Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-10
The Vermont Press Association.
The nrattIebOrO Editors and Publish
ers Give their RrethFen "VyeIcome."


nesday and we're entertained by the local jour
nalists and craftsmen according TO the pro.
gram previously announced. The day was
one Of the perfect ones Of the New England
summer. The sun was bright, and fervid
withal; the abundant rains Of previous days
had cleared tho air and washed the foliage
clean OF dust; everything was at its brightest
and best, and Brattleboro could not have been
in better trim for the enjoyment Of appreca-
tive visitors. The whole number OF guests
from above Brattleboro was 40, and these
arrived in about equal numbers by the
o'clock and o'clock express trains. The
Brattleboro craftsmen were at the station on
arrival Of the trains in committee OF the whole
to receive the visitors, az were numerous citi-
zens, with carriages, who had kindly voluu
teerod their assistance and thrown wide their
doors on the occasion. Mr. A. N. Swain OF
Bellows Falls, president of the state associa.
ton, and Mr. f. II. Brown of Bellows Falls
secretary, who, by request, had come down
on AN earlier train. were also at hand and rem
dered valuable service. By previous invita-
ton many guests OF the association, including
state officials and other prominent gentlemen
with their wives, were taken by citizens d
rectly to their homes. Others we're directed
to the Brooks House where they were duly
assigned to rooms up TO the full capacity OF
the house, or we're taken to comfortable
apartments provided elsewhere.
The program of the occasion announced
that carriages would be at the service OF guests
from O'Clock to $50 These we're prompt.
ly ut hand, and az fast "a the guests could rid
themselves of their luggage and the dust Of
travel they avaied themselves OF this oppor-
tunity to see The Attractions of BrattleborO."
The prescribed route OF the drive included
the common, q visit TO the Asylum summer
retreat where DR.. Draper personally WELDON
ed all who came, a turn through Highland
park, and then through Green and School
streets, out past the Estey Organ shops and
up through Prospect street, following the
brow OF the hill 10 the cemetery and back TO
the Brooks House. IL hardly need be said
that guests returned to the cheerful hustle
and sociability of headquarters" in the
Brooks House Office and parlors enthusiastic
over the beauties Of Brattleboro streets and
Brattleboro views.
At half. past seven Brattleboro 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
company who renewed old acquaintanceships
made new Ones and enjoyed the serenade
| given by the First Regiment band from Col
Hookers lawn.
At o'clock the Brooks House dining
rooms we're thrown open and the company,
just 200 in number, passed in and were seat
ed at the generous banquet which had been
| spread there. The tables we're 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 az 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. H.
Wheeler, Of the United States court, and in
immediate proximity were Judge Veazey of
the State Supreme Court, ex Cows. Holbrook
and Proctor, Speaker Batohelder, State Treas
urer Dubois, aud State Auditor Powell The
Brattleboro guests present included repre-
sentatives OF the various professions, with
other leading citizens, and the only regret of
the Brattleboro hosts was that the capacity
OF the banquet hall did not allow a full rep
resentaton or all our citizens.
At each plate lay a handsome souvenir
card bidding every guest cordial "Welcome
to our house" and containing the bill OF fare,
after. dinner program and list Of Brattleboro
craftsmen. Grace was said by Rev +. w.
Whitney, and then an hour was spent in dis
cussing the abundant provision of the Brooks
House cuisine the Philharmonic orchestra
discoursing excellent music meantime Fol
lowing was the
MENU.
Oyster Soup
PotAge la Fausse Tortue. Oysters Raw on Ice
Boiled Salmon.
Lobster Sauce Cueumbers
Turkey. Ham. Chicken. Tongue
Filet of Beef-MushrOoms
Scalloped Oysiers-Cold slAw.
Lobster saAd--French Dressing.
Chicken sAlad-sAlad Cream
Mashed Potatoes Saratoga Chips.
Medford Jelly. Snowflake. Wine Jelly
Castards. Ice Cream-vanilla-Pineappie.
Strawberries and Cream. Cake-variety
Fruit. Nuts. Coffee Tea.
Crackers aud Cheese.
Aner Dinner.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Mr. Harris arose and
called the company TO order. As soon as 81.
lence prevailed he delivered the following
Address OF WELCOME
The agreeable duty has been assigned to me, Mr.
President aud gentlemen Of the Vermont Editors and
Publishers Association of expressing you and your
guests on behalf Of the members Of your profession
and craft residing here, the very great pleasure they
have In welcoming you to BrAttleboro aud to such
cOurteaieH and Inequalities they are able to offer
| you. And by the formal phrase, gentlemen Of the
association It goes without saying that mean Also
and especially the ladies who with aud OF you for
have learned from observation, and MORE perhaps
from youthful experience Of half dozen years in
your profession, that there often editorial life AZ
elsewhere, power behind the throne more potent
and usually more benehcent than the throne itself:
aud he who speaks OF the periodical press Of to-day
without recognizing the feminine element In 1t aud
the feminine influence that perYades it, omits that
which inspires aud nOurishes to frution the major
part Of all that il best and purest in your work Per-
haps ought to say right here at the outset by way
of caution and mitigation, ~ 1t were, that IT, your
familiar intercourse with people, and especially
with your professional brethren here. you md us
somewhat prone to eIaggerate our local Rttractons
even to boastfuness as has sometimes been limited
believed trust you may discover somewhat in our
surroundings to pallate II not to justify the afec
tionate partAlty with which we aud all other truo
sons aud daughters OF Bratteboro regard our home
But whether we have much or little TO challenge your
approval, Whatever we have or are-to a cOnven-
tonal oriental phrase tempered however In this case
with western sineerity-s yoursto use and enjoy Our
only regret is that the exceeding breyty Of your stay
will furnish no adequate opportunity for the fOrma-
ton Of close personal AcquAintanceshp, which would
afford us much satisfacon TO cultivate with each one
of you.
And now, having said these few formal words OF
welcome in behalf OF Others in which, IL there is any
lack Of cordially aud warmth, the GOODNESS il in the
words only and not at all in the hearts OF those for
whom speak, am strongly tempted to seize the OPP
portunity on my own account having you thus at dis
advantage, which may not, and, II you are wise GER
tAny will not happen again, initiating the example of
one OF Dickenss not ovsr-amiAbe characters, Wegg-
like to drop (not into poetry into "Reminiscences for
moment; aud it must be for moment only. 30 swift
Is the hight OF time, aud 30 rapidly do the animated
figures on this chessboard Of life come and CO. that
although have scarcely yet attained to years that
may fairly be termed patriarchA perhaps-after care
full scrutiny eau discover In this large assembly OF
active and mature men, some OF you already bearing
professional life dates back to the time when nv ac
tive editorial service began-and that Is the broad
honest genial face Of my near neighbor and friend
and your worthy president, A. n. Swain OF the Bel
lows Falls Times whose patient continuance In well
doing has had Its reward net only In material pros
pery, as am happy to believe, but In a deservedly
high place In the confidence and esteem Of his fellow
men. Time and your patience will permit to make
brief mention of only few Of my more prominent
Contemporaries. There were Bishop and Tracy OF the
Chronicle, at INSTRUMENTATION aud sturdy de-
Tenders OF the faith that In them and there was
Chadwick Of the CaledOnian, At St. JohnBbury; and
the elder Eaton, Of the North Star OF DanVille. At
Montpelier there was E. r. Walton, jr., Of the Watch
man, the acknowledged leader, as he now is the Nea-
tor, OF the Vermont press; and Charles q. Eastman
OF the Patriot the charming poet and the refined Re
NAL gentleman; and Daniel p Thompson, followed by
chas W. willard, of the FreemAn-each OF whom
though In different way, left his mark the times
in which he lived. At Burlington there we're Dewitt
@. Clarke and Edward A. Stansbury, alert and spark
ling fairly bubbling over with wit and sarcasm and
little later, the elder Benedict, of the Free Press All
able, earnest, cultured Christian gentleman whose
broad mantle has fallen upon the shoulders OF a son
now with us, worthy to bear 1t. At st. Adams there
was Whiting OF the Messenger; and at Middlebury
Barrett OF the Register, ambitious aud pushing who
early sought other heds OF enterprise while al Rut
land there was frat Beaman aud afterwards the elder
futile, both Of whom did good work In broadening
the foundations on which the prosperity Of the Herald
now securely rests. The Cooks, long Identified
with the Banner, were at Bennington; aud last but
not least, here In BrattleborO was Mrs. o. l. H. Mich
OILS OF the Windham County Democrat, a pioneer
among female journalists, In whom l found In my
callow days, not only warm and judieous friend but
| d a ia