Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-29
Matters and Things sixty Years Ago.

HISTORY ON THE HALF-sHRLL. FOUND IN
GARRET.
In clearing out the establishment OF u.
W. Peck & Co., preparatory to turning 1t
over to their successors, the Walker Broth
ers, there was taken from the attic and sold
to the paper-makers over ton of old paper
in the shape of account books. legal and
business documents, and other sccunula-
tions of a great mercantile house. This,
BY the way, was the second crop. the first,
several tons in weight having been sold a
few years ago. In this immense mass.
besides unspeakable rubbish and the souls OF
sundry defunct clerks and scribes, an anti
quariau Dryasdust friend discovered some
documents which perhaps deserve a passing
glance asthey emerge for a moment from
their dusty slumber OF half century. For in
stance, an account book (of John Pccksl
OF 1918. In this is tabls Of the "eI-
pences" of the village school district, the
total Of which, for one term, was, exclusive
of salaries, the bewilderipg sum OF 1913
With an evident determination to have
everything frst-ci,ss, three "tin tumblers"
were provided for the thirsty pupils the
Tin PALE was 'sodded," and writing
tables costing $3.50 were put in. The
school was evidently luxurious affair. In
the same book is q summary OF the expenses
of tbs Unitarian church for the year 1918.
Far that twelyemonth the total current ex-
penses were Sl467. twelve dollars Of which
was for six cords of wood. Another item /,
$3.50 paid Mark Rice for Notification
box"
Other documents are old-time jail bonds,
in which prisoner, bondsmen. JUSTICE,
sheriff, and creditor have long since entered
into their final rest. The jail limits were
marked hy stones set in the road on North
Avenue near the Tunnel. St. Paul street
near A. Taylor's house and Main street
near the Reseryoir-the two former of which
ara stu standing. Each of these monu-
ments was mils from the jail, and woe 10
the unfortunate ticket-of-leave man VINO
went beyond them
A curious book is one entitled /: Rules
and directions for acq uiring the art OF
Penmauship. Hartford, Conn, 1917.
This gives l,ng and minute instructions
about making and preserving quill pens,
as ", II as about the calliRraphic art; and
at the close cheers the soul Of the patient
student by assuring him that labor and sp-
plicstion " i'll render him able to keep bis own
account, and conduct bis own correspond
ence "which." it gravely add, will be a
great "a abstraction both TO himself and to his
friends" Which nobody can deny but
which would tend to show that writing
wasa much more reconcile branch Of learn
ing than at present.
Other things are an original subscription
paper to the capital stock of the Vermont
Central Railroad. in which so many millions
of dollars have since been sunk, map OF
the proposed route, etc etc.
Only few years separate US from the
time mentioned; yet so rapid IS American
progress and 50 soon do We forget those
things that are behind" that 1t seems as
remote as the Crussdes: but q glance from
the busy city Of to-day to the quiet village
OF half a century ago may be Of some inter
est, however slight, t. the Younger genera
ton at lesst-who may be presumed to take
a renewed concern in the subject from the
recent appearance of tie dollar Of the rude
forefathers of the hamlet"