The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-24
MONTPELIER, w. WEDNESDAY, MARCH "a, 1885,

lamps which now light the village, for from
5000 to $3.50 and the water necessary to run
the dynamos. The offer Is certainly worthy
of careful investigation by the village au-
thorities.
IT has been Mr.. Hiram Atkins custom on
the occasions of previous appearances in
this place of Whitmore & Clark's mnstrels
to tender the members of the company a
complimentary banquet at the Pavilion at
the close of the performance This year he
departed from this custom ard instead in
vted them TO dinner at his house Saturday
afternoon. The affair was quite informal
and very enjoyable, and must tend to in
crease the friendly relations which have al
ways existed between Mr.. Atkins and the
company.
The merit of the entertainment itself and
the good cause in the interest of which it is
given should draw large audience to
Blanchard Opera-house on Friday evening
of this week, the occasion of the concert to
be given for the benefit of the Montpelier
Public Library by the Harvard Quintet Club,
assisted by Miss Clara ii. Hunt, soprano,
and Miss Addie i. Nichols, reader. The
programme will consist of the most popular
songs, glees and college songs, soprano solos,
warbles whistling solos and readings and
the great variety cannot fail to please all
who may attend. The Quintet and the
| ladies who assist receive most favorable no.
| tices on every hand, and have met with
great success in our own state. Mr. Blanch-
ard gives the use of the Opera a-house for
their entertainment here and all should feel
it duty and pleasure to contribute to the
success of the enterprise which is in the
hands of the ladies' library guild. Tickets
are on sale at the Phinney bookstore.
The winter term of the Washington
County Grammar and Montpelier Union
schools closed with public examinations on
Friday last and the pupils are now enjoying
two weeks vacation. From the manner
in which the examinations were conducted
and the creditable appearance of the young
people, from the highest grade to the lowest
it is evident that the school is prospering
under the new principal and his efficient
| assistants. 1t is but short time since
there was but one Montpelier lady on the
corps of eight teachers, and there were
hardly more than that for several years
previous. Now there are five, and there is
reason to believe that the change in this
respect will prove wise one. The various
branches of study are much the same as for
some years past, though desirable changes
in some of the textbooks have been made.
In the Grammar School, aside from the col
lege preparatory course, the studies seem
to be of more practical nature than those
sometimes used, and a thorough mastery of
those now taught will fit young people for a
| successful business career. Especial men-
ton should be made of the great improve
ment which has been made in singing under
the able instruction of Professor n. IL.
Thompson. The little folks show an ability
to read music at sight that is truly surpris-
ing, and in the intermediate grades two or
more parts are sustained with perfect conf
dence and accuracy. The lessons which
they are learning now will raise the stand
ard of musical culture in Montpelier in fu-
ture years. The school building is appar-
emily in an excellent condition, and all the
furnishings seem to be well cared for. The
janitor, Mr.. George w. McAllister, is largely
responsible for this and is evidently the
fright man in the right place" He has
seen seven years of service in his present
position, is greatly beloved by the children
and highly esteemed by parents, teachers
and the executive committee. He is a mod
est man and will doubtless blush when he
sees this, but we must render honor to
whom honor is due. One thing concerning
the Grammar School is greatly to be re-
gretted-the rapid decrease in the number
of members in the various classes from the
time they enter that department until the
have been very small for some years, with
the exception of the class of 80, while most
OF them have been large during the first
year in the Grammar School. Parents
should keep their sons and daughters in
this department during the entire foul
years course, if possible, and unless this is
done, or they are placed in other equally
good schools, both parents and youth will
some time find the fact an occasion of sin.
cere regret.
ST. PATRIcK's DAY was celebrated in Mont
pelier by a literary and dramatic entertain
ment at Blanchard Opera house, under the
auspices of the Young Mems Catholic Union
and the anniversary was one of the pleas
antest Montpelier has ever known. Careful
preparation had been made for the occasion
and the manner in which the plans were
carried out was highly commendabe. The
entertainment began with a lecture upoI
the subject of " Ireland's Hope" by Rev
William j. O'Sullivan. Father O'Sullivar
drew a brief picture of human life, compar
, ing it, in pleasing manner, to the life o
nations, and spoke of st. Patrick day a!
one of the green spots in lreland's history
, which will always awaken pleasant memo
ries in the heart of every true Irishman
Ireland has suffered oppression and beei
brought low, but the spark of true patriot
ism has never been quenched and her SON
, may be confident of the truth of the ole
saying, While there is life, there is hope.
The lecturer mentioned several reasons VIII,
there is ground for this hope and spoke will
great earnestness of the noble works o
Ireland's heroes and of the great service il
T., her cause which is being rendered by Charlie
Stuart Parnell. He alluded with evden
pride to the friendly relations existing be
tween his own nation and America. Tn
lecture was full of interest to all, though O
course this interest must have been create
in those to whom it was particularly ad
, dressed. AT its close the drama, " Rober
Emmett, the Martyr of Irish Liberty wa
presented by members of st. Augustine
congregation The young people, many o
D whom had never appeared in public before
f performed their respective parts in name
that made it appear as though the fact coul,
hardly be possible. There was not per
=. ceptible hitch" " in the whole perform
: ance--a thing which can rarely be said O
amateur entertainments. Each seemed T.
Z realize the nature of the work to be per
formed and it was accomplished with eas
4 and naturalness, The cast was a large on
I OF the characters. Mr.. James f. Mahoney
. who appeared as Robert Emmett" CAV
7, his Montpelier friends complete surpris
and furnished evidence of the possession G
true dramatic talent. Mr.. James Spellcy
: as " Darby O'Gaff," was one of the hes
: Irish characters we have ever seen, and MI
|, Charles A. Smith as "O'Leary" was ex
= cellent. Miss Nellie T. Lynch made
y pleasing appearance as Sarah,' Emmett
e betrothed, and Miss Mary Taylor, Jud
!. ODougherty," performed her part so eai
q nestly that there is doubt if stranger cou
n have been made to believe it was her frs
/ appearance. Others who appeared les
v prominently performed their parts with pei
q haps equal merit and their united work wa
good throughout. The Montpelier orchestr
tItnn gla.aD ....I