Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-04
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The following correspondence from D. H
Thing, Lecturer and Past Master Of the Maine
state grange, appears in the Cincinnati Grange
Bulletin. We hope that his somewhat erratic
movements il journeying from Brattleboro
to Newfane, about the asylum, "Black river, -"
'numberless sugar orchards, and the narrow
gauge railroad and his mysterious wander
ings for two days and nights through the
flats Of Canada, the wilds of Western Penn
sylyania, the hills OF New York. and the noun
tains Of Western Massachusetts, will not be
taken to detract anything from the deserved
compliments paid to Col. Franklin:
Leaving Brattleboro on clear, sunny
DAY, with stylish Morgan and cutter. We
wendell our way up the Black River valley
some II miles, between steep hills and noun
tains, through narrow gorges and then across
line fields Of aliuyiai deposits, by tidy, well
painted, cosy cottages and large barns and
through numberless sugar orchards first
crossing the narrow-gauge track and then the
railroad crossing ours passing the state in
sane asylum, a large establishment consisting
OF group Of red brick buildings and a splen-
did farm and surroundings, such as would
make even al insane man forget his maady
through the beautiful village Of Rewfgne.
VII llb NV GlI4LEHy GuuIGlth. courthouse and
hall almost rIyalhng the SHOW il whiteness
until, coming to place which answered to
directions received at Newfane, Go on three
miles to Il white house on the right lust on
the ridge, with big barn on the left " we
called. And sure enough. We had reached
the goal for who should answer our demand
but our esteemed Sister Franklin, with whom
We had sat through four sessions of the ma
tonal grange, and who, with her husband. We
long ago learned to look upon as real pillars
OF our grand organization, and whose cordial
greeting made US forget that for two days and
nights We had been wandering through the
flats of Canada, the wilds of Western Penn
sylvania, the hills of New York, and the
mountains of Western Massachusetts,
Brother Franklin coming in, we were soon
seated around the fire, earnestly discussing
the history Of the past, the work of the pres
ent and the necessities Of the future
" Col Franklin Is man of independent
thought and speech, cool, leyel-h headed, and
deeply impressed with the importance Of the
TACT that the grange Is a national institution
as indeed well he may be, having fought four
years 10 oblterate Mason and Dixon's line
and alay sectional prejudces ana animosties.
and bearing upon his person the scars CT no
less than six wounds received in the struggle
for one grand nationality.
To-day no member Of the national grange
stands higher IL the estimation of brothers
and sisters from every section than be of the
Green Mountain state
After Put Darden OF Mississippi. who
fought just as persistently upon the other
side, shall have passed through the chair now
so ably filled by Brother Woodmau, We may
fairly expect to see the colonel from Vermont
IN the same proud position
Col Franklin j, q practical farmer, in
love with his profession, al intelligent aud
earnest Patron and holds deservedly high
place in the estimation OF the fraternity in his
state.
In the evening We attended public meet
ing at Iownshend, which was well attended
by persons within and without the order
We returned to Brother Franklin's for "a
good rest and good visit and on the NOR
row IN drizzling rain, were taken by Dr.
NJ IirreA, a social, genial, well-informed
gentleman across a broken hily country.
some two miles, to Grafton, where / found IA
home for the night il the pleasant family Of
Brother Palmer, by whom l was taken in the
evening to the grange hall, for al exhibition
of myself as Il Maine granger