Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-05

not yet fitted to be lord Of all things, but no
marches forth TO his dominion, through the expc-
Renee Of discipline, disaster and hardship.
The lesson, then, OF the still, small voice.after
the fire, IL, that we are 10 do our work more
thoroughly, and try 10 promote honesty and
thoroughness Of work In others We are not TO
make haste 10 he rich, for we ought not to think
that our God Is made like unto silver and gold.
We are 10 be compassionate and helpful unto our
neighbour and associates who suffer, knowing
that their flesh IL our flesh and their loss is our
loss The fire that works a ruin makes a sublime
and terrible spectacle, and thousands come forth
TO see IT, hut not by the spectators Of the awful
splendors Of fire and storm Is the world helped.
It is saved by men who lit hands Of strength or
OF love, whose hearts flow forth 10 save men from
trouble and misery, or go out TO help and cheer
them after the suffering has passed over them.
Learning the lessons Of ,orttude and fidelity, Of
patience and submission, OF helpfulness and love,
we d,all ripen for all good under the discipline OF
evil Our path will be lofter, our life stronger,
our structures nobler aud more durable, because
our way Is girt about with forms Of dread. We
shat answer the question, what must do to be
saved, physically, morally, intellectually and
spiritually Aud we shall 80 walk by faith in
Gods word and law, 80 save ourselves and others
by obedience and love, that when the last FIRE
shall melt the earth, the building Of life shall
stand and rise stately full Of the Christian virtues
aud filed with the glory Of God
The following is from Mr.. Wrights sermon.
Using ~ q motto the words, None Of us liyeth
10 himself, and no man deth 10 himself from,
xiv ~ ar Wright drew illustrations Of this
truth from the fire He showed how the burning
Of one mans property endangered the property Of
other men; how the suffering Of the few touched
the hearts OF the many and became, In a measure,
through sympathy, tho suffering Of the whole;
how In our complex social state, actual loss fell
on many besides those whose buildings were con-
sumed, in the check given To some kinds Of busi-
ness and in the outgoes Of insurance companies.
Then taking a little liberty with his motto, and
mal.ng It read " No man lyeth 10 himself" he
sharply rebukcd the unchristian and ,uimaniy
spirit showed by some able-bodied specimens OF
humanity, who stood by with hands in pockets
crlticising what others did, and making enter
tanning spectacle Of their neghbors' calamity
"Thc law Of Christ, par erceience, said he, " is
Bear ye one anothers burdens and any So
called Christianity which negects that is Of little
worth"
In conclusion, Mr. Wright referred to the true
value Of the material wealth that had been swept
away 10 the greater value Of other wealth, which
no confagraiion could consume to some occasions
for Thanksgiving and especially To methods In
which those who were grateful for their own ex-
emption might well express their gratitude; as
for instance, lenieucy to debtors, offers Of timely
loans, and prompt and willing bcneiactions to the
homeless and destitute.
LoArHits AND Robbers
While 40 many heroic deeds were done by our
citizens generally we are ashamed 10 say that hun
drcds OF great strong refused 10 do any thing
towards distinguishing the flames or even saving
the property. Dr. Lord asked two or three hulk
ing fellows 10 go and assist the tired brakemen Of
No .. Their answer was, Did II we care
we don't own any property" He felt tempted to
knock them down, and they richly deserved it,
Several such Instances have come to our knowl-
edge. Another dsgnceiul feature was the nu
merous robberies Wretches too cowardly TO
commit an ordinary burglary, took advantage Of
tho confusion u seize what little had been rescued
from the flames; and others, under the pretext Of
assisting to remove furniture and clothing helped
themselves To all the portable articles within
reach
our OF Town AID.
Tie companies from Barre and Mortified re-
sponded 10 the summons for aid with cheerful aac-
rty, aud although the progress Of the fire had been
checked before their arrival, they did good service
in quenching the burning ruins. The Waterbury
firemeu anloaded a bark-car. placed their machine
upon it, and then were unable To arouse the tele-
graph operator at this place, and 50 failed to get
an engine 70 draw them here. We take the will
for the deed, and the neighborly kindness Of all
these will not be forgotten By Montpelier.
PLANS FoR THE FUTURE
Our citizens, although many have lost heavily,
are not discouraged and several Of the largest real
estate owners propose to rebuild at once, and To
erect good, substantial edices Of brick, with fire.
proof roofs Mr. james G French is now treating
for some twenty feet more front, with Mr. Bruce;
ifhe succeeds in purchasing, he will begin at
upon fine two-story and half brick block, CON
tanning five stores; IL he does not buy. he will
erect a block of four stores. Mrs. C. %. Wilson
will build solid brick block the site Of the
Hyde & Foster store, during the coming summer,
and Burrows Peck are To build n substantial
brick block ON the site Of their former store In
connection with Carlos Bancroft, who owns the
property just south OF that occupied by them be-
fore the first FIRE Mr. Bacon, also, we under
stand proposes To follow suit ere long Mr. Bruce
will likewise replace with brick aud we hear OF
no case where wood will again DO used for bust
ness blocks
This is the right spirit The surcst protection
Montpelier can have against another great fire
surer than conduits, OF steam engines, or force
pumps, Is the removal Of the old fire traps, which
still eumber some parts Of the village, and the
erection everywhere in the centre OF the town Of
solid and substantial brick buildings with slated
or metallic roofs. 1t is very important that the
roofs OF all houses should be absolutely incombus-
tible when a fire spreads in nine out Of ten,
1t catches In the roofs, and where these arc bGilt
Of shingles it is impossible for any human agency
to control it. village like ours should have
fire limits like any city, and the sooner measures
are taken establishing boundaries within which
no wooden building can be erected, the better
for the prosperity OF the community
IN coscIusos
The FIRE ragged about three hoars, and then be-
gan to abate; by four O'Clock the flames had sem
sibly decreased in volume, and by day light moth
ing but burning ruins remained. A cleaner sweep
was never seen; within the limits OF the fire, on
Saturday were standing ouly the ragged walls Of
the Rublee, Zenas Wood and Bruce buildings, the
enormous chimney of the Hyde & Foster block,
and the chimney almost as large in the opposite
house The sidewalks and streets were AS FREQ
from rubbish as before the conhagration began.
For its extent we venture to say, that grander
fire never WAS seen. Three hours after breaking
out it had reached its extent and at that time
two acres OF fame were u be seen with
one glance of the eye. The writer OF this
article stood the Rlalto bridge when the coniia-
grafton was at its height, and more splendid and
awful sight never met his gaze. In every direc-
ton fiery tongues of fame were leaping towards
heaven, and ever aud anon one more daring than
the rest shot up II aspiring In Its wrath to set
the very skies on fire. The clouds, unusually
black all the evening, were now lighted with a
lurd glare that seemed To presage woe and dire
calamity, aud the surrounding hills, piebald with