The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-17
Written for the Register.
FROM TIE CENTENNIAL CITY.

MEssRs. EDITOR Two have appar-
emily emerged from the icy grasp of
winter, the snow and drifts having dis
appeared; patches OF Ice may here aud
there be seen In places that are shaded.
The sun has adopted its former custom
of shining, and as every day it climbs
q little higher, its rays grow less angu-
lar. The general aspect of nature has
greatly changed since the incoming of
the new year. Then the whistling winds,
the flying snow and the glistoning ice,
conspired to suggest to the denizens of
the Quaker City, an Idea on q limited
scale of an arctic scene. But could Dir.
Kane have looked out from his silent
mausoleum on the rocky brow of Laurel
Hill, he would have probably assured
them that 1t was but faint shadowing
forth of those roaring winds and flying
frost and drifting bummocks of ice of
mountain height, and the noisy and
cracking atmosphere that so often sa-
luted the ears OF himself and comrades,
and met their vision on board the ship
Advance. If | recollect correctly, Dir.
Kane in his narration of arctic life and
scenery, says the falling snow is in par
iicles as fine as the frost that sometimes
fills the air the very coolest days in New
England. And he remarked that In OK
IRENE weather to touch his rifle barrel
with the naked hand, produced sensa-
ton of grasping hot iron. Although
such statement seems little paradox
ical, | believe 1t Is In accordance with
the philosophy of cold, and apparent
heat.
Many years since frequently read of
the wonderful performances Of SignOr
Blitz, the renowned ventriloquist and
astute performer at sleight of hand. For
few years past he has suffered from an
affection of the throat that has partially
precluded him from practising ventrilo-
quism. He died about week since, at
his residence OH Wallace street i'll this
city, at the age of siXty-seven. He was
quite unlike most of that profession. He
was q man that was universally respect
ed and esteemed in this great commun-
ity. or as far as he was personally known,
and was of strict moral habits, and was
possessed Of a very genial disposition,
and was a great tavorite, especially
among the children, and was beloved
! by them. During the rebellion he took
great interest in the welfare of the
wounded soldiers. He gave one hun
dred and thirty-two free enterta nments
before over 63 900 soldiers III the various
hospitals in and near the city, and gave
three weeks of labor, every after noon
and evening, at the sanitary fair i'll Lo-
gan Square, and was always ready TO aid
/ In benevolent works. lie was born in
England of Polish parents. Peace to
the memory of the good and genial Sig
nor Antonio Blitz.
ROBERT FULTON. It, Ia said wns n native
of one Of the interior counties Of this
state, notice proposition has been
suggested or made, to collect funds to
erect monument to bis memory, in
honor, suppose, Of his being the sup
posed originator of applying steam as n
motive power in propelling boats. Now
! submit, that if there is any correctness
in the history of Philadelphia, Captain
Fitch, a Connecticut Yankee, who came
in early life and settled in Bucks county
in this state, invented and constructed Il
miniature steamboat, and in the course
of few years, by experimenting and
building still larger boats and applying
larger and still larger force Of steam,
at length constructed steamer sufi-
GENTLY large to carry on the Delaware
river passengers and freight between
| Bordeutown, n. j., twenty-five miles
above this city, and Wilmington, Del,
thirty miles below this, the said city.
This last named achievement occurred
more than ten years before Fulton
steamed up the North River with the
"Clermont."
Benjamin West, Americas grea ieet
landscape painter, had been informed,
was native of this sta e; at any ate he
once resided i'll an antiquated lookiue
stone house near the spacious "Swarth-
more college," in Delaware county,
under the direction and control of tie
Hicksite Quakers.
Bayard Taylor's home Is at "Konne
Square" Jew miles southwest Of this
CITY. Ii is said the celebrated writer ie
MT in all respects as popular at h me
as abroad.
AS ] write robin is triling lis sil-
very notes with great gusto, in a tree
near my window. =. W. G.