Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-12
A Notable Banquet.

patched a tastefully executed card Of the follow
ing purport: "You are cordially invited to at
tend a farewell banquet, at the Pavilion, on Sat-
urday evening, April Sth, 1882, given to the
employees of the wAToHMAN & JOURNAL office, by
Joseph Poland, on his retirement from the pro-
prietorship Of that establishment" In responseto
the above invitation thirtytwo individuals, repre-
senting every age and department OF the WATCH
MAN & JOURNAL printing establishment assem-
bled at the appointed hour around the bountifully
spread tables Of the peerless Pavilion Among
the number were the youthful carriers, Frank and
Tommy Cave, while at the distant end Of the scale,
compeers In an apprenticeship that dates back
nearly half century, we're the host and his chief
guest, Hon. L. P. Walton. Between these remote
extremes from the youthful "devil " to the gray
haired journeyman were ranged foremen Of news,
job and press rooms, compositors, male and
female, folders, proof readers and editorial assist
ants. On the left Of the host sat the new propri-
etor OF the WATcHMAN & JOURNAL W. W. Pres
colt, while Rev. A. d. Barber, editor OF the
Vermont Chronicle with Colonies II. D. Hopkins
and A. G, Brown on either hand, sustained the
dignity Of the table at the further end of the hall.
The argus C Patriot was represented by the as
sistant editor, Will Sullivan, and the related guild
OF book-binders by the veteran craftsman, J. d.
Clark. The host having raped the tables to Or
der, grace was said by Rev. Mr.. Barber, when the
entire company like well-discipined printers
obeyed with unwonted alacrty the welcome in
junction, 81 fill up your CASE" with which an ex-
ceedingly choice bill Of fare was commended to
the attention Of the hungry guests. The bill was
a most appropriate piece OF typographical devils
ing. Externally It bore with artistic designs a
statement Of the purpose OF the banquet, together
with the fitting device Of a printers stick" in
which were set the dates 1S6S-1Ss2," indicat-
ing the beginning and the end Of Mr.. Poands
proprietorship of the wAToHMAN e. JOURNAL.
Internally besides the menu were quoted senti-
ments suggestive Of the feelings inspired by the
festive occasion. Each compositor " having
filled his lease" from the Pavilon's nonpareil
font" Of good things, and "set" till the last
"take" was Gin hand" regretfully followed
directions to "quad out your line" the
"forms" were made up and the sentiments in
spired and associations revived by the occasion
were worked off,
A letter from one Of the first graduates of the
WATERMAN office. Oliver johnson Of New York,
was read. Mr. johnson expressed his thanks to
the host OF the evening for the invitation to the
festival by which he proposed to signalize his
retirement from the WAToHMAN, after a long
period OF useful and honorable service as editor
and proprietor, and his regrets that he could not
undertake the journey to Montpelier to be pres
emit. By way Of compensating for his enforced
absence, he INDUCED in many interesting remin-
iscences of the past, how one November day in
1926, boy OF sixteen years. he left his home in
cba m n artiplaa pf oiathinp tied nm in a
cotton handkerchief, pistareen in his pocket to
enter the office of the WATERMAN then owned
and edited by General f. p. Walton, to learn the
art Of printing. He wildly recalled, after the
lapse of ffty-six years, the scene that opened
upon his vision as, just after dark he entered the
village Of Montpelier and felt that he was in the
capital OF the stated Never before had he seen
so many and such brilliant lights as those which
glowed in the numerous stores and shops, and
his heart was full OF wonder and delight at the
spectacle. He expressed his grateful remem-
brance of the cordially and kindness with which
he was greeted by Mr.. and Mrs Walton, and the
constant and unvarying kindness with which he
was ever treated during the time he had his HON Q
with them. Mr.. Johnson gives the following
graphic description of the interior of the WATCH
MAN office at that time:
The wATcHMAs office, when I entered It, though we'll
appointed for that day was small estabishmen, com;
another long primer smaller font OF BREWER
Of plea for pamphlet work and faf amount Of ob letter
font Of bourgeois and small one Of nonpare There were
job work and the forms were mixed by means Of balls
carried in the hand. Before left home it had been
Of January 1926. This made necessary and
oee When ss Yo
found 70 bis dsmay that was not large enough and Dea
it. He did his work successfully, putting the bed
And psn and the enlarged Tss drought out in
Patriot by George W Hill brother OF Isaac leader of the
WE'RE S roller wh
composition rollers not having been Invented.
When Mr.. johnson entered the WATonMAN Of
| fee he found there as apprentices Chauncey l..
Knapp, Charles T. Throop and Thomas Y. West,
and the foreman was the then venerable Amos
| Farley, who, in conjunction with Samuel Goss,
had published the Green Mountain Patriot at
Peacham. OF another apprentice Mr.. johnson
wrote:
son. famarly called Perse by the boys when work
pressing and he not in school used 70 ply hts MIN
BILE fingers at box under his feet making up for his
shorness Of stature He has tall enough since that
and doubt not will be an honored guest al your festival
Time trust Ia dealing gently with this noble son OF no.
OF the frequenters of the WAToHSAN Office to
read the papers and discuss political questions,
the letter mentions
Father Reed and his Thomas and Hezekah Samuel
S9ss Dr. sPadhg goos ola Dr. Lame sna oine he
Just after the arrival q the mail invariably saying &c
i" Well, what's the news to-day? None, spose."
In conclusion Mr. johnson wrote:
has been your good fortune to be connected with the
WATCHMAN during eyentful DerOd
history and congratulate you most sincerely upon the
%
ae sa % S anS ns an % Mss
may the choicest blessings Of heaven descend upon you and
nected with IT,
This letter brought to his feet Hon. Z. P. Wal.
ton, who INDUCED in many interesting reminis.
ceuces Of the journalistic and political day.
through which the WAToHMAN & JOURNAL
passed under his fathers and his own manage
ment, and in which it won honor and welded q
controlling power in shaping the course Of state
and national events. The high rank the paper
has taken for a spirited and aggressive but fair
and courteous treatment Of political questions
and opponents during times when an intense ant
bitter personality was infused into newspaper
conflicts, was brought out by Mr.. Walton, ant
he who now succeeds to the prestige and homo
with which the WAToHMAN is endowed wa.
charged to maintain the name and fame OF thu
old journal
A long and interesting letter from the venera
BILE Chauncey L. Knapp of the Lowell Citizen wa
read. Fifty-nine years ago at the age of fourteen
Mr.. Knapp descended from Berlin heights to tn,
"hollow " to take at the WATERMAN office hi
first lesson in the art preservative of all arts.
Mr.. Knapps letter reviewed the early days o
Montpelier, the visit of Lafayette and was full o
"reminiscences Of the past. AS illustrating thu
bright quality Of the wits which in those day
were schooled in the printing office and which al
forwards won for their possessors fame and for
tune, the following extract from Mr.. Knapps let
ter is given,
II you are Of the mystic brotherhood you will b
Interested In knowing that the hTst secret society
Joined was In corner room OF the wAToHMAs office
io made up of oliver johnson, Abel Aterton and yon
friend, the undersigned. Our scheme was 10 reduce
seryaton upon current affairs and popular topics IN politics
science and literature. We for quite while, also
OF town, without revealing editorial wighs our person
ates This was hepfnl TO us and wltha proved SQUIRE
forgiven II confidence violated saying that Johnso
and Atherton lent their light to The NORTH star" the
as now published In Danvile, while the WAToHhAE
occasionally favored with the cornseaions Of the othe
nember who though sympathzing with his own guild,
10 communicate forget not that he offered Though N
NAH communication for the Patriot, then edited by oi
brother OF Isaac Of course true democratic stock iii
named George Worthngton for the executy
1886. Warrington was nominated and chosen and magn
fed his office. similar incident happened In the
election, brought out in the ATonMAs the office pee
pie being quite unable TO AZ upon the writer though on
expert thought 1t might be Cashier Thomas heed,J s.