Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-27


Of known physiological laws The doctor al
80 touched upon the theory, now gaining
ground among scientists, that certain diseases,
as consumption, cancer, etc., formerly attrib.
uted to constitutional causes, are likewise due
to the development Of specific germs.
The annual meeting of the Murray club
was held at Rev. E. W. Whitney's on Tuesday
evening, with about so members present.
The report Of the secretary showed the club
to be in a flourishing condition, the average
attendance last year having been larger than
in any previous year. For the ensuing year
the following officers were elected and several
working committees we're appointed:
President, Mrs. E.w. whitney; vice president, Miss
Nettie starr; secretary, 4. w. Simpson; treasurer
II. NJ Wood directors Miss TITLE Rettlng Miss Alice
Farr Fred Greasy, sewall Morse.
Toward the end Of the evening the club
took Mrs. whitney entirely by surprise in the
presentation of a charming winter landscape.
painted by Miss Starr and handsomely framed.
Refreshments we're served and the evening
was in every way pleasant one.
DR.. Butler Of Essex, one OF the sta to su.
pervisors Of the insane, has a paragraph
about the Vermont asylum in this weeks
Argus in which he says The uniformity of
temperature and ventilation or the asylum
are remarkable. Passing through any of the
wards, the temperature is so agreeable and
equal one could not realize that the Their
mQmeter Indicated 1Oo to 200 below zero out.
side of the building. The number of in.
mates is now 4I0. During the winter vari.
Gus amusements and entertainments are pro-
vided, which the inmates seem TO enjoy and
to some extent appreciate. The large major
ity of them attend the dramatic, magic Ian
tern, and other entertainments in the beAut.
full chapel Of the asylum, and many Of them
enjoy the dances and the gymnastic exer-
cises."
The report of the Free Library trustees
shows that the patrons OF the library have in
creaaed during the past year TO 177l, the
increase over last year being 254. 1t is graf
flying to know that the use Of the library is
not confined to any one class Of people, or
to any section Of the town, but that nearly
our entire population is represented in the
l77l certificates which have been issued in
the main to heads Of families The number
Of books drawn from the library during the
year was 220S3. In q time much shorter
than the warmest friends of the enterprise
anticipated at the outset, the Free Library
has come TO be one Of the indispensable ad.
juncts Of the life Of the town-the loss of
which would be universally felt The trus.
tees state that for the proper maintenance Of
tie library the coming year an appropr-
alton OF $1,000 will be needed. The expend.
iture is one which every inhabitant has, or
may have the direct benefit Of, and we have
no doubt the money will be cheerfully voted
1t will be only matter Of ordinary bust.
ness foresight for the town to take such steps
next Tuesday as will assure the retention Of
the post Office in the town hall building. II
is possible for the town to provide such i'm.
proved and satisfactory quarters for the office,
at moderate expense, that the department
would hereafter have no thought of insisting
on change, and the town would thus be as.
sured permanent income from a portion OF
its building which would otherwise be nearly
valueless. The matter should be placed in
the hands OF either the seectmen, or Of q
special committee. with definite aud compul.
sorry Instructions TO submit plans to the post.
office department and then make such changes
aud improvements as may be agreed on.
Whatever The internal arrangements may be,
the improvements should include the con.
struction OF portico or balcony over the en-.
trance steps to protect them from winter
storms, and handrails should be introduced
Tor The use OF aged or infrm persons aud
the general public convenience aud safety.
Col. VIM. O. Hobrook Of New York, late
OF the Seventh Vermont Volunteers. has a let.
ter in the Rutland Herald, in which, recalling
Ben. Buffers outrageous and unsodierly at.
tempt to bring that regiment into contempt,
be describes the indignation felt by the late
Gen. j. W. Phelps at the attemp pit, and the
promptness aud energy with which he Sec
onded the efforts Of the regimental officers to
get hearing before proper military court
OF enqoiry. Col. Holbrook saws Gen. Phelps
never forgot or forgave Buffers Injustice aud
mendacity In this matter, and that it had much
to do with his resignation from the service
Recalling the Generals admirable qualities as
commander and disciplinarian. Col. Hol.
brook adds II know be had his faults who
that Is human is without them but his mill
tary talents we're great and had he been sent
to the front, where he belonged, am conf .
dent that his services would have been Of
great value to bis country, and added not q
little to the fame of Vermont of which hs
was ever justly proud"
The introduction Of the detailed report
OF highway surveyors expenditures into the
annual auditors report carries that interest
ing budget up TO the unusual size of 10 pages
lhe auditors have done their work thorough
~ and well-so we'll that the report is intelli.
gible throughout, and there is little or moth
ing that needs explanation. What each de-
pArtment OF our town government has cost,
and what have been the receipts and eXpend-
lures in each, are clearly shown. The cost OF
highways ia the village district (Nos. 2 and 81
was ; 3O9 20; total cost of support of the
fNS'f RAf"N 20 hNh luCOuo OF town Dali,
$40 46 net profits Of the liquor agency
Si0G 90. As stated last week, the debt Of the
town has been reduced $4,000 during the past
year; the present total indebtedness is S53,-
800. The estimated expenses Of the coming
year are $40 632 67, TO pay which tax of 80
cents will need to be raised. This sum in.
cludes one item OF $3.50 for re-planking the
Main street bridge and one OF 5000 for re-
building the bridge on the Brook road, which
is nov in an unsafe condition for loaded
teams.
1t needs no thermometer record to as
sure the average Vermonter that the month
of February has been one OF remarkably
steady and severe cold weather, but we think,
nevertheless, that the following transcript of
the record of temperature, kept by II. b.
Chamberlain for the New England Meteoro-
logical bureau, will be of interest. The fig
ures under the "max." column show the
highest temperature of each day and those
under min" the lowest 80" represents
the zero temperature, and g." the number
Of Ill