Charles Edward Putney
An Appreciation
Published by the
Charles E. Putney Memorial Association
What delightful hosts are they—
Life and Love!
Lingeringly I turn away,
This late hour, yet glad enough
They have not withheld from me
Their high hospitality.
So, with face lit with delight
And all gratitude, I stay
Yet to press their hands and say,
"Thanks,—So fine a time! Good night."
—James Whitcomb Riley
FOREWORD
This memorial to a great Vermont educator is the happy thought of oneof his pupils, Miss Caroline S. Woodruff. The idea immediately foundfavor wherever it was known that such a tribute was contemplated. Anorganization was perfected known as "The Charles E. Putney Memorial,"to arrange for the publication of this book. Hon. Charles W. Gatesof Franklin, Vermont, was selected as chairman, and the preliminaryexpenses of the enterprise were taken care of by a finance committeeconsisting of Hon. F. W. Plaisted of Augusta, Me., Mrs. Fletcher D.Proctor of Proctor, and J. F. Cloutman of Farmington, N. H. Thecommittee in charge of securing the material for the book and itspublication were Miss Caroline S. Woodruff of St. Johnsbury, RolfeCobleigh of Boston, and Arthur F. Stone of St. Johnsbury. Thepublication committee realize that there are many former pupils of Mr.Putney who would have been glad to have contributed to this memorial,but believe that the tributes in the following pages are representativeof the sentiments of all who sat under his inspiring teaching, and arestronger and better men and women because of his marked influence upontheir lives.
TO CHARLES E. PUTNEY
On His Seventy-fifth Birthday
February 26, 1915
Still, still a summer day comes to my call,—
A room wide-windowed, bright with girls and boys,
A wrinkled Homer craning from the wall,
A bee-like murmuring of ai's and oi's;
And you, a king, dark-bearded, on your throne,—
A king of gentle bearing and soft speech,
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