Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-15
Letter from MONTPELIER.

well written letter, which we bod IN the MAN.
chester Journal under date Of Msy !, par.
tally enables US to see ourselves as others
see US;
Visiting for n few days here at our State
Cipilsl, have thought, perhaps, some Of
your readers may he Interested ~ little le-
scrip,ion OF II. A very pretty aud piciur-
csquc place il II, nesting amuug the noun
taius aud ~ following the wiudiugs Of the
beautiful WnoUski rlver that 1t is almost in.
possible 10 obtain view OF the entire village
IRON any oue standpoint IL is too early Ia
the sessvr, VI cUursc, TO see ihe place IN it,
must attractive guisv, but When all thcsr
groves aud avenues VI trees ure 10 fall fJiiage.
Montpelier must be sort Of earthly para
dist, oircl,d round 10y hills which form fai
more iiupenetrabie barrier against the outside
world than did the rivers which made the
cOlfues Of the old Eden.
Tue State House is naturally tho most con.
spicuous building IN the town. 1t stands oil
handsome elevation, yet with far higher
hill Tor u ekgrOuud, aud is n stately edit e
IL is built Vi granite, ia simple, mss,iv,
DJric style, Tue dome seems to be little
out VI proportion -too large, aud not quite il
harmony with the rest Of tue building. IL Is
surmUuuul,d by colossal statue OIL. really
dVut know who, but Ceres guess certainly
II Is not Liberty, for she has not the needtui
cap nor Justice, Tor the scales are not there
At uuy rate The figure is not good one, ana
inasmuch as II Is a sham, pretending to be Of
solid metal wheu 1t is only woUd covered
with some sort OF gliding, feel it to be my
duty 10 condemn IL. The porch is Orudmented
with fue statue Of Ethan Allen, whose
grand figure, with appraised hand, iu the act,
suppose, Vi bidding tue British to surrender,
in the uame Of God Almighty aud the CONT.
Rental Congress, makes "A very approprat,
sentinel. Anticipating future possibilities Il
little party Of ladies, Of whom | was Que,
avaied ourselves Of the open doors aud tn,
polite services OF the janitor to 90 in boldly
10 those stately legislative halls. The walls
of the corridors are decorated with pctures
Of our soldiers, grouped according ~ their
regiments while on silver shields, neAr by f,
are engraved the names vi the engagements
ia which they took part, with some details VI
the same. The Legislative aud Senate Cham.
beers are spacious aud handsomely huisheo
and furnished. We sat down in luxuriou,
easy-chairs, and concluded that when tn,
sovereign people send us there, II they wiz
give US as good pay aud not make us worl
any harder than our present representative
we will be quite resigned to our fate. Their,
is fiue library, too, Tor the benefit Of mem
beers, which might well 20 far toward makiu,
legislative life quite desirable. To be sur,
there is u large number OF those dreadful
volumes Of Messages aud Documents, whict
our husbands aud fathers are always secretint
lest we sell them 10 tiu-pedliers, but ther,
are enough readable books to over baaur,
the dirpiring Effects Uf these pouderou
toulrs. Quie humber Of tue engraving
ornament the library walls; while Ia tn
Governors room, which Is n pleasant, parlUI
like place. there are numerous oil painting,
OF our distinguished governors aud judges
There is rvvln devoted " natural history
with many specimens VI our native birds anu
bet sis. very lie-like Ia their attitudes and
expressions; also quite extensive cabinets Vi
miuerals, shells aud fossils The little peu
pie who were with us were quite appalled, 10y
fierce looking catsmouut, whu glafed dow,
on US as IT ruling passiUus with him wer,
still strong in death. Indeed, was very
glad myself that he Was "lifeless, deiuuci
without ANY doubt, the lamp Of his being Gu.
tirely out" On the Whole, think our Stall,
House creditable affair to the little Greer
Mountain State.
In the way ofschoos the Montpelier peopl
la eavrry 6ue graded school house, where SOM,
ivur ofhse hundred children iud ample ac.
comnodaliou aud the best OF teaching Mis-,
Mary Biruham Of Manchester is prominent
among the teachers, aud great iavoriie viii
her pupils and their pareuts. The Methodist,
have iiue academy buildings, on Seminary
Hill, almost completed, where they will Ii,
doubt have one Of their hourishing denomina.
tional schools.
Of graceful church spires the village ha,
its full share | counted six from my win.
dow, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist. Unitarian
or Liberal Christian, aud Congregational, ali
Of them fne buildings aud several Of then.
remarkably well designed. 1t was my 20, o
fortune TO attend service on the Sabbath III tn
new and beautiful Congregational church, Of
which DIR. Lord is the pastor. The building
is purely Gothic the Gully true ecclesiastica
architecture. The lofty upsprngug arches
the graceful carvings, the gorgeous oolorngs
the richly stained windows, through whlcl
the lights like glores iall all these are like
grand hymn Of praise, inartcuate but all thu
more impressive. The fac organ stands in
deep recess back Of the pulpit, aud over it il
letters quaint and oldeu, is carved, "Wor
ship the Lord in the beauty Of holiness" |
may interest the Manchester people to kno,
that Mrs. Lord, who is charming woman,
native Of Manchester, daughter Of one G
the early teachers Of Burr Seminary, Re,
Mr.. Aiken.
The business streets Of Montpelier seer
brisk and lively, though there are no exteu
slve manufactures, or works Of any sort I
build up the place. 1t seems TO be the natl
raj center Of large agricultural district au
TO depend upon that aud its ,ficial posiiio
for its thrift. There seemed to be really oul
one large business, the manufacture Of babe,
cabs; but judging from the number Of ihes
little hopes Of humanity whom saw aduru
ing the streets, and Yard, aud parlors
should judge the local demand for these ART
cles might justify almost any amount of Gu
terprise.
IL must be quite a setback to the peopl
to have ouly beuuiul sessions of our lrgisu
ture, but let them not be daunted puc
where so many baby cab, are used caunut b
oiher~se than prosperous.
Gu the whole Montpelier seems to me
Lovely place. full Of charming hours sud mic
people and don't wonder gentlemen ca
always he found who are willing to represeu
US 10 our State legislature. M.mF.