Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/95

 Hon. Rodne\ Wallace.

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��listen to the remarks made by those who look up to it as they pass, will readily learn how deep a hold on the esteem of all classes of the citizens of Fitchburg this generous act has given Mr. Wallace. Lest my estimate of Mr. Wallace may seem extravagant to those who do not know him, I add the following from the pen of Professor H. M. Tyler of Smith College, Northampton, formerly Mr. Wallace's pastor. He writes : —

" It gives me great pleasure to send a few lines in answer to your note, though it would be easy for a critic to say that I have long since passed the point where I could give a cold-blooded opinion of Mr. Wallace. I can write only from the stand-point of warm friendship and cannot be cold in my respect and admiration for my friend. Mr. Wallace is pre-eminently a business man ; to this the chief energy of his life has been directed. It seems an impertinence for me to pass judgment upon his career, but I have loved to study him in his buisness habits. By his a.ffability, correctness, and fairness in all his work he has succeeded n^arvel- lously in attaching every one to himself. All instinctively gravitate toward him, and never wish to break off their associ- ation with him. I never knew a man so master of his own ways and yet so universally popular. People love to be influenced or even controlled by him. His office would be the centre of any community in which he should be placed. AH men love to fasten to him their faith. He has everpvhere learned to gather friends by showing himself friendly. His interest in the people of his own community has been shown not merely by his public benefac- tions. Every one in want of help has turned to him, and all have had a patient hearing and generous response.

He has been associated with people of every position and among all has been a favorite companion. Everyone has felt at home with him. It is rarely true that a man has gained success with so thorough a desire that his friends

��should enjoy what he has gathered with him. He is thus remarkable for his prosperity, for the use which he is mak- ing of his prosperity, for his delight in giving pleasure to others, and for the disposition and temper which finds its enjoyment in such rational and kindly ways.

It is not that one never disagrees with Mr. Wallace. He would scorn the flat- tery which yields convictions to attempt to please. Even when we differ he is none the less congenial. If I have ever had the feeling that in any respect I should like to make him over it has generally yielded to the conviction that on the whole I could not hope to do better than has been done. Among all the men with whom I have come in contact in places of business responsi- bility and honor I do not know another to whom I give more unqualified re- spect and esteem than I do to Mr. Wallace. Cordially,

Henry M. Tyler."

Mr. Wallace, as has appeared, was for three years associated with Governor Long in the Government of Massachu- setts. In response to a note from me Mr, Long writes as follows :

"I am glad to know that you are writ- ing a sketch of Mr. Wallace for publi- cation. If a good subject will make a good sketch your work will be a success. He is one of the men, however, who write their own lives, not in the pages of any autobiography, but in their conduct and character. I have served with him in public life, and sat with him as one of my Councilors in the Executive Chamber, and have found him always a fund of practical good sense, of excel- lent judgment, trained by great experi- ence in affairs, and of thorough integ- rity. He is a representative Massachu- setts man, the builder of his own for- tune, equal to the enterprise of acquir- ing wealth and position, and magnani- mous in their use and enjoyment. But I like best to recall, as I am sure do all who know him, his generous friendship, his great public spirit, and his good

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