davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Highway Burdens.

The public have had their attention
called to the subject of equalization of
taxes, and liabilities of towns for in
sufficient roads, by the late Acts of the
legislature. Whether there will be an
Improvement upon the old laws remains
to be seen. Had those most noted for
wisdom and virtue devised some way
to equalize the burdens of keeping in
repair roads and bridges, either to
have the state or counties have the su
pervision, so that the expense should
be paid out of a general fund, or
wealthy towns aid the feeble ones, so
that there might be greater uniformi-
ty in the condition of our public thor
oughfares-it would have been COM
mendable.
The following statistics will give
some idea bearing upon the subject.
| have not the precise data as to the
number of miles of road in each town,
but it will approximate near enough
for present purposes, viz: st. Johns
bury has 90 miles of road. By their
present grand list their statute work
on an average to the mile is S64.o7.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
A Destructive Storm.
NEW YORK AND VICINITY SUFFER GREAT

A heavy snow storm began at Boston
about p. m. Friday and continued till
10 o'clock, when it turned to rain.
Many telegraph wires in the vicinity
were pulled down. The severest sleet
storm in eight years prevailed at New
York and along the Sound Thursday
night and Friday morning, causing
great loss to the telegraph lines and
delay and Inconvenience to many
branches of business. Hundreds of
telegraph and telephone poles in New
York city were Frustrated, and thou
sands of wires snapped by the weight
of ice, which formed as thick as a mans
arm on some of the wires and hung in
Jagged icicles from others. Much of
the time none Of the 500 wires leading
from the Western Union building were
in working order. The PROSTATE tele-
graph posts stopped horse-car travel
on some of the streets, and the tangled
masses of wire trailed from house-tOps,
awnings and trees, causing great incon-
venience. The elevated railroads had
to run their cars slowly and make fire.
quent stops to sever lines which hung
across their tracks. The storm is sup
posed to have caused a greater loss to
the telegraph companies than the sim
liar one did in 1873, the damage by
loss of business, broken wires, etc., be-
ing estimated at from $3.50, 900 to $780,
900. The fire department wires were
all down, and arrangements were made
| for the police to run to the nearest en-
gine-house with their alarm should fires
break out. The Brooklyn bridge pre-
scented remarkable appearance with
its load of icicles, and during the day
some of the ice fell on ferry boat
smashing windows and causing conster,
nation on board. Part of the goddess
of liberty on the city hall was blown
down. Seldom have the business mel
suffered more from the dilatory work
ing of the telegraph wires. The mail.
were all delayed at New York yester.
day. 1t was difficult to get news Of
the storm from any direction, but the
loss in many places near New York
! seems to have been severe
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
The Habit of Criticism.

1t is something of an art TO be true
lady or gentleman. 1t is an attainment
of some consequence when one knows
enough to keep his proper place, and
not interfere with the rights or happi-
ness of others. We know of nothing
in every day society more disagreeable
than the habit some have of picking
everything to pieces, and laying bare to
the public gaze matters that are none
of their business. These persons seem
to feel that they have a superior order
Of talent, and when they speak they are
comforting blessings which all ought to
be thankful for Should one be building
house, these critics say he ought to
take off something here, put on a little
there, turn this thing around, leave
that entirely out, etc, and all the while
be wondering why one wants anything
as he wants it
If one goes into business, these par
ties must bark at his heels, giving lots of
advice, and are mad if it is not needed.
You are too rich to go into business, or
too poor to pay your bills and must
fail anyway. In every new enterprise
gotten up, they quickly discover flaws
and possible evil. They never get
their moneys worth" at an entertain
ment. With them there is always
something the matter with the minister
or school teacher. Town officers are
selfish, hard-hearted, or disqualified,
Corporations are sOulless and forever
laying plans to kill off the poor. In
fact, decent young man cannot do a
little honest counting without getting
punched.
Now all this shows not only the crit
les natural inclination, but that he
has never learned good manners. While
we accord wholesome criticism its pro-
per place, as we would all other impOr-
tant things, yet the common habit of it
is liable to run into wild extravaganza.
Ia free country like this, what bust
ness has the critic to abuse or annoy
one on account of his religious or polit-
ical faith What business has he to dis
sect his neighbor, and then peddle him
out, piece at a time, as a farmer
would fat OK Clearly no business
but he often makes it so. Nearly all
the carping criticism comes from bad
breeding. Its subjects are always self
appointed, and their natural stock in
trade is in asking saucy questions and
making uncharitable comments. The
smallpox is dreaded and disagreeable
disorder; but between this and the dis
order of meddlesome criticism, by all
means give us the former.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

the melee was thrust clear through the
cheek of McClusky, severing several
large arteries, and he now lies in a crit
ical condition. No blame attaches to
Demeritt.
Grace L. Andrews of Berlin, now re-
siding in Maiden, Mass, had her left
leg aud arm broken, and otherwise bad
ly bruised recently, by striking against
a tree while in sleigh attached to a
runaway horse.
From the evidence brought forth at
the trial of Riley Davidson and Frank
Haywood, the two Jamaica "mOon-
shiners,n before the U. S. district court
at Rutland, it appeared that the illicit
still which was found on Davidson's
premises had been used by StTatten and
Westboro people for lS years to make
their surplus cider into apple-jack, and
large number Of persons were involv-
ed in the matter. Davidson took leg
bail, leaving his bondsmen to pay.
Justin Dartt of Weathersfeld, who
was elected supt. of education by the
late legislature and declined the office,
has received the offer of it from the
governor and has accepted.
The Hon. Oramel H. Smith of Mont
pelier, the oldest member of the Wash
ington county bar, died Monday morn
ing, aged eighty-tws. He was for
many years one of the most prominent
attorneys in Vermont.
Barber g. Furguson, proprietors and
landlords of the Van Ness house of
Burlington, have filed a petition in
bankruptcy. The first meeting of the
creditors will be held at the probate
Office the 3lst. 1t is thought their liza
bilities above assets will be from S40,-
600 to 100000. Most of their losses
have occurred since Landlord Drew
returned to the American house. Be-
fore that and while the American house
was leased, the Van Ness was the pop
ular hotel.
A curious accident happened to a To-
connective near Rutland the other day,
one of its driving wheels becoming
loose and rolling down an embankment
No damage was done, and by discon-
Meeting that side the engine was able
to go on.
Burlington makes an excellent show
ing with its water-wOrks system, the
department having paid all its running
expenses and the interest on its bond
ed debt and earned a surplus of Sl5O8.
The combined capital of the natisnal
banks in the state is $8,20l 900, ant
the deposits in the savings banks 50,
075,3I4.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Washington News.

The principal portion of the senate
session Thursday was devoted to a con-
sideration of the bill providing for the
allotment of lands in severalty to Indi-
ans on the various government Ieserva-
tions. No decision, however, was
reached. The naval appropriation bill
was discussed in the house and passed,
exactly as reported from the appropria-
ton committee. Friday evenings ses-
sion of the national house of representa-
tives was not concluded until six o'clock
Saturday morning, the entire time be-
ing spent in fruitless attempt to obtain
a quorum. At Saturdays session the
post office appropriation bill was re-
ported, and a resolution adopted declar-
ing Mr.. Bisbee (Republican) entitled to
the seat from the second district of
Florida, and that gentleman was sworn
in. The house committee on inter
oceanic canal, at a full meeting yester-
day, referred back to the subcommittee
the bill and report favoring the incor-
poratiOn of Eads' ship canal across the
isthmus, with instructions to strike out
that portion providing for the indOrse-
ment of its stock to the amount of $780,
600, 900 by the government. The SEN
ate Monday, after spirited discussion,
refused, by a vote of % to 25, to con-
slider the bill to retire Gen. Grant with
the rank and pay of a general of the ar
my. The Edmunds Geneva award bill
was reported adversely from the judici-
airy committee, and a substitute sub
mitted therefor. The senate Tuesday,
by the same vote as on Monday, failed
to take up the resolution to place Gen.
Grant on the retired list of the army.
A bill was passed appropriating $780,
900 for completing, compiling and pub
fishing the returns for the tenth census.
The elections committee reported in ia
vor of seating Mr.. Martin, the Demo-
cratic contestant of the seat from the
first North Carolina district. A futile
attempt was made to consider the SEN
ate joint rule for counting the electoral
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Vermont News.

Rev. o. G. Baker of the Congrega-
tional church in Jamaica has resigned.
The Vermont Atwood merino sheep
club have had their annual meeting at
Middlebury and reelected these Off
GERS: President, WOrthington c. Smith
of St. Adams; vice-president, Frank ID.
Barton of Vergennes secretary, George
Hammond of Middlebury treasurer,
Charles Sanborn of Orwell. The assets
are S6l6 with no liabilities.
Quite lively row occurred at Sax
tons River the other night between the
students of the Vermont academy and
the village boys, in which the former
were badly worsted. Some were
knocked down, and several considera-
bly, bruised. An investigation was held
and it is probable that several of the
students will be expelled.
The Addison county agricultural So
ciety has elected the following officers
President, d. w. Nash of New Haven
vice prcsidents, F. Moore of Shoreham,
j. H. Sprague of Waltham secretary,
j. A. Childs of Weybridge; treasurer,
Calvin Hill of Middlebury. The treas
urer's report showed the receipts to be
$1103, expenses 1888, leaving bal
ance of 1869.
Gov. Farnham and eX-Gov. Smith
addressed the American dairymen's as
ISOLATION meeting in st. Adams Friday.
Resolutions we're adopted protesting
against the use of the word "butter" on
packages of Oleomargarine, and de-
manding legislation to protect butter
producers against this counterfeit.
THE MONTPELIER PosToFFICE-Col.
Clarke, in his Washington letter to the
Messenger, says: "The Vermont dele
CATION have all been notified of a post
office contest in Montpelier. The lead
ing and perhaps the only candidates are
Capt. j. w. Clarke, the present incum
bent, who has held the office for some
years-twelve | think-and Gen. James
S. Peck, who has for about the same
length of time been adjutant general of
the state and was a gallant soldier in
two fighting regiments. The new ad
ministration will have the appointment
to make, as Capt. Clarke's commission
does not expire until March 6.
Miss Addie Reed of BrattlebOrO, and
graduate of Mt. Holyoke Female Sem
mary, is to start next week for South
Africa, where she has engaged to teach
in a school for cOlonists on the Mt.
HOlyOke plan.
A very pleasant social event occurred
at the residence of Wyman Flint, Esq,
of Bellows Falls, Wednesday of this
week, in the marriage of his daughter
Anna Laura, to Frank A. Mitchell, son
of Mr.. A. G. Mitchell, formerly of St.
Jehnsbury. The ceremony was per-
formed at the house at p. M, by Rev.
c. T. Ogden, and was followed by re-
ception and entertainment that did
great credit to the hOspltable host.
About 200 invited guests were present,
and it made as merry a marriage party
as is often seen here.
A little affray which came near hav-
ing fatal termination occurred in Fish
er s. Colton's plating shop. Montpelier,
Tuesday forenoon. Charley McClusky,
being drunk, began frolic with Ed
Demeritt. Charley soon seized him
tightly by the throat. In self defence
Demeritt made prompt resistance and
soon the two went down together.
Meantime Demeritt held in his hand the
knife used in cutting silver, which in
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

costing one billion of dollars per year,
we can readily see how a favorable
comparison could be drawn for the
United States.
The Sunday School Teachers Insti
tute, held under the auspices of the
Congregational Superintendent Union,
Boston, was held in Berkeley street
church, Jan. 10. Different clergymen
made addresses. Rev. A. Z. Dunning,
the new secretary of S. S. School. Rev.
F. \. Peloubet conducted an hour,
called ''The Grumbling and Thanksgiv-
ing Hour Good and fair criticisms had
tendency for good. Once a noted sculp-
tor, on the completion of his work, sta
toned himself behind a curtain he had
placed on the back of it, to hear the re-
marks. SO in Sunday school work it is
well to pause occasionally and listen to
criticisms. The exercise was conducted
on the blackboard. He commenced by
giving the "Hop and skip STYLE" and
was followed by others.
Rev. r. R. Meredith took as his sub
ject, 'The Teachers Preparation" In
the evening Mr.. Henry Gleason of NAL
den, illustrated the primary class work.
He thought many would say, "Peloubet
l know and Meredith know, but who
are We ?" He was the primary class"
and he showed many charts and maps
he had devised and used, and in very
cheap way: by using analine dyes and
little knowledge and practice of
chemistry.
DR.. Duryea made an able address,
and closed by relating an anecdote Of
a chair-maker and member. Beginning
in small and unpretentious way in
life, he devoted his leisure time to
study, so from Sunday school teacher
he became uperintendent, elder, and
finally ordained minister of the gospel.
His library in the fist place consisted
of the Bible, using a room in the attic,
with one chair and small table, he yet
felt he must have a room where he
could study, pray and think,
Railway and pedestrian travel have
recovered from the effect of the storm
and gale of last Friday. Two little
boys who heard the family at dinner
table discussing the late storm in Eng
land, and say the storm wave would
soon be in Boston, were much excited
on the appearance soon after of flakes
of snow, accompanied with a higf
wind, and one exclaimed, "Hurrah de
storm has rived from London !" Hi:
brother says, GLOW did he git here p
with an air of superiority of brother {
year older, he said, "Why, they pacl
de snow right into de steam-ears and il
comes through quick" 1t seems but {
few years since we were able to consul
and learn from the Signal Service re
port that a storm in another country
or part of our land, would reach US anC
we must don waterproof coats anC
clOaks and ann ourselves with umbrel
las before issuing out for the day. Z.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Board of Agriculture.

The Board of Agriculture agreeable
Adams on the 21st inst, for organiza-
ton. His Excellency, Roswell Farm
ham, was elected president of the
Board, and DR.. Hiram A. Cutting was
elected secretary. After organization
there was a general discussion about
the work to be done, and the following
resolution was adopted:
ReSOlUed, That in arranging for meet
ings of the Board the secretary be in
structed to give preference to places
where local organizations of farmers al
ready exists, or where a desire is eX-
pressed for the formation of such asso-
Citations.
Meetings were then arranged for Es-
sex and Orleans counties in the for
mer county to be holden at Lunenburg
on the LIST and I'd of February, and in
the latter at Barton Landing, on the Sd
and 4th. The subjects announced for
discussions at these meetings are as
follows: A Talk to Boys and Girls,
Seeding to Grass, Adaptation, Rotation
of Crops, Commercial Fertilizers, Pro-
fits of Farming, Advancement in Butter
Making, etc. Among those expected
to be present, are the following gentle
men: Gov. Farnham, Rev. NJ. H
Buckham, E. NJ. Goodwin, NJ. w. Da.
Il q
NJ. Tinkham, DR.. T. H. HOskins, q. E
Jameson, E. P. Cotton, Gen. w. w
Grout.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Average annual
death rate per

When we said last week that the
death rate in St. Johnsbury was larger
than in New York city, we had then
only the figures for 1877, which gave
only "a and a fraction to the thousand.
1t will be seen in taking the ten years
together, that city does not make so
good a showing. We still think there
is something wrong, and we do not be-
lieve the figures give the facts. There
is every reason why a country town
should have a lower death rate than a
crowded city--especially SO when the
town is well drained and we'll watered,
like St. Johnsbury. We are forced to
the conclusion that the cities which
show such small mortality owe it more
to the inefficiency of the census taker
than to the healthfulness of the climate.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

~ The tendency to choose only rich
men to high offices is a growing evil
under the sun. 1t matters little wheth-
er a man has brains or fitness, if he is
worth ten millions of dollars he can
make his own terms. This humiliating
fact is freshly illustrated in late cleo
tons: Philetus Sawyer is said to be
the richest man in Wisconsin Fair is
the richest man in Nevada Brown,
elected this winter, the richest man in
Georgia; Sewell represents the richest
corporation in New Jersey; and Miller
of California is another rich man, rep
resenting corporation constantly in
terested in legislation.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
Garfield and Conkling.
Harper's Weekly.l


We have heard, indeed, from time to
time, of the presidents "war' upon the
senator, because the president thought
fit to make nominations which the SEN
atOr did not approve. 1t is to be ex-
pected therefore that if President Gar
field should make similar nominations,
we shall hear of the "war" which he
also has begun upon the senator. The
irresistible conclusion from that kind
of talk is that to do what the senator
does not wish is to make war upon him.
We trust that those who hold this view
do the senator injustice. 1t would be
natural strain of remark about spoil
ed child in the nursery, but it is ex
ceedingly unbeceming when applied to
a senator of the United States. Ac
cording to party usage and reason,
President Garfield will advise with his
party friends who are especially in
sympathy with him. Mr.. COnkling or
auy other republican wOuld do the
same were any of them president. Mr..
Cornell has pursued this course as gov
ernor He has not sought his counsel
ors among the minority in the cOnven-
ton that nominated him. Had Gen.
Grant been nominated and elected, 1t Is
not to be supposed that he would have
ostracised Mr.. COnkling, Mr.. Cameron,
Mr.. Logan, and their friends, and have
intrusted his administration to the
friends of Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Edmunds, and it is a very silly
supposition that President Garfield will
not take a similar course. He will GER
calmly not quarrel any more than Pres
ident Hayes has quarreled. He will not,
we presume, "ostracize" any eminent
republican representative. Still less,
however, will he surrender" to those
republicans who resisted and deplored
his nomination. AS president, it may
be supposed that he will rely upon his
Own judgment and upon his own friends.
President Hayes has not suffered, al
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

though some republicans have steadily
opposed and maligned him. President
Garfield will not suffer, unless, to gain
the favor of those who have opposed
President Hayes, he forgets the great
interests of the country and of his par
ty. He is not a tyro in politics, and he
understands that no public man loses by
knowing his friends and holding to
them.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
The Vermont Press.
MAKING SENATOR'S.


Windsor Journal: When self nomi
mated candidates and machine pOliti
clans win these magnificent prizes, it is
time for the people to try to apply a
remedy. In order to succeed in this, it
may be necessary to put the ''brakes
hard down" before the machine can lie
stopped. Now-a-d days if man has got
a rich silver mine, or any other bonan-
"a, why should he not be a Senator 7
He may have neither ability, nor elo-
quence, MOI any special fitness, but he
can shine in giving costly dinners. The
recent elections have given us some
Senators who will be desirable acquisi-
tions, but not all, it is to be feared.
ADULTERATIoNs.
st. Adams Messenger: There are no
articles in which more fraud has been
practiced than in butter and cheese +;
their adulteratiOn is often so scientifi-
cally conducted that only experienced
judges can detect the cheat. But every
item of food Ito say nothing of drugs
is liable to adulteration, save meat and
vegetables. Tea, coffee, flour, sugar,
and fluids are largely mixed with infe-
riOr Ingredients which, while all may
not be pernicious to health, are at best
worthless in point of nutrition. In Eu-
rope there are certain articles which
the law permits to be mixed with infe-
rior, though comparatively harmless
matter; but the seller of the article
must label it as adulterated, so that the
public are made aware of what they
purchase. There should be a similar
law in this country to enforce precau-
ton against the fraud.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
Montpelier Waterman: There is nc
danger that they will ever immigrate
in numbers that will demand restrictive
measures,-evenif they should come il
much larger numbers during the pres
ent than during the past decade. The
Chinaman's attachment to his country
is proverbial. His desire is to return
and abide in China. When, therefore
China shall have fallen into line will
Japan, and intelligent, AmericanizeC
Cinnamon have sounded the march o
modern Improvements among the hill
and valleys of the sleepy old kingdom
the Chinese will find enough to do OF
their own unused and now inaccessi
BILE lands, in their imperfectly devel
Oped mines and vast industrial ant
commercial resources, and the cause o
desire for emigration will naturally de
cline.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
No Free List.

The expense OF printing paper is such that we
feel obliged to require guild pro quo for all papers
sent from this Office. As much as we would like
to continue the CGIedonidn to clergymen and 9th
era free. or at nominal price, we shall after Janu-
ary 81 adhere TO published terms given on first
page. b4-55
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

II The storm of sleet in New York,
which Frustrated nearly all telegraph
wires and poles, and wholly cut off
communication with the world, has put
New Workers to thinking that the prop
er way to run telegraph wires is under
ground, as in some European cities.
When this is done, they can snap their
fingers at such storms; and besides,
they will cease to disfgure the streets
with poles and wires as at present.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28

II The LittIetOn Journal is the name
of a new paper just started in that thriv-
ing town, by b. F. Robinson and p. r.
Goold. 1t is Republican in politics, is
well filled with local and general news,
and is well printed; which is considera-
BILE more than can be said of the average
newspaper of the day.