St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-12-24
TURN THE RAsCALS OUT.

There are quite number of ques-
tiOns, large and small, that demand
the attention of the next Vermont leg
islature. Among the small needs is an
act concerning the means of egress
from public halls. In 1882 it was en-
acted that the door ways, passage
ways, etc, of public halls shall be kept
free from portable seats and other OBJ
structiOns. This was good as far as it
went, but it didn't go far enough; it
should have gone as far as the doors.
Massachusetts, law requires that all
churches, school rooms, hotels, halls,
etc, shall have means of egress APP
proved by inspectors appointed for the
purpose, and all doors to the main en-
frances in such buildings shall swing
Outwardly.
So far as our observation has extend
ed the doors of most of the public halls
of this state, at least in this section of
the state, swing inwardly. No very
serious accident has yet resulted from
this practice. But it is always the
unexpected that happens. We have
often been in Vermont audiences when
the cry of fire would have precipitated
mass of people against doors that
opened in upon them, and instead of
furnishing means of egress would only
have served as barriers to their escape.
The doors of halls or buildings where
audiences are liable to gather should
always swing outwardly. Turn the
rascals out.
Unpublished Manuscripts Relating to
America.
Mr.. B. F. Stevens, native of Bar
net and we'll known in Vermont, has
for many years resided in London.
The deep interest in historical research
and antiquarian matters which made
his fathers name so prominent, has
been inherited by the son. Mr.. Ste
vens during all his residence in Lon
don has been engaged in the examina-
ton of the public and private archives
in Europe with the object of preserv-
ing and rendering easy of access to
historical students all documents re-
lating to the American colonies during
their struggle for independence. He
has made entries of $4,000 documents,
including duplicates, ETC., within the
scope of this work, the great majority
of which have never been published.
They concern the local interests of
every one of the colonies, the military
and naval operations, and civil and
political matters throughout the entire
revolution all diplomatic negotiations
Of the European powers with each
other and with the colonies and the
correspondence as to the Treaty of
Peace.
Mr.. Stevens plan comprises the col
latiOn and comparison of all duplicates
and variations of these documents
wherever they exist, the recording of
all points of difference, the cataloguing
of all, and the copying of all principal
documents that have not been pub
lished. By this plan the possible
chance of loss to history by the de-
struction of the original state papers
will be Obviated, and at the same time
all these documents of whatever char
acter will be so catalOgued that the
student of history may know where to
look for any of them without further
search.
1t is Mr.. Stevens purpose to dis
pose of this immense amount of
material, when it shall have been
properly prepared, to this govern
ment that it may be preserved. To
this end he desires the cooperation of
the people of this country and will be
pleased to correspond with any who
are interested in the subject.