Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-17
A Letter from NIiddletoyyn spri n g,

MIDDIETowN, Aug. IL, 1871
On Thursday evening last the good
people of Middletown saw the beauties of
gas-light in that place for the first time.
Mr.. Rickcords, ''mine host" of the Mont
vert House, held reception to which all
Had been invited, and to which q large
number responded with. their presence
Your correspondent was one of the num- |
Der who attended the reception, and, to
him, 1T was pleasant occasion indeed.
The whole house, with the exception OF
the rooms in the upper fourth) story, was
lighted with gas, presenting scene OF
rare brillianey, and of kind hitherto I'M
known in this little town. The arrange
ments in the house are excellent, aud such
as to present to the best advantage every
point in that we'll ordered and we'll fur
nished establishment. The spacious par
lors superbly furnished, are nowhere ex-
celled in fitness of their arrangements.
For three hours the company assembled,
amused and made themselves merry, and
at 10 o'clock retired evidently highly sat-
listed, elated even, with the evenings en-
tertainment.a Your correspondent im-
proved the occasion in conversing with
old acquaintancas, and. ,congratulating
them on the success of the hotel enter
prise that now promises TO make OF the
place popular and attractive summer
resort. EH1f f. ...... .,4f
, The location of the Montyert House
having once been familiar to me, visited
it on Friday morning, and walked over
the adjacent grounds that | might call to
mind incidents of olden times. AS q
school boy had, in company with other
school boys, run over the grounds times
without number, and on one occasion,
later in life, [ was sent here in company
with "Tom Green" to cut the grass; the
hotel now stands on what was once q
meadow. twas before the day of now
ING machines when "Tom" and myself
entered the meadow about seven o'clock
on the morning of q warm summer day
and commenced laying the stout grass
with our scythes. About eleven oclook
we became weary and sat down under a
bush near where the hotel now stands.
.'Tom" had been soldier, was in the
naval service in the war Of 1912, and was
4 with Perry in his memorable fight and
victory on Lake Erie. We refreshed our
selves with copious draughts of water
from large stone Jug, and my compan-
ion had smaller vessel with something
stronger" from which be also drank. He
was soon in condition to ''reel off a
yarp," and went on to tell me all about the
battle on Lake Erie Hismanner in des-
eri bing it was quite Ineligible, but he
took care to draw his "yarn" In such way
that might infer his own bravery in
the action was conspicuous. lie was
1 wounded in that action. A musket ball,
so be told me, entered his leg which he
carried twenty-five years, and until 1t
was cut out by DIR. Edward Vail, a young
surgeon in Middletown. 1t is true that
about 1850, bali was taken from bis leg,
and probably it found its way there on
Lake Erie as no says. Many other incid-
ents and matters of interest of olden time
4 were called to mind on visiting the hotel
and grounds adjacent, some of which may
be reserved for future letter.
.... AN OLD RESIDENT.