Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-23
IsyERMONT RETROGRApING {!

1t seems to be the good pleasure Of the
Boston Post to lie upon its aristocratic back,
and, resting the long gun of metropolitan
criticism upon the Greek cross of its own
toes, report most astonishing scores out OF in
definite possibilities upon tie staunch little
target of the State Of Vermont. There are
some fine marksmen on the Bay State press,
but thew do most of their shooting at reason
able ranges This idea of lying on Walnut
Hill and elevating ones riie-sights to catch
Mount MapsGelds bald pate, and then
blazing away at an elevation whlch
causes the pa,abola of the balls flight
to pass over the moon, is, TO say
the least, a little bit uncertain. The Boston
Post evidently wants TO knock the sivers
from the little Republican bulletin-Doard oil
Vermont, but it doesn't want to shoulder lis
rifle and come up where it can see what II Is
shooting at. Some of the most random as
ser,ions respecting Vermont have been made
by tn, Post within the past few months.
That widest shot of all, respecting the Grim
inal supremacy of the State, raised such
laugh along the range, and up hcrc where We'
heard the ball pinging overhead on It's AIRY
way, that it was hard to he serious enough
to reply to the Post with double charge OF
sober statistics. And now this same long
range organ has charged with another quarter
Of pound of the powder OF prejudice,
and sent a threc-ouucc ball Swimming and
whistling up through the suow-banks oil New
England. 1t must take good deal of nerve
to invite such recoil, lying upon ones back
with the cold steel but under ones nose.
The Post says:
Politically, socially economically and NOR
ally, Vermont is comparatively retrosrad-
ing. The conditions of progress within her
borders seem to be benumbed. ller amDl-
tious young men are leaving her, and none
come in to take their places. The life OF the
State is at standstill. New blood, new
ideas aud new methods are needed. over
her green hills and verdurous valleys therc
seems TO lower a somniferous atmosphere,
like that which cnshrouded the worthy burg
hers of Jules Verne's fancy before DIR. OK had
made his wonderfully successful experiments
among them. The developing principle
seems paralyzed Sclf-sufliciency is about
the most luXuriant characteristic, anu mat
is suspicious fungus that tlouiishes best IN
the decomposition of other things.
The Post gets into position and shoots
with good deal Of flourish, because it is
aware that after the ball has left the gun
the best part of the performance is over. Still
this is u serious charge, and the fact that 1t
comes from the captious P0't should not
deter us from asking whether there is
grain of truth in the powder that propels the
ball Are we politically, socially, econom-
ically and morally" retrosrading in Yer
mont !. Strange political degradation Ia that
which has stood by the clean, reputable, vic
torious party in American politics, and con-
quered with it for years The accusation OF
the Post is the exact whine of the schoolboy
ON the under side, who with sheepish and
unwilling wrigglnss and much sterlorous
breath TO get wind for an excuse,
finally launches the whitening cosdemn,
nation, Well - you didn't rastle
fair" 1t must be that the Post
has confused small stature with pusila-
nmity, as is quite apt to be the case with
|
the truth, it does look as though there Vas
degradation somewhere TO sec the little fel-
low always on top-but where isit' The
Post will probably revise its opinion about
the political degradation of Vermont, upon
mature thought There is something in the
phrase comparatively retrogradng' which
does not enter into the accusation as formed
IN the Posts mind, but suggests loop-holc
left for probable contingency.
That Vermont is retrograding socially, we do
not believe and for these reasons First, there
is far more cordially and less reserve among
the people than there was ten or fifteen years
ago The ld'Puritan closeness, which, we
will confess has survived in Vermont longer
than in most other parts of New England, is
passing away. A great many old fashioned
some call them fanatical -notions are being
discarded 1t is not desperately wicked to
do great many pleasant and cheerful things
which used to bc set down to private ac-
count with the devil. And these things per-
mittcd-indulged in, if you will tend to
bring people together socially, especially the
young In the average Vermont village, we
arc sure, the people see more of each other
socially, are better .neighbors, enjoy all the
little amenities of neighborly intercourse
TO a greater degree and better purpose
than the same number of people living in
adjacent brown. stone fronts in the city. The
love of society is becoming very strong
in Vermont, and is freely INDUCED, dur
inr the Winter months especially. Our
young people ip Vermont, when they
come together socially, dress well, talk well,
appear well, and will bear comparison in
every respect with similar gatherings in any
State in the Union.
Secondly, home culture and the study of
the fine arts is doing a great deal to
elevate the socia, plane, in Vermont.
Has the Boston Post never seen, in
any of its Vermont exchanges, the an
nouncement that the village lyceum, or the
farmers club, or the ladies' society would
meet on certain evening to discuss such .
topic in literature, or science, or art, or poll
licsS 1t is these associations for home and
social culture which are refining and enrich
ing the people of Vermont. Nearly every
small town in the State has its lyceum or its
society for reading and discussion. A
large share of our people will talk in
telligently upon literature, science and