PHOTO E*I 
VOL. L. NO. 2155. NEW YORK, MAY 16, i89i. 
PRICE, FIVE CENTS. 
$ 2.00 PER YEAR. 
Lawson Valentine. 
1828-1891 . 
N Cambridge, Mass., the center of New England Intel¬ 
lectual effort, Lawson Valentine was born 63 years 
ago. On May 5, at Houghton Farm, Orange County, 
N. Y., among his beloved trees, green fields and rugged 
hills, when all nature was bright and glorious, replete 
with the life and vigor of springtime, this great and noble 
man left the battle-field of life to enter upon the joys of 
the land of eternal peace. Born of a race of large 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. 
Educated 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 he entered the lists as a manu- 
very enthusiastic—and it is the intention of those he left 
in its management that the company shall go on in the 
lines which he inspired, and thus insure, in so far as may 
be, the great success which he anticipated. Their ambi¬ 
tion is that the company towards which he contributed so 
much shall achieve his high ideals. 
Now that he has gone from among us, we believe that 
bis memory will long remain fresh and green in the hearts 
of thousands of progressive farmers who appreciate his 
noble efforts for the elevation of their calling. 
Mr. Valentine was otherwise largely interested in the 
publishing business, having for 15 years been the head of 
the Christian Union Company, and the earnest supporter 
and warm friend of its chief editor, Dr. Lyman Abbott. 
He seemed to have little desire to make money out of 
this enterprise, ever spending money lavishly for the 
improvement and advancement of the Christian Union, 
so that now, at the time of his death, it enjoys an un- 
for liberal assistance and sound advice which have helped 
them far on the road 1o success. Yet with all his giving 
apd all his helping, his intention was always to help each 
man to help himself, for he well knew from bitter experi¬ 
ence that injudicious “help” was often an Injury. He 
was ever ready with a helping hand for those who were 
able and willing to help themselves, which is perhaps the 
wisest charity. 
His love of nature was great; his love of humanity was 
greater, and both vastly exceeded his love of money, except 
as it enabled him to gratify his love of humanity and na¬ 
ture. His conversation was ever full of suggestion and in¬ 
spiration. His example and advice inspired those who 
knew and loved him to greater, wiser and nobler effort. 
He was a thorn in the flesh to the stupid and lazy, an 
ever-flowing fountain of right inspiration to the vigilant 
and ambitious. To narrow-minded dollar worshippers he 
was a mystery past finding out. To those who knew and 
appreciated him he was a man of grea 
facturer, becoming at the youthful 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. We have 
called him a “ great” man. To be first 
in the world in any line of honorable 
effort is to be great, yet Lawson Valen¬ 
tine had other claims to greatness. As 
a varnish maker, in 20 years he had 
practically driven the English manu 
facturers out of the American market, 
and his goods found ready sale in all 
countries where fine carriages were used, 
and carried off the highest medals of 
merit at several World’s Fairs. This 
position as chief among fine varnish 
makers Mr. Valentine held to the day 
of his death, and, as he has left capable 
men to manage the business, his name 
is likely to remain the brand of the 
finest for many years to come. 
Fifteen years ago Lawson Valentine 
purchased the now famous Houghton 
Farm, which he early dedicated to pub¬ 
lic use, and upon which he expended a 
fortune in fine stock, road making, the 
construction of model buildings and in 
agricultural experiments, the results of 
which were freely given to the world in 
various forms. Lavish expenditure in 
fancy farming, which with gentleman 
farmers is simply for personal gratifica 
tion, was made right and noble in the 
case of Lawson Valentine because made 
chiefly for the public good, although we 
regret to say that the effort was not 
always appreciated according to its 
merits. There quite a body of young 
men learned their first lessons in agri¬ 
culture, and several now prominent 
agricultural teachers and experimenters 
did their first important work at Hough¬ 
ton Farm. Mr. Valentine made of this 
place a beautiful country home where, 
LAWSON VALENTINE. 
breadth of mind and boundless sympathy 
with his fellow men. 
As a writer Mr. Valentine never 
sought publicity, yet he is known among 
his friends and acquaintances as the 
author of many terse sayings, pithy bits 
of wisdom and sound philosophy con¬ 
cerning the active affairs of life. Gath¬ 
ered in a book, his sayings and writings 
might well be a daily companion of 
ambitious young men. In the death 
of Lawson Valentine struggling hu¬ 
manity loses a strong and earnest friend. 
Let his life be a lesson for the good of 
all who knew him. 
Could he have chosen the place of 
his last illness and death, Mr. Valentine 
would certainly have chosen to lay down 
his life on Houghton Farm among the 
scenes he loved so well. Leaving his 
winter home in the city apparently a 
well man, for a visit to the farm in ad¬ 
vance of the annual family migration, 
he was immediately stricken with the 
disease which in three short weeks ended 
his life. Nature seemed to recognize that 
this staunch lover of hers had come home 
to die, and put on her brightest, softest 
colors to sooth his last hours, and on the 
day when the simple and appropriate 
funeral services were held the trees in 
bloom seemed pyramids of flowers built 
in honor of Lawson Valentine. 
SAYINGS OF LAWSON VALENTINE. 
Among all classes—the first man on 
deck is likely to be the best man in the 
crew. The first soldier at his place of 
duty is the best soldier; and the more 
difficult and daDgerous the place, the 
better that soldier is considered. 
Bacon says : “ Decision is the soul of 
dispatch.” Half a dozen farmers will 
stand around a big stone all day, discuss¬ 
ing how to move it. If any five of them 
will go away, the other fellow can move 
it alone. 
summer after summer, his family and Business is not merely a money-mak. 
many friends have gathered around his hospitable hearth, equaled reputation as a religious and family paper of large ing operation. Money is not the end. It is only a means, 
and enjoyed with him the superb mountain views, pure circulation and powerful influence. and must never be confounded with the end. If the end of 
air and splendid drives among the Highlands of the 
Hudson. Fine horses were always his delight, and from 
time to time he was the owner of high-grade roadsters. 
He took a deal of interest also in the development of the 
walking horse, and presented considerable sums of money 
to the local agricultural associations for use as premiums 
in the encouragement of their breeding. In fact, the giv¬ 
ing of prizes for choice products of the farm was a hobby 
with him, and many hundreds of dollars found their way 
from his hand into the pockets of progressive farmers at 
numerous agricultural exhibitions. 
In 1878 Mr. Valentine bought a considerable interest in 
the American Agriculturist, which he retained for several 
years. As is well known to our readers, he, last year, be- 
Quick to recognize the possibilities of noble enterprises 
and ever anxious to help them on, some 10 years ago he 
became interested in the now great publishing house of 
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., giving it his strong support in 
so liberal a manner that the house strode quickly to the 
front and, like most of the works In which he was en¬ 
gaged, it soon enjoyed the reputation of being the first in 
its line, a position which is largely due to the assistance 
of Lawson Valentine at an opportune moment of its his¬ 
tory. 
Mr. Valentine is unknown to the world as a philanthro¬ 
pist, but many a home has been made happier and the 
burdens of scores of men and women have been made 
lighter by his liberal but unostentatious charities. More 
life, if character, if position, if all that makes life worth 
living—If these mean money, then money ought to be all, 
and the end of all things. 
Those who are now first in command learned first to 
obey; and, if I wanted my boss to please me, I would 
leave no stone unturned to please him. 
You can’t stand still. There is no such thing in life or 
in nature. You must go ahead or go behind. 
A man that is good at making excuses Is good for little 
else. 
The goal of your ambition fixed, make a bee line for it. 
Discussion as to likelihood of success, a wavering pur¬ 
pose, indicates a shifting policy. 
came a large owner in and president of The Rural Pub- than one business man, artist and writer of to-day would Truth Is the keystone to success and truth means gen- 
lishing Company, concerning the future of which he was gladly proclaim their indebtedness to Lawson Valentine uineness, naturalness. 
