St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-07-05
lessly dragged at least once for every
revolution of this poor old globe about

lessly dragged at least once for every
revolution of this poor old globe about
the central luminary of our solar sytem.
What there is in religion to impera-
lively necessitate an annual picnic in
the face of both reason and experience,
is far beyond the comprehension of the
mere observer of such phenomena, but
the horrid fact remains and, indeed,
believe that the unformulated rubric
which compels the observance of this
cruel rite is as much more binding than
any one of the Thirty-nine Articles
as the unwritten constitution of Eng
land is superior in authority to Parlia-
mentary enactments.
The man who is responsible for the
saying that 'Enothing is certain but
death and taxes" must surely have
been goddess worldling. Had he been
like you or me, gentle reader, regular
attendant at divine worship, he would
infallibly have included the church
picnic in his brief category of the in
evitable. 1t is as curious as it is sad to
observe the action of this memorable
law as the season for its operation ap-
proaches. This season is usually the
first hot spell, and at that time ministers
and Sunday school superintendent feel
the spell upon them. No matter how
mild and kind hearted they may be by
nature, there comes into their faces a
hard, stern expression as they announce
to their flOcks, at is about time to be
thinking about our picnic"
All know to their sorrow what this
portends, but no one has the moral
courage to rebel, and in due time there
comes to them day of heavy baskets,
of crying children, of WEAKNESS, and
sunburn and unallOyed misery, at the
close of which the one thought which
soothes and cheers the aching soul is
that of the coming year of respite from
the afflictiOn.
Do speak feelingly upon this mourn
full theme? Well, it's hardly more than
natural. went through the mill my
self day before yesterday.
Another comparatively unknown Cree
sus has died here this week in the per-
son of William G. Rhinelander, whose
property is variously estimated at from
ten to fifty millions. Thos. E. Davis is
another name which falls among this
lively poor man, leaving to his dis
tressed family only couple of millions.
Still more sad is the condition of Will
liam Vermilye's heirs, who this week
find themselves the pOssessors of only a
paltry sum of S600,000.- 1t remains to
be seen whether these three wills will
be allowed to stand or whether their
makers are to be hauled over the Goals
by the lawyers in the Surrogate's court,
every act of their lives raked up, and
every personal popularity discussed
publicly and at length, as in the poor
old COmmOdore's case.
A chance, however slight, of wrestling
some portion of fat estate from the
hands of the legatees, is so strong a
temptation to litigation that good
many disappointed expectants fall vic
tins thereto. Hence the celebrated
contests like those over the Vanderbilt,
Stewart, Singer, Dancer, Rollwagen and
other well known wills, the long dura-
ton and Importance of which give many
people an idea that it isn't of much use
to make will anyway. Figures show,
however that even in New York where
such strife is most common, only one
will in twenty is contested, and not one
in two hundred is overthrOwn. Counsel
fees in such cases are limited by statute
to five per cent of the amount of the
estate. In the Vanderbilt case there
fore, where the estimated amount in
dispute is $1O0,O00,000, the surrogate
can, if he chooses, allow $5,000,00 to
the lawyers. This case still drags along
without showing any signs of coming to
an end, and that of Stewart, after lying
quiescent for some months, has burst
out afresh.
1t is good thing for Mr.. Babbitt, the
soap man, that he has certain income
larger than he can possibly get away
with, or he would soon come upon the
town, what with the thieving and
swindling of which he seems to be a
favOrite subject. The last dodge of
which he has been made a victim, cost
him $4,000. A woman, of good ad-
dress applied to him some months ago,
saying that she was an expert detective,
and would probably be able to recover
a good proportion of the bonds and
things taken from him by the embez-
zling cashier, Beckwith. So the con-
filling soap boiler began advancing her
money with which to prosecute her
work, and on her ingenious representa-
tions, was induced to keep this up, I'M
til he was out the sum mentioned, when,
no results having been attained. he had
his female PinkertOn arrested on the
charge of swindling. In court, the lady
freely acknowledged the coin, and said
she did it merely Gin a spirit of dew
iltry." She has not yet been tried.
RADIX.