Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-22


pany" is not only tho cause Of tremendous
excitement at home, but II is receiving con
siderable attention from abroad One can
hardly take up newspaper that has not some
reference to it, and dare say most of you
know as much about II as do, in the midst
of all the "row." II seems strange that an
institution like this should have existed so
long without attracting attention and provok-
ing investigation. The probable reason is
that it was SO quietly conducted, in such
modest locality-the place above all others
where one would never look for bank"
and such secrecy was maintained by all con.
cerned, that IL escaped notice Then as one
of the qualifications, indeed, he qualification,
was that only unmarried women should, as
the agent prettily puts it, "enjoy the benefits
it confers," there should be no danger from
masculine interference. SO long, then, as it
was a secret, even an open one, just so long
it was com paratively safe. True enough, it
has become so well known within the past
year that various journals have alluded to il,
with conjecture as to its manner Of doing
business, but pretty much all that was known
concerning il was that there was a place
where certain women who had invested their
money were said to receive eight per cent.
interest monthly in advance, but it was not un-
Ill the concern removed into its present gor-
geous quarters that it became the object Of
general interest Now every body talks about
it, and agrees that any institution that pays
ninety.Sr per cent. interest yearly must be
either stupendous fraud or gigantic chari-
ty and the latter is what the management
claim that it is Last week Mrs Howe, the
manager of the concern, announced that she
had a million and a half of dollars behind
her, yet she could not stand weeks run,
and is now only partially paying the demands
made upon her.
The strangest thing about it ALL and, TO
thoughtful people, the most mournful, is the
attitude of women who are, or have been, de.
positors. Iustead of being glad that the press
is taking action in the matter and endesvor-
ing to place the responsibility on the right
shoulders, they raise their voices in angry re-
monstrance and insist that it shall be left
alone. What they say is virtually this 1--WE
don't believe it is fraud but IL it is, please
don't disturb it, il pays us so well. Mind you,
do not say they actually use these words,
but their attitude indicates this spirit. There
are hundreds Of women who actually believe
in the financial soundness Of the concern
aud in the entire honor and probity of those
conducting it but there are others who as
evidently believe that Ignorance is bliss,
and not only do not desire. but absolutely op-
pose investigation. The enlargement used
il that Of course it is all right, for the man
ayers have always kept their promises. That
is true without any doubt, aud, as long as
these women induce others TO become de-
positors, Just SO long tho concern will fulfil
its promises, but let the depositors all cease
and we should soon learn, beyond a perad-
venture, whether the fund of million and
half is golden fact or only exists in Mrs.
Howe's imagination. don't like to hear the
women argue as they do. It shows plainly
that girls should have more practical educa-
ton. In these days, when 80 many of them
are compelled to be their own bread-winners
and protectors, it is eminently fitting that
they should have some trimming which should
fit them for real life. Here is a suggestion TO
the "Woman's Congress" which convenes in
Boston next week There will be two or
three hundred supposedly the wisest, most
thoughtful and strongest women of the ma
ton, coming from North and South, East and
West, to sit in council regarding their own
sex and what can be done for its advance
ment mental and moral.
Here is n topic of the hour filled with per-
tinent suggestion, in itself a work for the
Congress. II only the women could be made
to take hold of some practical work like this,
instead OF passing the time in reading ponder
Gus papers on abstract theories, it would be
we'll worth while but am afraid the con-
gress will have too much to do in listening to
the essays which have been in preparation for
year, and of which their writers are jealous
ly proud, to take any thought of the mental
and moral condition OF these particular wom-
en-, most of whom are from the working class
and who have become the abettors of another
woman, who, if she is not candidate for
canonization for her extreme benevolence, is
one of the most unscrupulous of her sex
which New England has ever produced. II
the former be the case, will render her CRATE
full praise in behalf of those of my sex whom
she is helping over hard places in life but
reserve my decision.
had the great pleasure, last evening, of
listening to the great Norwegian novelist,
BjOrnsterne BjGrnson, who is to pass the win
ter in Boston, making study of our institu-
tions. He accompanied Ole Bulls family on
their return from Norway, and is staying with
them at James Russell Lowell's "Elmwood," "
in Cambridge. Later on he will be the guest
of Mr.. Sylvanus Baxter of the Herald, at his
home in Maiden. believe said listened
to Mr. Bj0rnson. may as well tell you that
l didn't understand one word he said, since
am not conversant with the Danish language;
but 1t was pleasure all the same. He is a
magnificent orator, has a most musical voice
with wide infections, is graceful in gesture,
has figure that might have belonged to one
of the old Vikings, the sons of Thor, and a
face of the pure Scandinavian type, round,
ruddy and fair, with laughing blue eyes shad-
ed by glasses, and fair brown hair which he
wears brushed away from his forehead in the
manner of Ole Bull, only it is not SO long,
but 30 short that it stands up all around and
reminds one very funnily of the aureole that
surrounds the heads of the saints in illumi-
mated windows To please the people, who
were mostly seandnavians, he read some ex-
tracts from his folk-stories. It was delicious
ly funny he is fine comedian, and has great
powers of mimicry the audience laughed,
and SO did /. knew when the good things
were coming by the twinkle of his eye, and
was always ready for them. l don't believe
a soul around me, except my immediate neigh
bors on either side, knew that didn't under
stand one word of it all. I'm sure there
wasn't more appreciative-looking listener in
the room. However, Mr.. Bj6rnson can
speak English and, as he is to be a guest at
the opening reception of the Artists Guild,
next week, can tell you better what he is
like TO talk with after that.