Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-22


The telegraph wires remain in precarious
condition and many are entirely uselessa at
present.
Grand isls-The Episcopal Choir Festival,
Etc, Etc.
Correspondence ofthe Boston Postl
WOODSTOCK, VT, Oct. IL, 1880.
1t was on the sth of September, one
month ago, that your correspondent, dear
Post, started on jaunt from this little nest
of Woodstock to the northwestern corner
of the State, intending to visit Grand Isle
St. Adams and Burlington
Having reached the hospitahle house of her
friends at Grand Isle, your correspondent
then and there devoted herself wholly to the
task of lounging and taking life in the easiest
manner, in which project she was SO conspic-
uously successful that after time she was
very IL for the want of exercise For be it
here stated that at Grand Isle no one ever
walks, especially no woman. The amount
of exercise required by the men in farming,
and by the women in keeping up the stand
ard of thigh housekeeping" which pre-
walls at Grand Isle, makes all parties regard
walking out of doors with contempt. They
always ride. Grand Isle is inhabited by
thrifty, prosperous farming population, who
have owned their acres for several genera
tons. No war has ever penetrated here.
The soil is very productive, and especially
adapted to the culture of fruit. But the
most remarkable thing about Grand Isle, af-
ter the scenery, is the air. When on the
mainland the breeZes are hot and the ground
parched, the air there has the delicious
humid quality that elsewhere presage5 rain
Yet Grand Isle is the dryest part of Yer
mont. 1t has not even the brooks seen
everywhere else in Vermont, and have
sometimes spent the afternoon driving along
the cedar avenue on the west coast of the
island, and then crossing over to the east
ern shore, have watched rain clouds break
ing all along the horizon, on both sides,
everywhere while yet not drop fell upon
the island itself. There is but little very
high ground on Grand Isle, the soil being
broken into long wave-like swells, and the
land divided into alternate belts Of wood
land and open field, running north and south.
The beauty of the island and the scenery
beyond it is past adequate description. Set
in the centre of the lake, AMI ringed about
with mountains, it is like an emerald in a
silver shield bordered with turquoise stones
The travellers who come here are charmed
with its wonderful quetude which nothing
breaks save the cawing of the crows AMI the
tapping of the waves upon the shore. The
long reaches of meadow land, the fields with
heavy standing crops all bespeak plenty and
prosperity, while the neatness and comfort
of the dwellings show degree of content
ment which can hardly be excclled any
where.
Your correspondent went to Burlington
where, among other excursions, she visited
Rockpoint, widely known US the home for 81
years of the late first Bishop of Vermont,
John Henry Hopkins, d. d., Ii. D., d. c.
L., Oxon., and as the location of Vermont
Episcopal Institute, which the Bishop found
ed. Rockpoint is the peninsula which closes
in Burlington Bay on the northwest, and
being high rocky bluff, commands the most
exquisite view of Burlington with its back
ground of Green Mountains, that can be
imagined. The Point forms part of an es-
tate which is now held by the church in Ver-
mont as the Episcopal residence. But as the
present diocesan has had second residence
presented him in Burlington, he has left the
Rockpoint estate to the veRerable Madam
Hopkins widow of the late bishop. for her
use during her lifetime
This venerable lady, now 50, is one of the
most remarkable women of her day. All the
time of her married life, fifty-two years, she
was always at the head of large family.
She was the mother of thirteen children,
who were all educated at home by their par
rents, assisted by their mothers sister Elev-
en- of these children lived 10 maturity. In
addition to Mrs. Hopkins's many domestic
achievements, she assisted her husband from
the earliest years of his ministry in the MAIL
agemCnt of his large schools. During near
ly yearthe responsibility of experimenting
family OF los persons fell upon her her hus-
band being absent; yet at that time her
She sill speaks fiuently, English Germanand
French, having been born in Hamburg, and
at one time could play On seven Instruments,
besides. She also wrote remarkably well.
While visiting her, the other day, the writer
heard her play on the piano one of MoZart's
shorter soratas, learned when she was u little
girl As wife, mother, teacher, housewife
and in her social capacity, Madam Hopkins
filled TO an extraordinary degree the ideal of
womanhooi. She is now only waiting, as
she says, 10 Join her idolized husband
whose mortal remains lie entombed hut Il
few rods distant from his home when living
This tomb was cut from the solid rock and
stands upon u little hill facing Burlington
Bay. and commanding view of the Point
and the Institute 1t is surmounted by a
magnificent Celtic cross ten feet high, OF
snow-white marble, covered with sculptured
emblems of the apostolic Office. The design
of this monument which is one Of remark
able richness and beauty, was made by
Bishop Hopkins's oldest son and namesake,
Rev. DR.. Hopkins of Williamsport. Pa
The cross stands upon double base Of gran
lite, upon which are carved the name, etc,
of the person whom it commentaries. AS
one views this tall, white cross from below
ut twilight, with its back ground Of dark
woods, there is something curiously ghost
like and eCrie in its appearaa:'r; and when
standing at its foot, gazing at the dreamy
distance across the bay, listening to the
whispering pines and the musical splashing
of the water on the beach, one thinks WHO
could find filter resting place or sweeter
requiem for one who was one of natures
kingsf" For SUCH in intellect, character and
achievement, Bishop Hopkins undoubtedly
was. But leaving Rockpoint, your CORE
spondent returned to Burlington, to take
part, along with many other friends, in the
Choir Festival On this occasion the Yer
monters did themselves proud For the
Burlinstonians, in the first place, entertain
ed us most delightfully."-; and in the second
PLACE, the musicians, whether Nermonters
by birth or adoption, covered themselves
with glory The festival as the world now
knows. was under the direction of Mr.. $ Il.
Whitney of Boston, Vermont boy brought
up in Woodstock, Il gentleman who had
been called the major general of the baton
But insist that even Napoleon couldn't hold
a candle 10 him, because Napoleon wasn't
more than half as tall ID! And when Mr..
Whitney mounts the conductors stand it is
evident, even 10 the uninitiatcd. that he
means business. Such nj least was the i'm
preston we of the choir received, and 50 we
lifted up our l25 voices at the word of COM
mand-we crcsCcndo'd, diminuendo'd, or
held one tone for five minutes, at the risk of
becoming black in the face. with 4 docility
with which Mr.. Whitney expressed himself
highly delighted. After four rchearsals, the
grand pc riormances, two in number, came
of, and were universally pronounced sue
cess.
There were two organists, MessrS. Serb
ncr and Hopkins, the latter being q youth
not yet twenty years old, who bids fair 10
emulate Mr. Whitney in the musical line.
His playing was admirable, and he did great
credit to his ancestry, being grandson Of
Bishop Hopkins, who was skllful mul-
clan The accompaniment was further en-
bcllished by the assistance OF the Burlington
BrassBand, which gave us all the inspira-
ton that only comes from wind Instruments
The character Of the music performed was
exceedingly high, being largely drawn from
the works of English cathedral composers.
including compositions by Berthold, Tours
and Gounod. The system of choir festivals
was begun in Massachusetts to aid in raising
the present dep!0iable low standard of church
music throughout the Episcopal Church in
this country; and judging by the successes
already achieved, the choir festivals bid fair
to accomplish their mission in no very short
L. 4. al.