St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-07-16
The Vermont Press Association
The Annual Meeting and Excursion.

The Annual Meeting and Excursion.
! Fairer skies, heartier welcome, more
courteous treatment, never fell to the
lot of the men and women OF the
''fOurth estate" than was accorded the
| quill drivers of Vermont at their an
nual meeting and excursion last week.
| BrattlehOrO was the place decided on
for rendezvous and social meeting and
charming town provide for the coca
sion. A new departure was made this
! year by the executive committee in
| inviting a number of guests mainly
men prominent in the affairs of the
state Altogether the company num-
bered fully one hundred and fifty, half
of whom were ladies. The meeting at
BrattlebOro and what was done there,
we cOndense from the Phoenix which
had very full and admirable report ::
The party arrived Wednesday after
noon in about equal NUN bers by the 3
O'Clock and ) O'Clock express trains.
The BrattlebOro craftsmen were at the
station OH arrival of the trains in COM
mittee of the whole to receive the visi-
tors, as were numerous citizens, with
carriages, who had kindly volunteered
their assistance and thrown wide their
doors on the occasion. By previous
IN vltatIon many guests OF the assOcIa-
ton, including state officials and other
prominent gentlemen, with their wives,
were taken by citizens directly to their
homes. Others were directed to the
Brooks House where they were duly
assigned to rooms up to the full capaci
ty of the house, or were taken to COM
Portable apartments provided else
where.
Carriages were placed at the. service
of the guests soon after arrival and the
beauties of the town and its objects of
interest were very thoroughly inspect
ed, and the company returned to the
Brooks House quite enthusiastic over
the attractiveness of this picturesque
town.
At half past seven Rrattleboro ladies
and gentlemen, who had been invited
to meet the guests from abroad, began
TO gather, and from this time on the
Brooks House parlOrs and balcony
were crowded with an animated com
papy who renewed old acquaintance
ships, made new ones, and enjoyed the
serenade given by the First Regiment
band from Col. Rockers lawn.
At o'clock the Brooks House din |
ing rooms were thrown open and the !
company, just 200 in number, passed /
in and were seated at the generous |
banquet which had been spread there. I
The tables were handsomely arranged !
with abundant floral decorations. /
Hon. b. ID. Harris, who, by reason of
his old time connection with the press |
of BrattlebOro, had been invited to act |
as president of the evening, occupied |
the post of honor at the head of the /
central table. At his right sat Lieut..
Gov. Ormsbee, at his left Hon. II. III.
Wheeler, of the United States court,
and in immediate proximity were
Judge Veazey of the state supreme
court, exGoys. HOlbrook and Proctor,
Speaker Batchelder, State Treasurer
Dubois, and State Auditor Powell.
The BrattleborO guests present includ-
ed representatives of the various pro- /
fessioDs, with other leading citizens.
At each plate lay handsome souvenir
card, bidding every guest a cordial
''Welcome 10 our house, and contain i
ing the bill of fare, after dinner pro-i
gram and list of BrattleborO craftsmen.i
Grace was said by Rev, Z. w. Whit
ney, and then an hour was spent in
the abundant provision off
the Brooks House cuisine, the Philhar-i