Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-10
connection with his own life was appreciated

and by the fact That IN the company more
was but one opinion upon the subject. The
pride OF Vermont Is her children. The
names Of Senator Edmunds and Minister
Phelps we're received with great applause.
The speech concluded with an earnest appeal
TO members Of the. press 10 care for the edu-
oational interests Of the state. II would re-
quire all our vigilance 10 keep Vermont from
being, In this respect, outstripped by her
younger rivals.
After music by the orche stra Hon. G. G..
Benedict Of the Burlington Free Press was
called upon to respond for "The Press"
The speaker was able from his own expert
enoe 10 testify TO the progress which the
press Of Vermont had made in this genera
ton. Both in the number OF papers aud in
the extent OF circulation It had doubled with
in the last thirty years. Referring to the
Lieutenant Governors remarks on education,
Mr.. Benedict said that the press was always
ready TO do its full share OF work. The APP
parent increase of illiteracy was due not TO
O degeneration among our New England pop
ulaliOn, or to tho weakness Of our public
schools, but to the increase in the foreign
population.
'The Judiciary Of Vermont" was we'll rep
resented by Judge VeRzey Of Rutland, who
spoke wittily In regard 10 the power OF the
press. The GROWING evidence adduced to
prove It's power is the fact that no instance is
recorded OF one who has received an invita-
ton to a press banquet and has been able TO
resist. In conclusion Judge Venzey called
Speaker Batchelder to his aid to finish his
speech. In responding Mr.. Batch,lder paid
glowing eulogy to wOmankind.
Row. j. X. Bartlett of Montpelier, being
both an editor and Clergyman, was evident
ly the one to respond for 1.-The Clergy, and
by several well-told stories showed that the
presence OF the clergy was not calculated to
throw any prsternatural solemnity over the
festal gathering. He acknowledged the uni
formly kind and generous treatment and will
ing aid which the clergy Of Vermont receive
from the press.
The institutions aud people of ''BrAtleboro"
received felicitous recognition from Hon. j.
M. Tyler whose remarks we're continually in
terrupted by applause, and especially his illus
tration of the (supposed) fayorite cumulative
method OF reckoning newspaper calculations
At this point In the after dinner program a
pleasant surprise was in store for the com
pany. Mr.. Harris said that many things had
been mentioned, Of which Brattleboro il
justly proud, but without exhausting the list.
Among her attractions were two young ladies'
natives Of the town, and yet in their teens,
of whom high artistic hopes we're entertain
ed aud they had consented TO appear on the
occasion and give duet. He had the pleas
ure to introduce Miss Mary Howe, Miss Hat
tie Brasor, and Mr.. Lucien Howe, who would
accompany them ON the piano The young
ladies sang The lIarbor Bar" which was
greeted with a storm of applause, and for an
encore they gave Balfe's charming trine,
| Trust Her Not"
Y When we say that Principal Binghsm's
speech on The Public Schools of Vermont"
was thoroughly characteristic, the Brattle-
boro reader will not need 10 be told that ii
bristled with good points and was filed with
the intensity of thought and expression Of
man whose heart is in his theme. II WAS true
and we'll said remark, made by Mr.. Atkins as
Mr.. Bingham closed, that the members Of
the association were now able to understand
why Brattleboro was 30 proud Of herself-of
her institutions, her people, and most Of all
Of her public schools.
The program was happily finished by ex.
Gov. Proctor who spoke 10 the concluding
toast, The Ladies'" aud kept his auditors
in prolonged uproar of laughter by his
telling points OF true mother wit.
Instigated thereto by the president Of the
evening, Mr.. Atkins and Col. Hooker Joined
in a short sparring bout, during which it was
hard to tell which got in the more "hits, and
then, at 1880, the good nights" we're said
and the company broke up.
Next morning all we're astir betimes the
early morning air was cool and delightful,
and everybody was in the best OF spirits az
the large company gathered at the railroad
station for the start to Block Island The
train Of five cars pulled out OF the station at
precisely twelve minutes OF 1--WE amid a gen.
eral waving Of adieus and words OF cordial
recognition Of Brattleboro's effort 20 vel
come her guests.
Among the Brattleboro people who Joined
the excursion we're Hon. and Mrs b. ID. Har.
ris MIR. and Mrs. Is. +. Bingham, Col. and
Mrs. Hooker, MIR. and Mrs. G.. f. Crowell,
Mr.. and Mira. ID. b. Sledman, Mr.. and Mrs
q. f. Selleck, Mr.. and Mrs ID. Leonard, Mrs.
f. t. Housh, and Mr.. +. l.. Housh.
Last evening 1.-THE most sumptnous ban
quet ever served on the island was given the
association at the Block Island House
The return from Block Island will be by
special train this evening, connecting with
the night express for the north.
PEW WORDS OF DESERVED ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The thanks OF the Brattleboro craftsmen
are due TO all the citizens Of the town who 30
oheerfully aided them on this occasion. They
are due to Col. GOodhue for placing the
Brooks House at their service and giving il
the real home seeming to the clerk, Mr..
Jefts, the steward, Mr. Pond, and to all the
htNhClta VI Nuc uOuoo lOI tlltleut hnENlcba.
They are due TO citizens who opened their
HOUSES TO their guests, relieving the pressure
on the hotels and making the suitable enter
tainment of all possible. They are due to
citizens who furnished their private carriages
to drive visitors about town. They are due to
Mr.. Ray, who placed the ample resources Of
his stables at their disposal, and TO Mr. Hig-
gins for similar service. They are due TO
Col. Fuller, and through him 10 the Philhar-
monio orchestra for music at the banquet.
They are due to the First Regiment band for
their courteous serenade, IA we'll AZ for their
ready tender OF further services. Last, but
by no means least, they are due to Misses
Howe and Brasor, ana MIR. Lucien Howe,
their accompanied, for one of the most charm
ing incidents of the whole occasion.
Our obligation to Hon. b. d. Harris, to
Mr. A. N. Swain Of Bellows Falls. president
of the state association, and to Mr.. f. ii.
Brown, its secretary, has already been init.
mated.
OF the general success and pleasure of the
occasion, II a success and pleasure it was,
it must be left for others to speak. 1t il
within the bounds of propriety however, for
us to say that the Brattleboro craftsmen took
satisfaction in finding that their arrange
ments had been 80 well made that the occa-
sion was free from confusion, and that there
NoAo uo hHANhIu uoihyb III tue hhhiBulueLl OF
guests or in the general provision for their
comfort. II our visitors found any pleasure
in the occasion we assure them it was dOubly
pleasure to US TO have this opportunity 10
testify to them our good will and sincerity.
LETTER FROM VIM. +. RYTHER
In letter to the Brattloboro committee,
acknowledging an invitation TO the banquet,
and expressing his regret at feeling obliged
to decline, Mr.. VIM. E. Ryther, the veteran
printer and publisher, made this pleasant al
fusion:
"Probably there will be present at your ban.
quet Of my age (7s) say with that they
have served apprenticeship OF seven years t0
learn the printers trade having been indentured at
IA years OF and considered during all those years
the "printer's DEVIL" being the youngest well a.
the Oldest apprentice, l still carry In my pocket
composing rule" but my "stiok" is laid away
Thanking the committee very much for kindly re-
membering me in my old age, and sending greeting
to all who may gather together tomorrow at the ed
itors' aud publishers banquet subscribe myself,
Yours truly, WM. Il. RYTHER."
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He ChrissIanitv DseIIniagt
Rev. DIR. Parkhurst of New York stoutly
combats in the July North American Review
the notion that Christianity is declining in
this country. Calling statistics to his aid he
makes this showing In the year 1900 there
we're in the United States 5000 evangelical