LAWSON VALENTINE. 



[See Frontispiece. 



W'^^^^^^^^I^^Mm many men 



who love nature ; men 

 of high and low degree ; 

 men of worth and wis- 

 dom ; men of intelli- 

 gence and men of ignor- 

 ance. But all true 

 nature lovers are men 

 of refinement, of keen 

 perceptions for the 

 good and beautiful, of broad minds and generous 

 hearts. Yet few men men possess these qualities in so 

 high a degree as did Lawson Valentine, whose sudden 

 death last month we sadly record. Of a retiring dis- 

 position, he made few personal friends ; but so strong 

 was his character, so impressive was his manner and 

 method, so noble and public spirited all his ways in 

 life, that now men mourn his death as that of a near 

 friend and are surprised at their sense of great loss. 

 In his country place at Houghton Farm, Mr. Valen- 

 tine's beautiful grounds, his wild gardens, his care 

 of the landscape, the fine roads that he built, the 

 hills and valleys, the shady lanes, lawns and woods ; 

 all bespeak the man's character as a nature lover, 

 an agriculturist, a successful business man, a hum- 

 anitarian, a philosopher. 



Biographically, 77;.? Rural New - Yorker says : 

 "Born of a race of land holders and farmers of 

 early New England stock, Lawson Valentine's tastes 

 and ambitions from young manhood were ever 

 largely in the direction of rural occupations. Edu- 

 cated in the Massachusetts schools, possessed of 

 sturdy vigor. New England thrift and a rare degree 

 of originality, he early acquired the stamp of a 

 leader among men. In early life ne entered the 

 lists as a manufacturer, becoming at the youthfuj 

 age of 22 a partner in a business house. Never 

 content with a second place, a favorite motto with 

 him was, 'Quality — first, last and all the time,' 

 so that he early determined to make the finest coach 

 varnishes in the world. To be first in the world in 

 any line of honorable effort is to be great, yet Law- 

 son Valentine had other claims to greatness. As a 

 varnish maker, in 20 years he had practically driven 

 the English manufacturers out o f the American 

 market, and his goods found ready sale in all coun- 

 tries where fine carriages were used, and carried oft 

 the highest medals of merit at several World's 

 Fairs.'' 



Concerning the agricultural side of his life, we 

 quote from Major Alvord's tribute in the Country 

 Gentleman: "He loved rural life deeply, and 

 greatly admired all the works of nature. Every rock 

 and stream, every plant and animal was full of in- 

 terest to him, and it is hard to tell whether he loved 

 them most in their most natural forms or when im- 

 proved by the hand of man. Recognizing in agricul- 

 ture the greatest and all-important industry of the 

 country, he believed that its advancement should keep 

 pace with the other industries, and it was his am- 

 bition to do something for the progress of American 

 agriculture. He admired the tiller of the soil and 

 grower of crops, and the skillful breeder. 'While 

 knowing little of the details of their business, he re- 

 cognized the difficulties with which they contended, 

 and longed to assist them in their work." 



He therefore purchased the now famous Hough- 

 ton Farm, when there were only "half a dozen ex- 

 periment stations in the country, and the fact that 

 one public-spirited citizen had instituted in America 

 a work similar to that of Lawes & Gilbert in Eng- 

 land, was worthy of attention. Once fully enlisted, 

 Mr. Valentine treated the farm with his character- 

 istic generosity. In organization, buildings, live- 

 stock, general equipment and land improvements, 

 expenditures were liberal, and nothing withheld 

 which promised to add efficiency. If there was a 

 fault, it was in too lavish outlay and undertaking 

 too much at the outset. The proprietor was a man 

 of large ideas, unbounded generosity and the indomi- 

 able energy of Yankee business, which could not 

 well tolerate delay." 



Of his many-sided Catholicism, Dr. Lyman Ab- 

 bott says in 1 he Christian Union (which Mr. Valen- 

 tine controlled for years) : " No reader could know 

 how pervasive and stimulating was his influence 

 in every department of the paper — an influence, 

 never an authority. It is far less than the truth to 

 say that he never endeavored to direct its least ut- 

 terance. Even when consulted by the editors on 

 special subjects in which his business sagacity was 

 depended on for counsel, Mr. Valentine invariably 

 refused to pronounce a determining judgment, and 

 threw back the responsibility where it belonged, up- 

 on the editors. 



" And none the less, rather indeed far more, be- 

 cause he would not dictate, he did direct. There 

 was no one engaged in the preparation of the weekly 



