davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27
The Lesson OF a Great Eruption.

When geology was in its infancy it
was the belief of its opponents that the
changes and Irregularities in the earths
surface were brought about by series
of commissions, or catastrophies, as they
were called This hypothesis was used
with great effect in works like Hitch
cocks Religion of Geology" and
Henry Rogers Eclipse of Faith"
The hypothesis was overdone. When
nothing else would explain a phenome-
non a catastrophe was introduced, and
all became plain.
A natural reaction from this mode OF
accounting for terrestrial changes was
Lyell's authoritarian theory, which
postulated that the forces in our globes
earlier history were akin to those now
in existence. Within bounds the idea
was correct enough, but it was soon
extended to the ascription of a slow
and natural growth to almost every
change, and it grew into additional
ldNOI Wueu IL was ludue DullreSS OF
the evolutionary hypothesis. Yet all
the while evidences existed to show
that, while uniformitarianism might be
the rule, and catastrophies not periodic,
stupendous changes have been effected
in incredibly small periods. Thus the
elevation and submersion of coast lines
has been completed within the obser-
walton of generation or two, while
the great Mexican volcano of Jorullo
was blown up like bladder within the
space of few days in the year 1853.
As for the great canons of Colorado
and other sections cf the mountainous
regions of the far West, Clarence King
of the United States Coast Survey
declares that they are ineXplicabe
without some resort to the catastrophe
theory.
Still later and more stupendous than
these facts are those connected with
the eruptions of the Javan volcano
Krakatoa on the Goth of August, 1888,
and one or two days following. These
have been admirably summarized, from
official reports, by writer in the Jan
uary number of the Edinburgh Rerie,0.
The facts recorded are fully ineligible
only when presented in detail, and so
can not find place in our columns.
We may say, however, that large part
of the mountain was literally blown
into fragments, while long chain of
lesser mountains sank down and a
tidal wave converted into wilderness
a large section of country. Seventy
six miles off the cloud surrounding
the crater had an apparent height of
seventeen miles. AT sea, forty miles
distant, balls of fire rolled about the
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

decks of ship, and its main-mast,
luckily provided with conductor, was
several times struck by lightning. The
overhanging cloud was brimful of
electricity. The first outbreak was on
the Goth, and before that day ended
ashes were falling at AMER, $50 miles
off, from thickly-clouded sky. The
noise of the explosions was heard at
Rodriguez, a distance of 2,96S miles,
and also on ship $50 miles away.
This is equal to saying that an explosion
occurring on the north coast of Africa
was audible in the Shetland Islands.
AT Batavia, ninety-four miles away,
the deafening noise of the explosions
so terrified the inhabitants that they
dared not go to bed on the night of the
Goth and 9th. AT Carinop, 1853 miles
off, native boats were dispatched to aid
vessel which was supposed to be firing
minute guns. AT Acheen, 1,073 miles
distant, it was thought that fort was
being attacked, and the troops were put
under arms. A ship $40 miles away
was covered with pumice stone on the
9th, and the rise occasioned by the
tidal wave had not lost all its force at
Cape Horn. Many readers will recol-
lect the peculiar sunrises and sunsets
which occurred for many weeks after
the eruption, but these phenomena were
only the manifestations of the incredi-
BILE explosive force of the eruption.
In the terrestrial changes and in the
distance to which the volcano belched
its contents are to be found the most
suggestive lessons of the catastrophe.
If such an event has occurred once
its prototypes must have happened
many times in the history of our globe.
The changes produced by one of them
in few hours could be effected by
erasion and other ordinary processes
only during long centuries. When and
where such destructive operations have
occurred or may occur again is beyond
the ability of human wisdom accurately
to determine. Vesuvius had been fol-
centuries grass-covered mound until
the outbreak which overwhelmed Her.
culaneum and Pompeii threw all Italy
into CONSERVATION. What was once
may be again. The strata of the earth
have been regarded as its dial-plate
and so to certain extent they are
But those who claim to read the record
exactly display credulity or pre-.
sumption which is far from truly sci
entifc, We know the present condi
ton of things tolerably well, but the
past is largely, and the future wholly
beyond our knowledge.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

"HIPPOLITE Said to Have Been
Assinated." IS. Adams Messenger
Head Line.
Mr.. MIGLER's refusal to 60 to the
tail of the cabinet is not surprising.
Occasionally the president might have
to hold up the cabinet by the tail, and
the strain would be too great on War
northumberland.
A REPRESENTATIVE in the Nebraska
legislature writes to a Lincoln paper
denying that he tried to blow out the
incandescent light in his room, but adj
hitting that he bathed his head with
the contents of hand-grenade under
the impression that it was bay rum
Chicago Journal.
"VERMoNT, as the first agricultural
state in the Union as well as the first
republican state, demands, through the
Montpelier Wdtchmdn, the secretary
ship of agriculture under the new ad-
ministration, and the Waterman pro-
ceeds to name Brother Tinkham for
the position. We are not familiar with
Brother Tinkham's qualifications, but
no doubt if practical agriculturist is
wanted for the position, President Har-
rison might go farther than Vermont
and fare worse. "-BoSton Transcript
And probably will.
HERE'S the New York Hersld's cat
alogue of what it is pleased to term
Vermont's Place-hunters:" Yer
mont has pretty good list of appi-
cants for her size. The Vermont peo-
pie are still hoping that Ex-Governor
Redfield Proctor will be secretary of
agriculture in the new cabinet. If the
state does not get this place Governor
Smith will accept a good foreign mis-
sion. There are at least two applicants
from the state for the position of
deputy commissioner of pensions
Captain Fred Mack, who was formerly
pension agent for the eastern division
and General Butterfeld, who is al
ready in the pension office. Vermont
has two applicants also for the st.
Johns consulship-Mr. Julius n. North
Of Shoreham and Mr.. II. C. Fisk of
Morrisville. Any good consulate will
satisfy Mr.. Walter L. Howard of Fair
Haven. Northumberland Lyman +.
Knapp wants to be collector at Port
Townsend, w. T."
EVERY statesman and politician up
town to-day was on the qui Uire to see
Ex-Governor Redfield Proctor of Yer
mont appear in the corridors of the
Fifth Avenue hotel. He arrived in the
city yesterday, direct from conference
with General Harrison at indianapolis,
and it is supposed that, besides having
been offered the portfolio of agricul-
ture, he was informed as to the other
members of the cabinet. For this rea-
son the tall ex-governor was an i'm
portant arrival But he denied himself
to reporters and never walked through
the corridors, as on former visits
Rumor has it that he has certainly ac-
cepted the portfolio that Senator Miller
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

On Washington's birthday Presi-
dent Cleveland signed the bill admit
ting North and South Dakota, Wash
ton and Montana into the Union as
sovereign states. South Dakota has
already formed state constitution, and
the bill provides for the election of
constitutional conventions in the other
proposed states. By autumn all will
have complied with the requirements
of law, and in December eight new re-
publican senators and five representa-
tives will be added to the republican
majority in the senate and house re-
spectively. The last important act of
the democratic house is to contribute to
the majority against its party in the
next congress. So large cluster of
states was never before created by one
act. Idaho, Wyoming and Arizona
alone remain among the territories OF
the Northwest, but these will soon
be gathered into the Union. Thus
" Westward the star of empire takes its
way" and the poets vision becomes a
matter of political history.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

ing genius amid the perils of legisla-
ton, and that the governor should there
fore have put him on the board of trus-
tees. This claim we disputed, and Mr..
Hazen does not contradict our state
ment as to the authorship of the bill, or
the personal influences that procured
it favorable hearing in senate and
house. Indeed, his letter seems to us
to be more conspicuous for its silence
on disputed matters than for the light
it sheds. We have had nothing to say
of Mr.. Hazen's appointment on the
house committee on the insane, upon
which he dwells at some length. The
extent of his researches into the sub
ject of legislation for the insane we
have no doubt is correctly stated,
and is not impugned by us, but
we have never given any reasons, as
he asserts, why the governor did not
place him on the board of trustees.
We knew nothing whatever about that
matter and said nothing, and in any
thing that we did say we have not
represented T" Governor Dillingham;
or his views" We wrote from our
own understanding of legislation, ac-
quired by considerable familiarity with
the course of legislative proceedings,
and Governor Dillingham; learned of
what we had to say through the col
umns of this paper, just as Mr.. Ha-
zen did
We have not maintained that Mr.
Hazen's relations with the committee,
individually or collectively, we're un-
friendly, but we still insist that he was
out of sympathy with the majority in
the views that prevailed and the course
it was proposed to pursue. This is not
saying that he was hostile to the main
proposal to provide some means of
caring for the pauper insane. There
may have been difference of opinion
as to the means to desired end, and he
may have been entirely right, but he
may have been in a minority, and so
may have been out of sympathy with
the majority of his felow-members,
and this would affect the cordially and
heartiness of his cooperation with
them. His letter seems to confirm
this view. We have not asserted, or
even intimated, that Mr.. Hazen was
angry because he was not placed upon
the board of trustees, but we have said
that st. Johnsbury was bitterly disap-
pointed because he was not appointed,
that this was the secret of its quarrel
with Governor Dillingham;, and we
point to the st. Johnsbury papers for
evidence of the fairness of this view of
the matter. We quite agree with Mr..
Hazen that it is unfortunate that a
matter of so much importance could not
have been lifted above local or partisan
considerations, and it is on precisely
this score that St. Johnsbury, as repre-
sented by her newspapers, is open to
severest criticism. The sole cause of
all this hullabaloo is that st. ,Johnsbury
had set her heart on having this asylum,
and is mad all through because she
didn't get it. With her it is entirely a
! local = Dartisan matter
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

During the last five of these twenty
years Maine, Connecticut and Yer
mont are the only states which show a
decrease in the number of divorces, as
the result of a change in the divorce
laws of these states, while Massachu-
sets, New Hampshire and Rhode
Island show an increase in the number
of divorces. OF all the states in the
Union, New Hampshire, from 1880 to
1886 inclusive, shows the largest pro-
portionate number of divorces, the ratio
being one divorce to each 9.74 marriages.
In Connecticut it is one to every I'LL
marriages. The cause for which the
largest number of divorces in the whole
country were granted is that of deser-
ton, there being 126,557, or thirty
eight per cent, granted for this cause.
1t has been quite prevalent notion
that it is very largely the practice with
parties who wished to be divorced to
go to other states and receive divorces
there, but the statistics do not seem to
sustain this theory. A friend who has
examined them says that of the 3 1888
divorces granted in Vermont 2,466, or
1871 per cent of the whole, were born in
the state, and that seventy-one per cent
of those divorced in Rhode Island were
married in that state. The printing
and distribution of the report contain
ing these statistics will be looked for
with deep interest. 1t will give new
impulse to the divorce reform move
ment, furnishing a wide range of facts
by which the need of such movement
will be demonstrated to all. The sta
bility of society, the sanctity of our
homes, the proper training of children
are deeply involved in making the
family permanent institution, the
abode of peace, of mutual love and a
school where children will be trained
to habits of reverence and obedience,
to regard for righteous principles and
the practice of the manly virtues and
gentler courtesies of life.
This strange drift that the last
twenty-five years have developed, in
recklessly breaking the marriage bond
and destroying families, is not confined
to the United States, but extends to all
the countries of Europe. tits matter
demanding profound study, and should
lead to carefully-prepared laws to throw
all possible safeguards about the fam
lily as the most sacred of all earthly
institutions. The value of Colonel
Wright's report is much increased by
the fact that it has, in an appendix, a
compilation of the marriage and divorce
laws of Europe and Canada, and more
complete statistics of these foreign
countries than can be found anywhere
else. DR.. Dixie has, with Colonel
Wright, given great amount of labor
to make this report the best COM
pendulum on the existing marriage and
divorce laws in this and other nations
that can be found anywhere.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

The Tribune'S Indianapolis dis
patches contain the following: 1.-The
president-elect has kept the Vermont
mans name in mind, and the sug-
gestion is now made that the invitation
to stop here for conference on the po-
litical situation may have led to an offer
to General Proctor of the new agricul-
tural department. Vermont, it is said
is above all things farmers state, and
the selection of one of its representative
republicans, identified with farming in
terests there, would be approved by the
country generally. Ex-Governor Proc
tor is the owner of the large marble
quarries just outside of Rutland and
has made large fortune out of them.
Still he is practical farmer, as in fact
every Vermont man is" This causes
an elongation of the Vermont mouth
particularly the last sentence.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

IDENTIFY not particular as to the sources
of his information, and took very little
pains to convince himself of its reli-
ability. He trusted Mr.. Pigott, and it
now remains for that gentleman to in
form the public in whom he trusted.
Pigott went upon the stand last week
Wednesday. He testified that he OBJ
tanned the letters in Paris of certain
Fenians, after taking an oath not to be-
tray them if legal proceedings were in
stituted. That was the. substance of
his story and it left the history of the
letters, previous to the time they were
placed in Pigott's hands, still shrouded
in mystery. After procuring the cor
respondence for the Times, for which
he received $500 and his expenses, the
willy informer made a secret attempt to
sell out the paper. Three days before
the publication of the first of the ar
ticles he wrote to Archbishop Walsh
stating that he was aware certain
charges against Mr.. Parnell and others,
supported by certain letters, were
speedily to be published, to be followed,
probably, by criminal proceedings. 81
am able" wrote Pigott, "to point out
how these designs may be defeated"
When examined as to the means
by which he was TO defeat them, he
finally declared that his statements to the
archbishop were " exaggerations con-
tanning very little truth" Further
questioning involved the witness in nu-
merous Inconsistencies and contradic-
tons, which completely undermined.the
value of his testimony. The general
impression in court was that Pigott
knew the letters to be forgeres and
that, after selling them to the Times
he attempted to sell the Times to Par
nell. He of course denies that the let
tiers are forgeries and disclaims knowl-
edge of their fabricator, but if they are
genuine, what was the meaning of his
letters to the archbishop? He evil
IDENTITY knows more than he has vet told.
And here the case stands. Every.
thing betokens the complete discom-
future of the renowned Times, unless
some startling disclosure is reserved fol
the last moment. The leading witness
for the paper is by his own confession
a liar. All the documentary evidence
has been destroyed since the beginning
of the investigation and everything de.
ponds upon the word of Pigott, in
whom the managers of the paper blindly
trusted. That witness has failed to es.
tablish reputation for veracity, and the
managers of the paper seem to have
been made the dupes of set of ras
cally imposters. The childish simple.
ity of the Times throughout the whole
transaction passes understanding. The
paper is convicted of purchasing ant
publishing the letters on the strength
of an experts judgment that the sigma
lures were genuine. The manager,
were too easily satisfied, and Mr.. Par.
nell bids fair to make the paper pay fol-
its simplicity.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

VOTERS must bear in mind that at
the election next Tuesday they are to
take the first step in carrying out the
requirements of the new school law.
Every town, at its annual town meet
ing, is required to elect one resident
person to be a member of county
board of education, and on this board
is laid the duty of choosing the super
visor. For the performance of this
duty the members meet at the county
seat on the first Tuesday in May, and
the person then chosen will hold his
Office for two years. So it is in the
hands of the voters at the meeting next
Tuesday to determine to great ex-
tent the character of school administra-
ton for the next two years. Every
town should look we'll to its member of
the county board of education next
Tuesday.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

THE Lamoille county savings bank
has begun business at Hyde Park under
the presidency of Hon. G. S. Page, late
inspector of finance The claim of
many savings banks in Vermont is that
they can not live without investing in
southern and western mortgages. The
management of this bank is going to
try to disprove the correctness of this
theory. Mr.. Page can do this if any
man living can. We hope they will
succeed in their undertaking and that
their stockholders will soon be having
fat dividends. Vermont interests will
certainly be best subserved by keep
ing the capital of her citizens in the
state, contributing to the work of de-
veloping her resources and making her
prosperous and progressive.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

GENERAL HARRISON left his home
in Indianapolis on Monday, amid dem
onstrations of love and esteem which
only true worth can inspire. A vast
concourse of people, including the
governor, the mayor and members of
the legislature, escorted him to the rail-
way station, and to these he addressed
a parting speech full of the sentiment
the occasion naturally inspired. His
progress eastward was attended with
booming guns and demonstrations of
liveliest popular interest.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27
Undisputed Matters---And
Otherwise.

We cheerfully make room for Mr..
Hazen's letter, if its publication can
afford him any satisfaction. 1t is de-
voted chiefly to matters concerning
which we have raised no issue and
which we do not now feel called upon
to review. Mr.. Hazen's name was
brought into our article on the st.
Johnsbury muss solely by the claim,
very obstreporously made, of the news
papers of that town that he was the
father of the state asylum bill, its guild
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1899

GENERAL HARRISON has arrived in
Washington and the day of jubilee is
coming. Let it GOMEZ l repeat it,
sir, let it comelN
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-27

AN Ottawa dispatch states that a
conservative member of the Canadian
parliament will shortly introduce a
resolution authorizing the government
to purchase the New England States.
Canada is retaliating with a vengeance
upon Uncle Sam for his proposals OF
annexation.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-01-25
BURLINGTON, PRESS FRIDAY, JANUARY

He and his comradc, Lieutenant Hatton,
were iutimates who smoked many n pipe to
gethor out of that same drawer. He had
many time hidden the latter to come in
and help himself whenever he wanted 20.
Bachelor doors are always open in the army,
and the desk key was generally in the lock.
still it was not like Hatton to leave things
in disorder behind him even if he were to
take Mclean at his word. No 1t wasn't
lIatton-uncss something very unforeseen
had suddenly called him away. Stepping
qnicllly back into the room he felt draught
of cool air and saw that the porticrc that
hung between the two was buldging slightly
toward him. Instantly he stepped into his
BEDROOM where all was dark. struck II match
and saw the moment its flash illumined sur
rounding objects that the one door he gcncr-
ally kept locked was now aiar. 1t led into
the hall and thither strobe Mclean. Up to
this instant not Il sound hadhe heard. Now
fairly flying up the old, creaky stairs, light
as kittens quick as tcrricts, yet stralthy,
noiselcss ne distinctly heard slippcred foot
falls. Thcy'whirlcd ut the head of the
stairs and flashed through the hallway over
head and out on the front Veranda, and he,
instead of pursuing, stood stone still, rooted
to the floor. his heart beating hard, his
hauds clcnching in amaze What stunned
him was the fact that with the football went
the swish of dainty sillicn skirts.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-01-25
AP0PL. !!
OREGON AND WNSHINGTON.

No section Of the country is to-day attracting
a. much attention a. Montana. Oregon. and
Washington: Montana. because il ranks first
in the production of prcciOu, metals; Oregon,
because of its rich valleys, and Washington
Territory by reason Of its mild climate, timber,
coal. minerals and wonderful production of
fruits and cereals. The rapid growth of Spo-
kane Falls, with water power exceeding even
that of Minneapolis ;'racO1nahon, Puget Sound,
the terminus of the Northern Pacific railroad,
with 1000 inhabitants; seattle, - miles dis
taut, AN energetic and thriving city, mark this
section OF the Pacific Northwest aS one that
offers peculiar inducements to those seeking
new homes.
BY writing Charles :. Fee. General Passenger
Agent. Northern Pacific railroad. II. Paul,
Minnesota. he will send you illustrated pamph-
lets, maps and books. giving Nou valuable in
formation in reference To the country tray
cascd by this great line from 81 Paul, Mime
apoiS Duluth and Ashland to Portland. Oregon
and Tacoma and seattle, Washington Tcrrito-
ny. This road in addition to being the only rail
line 10 Spokane Falls, Tacoma and Seattle.
reaches all the principal points in Northern
Minnc,utaand Dakota, Montana, Idaho. Oregon
and Washington, POSSESSES unequallcd scenic
attractions. as we'll ~ superior rain equipment
such a. dining cars. and CulouiSt siecpcrs for
the USE of intending settlers, neither Of which
conveniruceo are to he found ON any other lime
ticketinE business TO the States and Territories
named. +N.Vit