Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-18

party who has a remarkable familiarity
with Vermont and her men In the days
Of the past. As 1t pays passing trib-
ute TO the eminent men of Rutland, also
fitting compliment to the management
of ne Rutland and Burlington Railroad,
and as an abrldeement OF an article so
just and full a. interest in It's reminis-
cencts would mar its proportions, 1t is
given IN full:
BURLISsToN, June 90, 1867.
Early in June | found myself in the
vicinity of Westminster and learning
that there was to be a centennial cele-
bration on the Plains, stayed and at
tended the jubilee, Right glad am that
l did. Living at a great distance from
the Connecticut river, found no small
pleasure in visiting so historic q place
as Westminster. It's first grant was by
the Province of Massachusetts In 1876,
under the name OF Number 0ne.n In
1852 New Hampshire gave a charter,
granting to 81 persons 23040 acres bv
the name of Westminster. Westminster
was the spot where occurred the massa-
ere Of William French and Daniel
Houghton, the first martyrs in the cause
of American liberty. And here lived
for nearly eighty.fve years that eminent
scholar, lawyer and statesman, the Hon
William Gear Bradley, who died March
a, 1867. Mr.. Bradley had 8 wonderful
memory, which never failed, and his
knowledge in literature Is said to have
ranged from Plato down to ARENAS
Ward. His conversational powers were
very remarkable, and one who studied
law with him and enjoyed his society
for term o. years said that such a
privilege was equal to liberal educa-
ton.
His father, General Stephen r. Brad
ley, was leading lawyer and statesman
in the early history of Vermont and the
first senator from this State in the Con-
gress of the United States. He former.
ly lived at Westminster until he was
annoyed by over.much taxation, as he
thought, and so he vamoosed the West
minister rancho and domiciled in Wal
pole, N. H., where he had intermarried
with the Bellows family. In that vicin-
1ty, the " Walpole wits fiourished from
1896 to 1893 and amused the New Eng
gland reading public through the col
umns OF the Farmers Weekly Museum"
of which the late Joseph Dennie and the
late Royal Tyler were the bright and
controlling spirits. In 1897 the pub
Usher announced with some exultation
that the Museum" was read by up.
wards of 1000 persons weekly and had
its patrons in Europe and on the banks
of the Ohio One can hardly read such
an item now without a smile. TemporG
mHtantWr ct NOS mutam,r cum Ills. He who
was never In Walpole has rare treats in
reserve The view from the farm of
Rev. DR.. Henry W. Bellows Of New York,
in the Connecticut valley, struck me, as
it was pointed out one bright morning
in June by kinsmsn, as Of unsurpassed
beauty. But returning across the River
Connecticut to the Westminster celebra-
ton, it may be well to remark that a
large ConcOurse was in attendance to
hear the discourse OF Rev. Pliny H.
White of Coventry, president Of :he Yer
mont Historical Society, and Rev. AL
fred Stevens, pastor of the Congrega-
tiOnal Church in Westminster West
These historical addresses were OF much
local as well as general interest, and are
shortly to be published in pamphlet
form. The celebration dinner was fol-
lowed by toasts and speeches, of course,
after which the Holy Communion was
administered to those who were "religi-
Ously and devoutlY disposed" The
drive about WalpOle after the prettiest
and tleetest black horses in the country,
the fine landscape, the enjoyable dinner
which was dispensed with rare grace and
cordially, TIA speeches, tOasts, pretty
sights and sounds of and from attract
i've musicians, all winding up with a
pleasant clerical chat at the Island
House, Bellows Falls, with q splendid
supper with some friends, constituted a
combination OF ebjoyments which will
render the day one dc to be marked with
white on the tablets of memory. In due
time | took the train over the Rutland
and Burlington Railroad and came to
the Queen City of Lake Champlain
whence this letter halls. This road has
the advantage OF having thorough and
popular business men for its manage rs.
One Of them, Hon. John B. Page of Rut
land, who during the rebellion was the
State Treasurer of Vermont, has been re.
Gently nominated as the Republican can.
didate for the office OF Governor of Yer
mont. The superintendent, Colonel
George A. Merrill of Rutland, is deserv-
eddy popular aud for the position which
he occupies has fitting characteristics.
OF gentlemanlike manners, he is thor
oughly competent to manage large
railroad corporation so as to secure bust
ness and friends. Withal he has heart
and time TO aid in charitable and moral
enterprises promotive Of the welfare OF
the society where he dwells. The Rut.
land aud Burlington Railroad is in fine
condition for business. The scenery
along its route, of hill and valley, rock
and river, lake and meadow, is particu.
larry beautiful in the leafy month OF
June. All this may remind you of what
the poet sings when he alludes to
Bright scenes of mountain and Of lake,
With rugged glens, where torrents break
In floods OF silver white
Mid cliffs, ana crags, and flinty peaks,
Green woods, and isles and flowing creeks
In checkered shade and light"