davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04
VERMONT ITEMS.

w. T. Richardson Of Chester slaughtered
pig last week, less than nine months old,
that dressed 46, pounds.
ira j. Melindy has recovered S5GGd from
Bradford for injuries received III consequence
OF a defect il tine highway
A tirn by the name of Morse q Fuller
have begun To manufacture scvthe and ma
chine stones 40 Morgan. and challenge tn
world to produce "a better article
An Orwell man tapped thirty maple trees
one day las, week boiled down the twenty
pailtui- of sap obtained and gave a sugar par
~ in the evening.
--Ir.sburg has an auu-profanity society
and member who SO far fOrgets himself as
TO break over the proprietie- of speech is COM
PEELED TO wheel feluw-membeT around the
common.
sylvester Metcalf Of North Bridgcwatcr.
10 years old. while ~ the woods with his
brother-in-law, who was hauling logs the 9th
er day Wa, struck 10y log as II was being
dragged away 10y the team and has neck brok-
Ell.
The Rutland Herald says that Miss Ii
Frame and Alr Avery viii give IA second walk
ing exhibition in that place on the sd inst,
when Mr. Avery will walk tfty-two miles
while Miss Lstruc walks nifty.
A partial result Of Moody and Sankey
work in burlington Is manifested in the an
uouncement that CO persons stand PROFOUND
ed for admission 10 the two tungre eatiUnal
churches in that city next Sunday.
DR. A P Grinn-ll mas been appointed
Professor Of Physiology IL the medical depart
ment Of the University of Vermont IN place
of DR. Marshall Calkin,, resigned.
Wi le Mrs Aouzo Avery Of Sharon was
carrying hoy two years-old child acrossa bridge
the other day, it fell from her arms distance
of - feet upon a solid stone abutmeut, strlk-
ing squarely upon It's mead. Strange TO re
late there were no bones broken, and though
the child Was perfectly inseusible and remain
ed IN thai condition Tor a day or two, he has
partially recovered and continued improving
up TO the present time and II Is now thought
that he wall entirely recover.
The migratory quails imported into But
| land from Europe last spring have been heard
I from again. according 10 the Forest aud
| Stream. which publishes letter from Sayan-
nah saying that at least three coyeys of them
are wintering near that city.
The gold-mining excitement which pre-
! vailed at Worcester near Montpelier. last
/ year has about died out There wasn't gold
| enough in the ground TO pay for digging. ana
/ the only production of any cons-uU ence which
| has appeared is n lawsuit A. Nicholas o.
! Montpelier and his son bought a large amouu
( Of real estate in the early period of the fever
/ and sold 1t later at a large advance. A La
noble county man who had been badly bitter
in this way. has lust brought a suit agains
1 the elder Nicholas for $50, 600 damages, which
he alleges Nicholas obtained from him as tn,
price of some worthless land
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

Now that tine Texas trouble is over. and the
bottom facts in the matter have been reached
it becomes evident that the difficulty was @
wholly local affair occurring in The extreme
western corner of Texas, in the county of T.
Paso. near the village of Elizario The local
ity is mostly inhabited by people Of tin Men
lean race not more than forty or fifty Of all
the residents of FL Paso county being said to
be American A natural peculiarly of the
region consist of salt ponds which have
been resorted to from time rmmemoral by
everybody from both sides Of the Rio Grande
who wanted to get salt At length claim to
exclusive possession to the ponds was set up
by Il rcputcd purchaser, who employed "a, his
agent one c. II Howard His warning that
the people could have NO more salt without
paying for it was regarded as an outrage on
their traditional privileges. and they seized
him and one or two others in the last week of
September. but released him under writer
agreement to interfere DO further with IT,,
free gathering Of salt and TO qult thu country
This was the FIRST riot. which Iuade a. great
noise ut the time the second was caused 10y
Howard temperance on the scene in def
ance of his agreement. Against tia mob
which assembled. he collected % small squad
of rangers and made the best fight he could,
but was captured and shot with two other.
1t was Just such d lynching operation as we
/ too frequently have reported from tho South
western States.
/ The most interesting part of the affair, Is.
/ however, to see how it was made to appear
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The Boston journal talks wisely about the
basis of real and lasting harmony within the
Republican party -
There are kinds of reconciliation that
would only make matters worse. suppose
the President in order to please the oblectors
TO his Southern policy, should declare his
readiness to throw the troops into any state
for reasons like those which accounted for
their being in Louisiana and South Carolina at
the time he was inaugurated; would that
cause harmony either at Washington or any
where else In such contingency 1t would
be seen how mistaken how fatal a retrograde
policy would be. No. the only safe, feasible
ground of harmony lies in the advanced posi-
ton of Republican progress. as covered by
the Cincinnati platform. As Abraham LIN
coin used to say that the country would never
be satisfied unless convinced that slavery was
in process of extinction, so it is true that the
Republican party of to-day can only be estab-
lished in its strength upon the line Of progress
and reform Whatever is done counter tc
that idea will have TO be done over again.
Other parties can live on the past or hold
their own in a semi-fossilized condition; not
so the Republican party it lives by advanc
ing. To stand still-to say nothing of falling
backs to die
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

Never before in 30 years, say the Western
dispatches, has the upper Mississippi been
open TO navigation in the holiday season But
for the fact that all vessels are stopped and
laid up for the winter, lake navigation could
also be resumed at this time.
Carl Mas of Morgan, Iowa. and his wife
left their farm house on Christmas day to
musk corn leaving their three children, aged
l. D and 1 years in the house A fog pre-
vented their seeing that the house had taken
fire till it was reported by a neighbor, when it
was too late to rescue the children and the
three were burned TO death.
The Rev. Edward Abbott has retired from
the editorship of the Congregationalist, pre-
paratory to entering the Protestant Episcopal
church. The paper says The step IS not a
sudden one. but the result of preference long
entertained, and of convictions of gradual
growth.
John Bonner a Co., one of tine oldest
banking houses on Broad street, New York
has suspended Bonnerha fed 10 Canada anl
leaves behind many victims Of his rascalities
He has been specializing on other people,
money, pledging securities he did not own
and the result is a deficit of S4O0, 900, as near
ly as can be now ascertained.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

all of Mr. Hayes actions, not only since his
accession to the Presidency, but during the
whole of the long and exciting campaign
which preceded it and the same element is
also satisfied in the main with the results
which, as the Chief Executive of the nation
he has thus far achieved His course toward
the South in Withdrawing the troops from
Louisiana and South Carolina and up to the
present time. was not alone in accordance
with the dictates of IL wise craftsmanship,
which sought to do the right-it was dictated
10y the necessities of the times. and it was
precisely the course which Gen. Grant has
pointedly declared from across the water.
that he should have taken had he remained in
the Presidential chair. The Mr.. Burke al
ready referred to as the holder of the mystic
rious secret pledge, even declares that Pres
ident Grant assured him while the electoral
controversy was pending year ago. that the
troopsshould be withdrawn, and that on
" by the solicitation of several of his friends
that he was induced to withhold the order and
leave the whole matter to his successor.
If the object of MI Chandlcrs letter was
to SOW discord in the ranks Of the Republican
party. it is already fairly evident that the ef-
fort will prove nothing better than ridicu-
lous failure. If it was intended as a foreruu-
ner of general declaration of war on the
Administration on the part of the "spoils' cl-
ement in the party. we can afford to patiently
wait the next development Meantime W,
may rest assured that the real substance OF
the party will tolerate no step backward, while
all it, better elements will cordially uphold
and sustain the President III every well meant
effort to unite and build up the whole country
on a broad and generous basis of peace. hon
esty. progress and reform.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The Northampton Mass. bank burglars.
Scott and Dunlap, were sentenced. last Sat
urday to twenty years each in the State pris-
on-the full extent Of the law. The current
belief that the bank officers were ready for a
compromise. if they could get back the stolen
bonds. found confirmation when the criminals
were brought up for sentence. District At
torney Field moved for sentence. and stated
why the sentence should be a severe one. He
was Immediately followed by Charles Delano.
counsel for the bank, who asked that sentence
might be deferred, with the hope that the
mitigation sometimes granted in cases of res
tituton might induce the burglars TO surreu-
der the stolen bonds The court declined to
grant the request. and the prisoners stating
that they had nothing to say in their own be
half. were Immediately sentenced. Both of
them maintained their usual self-possesson
and appearance of unconceru. and received
the sentence without any show of emotion
The case has been noted one, and marked
10y extraordinary features throughout The
crime was committed ON the night Of January
-. 1876. 1t was carefully conceived and
well executed scheme in which the robbers
were assisted by an employe of the maker Of
the bank S vault doors and lock, who supplied
them with an impression in wax Of the safe
key The trial was exciting. and it was fol
lowed by motion for a new trial. which
Judge Rockwell last week denied. and the
sentence followed as stated. The prisoners
are sentenced on the indictment for robbing
the bank The other charge on which they
were convicted, that OF robbing Cashier Whit
tlesey.s house hangs over them, and they are
liable on this to sentence for life. The
amount stolen from the bank was upward of
million and a quarter dollars, no part OF
which has ever been returned.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The Bennington Battle Monument Associa-
ton publish q statement, explaining thnt they
have not yet adopted or considered any plan
III design for a monument, and will not con
slider any officially except in conference with
the Governors Of New Hampshire and Aassa-
chusetts Designs are premature until i Is
certain how much the Association will have at
THAR dismissal Il is not the intention of the
Association 10 make any attempt at erecting
nor .ment until sufficient money shall be in
;,eir possession to erect and maintain mon
ument which shall be worthy of the three
States initiating it and of the great event com
memorated. The structure will not be begun
until the funds are in hand TO complete it.
No debt will be created and no half-complet-
ed pile will be left to attest the bad faith Of
the Association. 1t is found that the celebra-
tiOns of last August cost about $4,000. Of
which the State paid 81. 600 and the remainder
was contributed by citizens of Vermont. A
volume will soon be published by the Asso-
ciation containing a detailed account of the
centennial observances. 1t will be copiously
illustrated and will contain large amount of
historical matter. in addition to the addresses
and poems delivered at the celebration Its
compiler is Mr. Chas, NJ. Bliss, tine secretary
of the Association, a gentleman whose emf
nent qualifications for the work give assurance
of its faithful and satisfactory execution.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04
SECRETARY EvArrs DEFINES HIS Pc

SECRETARY EyARrs DEFINES HIS Position.
Secretary Evarts remarked 10 q gentleman
who called on him last week. that there could
beno political difference between him and Mr.
Conkling. We both, said lie, belong to
the same party. although it Is claimed by Ben
Butler and others that ] am a Democrat. Now
my Republicanism is as good as Butler, and
Is older than Coukling,. I have certainly
been rs consistent as Butler, and | as certain
" antedate Conkling, My rigid adherence Is
due the Republican party. and l am ia Bepubli-
can in the full sense Of the term / have
made no Overturas whatever 10 Mr. COnkhug
and have never yet seen tn necessity for a
reconciliation with him. Neither the Cabinet
nor tha President Is III the slightest degree
disturbed ON the subject. nor is there any rea-
son for my resignation more than there would
be for my doing any other thing not demand
ed by contingency that has not arrived. The
Cabinet is perfectly harmonious The tlghty
effort of certain politicians cannot disturb that
harmony or disturb the country. Before
long the country will understand the whole
matter as We in the Cabinet understand it.
As for myself, l made mp my mind early IN
life not to have an ambition that would dis
turb my own rest. let alone that of anyone
else ] am like the Connecticut farmer,
stone wall, which was built four feet high and
five feet thick, so that if It was blown over il
would be higher than il was before / have
been patient enough to come here on "a salary
of 5000 a year. and if / am tipped over
will 60 back 10 a practice of $4,000 a year.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

WESTERN MUD.-Io Eastern readers the
picture presented 10y Cincinnati dispatch.
under date of Dec, -, is Il curious one
Travellers dispatche8 from various points in
the States Of Illinois Iowa, Wisconsin and
Minnesota, say that the oldest inhabitant new
er saw anything like the present terrible EN-
barge of mud that prevails in every city, town
and country road, alley and lane. IN the
smaller cities and towns, where there are no
extensive means of cleaning mud from the
streets, all commercial operations of any mag
nitude are suspended Farmers rarely ven
ture TO town even with light wagon, and
when necessity drives them ont 20 purchase
sustenance they 60 on horseback, and take Il
day for trip of four miles. There is no
abatement of the nuisance and cattle, hogs
grain, and produce of all kinds are kept from
market, to the detriment of all hands
A Laporte, Ind, special says John Deck
er and five other citizens rode through the
principal street yesterday in boat drawn by
mules, the mud being foot and half deep
and yery al ing boat riding easy. The
ropd'~ section are utterly impas-
sat lrouted IN the ear. and un-
le rms colder. a vast amount
! Of corr "r ed
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The list of eminent persons who died III
1877 is shorter than usual John Lothrop
Motley senator Morton and Commodore
Vanderbilt, are perhaps those the widest
known in the United States, though Others
eminent in the various walks of life have also
fallen Among them occur the names of Rev
DR. Treat the longtime secretary of the
American Board Rev. DR.. VIM. H. Lord Of
Montpelier Ross Winans, the Baltimore in
ventor and millionaire William G. Brown
low, the fiery Tennessee editor and politician /;
Fletcher Harper, the last survivor of the orig
inal firm of Harper Brothers Rev. John S.
c. Abbott. the author President Smith of
Dartmouth College and Ex-President Caswell
of Brown University, prominent educators
TAYLOR Lewis and Henry b. Smith, two of
the foremost Biblical students in the country.
Brigham Young, the Mormon patriarch
Robert Dale Owen. the philRnthropst; Rev.
DIR. Schneider, one of the pioneer mission
aries in the Turkish empire Edward L. Da-
venport. George L. Fox and Edwin Adams
actors The most prominent European names
on the death roll for the year are Ernest
Picard, the French statesman; Leverrier, the
French astronomer Theirs, the eminent Tt
publican and historian of France Therest
Titiens, the world-renowed operate singer
Hon. Mrs. Norton the poet, and Field Mar
shall Wronged of Germany,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The COLORADO OUTRAGE The outrage per
petrated by the House Of Representatives il
giving the democratic Patterson the seat from
Colorado, to which the people of that State
had elected the republican Bedford, aroused
natural indignation ont there, though they
had been in measure prepared to expect it.
The Denver News regards the effect Of this
act as much greater than anybody at the East
had supposed. and thinks it practically dis
franchises the State for nearly four years to
come either 10y yacatiug the.seat or filling il
with a democrat, though majority of the
voters are republican. Its theory is, that nc
legal election for representative can be heldneXt
year, because both the constitutional conveu,
tion and the Legislature have provided that
the election of lS7, shall be held on the first
Tuesday in October, whereas the House has
just decided that the similar election of Octo
Der, 1876, was of no effect though Patterson
farce of pretended election in the next
month was recognized as valid The News
therefore, sees no reason why Patterson may
not try the dodge over again next year witt
rs much prospect of success.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

Dispatches published IN the Boston papers
on Tuesday Of this week, fully confirm the
statement made in our last issue relative TO
the exaggerated reports about the financial
difficulties of the Billerica and Bedford narrow
gauge railroad. An adjourned meeting Of the
directors of the company is 10 be held next
Monday, when it is probable that satisfac-
tory adjustment Of the indebtedness of the
road will be reached. Perhaps those outside
papers which have interested themselves SO
much III disseminating reports Of the bank
ruptcy" of the Billerica and Bedford road, and
in attempting 10 throw cold water on our new
West River valley project, viii also copy this
statement with appropriate encouraging com
ments. Whether they do or not, however
the fact cannot be disputed that, whatever
may be the financial condition of this new
Massachusetts road, on its construction ac-
count, its present difficulties have nothing
whatever 10 do with the question of the profit
or loss of its practical operation, as it mas been
open TO general business for a space of less
than a month and its prospects up TO this
time are of the most encouraging character.
As 10 whether twO-ieet gauge railroad il
safe end feasible and whether such a road
can do a local and general business exdedi-
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04
The safety and Capacity Of Marrow
Gauge Railroads.

Gauge Railroads.
NJ. Edjtor g. The recent discussions of the
narrow gauge railway system have developed
the fact that there are two. and only two, Sc
rious objections in the public mind to it. nei-
Their of which has any solid foundation. Both
are the offspring of mere speculation without
adequate knowledge. Practical facts, estab-
lshed by experience, in relation TO the con
struction and operation of narrow-guuge rail
roads. thatare now forthe first time fndingtheir
way to the general public, will speedily dissi-
pate these errors. These two objections are :-
/. That the narrow gauge road, especial
ly so narrow as two feet. cannot be operated
with the same safety as the broad-Rauge
q That the two-fcet gauge is mere ''ba-
by road as some style it, and not capable Of
doing any considerable amount Of business.
To the first Of these objections it is sutii-
ciont answer to SAY that the practical oxpo-
rience on all narrow gauge rome shows it to
be absolutely without foundation. The FEES
tiniog road in Wales. whose gauge is %!
inches. has been in full operation many years,
both for freight and passenger traffic and has
performed all it, work as safely and satisfac-
toriy in every respect as any other road. No
accident has ever occurred by the engine or
cars boiling or tipping from The track. though
a speed of thirty miles an hour is frequently
attained 10y passenger trains and no fear of
such "a calamity is falt beyond what IS expert
euced on all railroads In fact, the tipping of
cars from the track of any gauge railway is al
most AN uuhcard of thing. Mere speculative
theory saws thcv will IN, over Will universal
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The Sultan of Turkey last week formally
requested the English government to take the
initiative in proposing peace to the Car.
England acceded TO the request, but Russia
replies to her offer of mediation that the FIRST
step toward peace must be a direct proposal
for an armistice from Turkey herself, In
structions were telegraphed from st. Peters
burg Sunday. to the Russian commanders III
Europe and Asia to receive any overtures for
O truce that the Turks might make, and lur-
KEYS conditions have been forwarded to the
Russian headquarters. Meantime Russin Is
vigorously pushing her warlike movements
and preparations both in the field and at
home.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The truthfulness of an old English saying
that IA green Christmas makes fat grave
yard is seriously questioned in modern times
A more healthful fall and early winter has not
been enjoyed in score of Years. In Boston
the death rate for the last seven weeks was
fifteen per cent less than that OF year ago
at which time the season was much more Sc
we're. A careful comparison of the Brooklyn
death rate for several years with the record
OF temperature for the same time shows that
the mortality is lightest when the thermome-
ter ranges at about As degrees. As it goes
above 80 or below 40 the increase in the death
rate becomes more marked From the 10th
! of May to the 10Th of June, and from the 18th
| of October 10 the 10th of November are.
| therefore, the healthiest months Investiga-
ton proves that such weather AS we have had
for a month Is as heathful as any of the year.
! N y. iStiH
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The New York Sun foots up the amount OF
money stolen in the United States during the
past four years-beginning at a period Just
prior to the panic of 1S73-by reason Of de
falcations. entertainments and breaches Of
trust on the part of city and county officials
bank officers. executors Of estates, etc. to the
appalling sum of over $50, 100000. And the
worst of it is the shower does not yet seem to
L.. rIr.nr
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

The Vermont Banks Protective Association
at their recent annual meeting adopted strong
resolutions in favor of q repeal Of the law i'm
posing a tax of half per cent on deposits
and one per cent on all circulating notes out
standing. and also Of the law requiring two
cent stamp on bank checks. 1t is urged that
this is a burden imposed by no other govern
ment that it was cheerfully borne during the
war. when the necessities Of the government
were great. but that it is now unequal and un-
,,,gt
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04

William NJ Chamberlain, who is one
our best farmers, tapped portion OF his Il
pie trees last week, and on Thursday Frld
and saturday, Dec. 27th, 2sth and 29th' ga
cred nh barrels of sap, from which he ma
forty-fys pounds of very nice sugar
speak of the quality of the sugar from sw'
experience.
The Iitsrr ~ society of the Brattleb'
Academy held public meeting at Aeadel
hal last Friday ,Wening, and this was follow
by sRable or reunion Several OF
alumni i,ld former pupils were present, a
the me, tag was 81 exceedingly pleasant on