Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-30

It's significance, no one need doubt TO still
further mark the happy character Of the day,
the evening will witness the first of the Win
ters series of dramatic entertainments which
are arranged for the entertainment of the pa
tients.
At the Roman Catholic church. last Sun
day, Bishop De Goesbriand celebrated mass
at O'Clock, A. NJ, on which occasion several
of the children received their first commun-
ion. At the Grand High Mass, at 1870, the
Gregoran mass was performed by the choir.
and Bishop De Goesbriand preached an elo-
quent sermon. At o'clock, p. NJ, upward
of 100 children received the holy sacrament
of Confirmation at the bishops hands. The
ceremony was a beautiful and impressive one.
and was witnessed by densely crowded
house. The alarm of fire in Earls store took
place during the confirmation ceremony. and
panic came near ensuing from the fact that
some injudicious outside person rushed to the
church door and cried fire !" Serious con-
sequences were fortunately averted. however,
by the presence of mind of Rev. Mr. Lane.
who instantly sprang to the altar and assured
the audience that there was no danger. and
succeeded in commanding quiet The inte-
iior of the church edifce has recently been
tostefully painted, greatly to the improve.
ment Of its appearance.
The following is the list of letters remain
ing at the post office in this village, Nov. 2S:
Ladies.-ATrs. Ann NJ. Atwood, Miss Eva
VI. Atwood, Mrs. q. II. Howe Mrs. NJ A.
King, Miss Nellie May (2), Mrs. Hazen Pick
ring Mrs. NJ. Stewart, Mrs. Luctetia Thay-
er.
Gents.-Clarence Blake, T. G. Crozier
Chas. q. Dana, NJ c. Davenport, Geo f.
Stockwell, b. f. Tyler, Earl Willard j. X.
White, jerome Weller.
4 SUGGESTION FOR THE VILLAGE MEETING.
At present it can only be n matter of con-
lecture as TO whether the annual village meet
ing next Monday evening will witness any de-
cided contest over the election of officers for
the coming year. We believe, however, that
there is one point which should receive spec
ial attention, and that is the election of chief
engineer This Office is, in many respects,
the most important one connected with our
village affairs, from the fact that to a great
extent the property of the whole community
is in the hands of that official for safe keep
ing. 1t is Enthusiastically the case that very
many of our citizens believe that Mr.. s. NJ
Waite is the man of all others in our village to
have charge of the fire department-and the
consequent protection of public and private
property-on account of those qualities of
quick and judicious judgment and of decided
and energetic action in case of great emergen-
cy which Mr.. Waite possesses in n remarka-
BILE degree-and this opinion, it should be said,
is entertained entirely independently of indi-
vidual personal feeling toward Mr.. Waite in
general outside matters. We do not know
that the gentleman would again accept the
position of chief engineer, even if rendered to
him, but we do know that there have been
several times during the past year when his
instantaneous grasp of the situation and quick
and decisive action would have been worth
more than the services of half hundred or
binary men, or half-dozen streams of water
As to who shall fill an Office like this is ques-
ton, not of personal feeling and prejudice,
but of the best and most capable man. No
man who has held the position of chief engin-
Ger in this village has ever enjoyed the conf
dence and respect of the fremen, while at the
same time maintaining n strict and impartial
discipline, to greater extent than did Mr..
Waite. We make this suggestion, without
consultation with any outside party in the
simple hope that it may receive the candid
consideration which we believe it merits.
CLOSE OF THE FALL TERM OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
The village schools closed their fall term
last Friday, and this week they are enjoying
their annual Thanksgiving vacation In the
High school the third division finished the
study of elementary algebra with the close of
the term and on Friday afternoon the class,
numbering 1G members, was given very
careful and thorough examination by Mr..
Bingham, in the presence of Miss Crosby of
thu assistant committee, and several other Wis
itors. The examination, which lasted through
an hour and half, was devoted in its first
part to searching questioning upon defini-
tions, explanation of terms used statement of
processes, etc. The replies were given under
standingly, and, i'll nearly every instance,
with readiness and facility which showed
that the fundamental principles of the science
had been reached and mastered The last
half hour was devoted to the solution of prob
lens upon the board, of which each pupil
Der and page being drawn at random from the
teacher's hand The solution of the problems
was no less ready and satisfactory than was
the oral part of the examination, and at the
close Miss Crosby announced that, in the ex
animation, ten members of the class ranked
10 perfect); two ranked %; two 9.S; one
81; one 9.4-a very high and uniform stand
ing Mr.. Bingham stated that this eXamina
ton had been undertaken with view to max
ing il the rule hereafter while he may remaiI
connected with the school, that, when elias
completes any branch of mathematical study
it shall be examined upon the ground gon
over, in the presence of member of the com
mittee, to determine whether its members ar
fitted to pass ON to a higher branch. Thi
class will take up Geometry with the opening
of next term.
In the Grammar school very interesting
little maacdLe was given on Wednesday after
noon, between the hours of two and tire
o'clock, under the lead of Miss Cook. Tn
parents and friends of the pupils were invite
to be present, and the exercise was intende
to be- in one sense, n review of what the chill
dren had learned in music during the term
The freshman class, with great readiness an
correctness, sang scales by letter, in both flat
and sharps, together with 70 inds and songs c
on. part. The juniors and Seniors in add
ton to scale exercises sang hymns, songs an
other exercises in two and three parts, an
their performance was in every respect sati
factory. II is n satisfaction TO know that, e'
err since the introduction of music as a regulG
branch in the schools, the interest of the pr