March 1971 editorial of News & Views. It was written after the death of George Fritz (Jan 1971) and
it provides insights into who George Edward Fritz was.
EDITORIALLY SPEAKING
MR. GEORGE FRITZ - AN APPRECIATION
Ocasionally we are all refreshed and invigorated to know that there has lived among us a man of generous heart. Mr. George Fritz, who died on January 19 of this year was a man of reticence but his love of children manifested itself in ways which will be remembered for many years.
The Whiteside-Taylor Centre stands on land donated by Mr. Fritz and is a lasting reflection of his interest in children. All of us benefit from the expanded facilities available to us in the Library, the Arts and Crafts rooms and the Auditorium.
On a more personal level many children in Baie d'Urfe have delightful memories of riding 'Fritz ponies' on Baie d'Urfe Day. Characteristically arrangements were made for some interested teenagers to groom and decorate the ponies and organize rides. It was this faculty for involving young people that is spoken of over and over again by helpful residents who have provided the material for this tribute. At one time a number of fortunate young girls were allowed to ride around Mr. Fritz extensive lands in return for grooming and caring for his large assortent of horses. His patience and tolerance in teaching these skills and transmitting to young people his own love for animals and for nature
are fondly remembered. More than one girl received a horse as an outright gift, together with Christmas presents to help purchase boots or saddles or other riding equipment. On Halloween his charitable impulses reached out to all ghosts, goblins, clowns and assorted strange beings who climed to the big white house on the hill where the best goodies in the world were heaped into small hands. These are a few of the things about Mr. Fritz, but who knows what other acts of generosity quietly took place.
In these days when the world psyche seems to be suffering from nervous exhaustion and we are bombarded with publicity about often quite worthless personalities, it is pleasant to remember that such a man as Mr. Fritz lived among us; a man who was not a status seeker but who loved solitude, loved the land and loved to bring happiness into the lives of children. In time we may come to know that he had some of the qualities of true greatness and in this connection, learning something of his life, we have found it interesting to once more contemplate Emerson's words written a century ago. "It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who, in the midst of the crowd, keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."
FM (FM stands for Frances Macaulay. She lived at 96 Somerset.)
