the life long in the
balance has passed
Fletcher button Proctor has died in the full of
seemed be vigorous manhood and yet the public
as the life companies long knew that only naturally
vigorous constitution supplemented by the utmost regularity
OF life enabled him postpone the inevitable development of
heart trouble which had remained as heritage from
Illness in early youth.
ward appearances he had two decades Of behalf
host of people before him, yet he permitted achieve in
industry and public servant than falls the lot of
many men in generation This whether
gard his abos public in the ordinary
full man "the servant Of us all
capacity alone Governor Proctor held rank
tn" States constructive citizens. Whether speaker of the
lionse of Representatives member of
either branch of the Legislature official of the town
or village he thoroughly progressive and Vermont owes
some of its most helpful measures to his initiative
While he governor of Vermont he recognized not
only leader of his party but also moving spirit among
of the States interests 1t is safe that broader
plans laid during his administration for the promotion of
service corporations other looking the prog
rss of the commonwealth than during other two years in
IN various directions and thorough business principles were APP
piled to the administration of Vermonts affairs
He manifested deep socitudc only the enactment
of but also the improvement of
sng conditions under laws already spread the statutes and
in institutions previously established Prison reform found
him earnest Champion and his attention particularly
directed toward those institutions in which young lives be-
ing shaped the interest of good morals humanity and
lgion
1t private citizen and public benefacor that
Governor Proctor shone the highest gnude Although
he had retired private life he did lose in the slightest
degree his interest all questions of good government and civic
progress He particularly concerned for lest the
don become mrected and the problems that con
stanty arising competition with the interests of the
wealth found in him student and deserving
earnest and effective champion He the
tive and directing boards of large number of institutions
ho
tercs in all of them.
Proctor particularly interested
and it thus became provcrba throughout the State that the
youth who found employment with the Vermont Marble
pany certain to have good and helpful influences thrown
about hn The Young Mems Christian association the read
inc the library and the physical recreation
every facility in this direction afforded employees through
his agency. He commercially boaul Of the number of
young college graduates he gathered about him. and they
enjoyed him inspiring influence and living example
In failing health they found facility for their an
patcd in hospitals established through his influence directly
by him as the might be-
Governor Proctor of the most democratic of
arpoachah cornpanonable keen student Of and
quick detect any sophistry nirecon. Unlike many
of large he tired of work and found
his chief recreation in studying the needs of good
lie of the broade sympahies, and his work
S wide rs the State he loved.
It will be difficult thing fill Governor Procor's place
in connection with the development Of Vermont in variety
of directions Somebody has said that other would he
missed much this time and this probably true but the
work he conSpcUolsly helped 20 institute will be
rcd along by willing hands, trained the task and for
come will be true that Ibis works do follow him.
The example afforded by such record of quite phlan
tropy unscSh devotion all righteous and Of
good deeds in behalf the HELPLESS unfortunate
sucrug we'll Of large and varied public service viii
continue inspiration all reflected
hr-ngh thc host Of lives madc bottom by his infnence