The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-05-19

ton at keene, when, after the
usual exercises, the family adj
iourned to Westminster, VT, where
Henry Kellogg Willard had had
erected a drinking fountain in
memory of his parents, which was
at that time dedicated. MI Willard
spoke Of the warmth Of the friend
ship of Henry A. Willard, and
read a short poem that had been
inscribed to the subject of the
verse or the occasion of his eighty
seventh birthday.
Representative Porter H. Dale
was warmly greeted when he rose
to deliver the chief address of the
day. He said:
1T is with genuine appreciation
that l accept the privilege Of
meeting with you to speak and to
think of the influence which cen
ter in life begun one hundred
years ago. 1t is pleasure to
come here and express my esteem
for an honored family; my graft
tude for a larger measure of
daily enjoyment in this city be-
cause of continuing conditions be-
gun by the ancestors of that
family; and my sensibility of the
fact that Henry Augustus Willard
and Sarah Bradley Kellogg Will
lard were born and nurtured in the
State of Vermont, and that the
hereditary traits and natal quail
ties and governing principles of
their lives were developed through
generations of ancestors eminent
in the affairs of that State.
ION this occasion it is natural
that others should speak of what
the Wizards have done in advanc-
ing the material and religious
welfare of the City of Washington
since Henry A. Willard came here
Is years ago. And it is no less
natural that |, a native Vermont
er, should take pride in recalling
the fact that the qualities you
praise were brought here from
Vermont. But beyond all this there
is a substance which to me is the
real incentive to this occasion, and
about which | am moved to speak
with special earnestness; and that
is the influence of the domestic
relations of the Willard family.
You find this influence only by
going beyond the great structures
which bear their name and are
conspicuous; and being admitted
to the places where dwell almost
in seclusion the finer experiences
and memories and traditions
which through generations have
been kept inviolate. The magnif-
cent Willard hotel is known the
world over, but / trust its fame
will never overshadow the attri-
butes of its founder which hallow-
ed the association Of this X street
home.
GAS long as men and women
shall come from all parts of the
world and take pleasure in the
parks and trees of this city, what
Mr. Willard did to develop its
parking system shall remain of
public record; but to understand
that force which urged him to
help make for all people the city
Beautiful, You must be permitted
to come in here and see the paint
ings and the statues among which
through quiet hours, his love OF
art was encouraged.
"When man becomes strong
in any line it is natural to seek
the source of his strength. We
wonder how it was that Mr.. VIII
lard could meet the many and
different guests included in the
wide scope of his rare opportuni-
ty and be the cordial, courteous
host to the unknown transient
and the highest Government Off
cial; how he could meet the druid
gerry of the early morning, the
whims of the eccentric, and the
demands of the wealthy through
all the day, and keep the poise for
which he was remarkable; how he
could train himself to general af-
liability and yet retain that firm
ness of character by which in time |
of war when threats brought down
the Stars and Stripes from all
other than Government buildings, :
he kept it flying on his roof; how |
he could go straight on through |
all the little veXatious tasks and |
the great business obligations OF |
many years and maintain a cheer |
that was never exhausted and
credit that was never doubted
1--WE are assembled in the place
where he found strength for all
his endeavors-his home. At any
hour he could come home to art
and music, and find rest and gain
All these material
things are beautiful; it should be
helpful to us to come and see
them; and it should greatly bene- |
fit us to consider that this was
such a home as inspired a son to
retain its every article a sacred
niemento through these later
years. These things are not saved
by him merely because they are
he could purchase more
costly furnishings if he desired; |
but they enfold memories and give
out emotions and possess a price
less art which once lost is gone
forever.
"But these material things did
not constitute Mr.. Wizards home,
and he would have had the inspir-
alton which he found in it without
them, for that inspiration came to
him from Sarah Bradley Kellogg
when she and he were children up
in Westminster, Vermont. Know