The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13
IrrsroisY or READING.

The gleancrOf 'unconsdcrcd trlllcs is the
true writer Of history. lie lays the found
ations upon which history must be built.
1t is these small things which show TO us
the character and habits Of the founders Of
our government. Our written and un-
written history is threcfold national, state
and local both of the former depending
upon the latter In New England, par
ticuarlv, the history OF the towns forms
the history Of the state. as, also, measur-
ably of the nation as connected with the
states. With us the foundation Of all
power and action is in the several towns
The town meetings in Vermont secured our
independence rs state Tic cause Of the
revolution, in New England, Vas nur-
turcd forced to an Issue, and carried
aratc capacity. In Vermont. it has al
ways been so. All Of our volunteers, for
instance daring the rebellion, were raised
by separate town action. These propo-
sitions show the Importance Of town his
tories 10 correct understanding Of the
times, and as the only sure foundation for
correct history We. therefore, welcome
every new work Of the kind. as we do now
that Of Reading. an unprc,cnding little
town in Windsor country. Its author,
Gilbert \. Davis, has done his work WELL
and has, in book Of some one hundred
and seventy pages, preserved for posterity
The records of those who have gone before
1t opens with detailed account of
he cenntenial celebration, in August,
1872; which is followed by succint
history of the town, civil, religious,
| educational, military, etc, etc. closing
with genealogical and biographical notices
| If its native sons ana residents of the town.
His fellow townsmcn owe him n debt of
gratitude which We fear they never will
repay. This book is interesting and val-
ible, not only to every son OF Reading, hut
| ilso, to the historical and antiquarian stu
| lent and writer II is handsomely printed.
N fine heavy paper, aHd neatly hound,
| md bears the imprint Of \. y. Swain, Bel
| lows Falls. Where there is 50 much to
H"t7v' ~ ''.''''''-. 80 A'-'N s,.,
must take exception 80 one thing We re-
fer to the fault, so common in all town his
.ories, of not fully recording facts Of re.
,ent date. This seems to be taken for
| granted, as unnecessary, hccause it is sup
| posed that every one is familiar herewith.
1t may be 50 now, but II will be otherwise
N few years. Historians write as much
for the future rs for the present. Having
thus had our fault finding of it, we must
qualify il somewhat The family history
md many other portions of this work arc
not open to this objection--in fact it ap.
plies to only three or four of the branches
treated of-but we take this opportunity tC
aall the attention of other writers on local
history to this subject. 1t is not always
safe, to he sure. to form accurate opinions
Of current events, but the facts can better
DC recorded now, than gathered up, here
,fter, from tradition. Take the book as il
s, and it is one of the best contributions
hat have been made to the local and fam
y history of Vermont. We congratulate
Nr, Davis on his success, and the town Of
Reading upon having such a historian.