Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-03-12

I Tor STUDY. nHen II appeared L1aI tne
boy desired Thorough education his
! father sent him away from home to
attend school. Before town high
schools became as general as they are
now the incorporated academy, fos-
| tered by the state, was an important
| agency in the EDUCATION of young men
and women who desired to advance
beyond the sphere of the common
school. Before he had reached the age
of II, young Ruggles had made a good
record as a scholar at the academies in
Southbridge and New Salem, Mass,
and al Chester Vt. Mr.. Ruggles at
tended the New Salem academy during
the years lS55-45 while John Stacy
was principal At the latter he fitted
for college. but impaired health COM
PEELED him to abandon his cherished
purpose to devote the next four years
to the higher branches of learning,
though he has never ceased to be
student. Instead of going from Ches-
ter to the university, as he intended,
mis- physical condition obliged him to
! seek q more active life in business
pursuits and for two years he served
| as clerk in Providence learning the
details of trade and laying the foun
datiOE Of a. successful commercial ca
| reer. IN 1S48 he established himself |
\ in business in this city, where his
/ sound judgment, well trained mind, |
and close and careful attention to his /
| own affairs, realized their legitimate |
| results. After Il successful business |
! career of 20 years here he retired with |
| a competency. Having laid down the |
! cares Of business, and being in condi- |
| uOn to crafty his artistic and literary |
! taste, as we'll as to realize the bene- |
/ fits of foreign travel, he went abroad |
/ in 1853. spending several months in
| making the usual rounds of American |
! tourists.
| Named by President Grant.
/ In April. 1870, President Grant ap-
| pointed rim United States consul at
| Barcelona, Spain, enc Of the best con-
! sulates on the Mediterranean. In June.
following, lac proceeded to his field of
labor, taking his family with him. He
| settled down in his new home, pre-
pared tC represent his country faith
fully, while he improved his oppor-
tunity to study history and literature,
| as well as the commercial character
! and resources CT an Interesting coun-
try and People He acquired the Span
ish language and became familiar with
the manners and customs of the coun-
try. He remained in Barcelona nearly
five years and discharged the duties
of his office to the entire satisfaction
VI t4C GuiLCu SUITES anu TIE spanish
| governments. On sending mis- resigna-
ton to the president, through the le-
CATION at Madrid, General Sickles, who
was then minister to Spain forwarded
the following despatch to the state
department, bearing evidence to his
faithful service while in charge of the
| consulate:
| United States Legation in Spain,
Madrid.
Sir: l have the honor to forward.
| herewith, inclosed, despatch. dated
10th inst, addressed TO the president.
| by Hon. Henry Ruggles. who therein
tenders his resignation of the office Of
United States consul at Barcelona. II
is TO be regretted that the consular
service thus loses an accomplished
officer. to whose ability and fidelity,
during the time he has filled his pres
ent post, l take pleasure in bearing
, | witness.
l am. mir. very respectfully your
most ooedient servant,
D. E. sTCKLEs,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
!, | Flenipotentiary. TO Hon. Hamilton
Fish, Secretary Of State, Washing
ton.
Service in Spain.
l During his term Of service. Spain
!, was making history quite as rapidly
. as in the days Of Charles V. and Philip
IL. MIR. Ruggles heard the peals of
artillery that announced the election
, Of Amadeus as king Of Spain, and saw
: MIN, after his resignation, sail for his
home in sunny Italy. He witnessed
; the arrival o. Alfonso, the father Of
; the present king. at Barcelona. Dur
: ing his residence in Spain, the country
was frequently disturbed by civil dis
Z ! pnTGS Z igt
revolutions fomented by the various
. factions, each struggling to grasp the
reins Of government. Within the
space Of two years of his official term
he saw the government changed from
a monarchy to q repuplic-the latter
having four presidents in this brief
period-and finally go back to a mon
archy again. While holding his oni-
cial position, Mr.. Ruggles Travelled
quite extensively in Spain, visiting all
Of the principal points of interest, ex-
ending bis tour at one time TO Gihral-
tar, and from there visiting Morocco,
in Africa.
Consul to Malta.
Though in office few die and none
ltsiSn," the latter was Mr.. Ruggles'
method Of retiring from the position
he had held with honor to his coun-
try and himself He returned to his
native land and again resided in Nor
Wich. But in 1878 President Hayes
appointed him United States consul at
Malta, in the Mediterranean. He held
this position for four years and then
resigned it.
With his wife and daughter, he then
vent to German, residing for a con-
siderable length Of time each. in Stuff
CART Dresden and Heidelberg
Began Writing Early.
Even as q boy Mr.. Ruggles devel-
oped taste for composition. which
lie cultivated b. writing for the press.
Before he was II he became a. regular
contributor TO several New York and
Boston papers, and afterward to two
or three magazines. During his resi-
Gence abroad he was the foreign cor
respondent of several American papers
among which were the Springfield Re
publican and the Boston Herald.
Mr.. Ruggles letters from Germany
} TO The Republican were exceedingly