Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-24
The Bennington Centennial.
NOTES AND COMMITS OF THE PRESS.


From the New York Herald.
1t is New Hampshire rather than Vermont
that has reason to be proud of this days
Centennial, although the whole credit of
organizing the celebration is due to the
local patriotism OF the Green Mountain
State. All honor to New Hampshire for
planning the campaign and achieving the
victory all honor to Vermont for celebrat-
ing it in manner commensurate with its
lustre and Importance.
From the EOs ton Herald.
Thus ended celebration, of which Ben
nington, considering the size OF the town
and the immense crowds present, may Justly
be proud The arrangements suffered some
what from confusion IN minor details, but
were generally sufficient and satisfactory.
The people proved themselves h0spitable in
the extreme, opening their doors readily to
accommodate strangers. some OF them even
abandoning their beds and sleeping in their
stores. so that the visitors might have
opportunity to rest and sleep.
From the Boston Advertisers Report.
1t is useless to disguise the fact that tho
effort to crowd a quart celebration into a
pint town has been followed by the inev-
table consequences. The local committees
exerted themselves to the utmost. but they
were unequal to their task, and a great
many people are going home with feel
ing that they have been snubbed, or at less:
treated without consideration. 1t cannot
be believed that the Massachusetts, legisla-
ture and executive officers were so Inten-
tionally sighted. yet they certainly received
hardly more attention than so many casual
visitors. 1t is not often that Senator of
the United States and justice of the supreme
court of Massachusetts are lett to trudge
along in the mre on an occasion like this.
From the Springfield Republican.
The banquet was a signal success in its
ample provision for the public, and far
greater in the speeches. Gen. Banks says
that the occasion has far surpassed Concord
and Lexington.
The duty of escorting the State Oilicials
and other civic dignitaries tell to the lst
regiment. national guard of Vermont, a
splendid body OF men, 200 stiong, which
presented line appearance in their gray
and white uniform.
The local arrangements and general con-
duct of the celebration have sadly lacked
supervision and system. OF course the cen
tennial commission should have had head
quarters known TO the public where the
guests, visitors and press should received
adequate service and attention. Then il Is
VIGOROUSLY the fact that lealonsies and dis
sensiOns have marred the working harmony
of the local members of the commission.
When E. j Phelps OF Burlington and GOv.
Fairbanks arrived, they endeavored to heal
the differences. that the credit of the State
might not suffer, and they have doae so to
a considerable extent. The work entailed
by the centennials has been tremendous and
most cordially performed on the whole.
There was a lack OF careful attention to
details of the public accommodation. The
responsible managers neglected many mat
tiers till too late in the day to settle them.
alt hOugh the exeriloGs OF the men with
whom the public came most in contact
were indefatigable. We distribute no
blame, and only speak oi this failure a.
likely to ne a conspicuous shortening Ot
public celebrations, until they are organized
more seasOnablv and completely.
From the Boston ,s!uhe.
Ii is fortunate that bennington Is some
what out of the way Oi the daily walk of the
members OF the Legislature OF tins State, Tor
il it were otherwise tho people of that good
old town might hear some dIIagreeable com
ments upon the lack OF hospitality which
attended the visit OF the Great and General
Court to the Green Mountain State. That
body OF representative men from MasSa-
chusetts, who had shown their good will
towards Bennington by a generous contri-
button fer the propos, monument, should
arrive IN town and be leit to wander mile
or more through the mud To join the parade,
without a reception OF any sort or an escort
of any kind, that they should then he
separated from their own escort. the Cadets,
by company of Vermont State troops.
Just before passing Ia review before the
President; that no preparation should he
made for their accommodation IN the ora
ton tent, or at tho banquet until the last
moment, and that the only recognition OF
the presence of the guests from this State
should be the introduction OF Lieutenant
Governor Knight at the end of the list of
speakers, with no lntimatiOn that he came
from this State. are facts which will not he
speedily forgotten by those who lent their
presence at the Bennington Centennial as
an evidence of the interest taken in the |
event by Massachusetts,.