davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Fire Insurance.

The stock fire insurance companies throughout
the country seem to be INDUCING in war Of rates
equal to that Of the railroads. This arises in part
from legitimate competition, but more from a
seemingly preconcerted attempt to break down
the home mutual companies. So ruinonsly low
have rates been brought by this warfare that
some forty companies in New York alone have
dropped out of existence within the last few years
Already the soundest companies are revising cir
rates upon farm property, which have been re-
duced far below what experience will warrant.
1t will be sad day for our rural population when
they are persuaded by smooth-tongued agents to
exchange the certainties OF cur home mutuas for
the uncertainties Of foreign stock jobbing corpo-
rations In the former the insured alone consti-
tute the company. Every dollar Of receipts and
expenditures is periodically submitted for the in
spection of the membership and the best Of assur-
ance is given that no one is required to pay be-
yond his honest proportion Of the losses and ex-
penses happening to him and his associates. In
the latter he is dealing with foreign corpora
ton, subject to foreign legislation, and managed
by stockholders whose sole aim is to make money.
And while we would be slow to charge irresponsi-
bility or fraud upon those foreign corporations,
still, when they offer to insure the property Of
any locality at less rates than past experience will
demonstrate conclusively to be the honest losses
upon that same class Of property then we do not
hesitate to say that responsibility or fraud or
BOTH are stamped upon the very face OF the propo-
stion In some of the western states the expedi-
ent of getting claims for loss into the United
States courts, and so placing them beyond
the jurisdiction of the local tribunals where they
occur, has become so general that one of the gov
ernors calls for prompt and stringent legislation
to remedy the evil
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Uniform Time.

The movement among scientific men for
the establishment of uniform system of
time is steadily increasing in strength. The
theory on small scale is now in practice
on all the leading railroads Of the country
The trains on the New York, New Haven
and Hartford road, for instance, are run on
New York time furnished by the Horologi,
cal Bureau of Yale College. The Wander
bilt lines from New York to Chicago are
divided into three or four sections, ard the
same time is used at all points on each Sec
ton. There are at present about eighty
standards used by the railroads in this coun.
try, and nearly one hundred cities furnish
standards of local time. 1t is proposed to sim
pity this by dividing the country into six
or less districts, and have the 9ame time OBJ.
served by the whole of each district.
Another plan suggests an international time
standard by the formation Of twenty-four
equal districts, starting from an imaginary
line in the Pacific ocean. The day will be
of twenty-four hours, and the places in each
district will, in point of time, be just one
hour ahead or behind those in the adjoining
districts. The American Society of Civil
Engineers at its annual meeting in New
York recommended the adoption of one
standard for all the railroads in the United
States. An International Time Congress
will meet in Washington in May, and the
subject will be kept permanently before the
public until some change is adopted.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Notes and Notions.

Ex-SECRETARY BLAINE will deliver his
eulogy on Garfield February 9th.
Mrs. LINCOLN will have an operation per-
formed on her eyes now that congress is to
give her the necessary funds.
THE bill retiring Judge Hunt passed the
house last week, a hundred and thirty-seven
to eighty-nine. 1t had already passed the
senate.
The president has accepted the resigna-
ton of j. Stanly Brown as private secretary,
and Colonel F. j. Phillips has been ap-
pointed to succeed him.
IT is said that there is scheme to per-
suade President Arthur to go to Cincinnati
in April at the time of fruit growers con-
vention, and plant twenty -one trees in Eden
park-one for each president who has been
elected by the people.
GENERAL JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN,
president of Bowdoin college, who is now in
Florida, has been asked to settle there and
take charge of the projects OF some capital
ists New England and the Pine Tree
state can ill spare this man.
AN autograph letter of George Washing
ton, taking strong ground against slavery in
this country, and expressing fervent hope
that it would soon be blotted out, is said to
have been found among the papers of the
late E. W. Stoughton. With it were other
original and unpublished letters of Wash
ington.
THE Guiteau verdict was telegraphed
at once 10 Mrs. Garfield and the late presi-
dents mother, who received the news with
out demonstration, as they have had no
thought that it could be other than a verdict
of guilty. 1t is said that Mrs. Garfield has
read report of the trial, and has kept the
subject as much out of mind as possible.
The expert accountants from the treasury
department at Washington, who have been
engaged in an official count of the wealth
slowed away in the New York sub-treasury
building, found correct to the penny the re-
port made by General Hillhouse on Deem
Der 3lst last, when he retired from the po-
sition of assistant treasurer of the United
States. The grand total is slightly over
sS7, s2s,OOO.
| THE supreme court Of the United States
decides that registered bonds and stocks OF
one state may be constitutionally taxed in
another. Whether state bonds are taxed,
or are expressly exempt from taxation at
home, the fact in either case, the court holds
does not prevent them from being taxed
elsewhere, for the reason that no state can
exempt property from taxation out of its
own Jurisdiction.
THE centenary of Thomas II. Benton's
birth comes March l4th, and st. Louis people
are talking about marking the day by some
kind of a celebration. The births ant
deaths of Webster, Clay, Calhoun and Ben
ton came quite near each other. Clay, tn,
oldest, was born April 18th, l777; Webster
January 18th, 1882 Benton, March 18th
1882, and Calhoun March 18th, 1882. Cal
houn died first March 3lst, 1850, followe,
by Clay, June Goth, 1852 Webster, Octobe
Oath, 1852, and Benton, April 10, 1865
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Guilty rs Indicted.

A long drawn sigh of relief was heaved
around the world Wednesday evening, the
25th instant. The trial Of President Gar
fields loathsome assassin had passed 80
slowly and 80 tediously through its various
stages that its sharp and decisive culmina-
ton was joyful surprise to all civilized
mankind The close of Judge Porter's
scorching characterization Of Guiteau, his
analysis of the evidence sustaining the po-
sition of the prosecution, and the brushing
away, under a rafting fire Of ferocious in
terruptions, of the cobwebs which the de-
tense had woven on every point Of the case,
was followed by Judge Cox's charge to the
jury amid the deepening shades Of Wednes-
day evening In court room dimly lighted
up by lamps and candles the jury after brief
deliberation returned the verdict to which
there had been no dissenting voice. "Guilty
as indicted" fell upon the ears of an audi
ence hushed to breathless silence, and then
came the popular ratification Of the verdict
in burst Of involuntary applause. A sui
len parting snarl came from the beast in the
dock, "The blood Of God will be on the
head Of that jury" and the curtain fell on
scenes which for nearly eleven weeks have
been a source of measureless evaporation
er's conviction was instantly flashed into
every corner of the earth where on the I'd Of
July the wires had borne the tidings of his
incomprehensible crime. With unfeigned
satisfaction and relief, people read the ver-
dict Of the jury, and declared that Justice
had prevailed. There was no feeling of re-
venge or vindictiveness in the satisfaction
that welcomed the verdict. There was a
sense Of relief that through all the snares
and plots, brutality, lawlessness and bias
phemy, justice had safely emerged and had
branded as vulgar murderer the man who
had impiously outraged law, religion, hui
man rights and human life. Now that his
conviction has been legally reached after
the prisoner had been given wider lati.
tude of defense than was ever before &C.
corded TO any criminal there is no alloy of
possible injustice to embitter the satisfaction
or to detract from the thanksgiving which
the result inspires. The verdict is right.
eous one, and with one accord the people of
this nation and of all civilized nations have
responded Amen There will be cause fol-
genuine congrstulation when the infamous
name Of Guiteau shall no longer offend the
sight in the columns of the press, and when
it shall be sent back to an oblivion blackeI
than that from which it sprang on the I'd Of
July, to shock mankind with new synonym
for diabolcal wickedness and crime.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

BRApFoRD.-L. l.. Durant OF Montpelier will
lecture at the town hall before the reform club
on Friday evening. February 10th. At the
same time officers for the ensuing six months will
be elected, 81. B. Hay and N, B. Hayes have
erected telephone between their residences, a
distance OF about three hundred feet. An edu-
cational meeting was held in the village hall on
Thursday. The meeting was very profitable and
interesting. Exercises were as follows; Prayer
was offered at ten o'clock by Rev. T. P. Frost
Professor Northend OF Connecticut then deliv-
cred an address, which was very practical, on
the " Methods and habits Of teachers" Professor
Abbot OF Newbury then addressed the meeting
upon " Introduction OF numbers" This COM
pleted the forenoon session. The afternoon
session was opened by Professor Dunbar OF
Haverhill, New Hampshire, who read an essay
on Teaching higher arithmetic" Rev. Allen
Clark read paper on The duties Of parents. -
Professor Cummings OF Bradford followed him by
an address ON Punctuality and regularity OF at
tendance" Superintendent Dart of Springfield
then closed the afternoon session by an address
on " Ungraded schools" The evening session
was devoted to lecture by Professor Northend
subject, What has been accomplished by com.
mon schoolsY'. 1--WE hear that Sheriff S. K.
Berry of Thetford arrested one G. +. Kennedy, O
former resident of this town, for disturbance
Of the peace, but he was found to be INSANE and
was taken by Selectman ]. W. Bliss OF this place
to the insane asylum at Brattleboro, The fra
ternty ball was held at the Trotter House hall on
Wednesday evening Of last week. The proceeds
were about SlSl.70, Music by Basdell's orches
ira of Concord. The number OF couples present
was eghty-six
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Discount on Taxes.

There seems to be some misrepresentation
both as to the time when taxes shall be paid
to derive the benefit of certain discounts,
and also as to the amount of the discount.
No. 90 Of the laws Of 1880 provided new
method for the collection Of taxes-except-
ing the highway tax-to such towns as should
vote to accept its provisions. Section third
of that act provides for reduction of four
per cent from the amount of all taxes paid
in before the expiration Of ninety days from
the date of public notice by the town treas
urers of the receipt of the tax bills. 1t fur
ther provides that "In the case of state
taxes there shall be allowed only the abate
ment prescribed by general law" The
abatement prescribed by the general law is
found in No. 80 of the laws of 1880, sec
ton 2. Again this general law is modified
by No. 143 of the laws of 1880, section s
which provides in substance that for all taxes
paid to the collectors before the first day Of
February there shall be allowed three pei
cent on the amount paid. In other words
under the provisions Of act 90 on all to,cr
taxes, except the highway tax, paid within
ninety days from the date of the town treas
urer's public notice calling upon taxpayer
to pay their respective taxes, a deduction Of
four per cent shall be made. On state taxes
paid to the collectors before the first day o.
February deduction of three per cent viii
be made.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

AN exchange has the following, which is
timely in view of the number who are in
dulging in the luxury of vaccination; Don't
pick your nose with the finger that has
shortly before come in contact with vaccine
matter-or at any other time. A man acted
contrary to this rule, and as result the mat
ter took kindly to his nose, made the &C.
quaintance of the membranes, spread all
through his head, and he is now just able to
leave his bed after confinement of more
than two weeks. A Glen's Falls lady
scratched the bite of an insect on her foot
with the fingers that had been toying with
her vaccinated arm. The following day her
foot swelled and shortly exceeded by an
overwhelming majority the size of the tradi
tional Albany girls feet. She was crippled
for month, and pinned away over the heart
rending prospect of wearing No. IL shoe
for the remainder of her days, but finally re
covered.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

EAST HARDwIcK. Mr.. Knowlton OF
Greensboro preached at the Congregational
church, in exchange with Rev. G. L, Gordon,
January 10th. The young ladies Of the village
held a sociable in the village hall January 9th,
which was well attended. The music and tab
leaux were much enjoyed The friends and
parlshioners OF Rev. s. II. Anderson gave him a
pound party last Tuesday evening Mr. Holden
Warner, who has been in New Mexico for the
past two years. has been visiting friends in town
He expects to return and engage extensively in
stock raising. Mr.. and Mrs +. ]. French 70
ceved visit from their numerous friends last
Friday evening. and all report very enjoyable
time 81, b. Livingston has recently bought OF
J. M. Stevens some thirty acres Of land adjoining
his home lot, being the balance Of the Warner
lot paying S25 per acre. Miss Lulu, daughter
OF J. J. Campbell had narrow escape from seri
Gus injury while riding 10 school on load Of
logs, on Friday morning. The sled slowed on the
ice, throwing the load of with Miss Campbell be
meath it, but fortunately she fell in hollow
place and the length OF the logs prevented then
settling down upon her, 40 saving her life al
though she was considerably bruised.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
A Wonderful Family.

WATERBURY, January 30, 1882
Mr.. Editor We are informed that a family
in this village, consisting Of three persons, hus-
band, wife and a boy about twelve years old have
consumed more provisions than any four families
Of their size on record since the time OF Blue
beard. One of our most respected citizens, a
member OF the church, assures us that he has fur
nished them more provisions than have been con-
sumed by his own family (who, by the way, are
good livers). A farmer from the rural districts
comes 10 the front and says he IL continually
sending from his well-stocked larder large
amount OF eatables, when, 10 and behold, a GER
tain grocer comes forward and says his oontrbu-
tons are more than all the rest, and yet those
three gormandizers are not happy The overseer
OF the poor came 10 the front last week to contend
for his share OF the glory and sent them fair col
lection Of eatables To keep the wolf from the door
and reports them In destitute condition 80 farlas
provisions are concerned. We do not learn that
they are accused OF wasting or making bad use
OF what they receive. 1t Is "a great wonder 10 the
honest people of Waterbury how To account for
the consumption OF the vast quantities Of beef,
pork turkeys, chickens, -four, meal, lard butter,
eggs, etc, furnished by the first three parties
named. Some malicious persons from over
the river have the audaeity TO insinuate that the
parties have not furnished the amount claimed by
them but Waterbury people swallow the dilemma,
horns and all, and pity the unfortunate ones who
are POSSESSED Of such yortaious appetites, A few
such families would surely cause famine.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

DooToRING ny TELEPHoNE.-The Hart
ford Post says "a physician OF North
Adams was called by telephone about one
o'clock at night, from Briggsville, two miles
away. A child was suffering from Group. The
night was dark and stormy, and the doctor
found nothing pleasant in the contemplation
of the trip. He called the Briggsville
house in which the little sufferer lay, and
requested the parents to bring it to the tele-
phone transmitter. This was done. The
child coughed its croupy cough, and the
doctor listened intently to every sound
which came from his patient He prescribed
a remedy, aud one of the members of the
family prepared and administered it. The
relief was immediate and the recovery rapid.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

CHELsEA.-Mrs. Lewis Barnes died Monday
morning OF last week. She had patiently endured
long and very painful illness Last week
Tuesday farm in Tunbridge belonging to the
Hyde estate was sold at auction to Z. g. Lougee,
the present occupant, for sS25. ...T There was a
ball at the hotel last Wednesday evening, with
about fifty couples in attendance. &C E. Peters
proprietor Of the stage lines from Chelsea to East
Thetford and from Ely to Ely station. has traded
with L. D. Burnham. proprietor Of the line from
Bradford to East Orange Sixty-four more
boxes have been added to the post-office. which
now will compare very favorably in regard to
convenience, with any in this part OF the state.
Harris Goodwin Of Webster, New Hampshire
son of the late Nathan Goodwin, has been visiting
for some time with friends here. Mrs. France,
W. Bixby has removed to Barre, where her son
Is at school
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

PENSION FRAUDs.-In his speech in the
senate on the arrears of pensions act, Sena-
tor Beck called attention to some statements
in the report of the commissioner of PEN
sions in 1870 TO show the impositions TO
which the government was liable under the
present ex parte method of establishing a
claim. The declaration of the commissioner
was that on July l, 1875, the names of 900
invalid and of 27l widows names were
dropped from the pension list because it had
been ascertained that the pensions were pro
cured by false affidavits In these cases
1856 false affidavits were made by officers,
24S by comrades and 2,45O by civilians
total, 3,0Si. In addition to the false affida
Wits there were ninety-two forgeries. II &C
many frauds were perpetrated before the ar
rears law, what must be the extent of them
now that tens of dollars will be secured
where dollars were paid under the old law
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

SENATOR HoARi al believe every city in
Massachusetts, would experience incalculable
benefit II the women who are its citizens
would interest themselves in its public
affairs, in its schools, in its public library,
in its almshouses, in the care and refor-
nation of its juvenile offenders, and should
be permitted to give expression to that in
terest by their votes. l think, too, that the
exercise of municipal suffrage by the women
of Massachusetts, would elevate and purify
our municipal elections, and through that
example tend to elevate and purify all ouI
elections"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

WEST RAsDoLrH,-Rev, J. II. Hincks OF Mont
pelier preached at the Congregational church on
Sunday Ihorning, and evening, In exchange with
Rev, y.,A. Hardy. Frank Hastings has been
practicIne dentistry on the ice, and removed parts
OF two front teeth. The lecture by Col. J. b,
Mead on Friday night, giving an account OF his
trip to Atlanta, was listened to with much inter.
est by an audience OF over six hundred. Such
word pictures from one who has been south give
people much better idea of how things really
exist and will kindle better feeling towards oul
erring brethren. Mrs. A. B. Tewksbury has mi
tated some very pleasant weekly gatherings at
her home, one OF which was held on last Thurs
day evening. The large engine for use at the
Salisbury mill is being put in place, As soon a,
that work Is completed the mill will DO ready fol
operation. Reports from our young men in Cal
ifornia are very fattering, and others may be ex
pected TO soon follow Singing-school on Mon
day and Tuesday evenings, Mrs. Griswold will
occupy rooms formerly occupied by Mrs. Scott In
the spring Mr., and Mrs. Hammond, who hav,
been employed by N Nj, Draper, left on Tuesday
for their home. Sorry to miss their faces and
their pleasant greetings
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

AT Wallace II. Brink Co.'s foundry in Bur-
lington, Thursday afternoon, eight workmen
were making five-ton casting when the ladle
was accidentally overturned and the whole mass
Of molten metal poured out, setting the building
on fire almost instantaneously. Patrick Don
nelly, fifty years old, was dreadfully burned the
greater part of his skin dropping Off He has
since died. leaving a wife and large family Ben
jamin Wright, aged twenty-five, married; and
Thomas Crowley, aged twenty-one, single were
seriously and probably fatally burned. James
Hayden, aged forty five, was dangerously burned.
The other four men escaped without injury. The
interior Of the foundry was Quilted and the pecu.
mary damages reach several thousand dollars
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

THE Burlington police during 1881 arrested SIC
persons-471 males and 80 females. Intoxication
was what brought the majority Of them to grief
27l having been arrested for this cause Mex
to this, liquor selling was the great stumbling
block. There were It's arrests for selling liquor
first offence, and four second three for furnish
ing liquor to habitual drunkards; II for keeping
liquor with intent to sell, and six for keeping nu
sances Sixty-two persons-5l men and II
women-were taken to the house OF correction
two girls and boy to the reform school and one
man to the state prison. Fines and costs of So,
9O2 90 paid into the state treasury and S621 1;
into the city treasury
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

EDITOR RAMsDELL of the Washington Republic
can recently offered IS for the best-written letter
accepting an offer of marriage, and here Is the
letter, by Gertrude Nelson, which won the prize
"My Dear Donald Fresh with the breath OF
the morning came your loving missive. have
turned over every leaf Of my heart during the
day, and on each page find the same written,
namely, gratitude for the love OF noble man,
humility in finding myself Its object and ambi-
ton to render myself worthy OF that which you
offer, will try. Yours henceforth."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

WILLIAM WARREN, the veteran comedian
Of the Boston Museum, on the 2Sth day of
next October will have ended the fiftieth
year of the time during which he has made
men laugh by the inimitable quality of his
acting and his humor. On that day, should
he live, large number of Bostonians,
headed by Governor Long and o. W.
Holmes, propose to give the veteran actor a
benefit, and have asked him to sit for his
portrait that it may be ready for exhibition
in the museum on the day Of his semicen-
| tennial,