Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-11-22
[ From our Special Correspondent
Letter from Montpelier.

late the proaab!e length Of the session,
but it is difficult to see any reason why
it should cOntuuc more than three
weeks" Looking back upon the session
FROM this the last day, it is equally diff
cult to see any reason why it should
have continued nearly twice as long as
at first seemed probable. Leaving out
of account the great multitude Of bills
that came under the head of special leg
islatiou, the entire business could have
been done within three weeks, and done
quite as well as it has been, if not bet
ter.
The judgment OF the people will
doubtless be, that the legislature of 1865
has dol some things that it ought not
to have done, and left uudone some
things that it ought to have done.
Among the sins OF omission is the re-
fu9al to provide means for the erection
of monument at the grave Of Thomas
Chittenden. A statue of Ethan Allen
in the portCo Of the State House and
monument over his remains at Burling-
ton, testify to the appreciation Of the
hero by the State for which he fought so
nObiy. But he is not a whit more
worthy of honorable and enduring re-
membrance than the statesman who did
as great a work in the Council-Chamber
as Allen done in the field. Thomas Chit
tenden was to Vermont what Washing
ton was to the United States. But the
only monument to his grave is piece
of slate about two and half feet square,
upon which is the inscription, almost
illegible by reason Of rust and moss
"In memory of his Excellency, Gov.
Thomas Chittenden, who governed the
State OF Vermont from March 1918, to
the time Of his death, August 1897, save
one year. He was born January 9th,
1870. His was a life Of usefulness
let those who read initiate his virtues"
The State of Vermont would honor
itself by replacing this perishable and
rapidly periShing stone with stately
column OF marble as pure as his CharaC-
ter and as enduring as his fame.
Equally to be regretted, and even more,
is the refusal of the House to adopt
resolution authorizing the Governor to
take the necessary measures for filling
the place reserved for Vermont in the
National Statuary Hall, All the pre-
liminary preparations have been made.
A committee, consisting Of Hons. G. F.
Edmunds, and J. S. NJ orrill, has had the
matter 10 charge for year and made
negotiations with the sCulptOr5 Powers
and Mead, and their report to the legis-
lature, designating COllamer and Ethan
Allen as the subjects, and Powers and
Mead as the artists, has been printed and
scattered broadcast over the land. And
after all, the House, by large majority,
voted not to have the statues executed.
Why ? do you ask Well mainly, be-
cause sculptors cannot work for nothing
and board themselves, and furnish their
own marble.
Another important bill which failed to
become law was that introduced by
Mr.. Prout, and passed by the House, but
lost in the Senate, requiring that in APP
plication for divorce on the ground of
willful desertion, it should be made to
1.-Two rTt hot 70
was not voluntary and collusive, but
desertion against the will and consent of
the applicant. A large proportion of the
divorces now granted for desertion are
obtained by mere imposition upon the
courts. The case looks well enough
on the face of it, the papers make fair
show of desertion, but the whole thing
is conceived in fraud and accomplished
by deception. The modus Qpr9ndS is this.
The parties agree to separate for the pur-
pose of being divorced and concocta plan
accordingly, in pursuance of which the
wife absents herself from her husband.
By and by he goes to see her, taking
with him friend, in whose presence he
urges her to return home. OF course
she refuses, and thus little testimony
is fabricated. After suitable time he
goes again, with another friend and en-
treats her more earnestly than before,
but with no better success. Again he
goes, and tells her how much he misses
her society, how greatly LIE needs her
assistance in his domestic concerns, how
much all his interests are suffering for
lack Of her presence and attention, and
makes a most earnest appeal to her TO
come home, promising her all sorts of
good treatment. But the more earnestly
he entreats the more persistently she re-
fuses, and at length she declares, by all
that is great and good, that she will
never darken his doors again. Now, the
case is ripe. All that is necessary is to