Of late we have heard much on the subject of preparedness. We have been
told that the prepared man is the man who achieves the thing he goes
after. He is happy. He is satisfied with himself.
On the twenty-sixth of February, seventy-six years ago, there was born
into the world a man who now holds a very high place in the thoughts
of hundreds of men and women. That man was Charles Edward Putney, our
beloved and respected teacher.
The lives of great men, it has been said, are the greatest teachers. Let
us then take the life of Mr. Putney and see what a lesson it teaches us
in preparedness.
At the early age of seventeen, Mr. Putney was teaching school. If he had
not studied and prepared himself could he have filled such a position at
the early age? The answer is plainly "No." Mr. Putney had moreover the
moral and the physical courage as well as mental ability. In 1861 he
answered Lincoln's call for volunteers and fought bravely for the Union.
He had prepared to do the right and when duty called he responded.
After the great war was over he entered Dartmouth College. He was
graduated from the institution as "honor man." And since then wherever
he has gone he has been the "honor man." Men, now old themselves, speak
with fondest regard of their teacher and state that he showed them the
right way to success. He prepared not only himself but others. Isn't
that a glorious thing? What greater hero is there than the fashioner of
the thoughts and character of the young?
Let us then, as I have said before, set up Mr. Putney's life as a life
to live by. Prepare ourselves as he did and then when we have reached
the autumn of our lives, we can look back with pride on a life well
spent, on a character that was prepared for all that was right. If
we can do that, surely we shall be happy, we shall be satisfied with
ourselves.--_Burlington High School Register._
There are many people who are seventy-one years old, but there are very
few who can claim the distinction of being seventy-one years young which
belongs to our respected Greek teacher. We rejoice with Mr. Putney in
his undimmed triumph over time and congratulate him on his many years
of constant usefulness. As the philosophic Greeks once honored one of
their race with the words "not who but what" so we honor and esteem
Mr. Putney for his faithful service to Old Edmunds and for the great
good he has done for her sons. We love him for his splendid personality,
his patience, his fortitude and the kindly interest that he always shows
in our welfare. After we leave this school, when we turn and recall the
many bright days we have spent in the Burlington High School, the memory
of Mr. Putney will ever awake affection and make our heart glow with its
warmth.--_Burlington High School Register._
February 24, 1912.
Here are my congratulations and best wishes for you. Another year of
service is added to your enviable list. It must be a great satisfaction
to look back upon a life so well spent and to realize how many lives
have been benefited because you have been here all these years.
You cannot but know the honor and respect with which the teachers look
up to you, and how we are trying to reach something like the high standard
which you have attained; but I wonder if you realize the love which your
pupils have for you. Some of them come into my room every day at the
close of school for an hour's uninterrupted study and I am going to tell
you some of the things which they have said to me about you. "Mr. Putney
is such a lovable man." "I thought I should be afraid of him, but he
makes us feel he is interested in us and I don't feel one bit afraid
even though he does know so much." "He is full of fun too. There is no
one in the class who sees anything funny quicker than he." "I am so glad
he is in the school while I am here. I shall always feel it to have been
a great privilege to have had him for a teacher."
And I want to say that I, too, feel it to be a great privilege to be
in the school with you and to have felt your quiet presence and to have
known your ready sympathy and interest. May the coming year be a happy
one.
Very sincerely yours,
HARRIET TOWNE.