Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-17

RANDOLPH, VT, June %, 1915.
Il Cool Retreat-.NciO England Staging Rom1n-
tic Scenery Common School System in Yermont
--Gren Northern Rairoad.
.MesSrs. Editors If any of your readers should
happen, about the time these presents reach them
to be swelterng in the oppressive heat and confin-
ell air of pentup city, let counsel them to flee
TO these mountains, where your humble correspon-
dent has been rusticlting for more than a week. co.
Say not =" does the steamboat land there" or does
the railroad pass through the paceD The place
Is accessible by good stage road running direct
from the capital Of Vermont to the capitll of New
Hampshire; and you may be conveyed over it at
as rapid Il rate a six horse team can prudently
carry you under the guidance of sober and expert
enced drivers These drivers, by the way are none
Of those hireliags who only for ten or twelve
mile route, and who on any provocation or within
will not scruple to delay coach full Of passengers
beyond the possibility Of connecting with other
routes ahead They are almost invariably interest
ed in the companies which they serve, and in some
instances are the principal proprietors. When one
of these men takes the rens for twenty-five or a
thirty-hve mile route, traveller naturally aban-
dons himself to very pleasing sense Of personal
safety, and no less agreeable anticipation of Il
prompt arrival at the place of his destination. Nor
will his confidence be often misplaced.
1t his been my lot to wander somewhat exten-
svely in different directions but rarely have ever
seen an inland landscape of greater oveliness than
Is offered to the eye at various points of the sum-
nit, known Randolph Hill. This is not an alb
rupt and precipitous declivity covered with rocks
and barrenness. 1t is one of series of lofty but
somewhat regular undulations which range at in
tervals between the Green Mountains of Vermont
and the White Mountains of New Hampshire
The whole Of its surface is fertile and populous,
and such is its peculiar position that it enables YOU
to look OF upon the sides and SUBMITS of several
similar elevations, themselves adorned with farms
and thoroughly cultivated, while far in the distance
is seen a sweeping circle of majestic mountains
clad to their tops In perennial green. What are
the tame prairies and flat lowands of other boast
ed regions in comparison with this romantic and
soul-inspirng scenery?
Vermont holds an memorable rank among her sis
ter states IN respect to virtue and general inteli-
gence. l1cr common school system was once con-
sidered in advance of that of any of the other
states, but having remained stationary while the
systems Of other states have been revised and i'm
proved, it is now of the most defective found
in any Of the free states. Suffice it to mention tho
fact that it makes provision for the examination
of teachers, but leaves the door open for any one
TO enter upon the magisteral Office who can make
bargain with school committee. The western
counties on the borders of New York complain thai
they are sadly overrun with the would-be school
masters of the empire state who failing pass the
scrutiny Of our school inspectors, come down upoi
the Vermonters as last resort. a movement to
warn iSlolHi 10 III" Pio9IeSS. n geullGuldn, Un
der the sanction of some prominent friends of edu
cation, is lecturing in each of the towns, and cir
culating memorials for sundry amendments to thu
existing laws.
Through the western section of this town run
the projected route of the Northern Central rail
road from Boston to Montreal Great enthusiasm
prevails on the subject of this railroad Throughout
the whole state, but especially where surveys 70
routes have been made. 1t is believed that thi
enterprise will do much for Vermont. 1t will brn
her agricultural products, her manufactures and he
minerals directly into market and will develope
thousand resources which have hitherto been near
ly useless to herself and still more so to the rest
the world We'll may the Vermonters look up an
rejoice in the anticipated benefits of Bostonian en-
terprze. The travelling public moreover are emit
tied to full share of interest in these events
When steam-cars shall regularly traverse thes
hillsides and vallies, how many thousands of pee
pie will enjoy their beautious aspect and nh1l
their heath-givng atmosphere who would neve
dream of making pilgrimage hither by less eA
peditious conveyance. In conclusion, may | moo
estly inquire Of NEWCOMERS, what great ente
prise they now have on foot, to be compared wit
this splendid effort of their eastern neighbors? ?
Results will speak by and by.