Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-30

Nermonters ut home and abroad" was
responded to 10y Col \. y. Waterman He
said that, assembled in the metropolis of the
Northwest, surrounded by SO many evidences
of wealth and luxury, they might almost for
get that the State whose sons they were had
no great cities, and that the people out from
among whom they had come were in the
main of frugal habits. humble means. and
sinpl.. vS-ys Her "a 400 furrurrr, with farns
averaging less than 100 acres each, found in
the cultivation of her hill-sides that some
thing more than mere tickling was needed
to make them laugh with an abundant
harvest. Farm life in Vermont was a
struggle with Indictment weather, stubborn
rocks, through stumps, and a meagre soil.
The Vermont farmer worked hard, lived
well, and, if one reckoned his gains by dol
lars and cents, died poor; but if one weigh
ed him and his in the scales of eternity, by
heaven" it would be found that his class
were the richest people in the universe The
end and aim of civilization was the promo
ton Of human happiness. Judged ly this
standard, there was in the world no higher
civilization than that Of Vermont. Nowhere
were 10 be found less of the extremes Of
wealth and poverty, less of violence, dcstitu-
ton, suffering, and crime, more of industry,
sobriety, and prosperity, as well as actual
and practical liberty, equality, and fratcrni-
ty. Mankind had ne Ter seen government
the superior Of that under which the Yer
montcr lvcd-a government that more per
fectly answered the end for which govern
mcnis were instituted, the protection of life,
the security of property, and the establish
ment of liberty.
MAYOR HARRISON.
Chicago, Our Adopted Home, and its
Mayor" was the sentiment to which the
Hon Carter H. Harrison. Mayor of Chicago,
was called upon 10 respond. He said tina,
hrcvity was the soul of wit. and he proceed
ed 10 make Il very brief and sharply pointed
address. in which he said it had been stated
by a previous speaker that Chicago was
noted for its modcsly, SO was lis mayor.
Laughter. 1t lad also been stated that a
man should not force himself into Office, but
should he forced to accept. That was exact
ly the way it was with the Mayor of Chicago.
Renewed laughter. If the people wanted
to see a volume of abuse poured out upon
the Mayors head, let them read the morning
papers if they wanted 10 see anything good
about him, let them wait until afttI his death
and then read the epItaph upon his tomb
stone. Applause. lie had carefully pre-
pared a long spccch-siEce he had sat down
to the table, but experience told him that
when the hour-hand of the dial pointed to the
hour of l., it was no time for long speeches.
He would, therefore, reserve his effort until
one year from that night. Applause.
The Vermont Glce Club led the singing of
the "DoXology," bencdiction was pro-
nounced by the Rev. W c. Hopkins of
Champaign, H., and the large company ad-
journ,d from the hanquei-lall to the cor
riders, where season of sociability was i'll
1
tNoivp dantrs, rnr ilo"ss bling covered with
canvas for the occasion.
II was not until late hour that the assem-
bly, dispersed 10 their homes, pronouncing
this the most successful reunion OF the Sons
OF Vermont vet held