Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-12-27
FOREFATHERS' DAY
Continued from Page y

publish the following books: A Gazet-
teer of the State Of Vermont, 1924,
80 PIP. History of the State of.Ver-
mont, from its earliest settlement to
the close of the year 1892. 1888, 1852
PIP. A second edition of this book was
published in 1886. History Of Vermont,
Natural, Civil and Statistical, in three
parts with a new map, and 200 engrav-
ings. 1912, $50 PIP.
In 1853 Mr.. Thompson published an
appendix to this history which was
bound into some of the later editions of
the work, this appendix was intended to
bring important historical matters down
to the date of it's publication. Natural
History of Vermont. An address de-
livered at Boston before the Boston
Society of Natural History, June, 1850,
81 pages. History of the State of YER
mont for the use of families and schools,
1S4S, 252 PIP. Geography and Geology
of Vermont with state and county out
line maps. For the use of schools and
families. 1S4S, 21S PIP. The Youths
Assistant in Practical Arithmetic. De-
signed for the use of schools in the
United States. 1925, 100 PIP. This
textbook was published in several
editions. Thompson's new Arithmetic.
1928, PIG PIP. This book also reached
several editions. The Youths Assist
ant in Theoretic and Practical Arithme-
tic, this is the 10th edition published in
1887. 1913 PIP. Geography and History
of Lower Canada. Designed for the
use of schools. 1885, 116 PIP with map.
First Book of Geography, for Vermont
children. 1S49. "a PIP. Journal of a trip
to London, Paris, and the great Ex-
hibition in 1851. 1852, 144 PIP. Guide
to Lake George, Lake Champlain,
Montreal and Quebec, with map, table
of distances and routes from Albany,
Burlington, Montreal, setc. 1845, AZ PIP.
He also published several other guide
books relating to Vermont and vicinity,
some of them reaching several editions.
He also published several reports to the
Legislature of Vermont under his sew
eral appointments previously mentioned.
What a record for one short life. Ia
dock Thompson was not a pioneer in
Vermont history making, nor did he
search out and follow the trail of his
illustrious predecessors, Doctor Samuel
Williams, Ira Allen and William Slade.
Nor has any other historian attempted
to follow in his well beaten path leading
- to the zenith of history making in
VSNont, but every other historian
since his day has cribbed copiously from
the hard earned s%torehouse of Thomp-
son knowledge. He took his place at
the head Of a large and distinguished
class of Vermont educators, without
self appreciation. He spent no time
searching for his halo, therefore died in
Ignorance of its possession; he was great
without knowing it. Modest and retir-
ing, next to Moses the meekest man
uho o,-o lr-nJ rpIoc;,,I .;oIl- Dnor
physically and poorer financially. he
was a martyr to the cause of human
knowledge and education His master
piece is the book commonly known as
Thompson's Vermont, taking its place
easily at the head of all Vermont his
tories. His remains lie buried in the
burying ground at Burlington near the
old church, a plain marble slab marking
his resting place, upon which is the
following inscription, as modest as
though Mr.. Thompson himself had in
scribed it;
'Zadock Thompson
Died January 10, 1856
Aged SO years, 8 months
Gods will be DONE
He has held aloft the Lamp of
learning until it's rays have shone on
thlCt Stlitl ablOllo u CllllOllltlS, ailO
as the years go by the lamp burns on,
its light undimmed. shining for the
time that now is, and for all time to
come. Who can look through such a
career and not receive pure inspiration?
| would that every Vermont boy could
know Zadock Thompson and walk
along up through the paths of young
manhood hand in hand with him. Who
can sit at this mans feet and drink in
of his learning, his knowledge of the
earth, the sea, the sky without a heart
full of thanksgiving that the Great God
of the Universe so richly endowed
a humble Vermonter with so much
wisdom.
OF all men who have not yet been
2 memorized in bronze and stone by our
Legislature, Zadock Thompson stands
the most conspicuous figure of them all.
We of today who seek to make YER
mont greater and better will do we'll if
we pause a bit to become better ac-
quainted with the life and achievements
of this great pure Vermonter.