Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-03

rur ELECTION BALLS.
ID to within comparatively recent date "Eloc-
ton was the great day of the year, not only for
Montpelier, but for all the country round about
the inhabitants Of which used to throng into town
in great numbers to sec the sights and to have a
general jollidcation. The great social event was
the Election Ball, which always took place at the
Pavilion, at first in the hall over the Office, and
after the additions by Mr. Cottrcll, in the new
dancing.hall ovor the west dining-room. All the
notabcs from abroad and all the village people at
tended these, the militia officers, Of whom there
were a great number in those days, dressed In fall
uniform and making an imposing appearance
Judge Baldwin gives an amusing account Of the
oxertions made to secure enough young ladies TO
make partners rthc gentlemen in the early days
At that time the members, owing TO the badness
Of the roads which forced them to come on horse
back. did not often bring their wives or daughters,
and the attendance Of the fair sex was mostly from
the neghborhood IN the forcpar Of the even
ing the young men would get large team and go
out, first to Major Dayiss, about eight miles out
towards the Centre, where there were two girls
then they would stop ut what houses there were
each. till they got their team loaded After that
they would make expeditions in other directions,
getting all they could and eventually securing a
full complement Of fine dancers for the legislative
gentlemen.
The Election Balls began TO die out after 1850,
and the last one tool, place somewhere about 1885
They were gala nights Tor great many and the
quantity Of wine and liquor drunk was immense.
It was customary for the major generals Of the
old "ilood-wood' militia TO hold receptions at
these balls and treat" their friends ad libitum.
and while speaking Of the social customs Of those
days, a few words must be said in regard 10
FIlr.
The great drink Of the hequeutor Of the ra,il-
ion, rs well Us an other places was Zip, for the
making OF which dcioctahlo beverage the spacious
old fireplace In che office still used was cspoci-
ally adapted ON each .ido of il were kept two
io1q1hsods or Zip irons for heating che mixture.
and behind the bar werc plenty of mugs and half
mugs, holding respectively quart and pint
each Hip. of course. WAS essentially q cold
Wcaulcrduut. and twas customary .tcas Nuu-
re.ls umc for knot OF the Nonu.ct OF ihc place
Go gather 900 the Pavilion 1000 Saturday might. aud
discuss Hip and the static oi the country 90 Che
same time. And, by the way, 10 should not be-
forgotten that in old times the Pavilion was the
headquarters for the fcdcmii.ts or Wings the
Democrats rcsorting 10 the Union House or % thc
Eaton tavern. situated somewhere ucar tAc present
railroad depot During Thomas payiss time
ard the early pant Of Cotroil's time, such men as
Lcmucl Brooks Thomas Reed, the grandfather of
Mr. Charles 4. Reed, the cashier of the Montno-
lier National Bank Squire Joshua Y Vail, the
county clerk and secretary Of the Vermont Mu-
tual Dr. Edward Lamb, Judge Cyrus Ware and
others Of like kidney, used to meet at the Pa
yilion habtually, and many are the characteristic
stories told about them, their merry dougs and
sayings The men Of the early day OF Montpelier
were most generally not only strong in mind but
strong in body, aud their stately carriage and
stalwart proportions are looked form vain IN these
modern times Mr. Brooks was o very largo and
diguifed man. lie lived little ways ont VI the
village ON the hin, and wore on great days at
least, bun vest, ruiiiod shirt, and blue coat and
brass buttons
Forty ycaus ago the great Wing newspaper was
the Boston alias and It's columns were law and
gospel az the Pavilion, and Squire Vail. who was
a man Of fine culture and good literary attain
ments, would often read it aloud to his friends
one forenoon In the old Insurance bnrdipg IL is
said he ,yas epdea,ori,, IN a,o,sc ht. frcni fop,-
uel Brooks in this manner, but IL had got past
eleven o. clock and Mr. Brooks was very restless
and very anxious to have Mr Vail take q recess
How 10 convey the hint though was a stumper
for some time But the Squire at last came To the
foreign news, and read, The King Of Holland
Mr. brooks whose mind was nm other thipgs
merriam. norpo.,l,. ,risupl.r.to,d tno ,,e,r,n,
All Of a shower fos,, " sad he and mao,
cover ~ tho Joke tb. t,, wont amt q, ,,.a moi,
g. eleven o.,loct ID
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% fine specimen of the old school lie was n yer,
mquisitiye man and made uo bones OF asking
stmugon fun particulars OF their business. dest-
nation, &c II he saw man ioadins the news
paper longer than seemed to him proper. he would
snatch It out Of his hands, remarking blandly. 81
never read the advertisements. Heeot his match
once, though Lord Elgin. the Go,cinor-Gcnern
Of Canada, and suite. stopped over night al the
Pavilion, on their way from Boston to Canada
One Of these Englishmen. a stout red-iaeod inn
porant-loobing man, planted himself in front of
the fireplace after tea. and with his coat tails
spread apart, was warming himself in the most
comfortable mannerpossible. Just then DIR Lamb
entered, stopped and admired the Britisher for a
moment then all his Yankee inquisitiyeness burn-
ing within him, advanced. and smiling sociabl,
said, "Fine weather sir" Tho Enrlishman