St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-11

as it were, without the smallest tempta-
ton, that it would almost argue insani-
ty in the man who would thus throw
himself away.
Apparently discouraged by the Arc
tic temperature which has prevailed,
the cackling pullets of our neighboring
farms any where within railroad reach
of several hundred miles, have cut short
their supply of eggs. 1t is melancholy
to see how many disappointed tipplers
are forced to dip their red noses into
whiskey straight, when they have vain
ly called for Tom and Jerry. A decent
Omelette. has become more costly than
a turkey on toast, and we are as badly
OFF for oysters. There is a regular
famine in the succulent bivalves pre-
cious few are coming to market, and
from the dispiriting accounts of the
wholesale freezing up of numerous
banks of them, it looks as if oysters
would be about as valuable as pearls
before long. This sort of weather may
suit the ice men, but the rest of US
think the original "Old prob" managed
matters somewhat better than his sue
CeSSOf.
When Paterfamilias has got through
paying his Christmas bills, and, even if
comfortably off, has a sober thought or
two about how future Christmas and
other bills might be met by those he
loves best if he should happen TO he
removed from this mundane sphere, the
sight of an insurance circular is apt to
attract an unusual degree of attention.
Possibly on account of their knowledge
of this trait in civilized human nature,
or more probably because they Trans
act their business in its broad outlines,
the same as other people, and take
stock at the close of each year, and
render an account of their stewardship
as soon thereafter as conveniently may
be, the insurance fraternity are accus-
toned just about this time to present a
statement of their affairs to their pres
ent and possible friends. have before
me now the annual statement of the
Mutual Life Insurance Co. 1t is easily
the prandeSt corporate institution of
any kind, bar none, in the world, its
assets, estimated closely, with a very
liberal margin for any possible depre-
citation in any of its very judiciously
placed investments, aggregating the
sum of S91, 735, 786. 20.
Mere bigness is of course not of itself
a guarantee of stability or excellence,
but this Company does not hide its
light under bushel, although it doesn't
find 1t necessary to loudly beat the
drum to invite attention to it. 1t has
been before the community for many
onI thn xNf;
ment has been no less marked and
thoroughly we'll understood by multi
tudes than the genius of its leading
spirit, of whom President Winston is a
household word in the mouths of Co.
thamites generally. Its methods have
been patent to all, and have been char
acterized by liberality on the one hand,
wholly eschewing the vice of litigating
claims except in cases of palpable
fraud, and strict economy on the other,
having the cheapest rates. 1t reduced
the premiums fifteen per cent. over
two years ago, proceeding which has
met with the result of an increase of
the assets in the past year of $1,000
900, Notwithstanding SI3,000,000 have
been paid out during the year to policy
holders.
The good Louis Bergh, P. P. o. T. G..
A. 8. S. F. T. P. o. C. r. A., &C., has
been trOtting round busily to get sig
natures for two bills which he is anxious
to have presented at Albany to be leg
islated on one is against the vivisec-
ton of animals, and is consistent
enough, though the doctors still seem
to think it necessary, in order to widen
their knowledge to the possible future
benefit of mankind, and have severely
sat on Mr.. Bergh. The other is for
whipping wife-beaters, and here again,
though no one approves of the ruffians
who would dare ''tO lay their hands on
a woman save in Kindness" Mr.. Bergh
is likely to find himself in a minority {;
for we all dislike return to the de-
grading punishments of former days.
The world has moved since culprits
were castigated at cart tails, and even
wife-beaters may be civilized by other
methods than by the use of the CATO
ninetails, or even the paddle, which is
such a favorite and illegal instrument
of torture in our State prisons.
Smallpox has been spreading, and
vaccination has become a fashionable
amusement. There are even vaccina-
ting parties, where the young and CAV
get festively punctured and inoculated
with pure lymph, and wind up with a
dance. Diphtheria, too, is raging, and
if things are so bad in hard frost, we
may reasonably expect worse when
the thaw comes. The intensified vile
ness of our dirty streets after six weeks
neglect is something appalling. There
is no mistake about it. 1t is terrible
winter for city folks. The plumbers
are burying themselves up to the ears
in gold, but everybody else is suffering.
The sound and the bays and inlets on
the ocean side of Long Island are fro
zen tight, and the poor fishermen are
very impecunioHs. Two ocean steam
ers have run ashore in close contiguity.
and marine disasters are numerous,
while on land frozen tramps and dOub-
led-up trains with reduced passenger
accommodation are among the signs of
the times.
One pudding for some bloated bond
holders is likely to have some of its
plums extracted for the public welfare.
l allude to the Brooklyn Ferry Com
panv, whose profits are enormous.
They have furnished considerable ac-
cOmmOdatiOn, and of good character,
few lives have been lost owing to any
of their employees, but
they have in some matters acted very