The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-07
eovarnor Meade VIII.

Governor Meade VIII.
There is an interesting provision in
the viii left by ex-Gov. John Abner
Mead, CT Rutland whereby his grand
son is to receive $4,000 in bonds
when he becomes % years of age II
up to that time he has absta,ned from
the use Of intoxicating liquors and
tobacco anu has lived an honorable
Christian life.
Inasmuch as the income from the
bends is to be used for the education
of the grandson provided he at ends
"a military school and a technical in
stitut:on, one may assume that the
grandson is still lad.
Different persons will take differ
Ient views on this provision. but it
does reveal the character Of the max
er of the will, and there is a lesson in,
it fer good. In the first place 1t dem.
onstrates that one OF the most sue
cessful men in Vermont III his day ap-
preciated decpy the value OF living
an honorable Christian life.
Such a reputation is paying propo
sition, both in the ease of the individ-
ual mind and in his relationship TO
the world at large A mans good
reputation IL the fairest thing he can
possess. The idea is superbly ex-
pressed by Shakespeare:
Good name in man and woman,
dear my lord
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Wig steals my purse steals trash; It's
some hing, nothing;
IT was mine, t is his. and has been
slave to thousands;
But he that iilches frcm ME my good
name
him
And makes me poor indeed"
The governor also recognized the
va ne OF military training He him.
Sc received l. in the harsh school of
war AS man CT medicine and as a
man Of large affairs, he so earnestly
de Tres that hie grandson should come
under the sway of military discipline
that he makes 1t one of the elements
In the inheritance OF half hundred.
thousands of dollars.
II Is unnecessary TO urge the value
that comes from leading decent
Christian lie. but here IL something
en- military training that people may
well ponder over when this very thing
is an issue in our country. If Doc or
Mead had not believed that great~ad-
vantages flowed from military training
he probab was concerned with the
advantages that come from the dis
ciDlinarian side of 1.-THE never would
have made |. one CT the essentials in
this case
II is worth something to The cause
or universal training TO have n sue.
cessfW industrialist's views on this
matter set forth In such an emDha lie
way. Governor Mead was also a doc.
tor and he realized the physical. as
well as the moral, benefits that flow
from military training. 1t would be a
grand thing for the youth Of this com.
try II they were to be provided with
this same training which Doctor Mead
has prescribed for his grandson.
AS TO the no-alcohoi provisicn-it
is a recognition that acohol has no
proper pace in the industrial life of
the nation. 1t should not be difficult
for the grandson to meet this pro
vision. II VIII be more difficult with
the notobacco clause. That Isl more
likely TO be test OF character, no
matter how you view II.
Some of course will say that the
young man will reveal his character
IL he smc kes in case he has the de-
sire; q display of sturdy independ-
ence that could not be bribed Others
won call such an act a reve alton of
weakness, he exchange of fortune
Tor the deluding joys of an injurious
habit.
However that may be, the boy is
certain to be under he direct infu-
enceNof his grandfather for q consid-
cradle period, and if he meets the re-
quirements of the WILL that influence
VII endure. for by the age of rs his
habits vii be pretty thoroughly form
ed He can look back at he success
full career CT his grandfather and say
that there must have been sdom in
his wordsi 1t certainly will do the boy
no harm to meet every redurement
fully and conscientiously. If he does
so meet them, l. will do him tire
mendous amount of good, considering
them in the large And yet, The
Messenger would hope that this type
of will making would not become
commonplace. 81 Adams Messenger.