Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-17
0be Nous Gltaner.
Notes and Comments.

CANKER RAsH.--This disorder, so much
dreaded by parents, has prevailed, we learn from
a correspondent, to a considerable extent in
Cambridge, VT, where eight or ten children
have died within few days. There have beena
few scattering cases in this vicinity, & but one
fatal, as we have heard, though The measels
are prevailing all around us. Heaven preserve
us from the spread of this fell destroyer of our
children.
MIDDLEBURY CoLLEGE.--Subscriptions to
the amount of over $40, 900, to the fund of $32,-
900 which the assembled alumni last commence
ment pledged themselves to endeavor to raise
for the college, have been secured in Boston,
This, with the amount before subscribed, has
swelled the sum to more than half the required
amount, We trust the whole sum will be speed
lily raised and the institution cleared from its
embarrassments Middlebury College has not
of late years received the attention from the
public which it deserved.
CALIFoRNtA.-The California bubble. that.
but one year ago, was enchanting all eyes with
its golden hues, has at length burst. The tbor-
sands of returned Californians, one in a hundred
with q prize, one in ten with a few tbousand
dollars, and the other nine with less than thew
carried away, have now convinced us, bv their
united testimony, Of truth which we would NOT.
IN face OF so many f~attering stories, believe be-
fore. Gold there is, but the chance to net il ia
no better than the chances in any common lot
terry while poverty, sickness and distress have
been the lot of the great mass of the luckless
wIghts who, in the hope of golden fortunes, have
thronged to that land of bright promise, but
cruel deception, The agricultural capabilities
OF Inc country are almost nothing, The climate
IS anything but desirable, and as the chief attrac.
gold, is now shown to be so uncertain of
acquisition, what is there to induce further i'm.
migration? Nothing. Alas for the Ell Dorado!
lHE SEAsoN.-In 1911, or 1912, there was
Spring In which there were three weeks in
April, In which the ground was wholly bare, the
.rost out and blowing done,-but never since
men, to our recollection, till the present season.
hVeh mere, In the heart of the Green Mountains,
lowers were found in the woods on the first of
April, at the end of the first week the frost was
nearly all out of the ground, sugar-making in
many places abandoned, and fence. repairing and
'io"lhg going forward. The season is nearly
our weeks earlier this year than last. We only
such weather may continue.
1HE SPIRITUAL RAPPINGs.-These strange
manifestations are still spreading to the west
nd east, Perplexing one portion Of the commu.
N.Y. and moving another to various ATTEMPTED
explanations or open d|erislon, wherever thew
Ppear. No satisfactory solution has vet an.
cared, though searching Investigations bv COM
llttees of shrewd and scientific men both in
YORK and Buffalo, have been had. And
JUS the matter seems at present to stand.-a ma.
'rlty OF thinking men believing it to be an nm.
humbng, but no one as vet succeeding
showing wherein the deception lies, while
no'ner portion OF men, and those of the highest
'Slectaolllty, too, declare their belief, after wit
the performances, that they are what
icy Purport to be,-real communications from
spirits. But admit ng the latter
DC true, the question arises, What kind of
''rl'S can they be, who can be called, at the op-
Oh OF these performers, and induced to aid them
'1e'F rare shows got up for money about the
'uht'y' We have been taught to believe the
imam SOUL after death, would be enlarged and
eVa'ed but if much that is reported comes
ON the departed, they must have become more
lvolous and silly than they ever could have
on earth We wish Mr.. Greeley, Mr..
llIIs' and Others who would make US boliev-
nign' ehilghten us on these doubts,-as
'ch oelsf, 1t seems to US, will greatly endan-
er the u%P5etting of all philosophy and religion.
all this be a reality, our clergymen ought to
, the regular mediums of communications by