St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-12-24
NOTE AND COMMENT.


The cotton crop estimate for this
year is 6 900, 900 bales, exceeding last
years crop by million and quarter
bales.
w. HI. III. Murray tells Boston cor
respondent that his present plan covers
three years lecture engagements in
this country and in England.
1t is remarkable coincidence that
the two oldest ex-gOvernors of Yer
mont-Hiland Hall and Ryland Fetch
er-died within "a hours of each other
last week.
1t is said that Vermont soldiers who
were drafted in 1863 have concluded to
hold convention for the purpose of
considering their interests in cOnnec-
ton with pensions.
Despite the statement published last
week that the smallpox scourge was
at an end in Montreal, there were 81
deaths from the disease in that city
and suburbs last week.
A very pretty observance" of Christ
mas is that planned by r. HI. Coleman,
the wealthy iron man of Lebanon, Pa,
who will throw open his residence on
Christmas day to all of his wOrkmen
and their families.
1t is said that the president express
ed surprise when the formidable list of
1900 recess appointments was present
ed to him before it's transmission to
the senate. He had done better than
he thought he had.
Rev. w. Hay Aitken is preaching
to the business men of Boston with
the same success that has attended his
labOrs in New York. A brief sketch of
of his meetings in the latter city will
be found on the inside pages of this
issue.
The New York Herald thinks that
President Cleveland made a great mis-
take in refusing to listen to senators
and representatives when these crowd
ed to him with requests and sOlicita-
tiOns for places. But the voters are
not complaining to any great extent.
The inside editor of the Rutland
Herald thinks that a nomination and
election to congress in Vermont does
not cost the successful candidate to ex-
coed 800, but that congressman is
paid so small salary that no poor
man can afford to go to congress and
keep his hands clean of corruption.
Gladstone quietly puts an end to the
numberless anonymous and irrespOn-
sible rumors concerning his attitude
on the Irish question by declaring
that, eff should at any time have any
plan or intention to announce on the
question of Irish government, it will
be done publicly and Oh my own re-
spOnsibility."
The rumOrs concerning the Marshall
and Gilbert islands have taken shape
the past week, and now it is said that
the German flag has been raised on
both the Marshall and Gilbert groups.
The islands number about so, the ma
tives are civilized and have been for
many years under the influence of the
American Missionary society.
The German government talks of
going into the rum business. Prince
Bismark has got up scheme which
cOntemplates the purchase by the i'm
perial government of all the brandy
produced in Germany ut a fixed price
and the organization of a system for
it's sale through thoHsands of new Ii
quOr dealers who will pay heavy Ii
cense.
FRAUDS ON THE PEOPLE.
We have been requested by the post
Office department to give publicity to
the following communication which
perhaps sufficiently explains itself:
Office of Post Office Inspector, Bos-
ton, Mass, Dec. !, 1885 Having been