The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-28
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM MICHIGAN.

/ LEI AhN II AeOAtA
PONTIAC. Feb. 1s, 1889.
Mr.. Editor After an hour passed
perusing the columns of your paper, l
am again IN vain Imagination among
those little hamlets, scattered here and
there through that delightful Green
Mountain valley, find there is much
comfort derived therefrom. Some may
smile at this assertion, but eader let me
ask. were you ever far away from nome,
with nothing familiar surrounding you
II 50 YOU can heartily endorse my re-
mark. There is that relief to our pent
up feelings. found in vlsilng win our
lacuuaintances through the columns OF
family paper, that cannot be tound 10
other manner, not even in correspond
ence do we find the news that Just nils
the bill. And let me say Mr.. Editor, 1
find myself anxiously watching the
mails from Saturday moons each week,
for your valuable paper, and when 1t
reaches me Saturday night il is my close
companion over Sunday. Everything
comes under my eye; even in the adver-
tisements find enjoyment In reading
what the boys have 20 say. 30 you
can imagine that nothing escapes my
eve. l heartily rejoice with those VINO
are meeting with prosperity, and sym
pathize as deeply with those who are IN
sorrow. Oh, the many changes that are
boing wrought among the friends OF oid
Vermont. The thought makes me sad
Loved ones are being called away their
places in the busy circle OF life are being
filed, in many instances, by strangers
And as we pause in our rthectlons' we
can but feel that soon we TOO, must old
adieu to all most dear to us here below,
and our seat filled by "Oh, who Z Yet
IN the busy whirl of life we are soon for
gotten by many, and as others take up
our thread of life the DAYS come and go,
each making it's progress on the calen
dar of time; each one of us pushing Tor
ward for something that is never found;
Since writing you u.s. l
have had an opportunity to
become better informed regarding this
city and of what it is composed, though
there is a lack of time and space on my
part, and patience on your part, wlll
not refrain from speaking word Tor
Pontiac. 1t is bad part of the year Tor
relating its points of beauty, as it is
wrapped in the embrace of winter. Yet
It has its excellent winter advantages.
Its streets are nice and smooth. Its
walks are even kept free from ice
and snow.
There are many very fine residences
here, and chief among them is that OF
@. Z. Wakeman, situated on Seymour
street, the principal thoroughfare of the
city. Its surrounding are beautiful, land
must be, to be in keeping with the house
and outbuilding. Mr.. Wakeman-every
boot and shoe dealer is acquainted with
him owing to the fact that he was the
inventor of the knitting machine and
process of manufacturing the tontlne
felt boot, that has become the favorite
of all who ever wore them. Not twenty
years ago Mr.. Wakeman introduced his
scheme in one-hOrse establishment in
this city, with but three wOTkmen in his
employ. Soon his enterprised began to
develop itself and his meager quarters
became too limited, so he began 10
branch out, with Hon. A, p. Hitchcock
and John d. Norton enllsting in
the enterprise with him. And
today they are doing business repre-
senting many thousands of dollars an
nually furnishing renumerative employ
ment to some 500 hands, sending out
their knit goods into every part of the
United Stat ls, and Mr.. Wakeman alone
is worth m re than 100000, starting
from Eolhing. L is such enterpri'inR
men that have built up the city Of Pom
tiac.
The first newspaper publ shed in the
State, outside nf Detroit, WAS The y X
land Chronicle, in 1927. This WIS sub
81. a., L.
troit Free Press The mex local paper
was the oakland Wing in 1885, subse
que nlIy changed t the Pontiac Courier
10 1887. and in 1874 it, name changed
with its owner to the Pontiac Gazette,
which it still bears. Messrs Kimball &
Turner being it's present owness and
publishers. lie politics are straight Re-
publican. lis editorial columns show a
fruitful pen and fearless spirit, Thi,
being the leading paper of the city it ha-
my attention first. though the Bill POST
err and Pontiac Democrat are still up to
the standard. l have not the time to
speak of them according to their merits,
so will lay their cause upon the table for
some future date.
Now aftel OBTAINING you so long wish
to ask your pardon for the intrusion ar d
thank you for your attention, knowing
full well that you will now, as so often
before, excuse my weak points, and
think of me a. your friend, with all the
hearty " ishes for you and your valuabl'
paper that conveys so much real plear-
ure TO three old Vermonters. Again
thanking you for your indulgence, am
Yours most courteously,
+. p. GAINTs z