Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-13
orwell and Benson.
ORWELL, July 9th, 1871.

ORWELL, July 9th, 1871.
Editor Rutland Herald Perhaps you
would like to know how the Orwell and
Benson people celebrated the Fourth.
The Congregational Sabbath Schools OF
the two towns united in chartering the
steamer "Oliver Bascom," and invited
their friends to join them in an excursion
on the lake. The trip proved success in
every particular. About $50 from Ben
son and $50 from Orwell participated in
the pleasures of the occasion. Tickets
were sold at prices as low as judged ex-
Incident with view of meeting the ex-
penses, and yet the net profits to the two
schools, owing to the goodly number in
attendance, will not fall short of $12O
The excursion left Benson dock about {
o'clock a. m, and Orwell an hour later
The schools greeted each other with
cheers when the boat arrived, and the Or
we'll Band which accompanied the ex
cursion, and which contributed greatly
to the pleasures of the day. discoursed
natriotic airs as we went on board, and
received from our Benson friends the
riqM hand Of fellowship, and exchanged
with them our cordial salutations. At
o'clock we steamed down the lake with
banners flying and music swelling, al
grandly triumphant in spirit as were sul
fathers when they gave US the day te
commemorate.
We passed the ruins of the old fort al
Ticonderoga, gloried little in the ex
PLOTS of our own Ethan Allen, saw the
piers on which are soon to rest the con
templated railroad bridge, some of them
even now as far from perpendicular as
the leaning tour at Pisa, touched NOM
emit at Larabee's Point to take on the res
of our party and landed at Essex at about
IL 1-2 o'clock D. m. Here we formed II
procession and marched to the music o.
our band to beautiful grove, where We
soon spread our tables on the lawn be
meath the shade, and enjoyed such re
past as kings might oovet. There seem
ed to be lack of no good thing, not ever
cucumbers fresh from the vines wer'
wanting.
After the repast few of the native
gathered around to receive of the crumbs
which were not refused them, we assure
you. After the whole multitude wer
filled we had many baskets of fragment
to gather up.
After an hour or two of recreation OF
the land we returned to the steamer AM
soon were homeward bound. We thel
gathered on deck when it was found tina
we had on board veritable live poet
Mr.. E. L. Barber of Benson, who favored
US with a poem, of some ten minute;
length inspired expressly for the occa
sion. Brief remarks followed the poem
but we determined from the first that on
children should not b9 talked to death
and in this particular we adhered rigid,
to the programme. Many friends from
other states accompanied the excursion
whose names are too numerous TO men
ton.
The steamer "Oliver Bascom" was ever
better than,anticipated She is a stronl
built boat capable OF accommodating
much larger company than she had oil
board, and with all is a rapid sailer
Capt Sawyer was exceedingly kind an'
courteous, and the passengers joined in
hearty vote of thanks for his favors. Al
connected with the enterprise discharged
their duties most faithfully. Everything
passed off pleasantly without an accident
The day was very favorable for such al
excursion, and all seemed to enjoy the &C
casion. We reached our Landing a
Chipman's Point at 6 o'clock P. M, tn
children feeling that they had spent
day never to be forgotten.
Mr.. Cole of Brandon give Reading
in the Congregation Church at Orwell
Thursday evening, July 9th. NJ. L. s.