davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
Notes and Nafinns.


THE Boston Globe Butler organ) con.
siders Chester A. Arthur the wisest man
in his party"
Mr.. BLAINE says he is in better health
than at the beginning Of the year. He will
deliver the Garfield grafton.
WASHINGTON correspondents say that
John Sherman was bitterly opposed to hav.
ing James G. Blaine deliver the Garfield
grafton.
The Virginia readjusters have removed
the disabilities Of large number of duel
lists, all for the sake Of Riddleberger, the
new senator.
SENATOR HAwLEY attended the Guiteau
trial Friday. He says that Guiteau has an
Unbalanced mind, no doubt, but he is the
shrewdest man in the court room, and can
not be called insane in any sehse Of the
word.
GUITEAU, when leaving the court on
Monday, stopped at the district attorneys
desk and said "Corkhill, have had a
model taken from my head for 4 bust. l
wi, will . be great man yet cOrhhil you let
SPRINGFIELD Republican. "Conkl{hg and
Blaine, who have been leaders d the Two
wings of the republican party, dan now
take new start from private life. The
events Of the past eight months contain
many Lessons
CARL SEIZURE, in Boston leeture on
civil service reform, cordially commended
the declaration of President Arthpk that
his support should be given to ANY law
which congress might enact for th4 estab.
lishment Of the reform.
The letter of ex-Secretary BlainS on the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty is severelylfid Justly
criticised by the London Spectator and Econ
omist, true friends of the United States. The
letter is sort of diplomatic stump speech.
The Pine Tree diplomatist has not been su-
perseded any too soon.
HENRY WARD BEEcHER said, Sunday.
that blessed were the men who have little
OF everything in them. He said that one
must know something about crime to be in
full sympathy with criminals, and that he
knew temperance lecturers who would be
good deal more useful if they got full of
liquor once and rolled in the gutter.
In George William Curtis's civil service
reform lecture at Buffalo, last week, he re-
lated an incident of his only meeting with
Abraham Lincoln. 1t was the darkest pc
riod of the war, and as Mr.. Curtis was leav-
ing him, President Lincoln placed his hand
upon his shoulder, and said, with infinite
feeling "Don't you fear, my son; we shall
beat them" And now," said Mr.. Curtis,
"when hear Of any man doubling the sue
cess of this reform, see again those in
finitely pleading eyes, feel again that hand
of benediction on my shoulder, and from my
lips murmur the words of Abraham Lincoln ::
Don't fear, we shall beat them.'"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

PosTMAsTER-GENERAL.-The senate has
confirmed President Arthur's nomination
of Hon. Timothy o. Howe of Wisconsin to
be postmaster-general. In point of compar-
alive excellence the selection of Mr.. Howe
will not rank with the presidents previous
choice for cabinet officers. Mr.. Howe is
able and honest. He will labor under the
disadvantage of succeeding one of the most
efficient postmaster-generals the country
ever had, and it will be no serious impeach-
ment of his capacity if it should turn out
that he should fall somewhat below the high
standard established by Mr.. James. The
latter officer has opened the way and Mr..
Howe should have no serious difficulty in
continuing the excellent measures of reform
instituted by his predecessor. Considering
the superior judgment shown by the presi.
dent in his other appointments, the people
will be willing to take this on credit, and
there will be time enough to criticise il
when it shall have been proved to be weak
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
The Jeanette.

On the Sth of July, 1870, the steamer
Jeanette sailed from San Francisco on voy-
age of discovery to the north pole. The ex-
petition was the munifcent work of James
Gordon Bennett, proprietor of the New York
Herald. The vessel was commanded by
Lieutenant G. W. De Long and was man.
ned by select crew, nearly every member
OF which had experienced the perils of Arc.
tic exploration. The vessel has been twice
heard from since she sailed out of the Golden
Horn. Information from her to August
9th, 1870, was, however, the latest intelli.
gence from her till the news was flashed
over the wires last week of the appearance
of a part of her crew in the frozen heart Of
Siberia. The scant intelligence thus far re
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

ARREARS OF IRRESPONSIBLE. Hewitt of
Alabama has introduced in congress meas
ure for the repeal of the arrears Of pensions
act, and he advocates the repeal with force
Of statement and argument which ought ia
be convincing, provided his statements are
correct. No reasonable man grudges the
soldiers all that was promised them, or all
that they can rightly claim, but when it is
stated officially that twenty per cent Of the
claims presented are fraudulent, what apol
ogy can be offered for suffering matters to
drift without an earnest effort to apply a
corrective? The arrears of pension act was
doubtless passed under the belief that it
would take but comparatively small amount
from the treasury. After it was passed the
claims came in like the deluge upon the an.
tedeluviaus, and we had threatening of
stoppage in the payment of the public debt.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
The Peruvian Company.

Public interest in the South American
complications has been heightened by the de-
velopment of colossal scheme in this coun-
try which, carried out, would result in the
ownership of Peru by syndicate of Amer
lean citizens under the protection of the
United States government 1t is claimed
that Peru decreed in 1888 a third interest
in all guano deposits, mines and nitrate
beds to the discoveries of such hidden
wealth within her boundaries; that one
Cochet, stimulated by this offer, made ex-
plorations which resulted in immense dis
coveries of guauo deposits, and that his in
terest in them under the decree of Peru
now amounts with accrued interest to the
snug little sum of S90000O000. 1t is fur
Their claimed that one Landreau, now an
American citizen, made other discoveries,
his interest in which added to this Cochet
claim swells the amount to the enormous
sum OF Sl,2OO,OO0,O00 No part of these
claims has been paid. An association styled
the Peruvian Company, organized under
the laws of one of the states of the United
States, is the reputed owner of these claims.
This company has issued with great secrecy
prospectus reciting the history of the
above claims, maintaining that they must
be recognized by Chill in her settlement
with Peru and outlining a plan for taking
possession of the mines covered by these
claims. The plan contemplates the recogni-
ton of these claims by the new Peruvian
government that may be set up on the ruins
of the old, the guaranteed protection Of the
United States, the payment of a heavy war
indemnity to Chill out of the products of
the mines, and the application of the bal.
ance Of the proceeds, after providing liber-
ally for the payment of expenses, dividends
to the company, etc., to the extinction Of
the claims themselves. The details of the
scheme, for security in possession of the de-
posits and of the territory necessary for
working and shipping them, for its financial
management, for the civil and military pro-
lection of the servants of the company on
Peruvian soil, and all the various complica-
lions that might arise, rival in magnitude
the governmental machinery of great ma
ton. Now it is insinuated that Calderon
was the tool of this company and that the
recognition of his government by Minister
Hurlbut was part of plan to secure the
allowance of the Cochet and Landreau
claims, which means the irrevocabe transfer
of Peru to the hands of a syndicate of Amer
leans under the protection of the United
States, and the consequent baking of Chill
in her desires to get possession of the rich
mines and guano deposits of her conquered
neighbor. Passages in Mr.. Blaine's dis
patches to Mr.. Hurlbut indicate the exist
ence of this or other similar schemes for
taking substantial possession of Peru. Be
fore this imperial conception, credit mobilier
and all similar organizations "hide their
diminished heads"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
The Trial of Guiteau.

That the people are thoroughly sick of
the interminable proceedings in the trial Of
the assassin of the president is a feeble
statement of a fact everywhere conceded
and deeply felt. The trial has entered its
seventh week. Had the shooting been in
volved in mystery, and were the identity of
the prisoner to be established from an in
tricate mass of conflicting testimony, there
might have been excuse and satisfactory
explanation for the length of time the trial
Is running. But the crime, admitted by
the prisoner, was proved by brief and con.
elusive evidence at the outset of the trial.
The ability of the prisoner to distinguish
between right and wrong has been conspic.
uously shown during every day of the trial
by his own sayings and doings, and the fact
has been established by volumes of concur
rent testimony; and not only that he had
very keen perceptions of right and wrong
in general but knew that the act itself Of
which he is charged was wrong and punish
able with death. The defence, insanity
was hopelessly upset long ago, and the claim
of inspiration behind which the ASSASSIN
skulked shown to have had very Sigh
Judgement in his brain, and that in fact it wa
an afterthought adopted when the exigencie
of his situation demanded the exercise o
his utmost powers of invention. His entir
nationality on all subjects, and especially OF
the political subject which he claims q i'm
PEELED" him upon the president, has beer
traced through unimpeachabe testimon,
down to the very eve of the assassination
Medical expert testimony in vastly prepon
derating bulk and quality has already beef
given to prove the sanity of the prisoner
and still the trial goes on. the prosecution
piling evidence mountain high to prove tn
soundness of the prisoners mind. The in
decent scenes in the court room, the inter
ruption of the proceedings by the prisoner
the laughter and applause of the crowds o
spectators over his coarse and brutal sallies
the wrangles of the opposing attorneys grow
ing more fierce and unbecomng every daj
continue to fill the columns of the dali
press, and there is no apparent end Of tn
trial. If the prisoner cannot be convicte
and sentenced to be hung on the testimon
already given, it is useless to try to convic
him. Under any other circumstances tn
villain would have been tried, convicted
sentenced, and, in some places, hung for hi
great offence before this late day.
1t is evident enough that the unsoundnes
Of the prisoner is moral, and not menta
The malevolence he exhibits in court towar
witnesses whose testimony has been fatal I
his theory of personal responsibility a
fords a reasonable clue to the motive which
in the euphonious phrase of the murdere
"impelled him upon the president" TIL
formation Of his purpose TO "remove III
president" was contemporaneous with III
positive and explicit refusal Of the admit
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

ceived is to the effect that the Jeanette was
crushed in the ice and abandoned June 18th,
1881, about five hundred miles northeast Of
the mouth Of the river Lena in Siberia.
The crew embarked in three boats, but were
separated by fog and wind about fifty miles
from the coast. September 18th, the whale
boat containing eleven Of the crew arrived
in the eastern mouth of the river Lena. A
second boat containing commander DE Long
and thirteen others arrived at the northeast
mouth Of the river, and the third boat, con-
tanning eight, has not yet been heard from.
After reaching the mouth of the river q
painful journey of eight hundred miles
up the Lena to Yakoutsk was necessary,
and thence the news must come by post
eleven hundred miles southwest to Irkoutsk,
whence 1t was telegraphed to st. Peters
burg, two thousand eight hundred twenty
miles westward. The hardships which these
heroic explorers endured so long exposed
on polar sea in open boats illustrate in
thrilling manner the wonderful power of en-
durance lodged in human frame sustained
by an iron will. Butfor the experience Of other
Arctic voyagers who have fallen under the
fascinating charms of the northern Sphynx,"
credulity would lend deaf ear to the story
which comes from the bleak regions of ST.
IBERIA. Thirty-three men existing for three
mortal months with no other roof above
them than the polar skies, threading their
way over five hundred miles of Arctic sea,
exposed to perils by ice and by storm, are
the salient incidents in narrative which,
without the details of individual toll and
hardship that must fill up the record, would
WOO in vain the ordinary man to seek those
frozen wilds on bootless quest. But this
story has been told, with only slight variations
OF names of persons and circumstances, many
times within the memory of living men,
and still the search for the mysterious point
the imaginary north end of the worlds
axis-goes on with increasing vigor and en-.
thusiasm with the passage of each decade
There is still another vessel missing in
those regions. The English explorer, Leigh
Smith, in the Ezra has been absent 80 long
as to excite anxiety, and preparations for
succor in the spring are being made. In
the case of the survivors of the Jeanette the
liveliest sympathy is felt throughout the
civilized world. The Russian officials gave
them the prompt and generous relief which
their famished bodies, exhausted strength
and frost-bitten members would have drawn
from hearts of stone. The emperor, on the
reception of the news in St. Petersburg,
placed the means of comfort and of medi-
cal attention at their disposal. Expeditions
and vigilant search along the coast for the
missing boat were instituted. The instant
the news was made known in this country
Secretary Frelinghuysen telegraphed the &C.
acknowledgements of the government to the
Russians for their prompt and humane
action, and all the aid that money and impe-
rial authority can command is moving in
behalf of these men Of Anglo-Saxon grit.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

WELLS RIvER.-The school committee has taken
out the coal furnaces from the schoolhouse and
put in wood furnaces. Two ladies were injured
somewhat last week by their carriage being over
turned in the covered bridge The accident was
occasioned by turning too soon on entering the
bridge. "A. 7. Baldwin has purchased the Rich
ardson steam saw mill and five thousand acres Of
wood land in Groton. The graded school of this
place has good board Of teachers and is in a
very prosperous condition E. Hon. II, W. Adams
has put street lamp in front of his house, which
lights up the street for a long distance. May
others do likewise and let their light shine.
Mrs. S. McAllister and sons have purchased the
Colonel Abner Tenney place for $1,000, and have
Just taken possession
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

NEwBURY-Mrs. Sophia W., wife OF Professor
John j. Ladd, daughter Of the late Hon. Tappan
Stevens Of this place. died at waynesboro. vir-
ginia, December 18th There was very inter
esting concert at the Congregational church
Christmas night, given by the Sunday-school
scholars. E., The students at the seminary were
allowed Monday as holiday, =. There is a great
scarcity of dry wood in the village at the present
time, occasioned by the want Of snow. >. Mr. T.
G. Reyes was married at Chicago, Illinois,
Thanksgiving day, and returned from his bridal
tour Saturday Mrs. Louisa Qang), wife OF Mr..
George Swasey, died Sunday, Christmas night, on
the thirty seventh anniversary of their marriage,
She was very estimable lady, and will be
greatly missed in the community.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

THE TARIFF.-The senate finance com.
mittee have agreed to report bill providing
for tariff commission to report in 1888
but only Senators Morrill, and Bayard will
advocate the passage of the bill by the sen.
ate. Senators Sherman and Allison believe
the commission mere device to stave off a
revision Of the tariff for three or four years.
They hold that congress is competent to un-
dertake the work and that the denominations
Of the present tariff are so great that the
work of revision should be begun at once.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

MoRRIsvILLE,-A lyceum was held by the schol-
AIRS OF the academy on Friday evening. The soci-
ETY. is In a ilourishing condition. The Lamoille
Valley Pulp Company is doing rushing business,
running their mill night and day. Henry War
den Of Hartford, Connecticut, George Powers OF
Burlington College, o. D. Sturgiss OF Dartmouth
l.. II. Martin of Amherst, A. c. Noyes of Swan
ton and several others are spending the holidays
with relatives in town. Christmas services
were held at the several churches on Saturday
evening. The interesting exercises drew good
audiences IA Christmas concert was held at
the Congregational church on Sunday evening,
The young people are to have sociable at
the Congregational yestry on Friday evening.
The annual meeting Of the ladies' circle OF the
Congregational Church is TO be held at the vestry
on Friday afternoon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

SHARoN.-Rev. L. B. Steele, pastor of the Bap
fist church, preached his farewell discourse last
Sabbath. He goes from here, leaving many
warm friends Rev. W. J. Smith has been en-
gagged to supply the desk for two months with
the pastorate in view. There will be dona-
ton visit for the benefit OF Rev L. b. Steele at the
vestry Friday evening, December 3Oth. As Mr..
Steele is about to leave us, all are cordially in
vited to come and make him one more visit
Mrs. A. G. Sherwin is suffering from nervous
prostration, but is slowly recovering. Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Sawyer and NJ. Jacobs have been
very sick with pneumonia and lung trouble
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

NORTH THETFoRD.-Rev. c. W. Flanders from
Union Village gave very interesting discourse
last Sabbath and administered the Lords supper.
Through the untiring efforts of A. b. Howe the
church was very nicely draped for the Christmas
concert by the Sunday school and Sunday even
ing was spent very proftably in listening to the
exercises. Rev. Mr. Closson went to Cabot last
week to preach two Sabbaths on trial He is not
expected home to occupy the pulpit next Sabbath,
and has engaged Rev. L, Grout to supply for
him. Next Sunday is the communion OF the
Congregational church A collection is to be
taken for the American Missionary Society. e.
A. W. Jaquith furnished Christmas tree for his
own family, Miss Ellen Sawyer commenced
teaching school at Orfordville last Monday.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

WILLLAMsrowN.-on Monday evening the Uni
versalist, Methodist and Congregational societies
met for Christmas festivities at the house OF the
Congregational society. The two ladders were
loaded down with gifts that presented fiue APP
pearance. The house was quite well filled. The
exercises, before the giving of the gifts, were
very brief. There WAS concert exercise, in
which twenty children took part, that was adj
mirably done, Miss Alma Schotield read poem
suitable to the OCCASION and read it well. Among
the larger gifts we note "A copy of Webster's I'm
abridged Dictionary to Rev. William Schofeld,
and u very handsome sewing-machine to Mrs,
Joshua +. Bailey The aggregate of pleasure
from smaller gifts must have been very large. ".
1t is to be hoped that union meetings will be held
as formerly, during the coming week OF prayer,
in our village, The Freewill Baptist society
began series of meetings ON Tuesday Of this
week, to be continued nightly for the present,
Workers from abroad are expected to assist In the
meetings. About sixty friends of MIR. and Mrs.
John Farnham celebrated the fifteenth ami
yersary OF their marriage, at their house on Tues.
day evening of last week Holloway Merrill
made an appropriate presentation OF the various
gifts OF these friends To Mr.. and Mrs Farnham,
Rev. G. l., Wells, who knows there is time 10
laugh followed with humorous address that
left all in most pleasant mood. Among other
racy things MIR. Wells told OF having read that
somewhere and sometime there WAS custom
when man sought a bride OF binding upon his
hand and wrist bag OF ants that had the
power to sting horribly, and II he could bear 1t
for u few hours he might have the desired bride.
Cake coffee and fruit were served, and at an
hour Just this side the twal " the company dis
persed, after prayer by Pastor Wels.... A very
pleasant entertainment, such an rs does
credit 10 and eeyates any neighborhood was that
given by the freewill Baptist society ON Saturday
evening last. Two Christmas trees laden with
good things,-and an "oyerilow besdes-read.
ings and decorations, dialogues and music filled
up the evening. Among the gifts were an over
coat to the acting pastor of tho society, Rev. Mr.
Crockett of Orange, aud set of silver knives
and forks tn Warren Covel the superintendent
OF the Sabbath school. Lewis Seaver, now of
Chicago, made flying visit to our place not long
since John Walker arrived on Saturday last.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

BRooKrIELD- was celebrated at the
First Congregational church on Saturday evening
and at the house OF Miss Jane c. Smith. -. That
awful scourge, diphtheria, has visited our town
and taken from our midst one of our most prom.
Using young men, stepson Of Marcus Peck
George O. Wheatley, twenty-three years OF age
He contracted the disease while in New York and
came home to die with his friends, arriving home
on Saturday, the 18th, and death came to his re-
lief on Friday the 23d inst
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28

McIsDoEs.-Mr. w R, Monteith, who has been
under medical treatment at Boston, has returned
greatly improved. &c. W. walling has gone to
Boston in pursuit of labor c. c. Chase has
been engaged as sexton at the Congregational
church for next year. Rev. N. F. Cobleigh,
pastor OF the Congregational church. has received
and accepted call to preach at Walla walla,
Washington territory. He will leave Vermont in
about six weeks