St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-02-23

in their examination. A shortage in
Mr.. Gales accounts of 800 Including
deficiency of 800, which had been
running for several years. was dis
covered, and, accordingly, on Friday,
Feb. 9, an attachment on Mr.. Gales
property was filed in the town clerks
Office, to insure the village against loss
in the event of any contingency. Mr..
Gale was confronted with the proofs,
and the result of negotiations with the
trustees was that he gave his note for
$500 1900 of which has been paid),
to settle the matter, this amount COW
ering the exposed delinquences and
others which the trustees had reason to
believe existed, but of which the books
failed to furnish the proof. An exam
ination of the books show that parties
have been using water who have not
paid anything for its use. The meth
cd of procedure has varied in different
cases and involved great and small
amounts, one item being over one hun
dred dollars. In cases of receipt of
money, the amount of cash would be
credited a smaller amount than re-
ceived.
These are the salient points of the
case. The superintendent of the water
works, General Ide, is entitled to much
credit for bringing to light the delin-
quences of his predecessor. Whatever
may be thought of the action of the
trustees in making a settlement with
Mr.. Gale instead of entering suit
against him, certain it is that the vii
lage is financially the gamer by the
transaction, as there was no way of
getting at the extent of the losses.
The Lecture Course.
The Ruggles-street church quartette
were given a hearty reception in the
lecture course on Friday evening. The
uuartette have been heard here before,
and the public knew what to expect.
Nor were they disappointed. Opening
with Rhine waltzes, which were a fit
ting prelude to what followed, they
gave "StOrm at Sea" and "Serenade,'
which were finely sung and much en-
iOyed but it remained for the lightest
feature of the programme, "There was
a man and he had naught," to call forth
the heartiest encore of the evening,
which shows that a very ridiculous
thing, sung as they sang it, will some
times touch the st. JOhnsbury heart i'll
the right place. A song by II. o. john
son, the first tenor, showed his remark
ably fine voice to good advantage, as
did "The Boatswain," by George H..
Remele, the first bass, both of which
were heartily encOred. The favOrite,
because he is st. Johnsbury boy by
adoption, was Geo. R.SClark, who sang
"The Young Mountaineer," whose
heavy bass voice showed marked i'm
provement and cultivation. His recep-
ton must have been pleasant to him,
as indicating the esteem in which he is
held here. The best thing of the eve
ming was the closing, Remember now
thy Creator" Only words of satisfac-
ton and admiration were expressed for
the concert.
The readings by Miss Cushman Ea-
ton of Boston were almost universally
disappointing. Announced as a niece
of the famous actress, Charlotte Cush-
man, the public expected profession
al reader, woman grown, and of more
than ordinary ability. Their expecta-
tions were not realized, however.
When she made her appearance on the
stage, a mere girl of seventeen, and at
tired in very girlish manner, feel
ing of disappointment ran through the
audience, which impression she was
not able to dispel. Her voice was not
strong enough to fill the house, and in
the gallery and in the rear of the hall
not more than half the words were dis
tinguished. In the effort to make her
self heard, her voice had an unpleasant
shrillness. In "RObert of Lincoln"
her bird-notes were given very finely.
The medley and a love scene from
"The Hunchback" were not so pleas
ing. "Sister and ~ a pathetic selec-
ton, was well rendered, but her rendi-
ton of the story of George Washing
ton and his little Ratchet did not do
Justice to this one of the best things
Burdette has written. The tale of the
bad boy, given as an encore, closed the
entertainment, and was very well done.
This is the first course in which she
has read. AS an amateur, she did we'll,
and she exhibits a talent that promises
well for her future.
The next entertainment in the course
will be next Monday evening, and will
be lecture by Rev. Robert Collyer of
Chicago, on "Clear Grit" Tickets on
sale at Bingham's on Saturday morn
ing.
A Few Words about the eng
IiSh SparrOws."-Py Do
mestica.
These birds are well known in the
cold world" and are fast becoming so
in the "new." Their geographical
range is very extensive. They are