straightforward in mind and action, Colonel Silas Lapham, with
a prompt comprehensiveness and a never-failing business
sagacity, is, in the best sense of that much-abused term, one
of nature's noblemen, to the last inch of his five eleven and a
half. His life affords an example of single-minded application
and unwavering perseverance which our young business men would
do well to emulate. There is nothing showy or meretricious
about the man. He believes in mineral paint, and he puts his
heart and soul into it. He makes it a religion; though we would
not imply that it IS his religion. Colonel Lapham is a regular
attendant at the Rev. Dr. Langworthy's church. He subscribes
liberally to the Associated Charities, and no good object or
worthy public enterprise fails to receive his support. He is
not now actively in politics, and his paint is not partisan;
but it is an open secret that he is, and always has been, a
staunch Republican. Without violating the sanctities of private
life, we cannot speak fully of various details which came out
in the free and unembarrassed interview which Colonel Lapham
accorded our representative. But we may say that the success of
which he is justly proud he is also proud to attribute in great
measure to the sympathy and energy of his wife--one of those
women who, in whatever walk of life, seem born to honour the
name of American Woman, and to redeem it from the national
reproach of Daisy Millerism. Of Colonel Lapham's family, we
will simply add that it consists of two young lady daughters.

"The subject of this very inadequate sketch is building
a house on the water side of Beacon Street, after designs
by one of our leading architectural firms, which,
when complete, will be one of the finest ornaments