Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-09-11
The Reading Centennial.
by JOHN N, sTEARNs, ESQ.

Through the courtesy Of the author we are
enabled to publish the subjoined Telegraphic
address, limited to ten minutes time, by John
NJ. Stearns, Esq, of Brooklyn, N. Y, to the
Recent Centenary Celebration at Reading, on
" The Changes of Hundred years"
The changes of century command a
greater OF less interest, according to the stand
point or scope of our observation. The great
world in its changing progress has presented
phenomena and facts most striking and won-
derful during the last hundred years. A
century ago steamboats, and railways and
electric telegraphs were all unknown The
manufacture of woollen and cotton goods by
machinery was still in its infancy. Machine
farming is peculiarly American in its origin,
aud has mostly originated within the last for
ty years.
But greater progress than in these ply
steal and material Developments, has been
realized in the progressive civilization Of the
age. Within fifty years last past imprison-
ment for debt in this State was tolerated and
counted necessity in the government and in
the order of society. To illustrate the sever
ity in its administration | may cite the case
OF Timothy Cady. who lived in a rude farm
house, few rods from where we are now as
sembed He had hewed out from the will
derness a rude home, aud had reared family.
| remember three grown up sons, two Of
whom | have had the pleasure of meeting
here to-day. But either from bad luck, or
bad management, or i'll health, Cady was poor,
and under the pressure Of his cares and burd-
ems he became sick. Consumption had fastened
on his constitution, and pale and depressed
be walked about this neighborhood as the
very shadow Of death, till one day the
sheriff came with small execution, and seized
his body, and took him away to Jail. well
remember the sad and pale countenance he
bore as he was seated by the side Of the sheriff
in one.horse wagon on his way to JAIL
A journey of thirteen miles over the rough
roads of that day, to the county Jail at Wood
stock, would have been wearisome to a well
man, but to person sick as Cady was, and
the depressing consideration that be was CO.
ing from the dignity Of manhood to the home
of criminals, was almost sufficient to press
the very life from his vitals.
But Cady lived his week in Jail +; and then
on swearing to what every body knew before -
his hopeless poverty-he was discharged and
left to find his way back to his forlorn home
as best he could--from whence few months
after, he was borne to his grave. Now, my
friends, if you believe that such transaction
could SO be carried out to-day, amidst this
law abiding people, then you may we'll deny
the worlds boasted progress, and hide your
heads in shame for mans inhumanity to man
But the world in its moral interests, does
move and that in the right direction. Tioc
centuries ago the memorials of the bloody
reign of persecution and despotism in oul
father land, preserved as curiosites in the
tower of London, were the household deities
of the national life. But now, the scholars
savans, philosophers and statesmen have nc
, longer fear of the traitors gate leading W
from the Thames TO this bloody tower--ant
: its prison cells, its bloody axe and block, ant
; its open pathway to the gbbets Of Tower
Hill, and the fires Of Smith6eld. But al
these are things Of the past from which arr
0 combined the most cruel memories. Oompar,
, the spirit Of the boasted Elizabethan age viii
0 that which during the last seventy years ha
found its forum and centre, at Exeter Hall
: in London, where the great men and philan
thropists Of this age have planned and pros
ecuted the Christian civilization Of the world
Q whose works are seen aud blessed In evor,
: Christian land,
al But from these general Developments Of