The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-19

as we'll as he has begun, John W. Stewart will
yet rank with Edmunds, Collamer, Foote,
Phelps and Poland as among the great men
Vermont has contributed to national politics"
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF EDUCATION;
Vermont towns voted on Tuesday, as is their
annual custom, on the question of the adoption
of the town system of schools in place of the
district plan. When it has been 30 clearly
proven that the district system is worn-out
and cumbrous machine that now impedes the
progress of the school, why should not the
legislature of the state interpose by legislation
that will settle the question once for all? 1t is
but boys play to GO through the annual farce
Of voting yes or no on 80 vital question,
when the people are liable to consult policy
and tradition rather than sound educational
doctrine"
IT is remarked as a curious circumstance
that Salmi Morse Of New York, who persisted
in his purpose to produce the passion play in
that city till its presentation was prevented by
the officers Of the law, and that Shapiro, who
attempted to impose upon Biblical scholars
forged manuscript parchment Of the Book OF
Deuteronomy, have recently committed sui
eide. Mr.. Shapiro did business in Jerusalem
as dealer in Oriental curosities, and 1t is
understood that forging was the special feature
of that business. Like many other forgers in
various lines, he tried to be respectable in So
ciety while practicing lie. Finally the forces
that always depress the deceiver got the better
OF his cunning, and he took his own worthless
and deceptive life.
"THE truth Is that the Argus and Patriot
is the only journal in Vermont not the organ
of some little family, political, local, or denom-
national clique" Improbable as it may seem,
this is not the testimony Of another but the
Argus and Patriots own modest estimate Of
itself. 1t has familiar sound. 1t usually
pitches this tune to cover some fresh exhibi-
ton of independence" The query now is,
II this last footing of its horn has any connec-
tion with its abandonment of Pingree, whom it
was but lately booming and its championing
of DR.. Nichols cause? No political, local or
denominational cliques," it is we'll understood
has kept it silent in the Redfeld matter, and no
similar influences could lead our dual contem-
porary to help on DR.. Nichols ambitious polit-
ical projects
WHEN the corporation tax law was being
considered by the legislature of 1882, some Of
the worthy members of that august assembly
were seriously disturbed by the report, care
fully circulated by opponents of the law, that
some Of the capitalists of the state were even
then packing their trunks, preparatory to emil
grating to other commonwealth where such
burdens were less onerous. 1t was an open
secret that A. P. Childs of Bennington threat
ened to betake himself-intellect, capital and
all-beyond the reach of oppressive legislation,
il the aforesaid law was passed. On several
different occasions since that time Vermonters
have trembled at the report that Childs was
actually intending to carry out his threat, and
now it is again stated that he is to remove to
Springfield, Mass The tax realized by the
law, $175,C0 5000, 900, will help to soothe oul
troubled feelings, but the aching void will not
be entirely filled.
THE New York Sun thus sets off some Of the
drawbacks and compensations which are per
petually at play in life " Lieutenant Rhodes
was the hero of the Gay Head rescue. The
thanks of congress and the admiration of hi.
| countrymen doubtless made his lot to many
seem enviable, but his gallantry at Gay Heat
| had just been preceded by the death of hi
young wife, and now it is followed by that O
one of his two children. Engineer Melville
came back to America amid general plaudit
over his conspicuous fortitude in Siberia, only
to pass through a most trying domestic expert
ence; and the estrangement between his wifi,
and himself was followed by one between him
self and his daughter at school, Leutenan
Danenhower, on the other hand, for whom
Arctic imprisonment on the Jeanette haC
been rendered doubly horrible by a score o
regularly recurring surgical operations on hi
of being made blind for life, has just forgotten
some OF his sorrows In marriage on which
his friends offer hearty congratulations.
THE effect OF the reduction of postage seems
to be to diminish the use of postal cards. |
this effect is permanent, the Philadelphia
Times thinks " the people of this country cal
well afford to pay even a small deficit out o
the treasury. The use of the postal card
which was originally intended for business ant
perfunctory communications, had grown to un
natural proportions by its employment in spe
cies Of correspondence for which 1t WAS in n,
manner fitted. With no other recommenda
ton at best than cheapness its almost genera
adoption has indicated a willingness on tn
part of the American people to throw opel
even their most secret thoughts to whomsoeve
might come in contact with these missives
No doubt responsibility for the decline o
real letter-writing may be traced to the adop
ton of the postal card. The reduction Of lette
postage and the decline of the postal card ma,
not indeed restore this difficult and importan
art, but it may at least demonstrate that tn
tendency to write any kind OF epistle on a.
open card has given way to an improved taste.
A FARMER living in a village not one thou
sand miles from here recently made a trad
with man to carry on farm of his, and thu
man arrived at the farmers house one Satur
day evening Ia the course Of some talk abou
the business the farmer told the man that HI
should expect him to avoid all profanity il
speech and all unnecessary labor on Sunds,
while he was on his farm. After break fas
Sunday morning at which the blessing wa
asked and some appropriate devotional re
marks made by him. the farmer took the new
man in his sleigh and drove up to the farm
When they went into the stable the farme
though. the COWS needed to be carded and 81
he took hold and worked, with the new hand