The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-17
Notes and Comments.

SECRETARY LINCOLN has certainly
shown an appreciation of national dignity
in ordering back to duty the three sur
vivors of the Greedy expedition, who, on
being granted leave of absence, contracted
to exhibit themselves as curiosities in
dime museum in Cleveland, Ohio. It is
comforting to know that we have gov
eminent that can give instruction to citi-
zens in matters of taste, when necessary.
New YORK TRIBUNE "The Philadel.
phia newspapers of Monday make re-
proachful mention of a driver of one of
the city's prison vans. 1t appears that
this official on Saturday collected the law
breakers that had accumulated at the va
rious police stations, and after delivering
them at the main lookup got very drunk.
The Times pictures him as driving up
Girard avenue, lying on the top of the van
singing 81 won't 60 home till morning."
and adds: He was put in cell. This
morning he will ride inside the van.'
The mistake made by this son of Bacchus
was not an uncommon one. He was right
in believing that he was fitted to fill
position in the prison.van line. He was
wrong in his conception of what that
position was. He applied for service on
the outside while it is evident that he will
be the right man in the right place inside
the van. The democratic party just now is
indulging in similar error. Its cry
Turn the rascals out, is only its way of
applying for position as driver of re-
form van. But the people will meet this
demand with the remark, No, you are
part of the thing to be reformed-sit down
inside the van
THE following from Msjor-general
Hartranft of Pennsylvania is seasonable
at would be good idea, think, to have
national encampment of the militia
once every three years. My idea would
be to have at least twenty-five thousand
men in camp, composed of the National
Guard of several states, brigade of regu-
lar army infantry, battery and some
cavalry, the whole to be under the COM
mand of some one of the maj or-generals
of the regular army. When large bodies
of soldiers are brought together they
learn from each other, and l have no
doubt but that such an eDcampment
would prove decidedly advantageous to
the militia. The plan have thought of
would be to have national encampment
each year, but in different sections of the
country; the first year, say, to include the
National Guard of the New England and
Middle States, the next year to have it
in the West, and the third year to com.
prise the militia in the South and
Southwest. Upon each of these occasions
it would be we'll to have the regular army
we'll represented, so that the state guards.
men would have the benefit of their ex.
perience and training. In the intervening
years we could have brigade and division
encampments."
"HIsToRY repeats itself-its disgraces,
we fear, more often than its better and
more creditable records. Here Is the
very last instance of the former" says an
exchange, "that has fallen under our eyes !:
The largest invoice of New England rum
we are quoting from the Boston Traveller
of August 2sth, 'ever shipped from the
United States was cleared to-day for the
coast of Africa-one hundred and fifty
thousand gallons, or say thirty-fve hun
bred barrels. More than seventy-five
years ago old Tidd, an Englishman, who
built the one-time splendid mansion in
| Medford, was distiller on Sudbury street,