Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-08

kept and well stocked with such
goods as the trade of the region
seems to demand. The huge stoves
and saw dust boxes suggest a Pleas
ant rendezvous for these, who, like
the ancient Athenians, are always
ready to hear or to tell some new
thing. Doubtless some of the most
important subjects are discussed in
the evening gatherings about the
store stove. The gravest questions
in politics the respective merits Of
Garfield and Hancock /; wise predic-
tions as to who will win; the advan-
tAge or disadvantage of civil service
reform, TO the extent of the perpetual
employ Of all faithful officers, re-
CARELESS Of any possible change in the
administration 4; and then descending
from the sublime to--how easy the
descent always is less important
subjects, have q full share of this
public fireside attention. What sal
lies of wit what roaring stories are
told at times! But often how much
that is said might better be left I'M
said. Here as elsewhere q word
5houghtlessly spoken, hint careless
ly thrown out, may work infinite harm
and cause unfounded suspicion and
distrust. That these gatherings are
profitable to the owners of the stores
or the participants thereof can hard
ly be claimed by their most enthusi-
astic and constant supporters. Boys
are always warned to beware of their
insidious attractions.
But there is worse thing for boys
and young men than hanging about
the stores listening to idle gossip and
aimless conversation or watching the
coming and departure Of customers
and that is, 1eunging on the street
corners, standing i'll groups on the
walks, or sitting on door steps. For
in the former case they will not be
likely to hear or indulge in profane
and low language, because shop-keop-
ers never allow such things (?) out of
respect to themselves and their Gus
toners but in the latter case, in the
street there seems to be no restraint
to the expression Of i'll will against
Con and man. 1t is notorious that
oaths too often pollute the lips of
childhood in these streets, all the re-
suit of example on the part of others.
To such an extent is this a deplorable
fact that it has in several instances,
been the subject Of admonition from
the pulpits of the various churches.
Now no cause is more potent to pro
/ duee what is condoled by every
right minded citizen, than for boys
and youth to loitcr on the street
evenings. Happily, however, many
boys have neither the time nor the in.
clination to be idle, for they are busy
with their books. The High School
is in excellent working order and is
q great credit to the school board and
to the place.
No one in looking at the town from
an adjoining hill and seeing the pro.
portion Of church buildings to the
number of dwelling houses, can think
that the village is not well provided
in this matter. Were it a small city
it would probably have no larger
number of denominations. And il
everybody did as well as he knew
how; if every family went every
Sunday, at least once, somewhere tC
I divine service; these meeting houses
might all be filed. And how much
a full house helps to inspire earnest
ness in pulpit and pew. But in thi'
regard it is said that there is a chang
for the better in each church.