Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-17
Notes and Notions.

the abolition Of the study OF grammar for
the younger pupils, and the substitution Of
oral language lessons. The teachers believe
that rules Of grammar are soon forgotten,
and that in reading and writing correctly
one seldom stops to think Of technicalties.
Their idea is that children should first be
led to speak good English intuitively, leav-
ing the rules for later years.
The mortality list of eminent men in
France since the beginning Of the year has
been remarkable. Gambetts's death was
followed by that Of General Chapzy, the
most skilful commander in the French
army. Chanzy's was followed by that of
General Vinoy, and now Vinoy's is followed
by that of Devaldan, who was struck by sp-
oplexy on hearing of the death of General
Chanzy. There have been alarming re-
ports of late about the health of President
Grevy.
A Mr.. SUCKERS, in long address be-
fore the central national club Of Philadel-
phis, on the anniversary Of the battle of
New Orleans, calls the effort to regulate the
civil service "a sham REFORM" and says the
title of the bill ought to be "Au act to Gre
ate an office for Mr.. Dorman b. Eaton and
to retire Senator Pendleton to private life"
As an authority the unknown Mr. Shuckers
don't amount to shucks," but significance
and Importance are given to his utterances
by the fact that they are quoted approvingly
by leading democratic paper.
In view of the parting bequest of the old
year to California, first class snow storm,
most unusual event in that climate, the
San Francisco Call says "The old year
went out in sackclotb and ashes. What
our eastern visitors will say about the glo-
rious climate of California when they get
back to Boston it is sad to think upon, and
the worst of it is no action for SANDER will
lie against them; they can plead truth in
| justification. Such a snow storm as visited
San Francisco yesterday has not been known
here since snow was first invented"
| PREPARATIONS for the winter carnival,
which commences in Montreal on the 24th
instant, are in very advanced state. Hun
dreds of men are engaged in building the
ice palace on Dominion square, which is to
be gorgeous affair The center tower will
be one hundred twenty feet in height, with
a tower little less in height at each corner.
Forty thousand feet of ice will be required
for the structure. The interior, as well as
the exterior, will be brilliantly lighted by
electricity. The demand for accommoda-
ton at the hotels for the week is very ex-
tensive.
| WE are are told that the new nickel coins
are to be an improvement in weight and
symmetry and inscription and design over
those now in use. We are pleased to hear
it, At present the pious legend, In God
we trust" is put upon some of our coins,
not upon others. On looking over some
change in our pocket we notice that it does
not appear upon any of the one-cent coins,
that it is upon the the two-cent coin minted
in 1867, and that it is ON the nickel
minted in 1869. 1t does not appear upon
any of the greenbacks within sight at this
moment.
THE engineering department at WASH
ington would have the next river and har-
Dor bill provide S33, SS9, 900 in addition to
the gigantic job of the last session of con-
gress. There is group of rivers named
for improvement that are not as familiar
even as the Cheesequakes has become. Sec-
rotary Lincoln has selected thirty of the
rivers and harbors named by the engineers
as being in his opinion unworthy of the ap-
preparations. As to the appropriation of
last year, he says that in many instances
the results of substantial benefit to ger eral
commerce we're so obscure and apparently
insignificant as to vindicate the doubt on the
part of the house of representatives about
the bill.
| THE statistics of crime are not pleasant
study, but they shed light, which may be
useful, on social conditions. A startlipg
fact, just revealed, is that throughout the
year 1882 there was an average of two muir
ders per day in the United States, and that
the executions have been only two per
week. The retributive part of the legal
code seems to have been largely abandoned.
Penalty has been put aside by sentimental
ity. 1t is also noteworthy, and may occa
sion some surprise, that while the murders
in the whole south were two hundred and
twelve in number, there were one hundred
and thirty-one in the state of New York
alone, and that the executions in the south
were more numerous than in the north.
New BEDFORD Standard: GAS for the
lovely programme laid down by Governor
Butler, we thought we had read something
like it somewhere; and turning over the
pages of an old writer named Shakespeare
we find it in the speeches of that typical
demagogue Jack Cade, to his followers
when l am king he said, there shall
be in England half-penny loaves sold for a
penny; the three-hooped pot shall have ten
hoops, and will make it felony to drink small
beer. All the realm shall be in common all
shall eat and drink on my score my mouth
shall be the parliament of England, and
more of the same sort. General Butler:
programme is hardly less impracticable thar
Jack Cade's like him, he seems to imagine
his mouth is to be the Legislature of Massa
chusetts. Very likely he will find himself
mistaken"
THE New York Sun does not take kindly
to suggestions of the name of Governor
Cleveland as the democratic nominee fol
the presidency in 1884. "While his friends
are engaged in apologizing for the defects
and crudities of his inaugural address," the
Sun does not regard the new governor
prospect Of becoming a candidate as very
brilliant. 1t says Mr.. Cleveland was mad,
the leader of The New York democracy by
half.breed republican newspaper in Buffalo
that "no branch of the democracy called
for him, but circumstances favored the hal
breed speculation and Mr.. Cleveland becam,
governor of New York. The democrati,
candidate for president two years hence" il
concludes, "will not be selected by hal
breed influence, nor will his nomination be-
based upon the Ignorance Of the people re
specting him."
The Boston Herald has this answer t.