Historic leaves, volume 2, April, 1903 - January, 1904

[2] of literary work, in having published one or more books, but who fail of entrance into the class we are to consider by reason of the more practical character of their writing. Dr. Luther V. Bell is an example of this class, with his book upon ‘The Ventilation of Schoolhouses.’ Another is Colonel Herbert E. Hill, a Vermonter, who fought in the Civil War, and afterward removed to Somerville, where he resided until his death in 1892. It was he who is responsible for the frowning cannon upon Central Hill. Again Colonel Hill showed his generosity and patriotism by the two monuments which he erected on Virginia battlefields, one of them bearing the inscription: ‘Committed to the care of those once a brave foe, now our generous friends.’ Colonel Hill has left two addresses on patriotic and historical subjects. Then there is the ex-librarian, John S. Hayes, whose noble work in making our public library more efficient is gratefully remembered. Mr. Hayes gave two notable addresses, one on ‘The Public Library and the State,’ the other containing valuable historical information, and delivered at the laying of the cornerstone of the Winter-hill Congregational church. The work of these three men is worthy of cordial appreciation, and is semi-literary in character. If more detailed consideration is given to the names that are to follow, there is no derogation of the value of other sorts of service, only the recognition of literature as in some sense detached from immediately practical ends,—as in a measure itself constituting its own end.

Among the literary men of Somerville, General Douglas Frazar combines the distinction of being both man of affairs and author. His family goes back to William Bradford through his mother, and to John Alden through his father. Although prepared for Harvard, Mr. Frazar chose to go to sea. His father's desire took him to Paris to study the French language, and the Civil War, when it came, drew him into its service; but the main currents of his being set toward the ocean, and it was only through special inducements that his employment, especially in his latter years, was ashore. He was constantly reading and writing, even on board ship. When in business in China, he was correspondent of the Boston Traveler. After his marriage,