davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
That Examination.

TO the Editor Of tie WIdtchmdp II read
with considerable amusement the editorial
in the Rdldnd Herdd some weeks ago on
the teachers examination, and was glad to
see YOUR comments in the WATCHMAN the
week following Having been teacher,
off and on, for something over ten years,
superintendent for some years, ana now
member of the county board of education,
perhaps | have earned the right to hold and
express an opinion. was present at the
first examination held under the new law
in this county (Orange) and have before me
the questions given out at the second ex-
amination,-the one the Herald especially
refers TO. 1t is easy to ridicule almost any
thing, and our friend OF the quill has written
some rather funny things but in sober
earnest do not see what just complaint can
be made against these questions on the score
of difficulty The teachers have all said
that the papers were no harder than at the
old town examinations, II as hard, though
some of them required rather more time
One fault was found, and, | think, Justly,
and | would commend the matter to Su-
perintendent Palmer. The paper in gram
mar was i'll adapted TO the textbooks now
in use in this part of the state, and so was
rather puZzling. The supervisor, however,
made necessary explanations, and due al
lowance for the antiquity OF the questions
Greene's grammar has passed some time
since into innocuous desuetude amongst us
| | think the new law is working well. There
are fewer teachers, hence these must be
better paid this cannot help resulting in
| the good of the schools. The scarcity of
| teachers is not due, however, TO severe eX-
aminations, but partly to the age limit, and
partly to the fact that many teachers have
| hitherto got their certificates, not through a
fair examination, bat through the good
nature or favoritsm of town superintend-
ents. II county supervisors half do their
duty, there must be a vast Improvement in
! this line. j. NJ. c.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
Summer Schools of Instruction.

An esteemed correspondent at Wells
River sends us the following commune
cation, which we publish with great
pleasure, as a conclusive illustration of
the practcablity of the schools recently
suggested by the WATCHNIAN. The
existence of the Wells River school is
an item of gratifying news to us, and
we heartily commend the example of
that enterprising village to the emula-
ton of many others. Our correspond
ent says:
81 was quite interested in a recent
article in the WATCHMAN relative to
summer schools for teachers, and
thought an account of those held in this
place during the last two summers
might be of interest. A three weeks
teachers school was organized here
last season, under the supervision of
Professor Meader of Providence, r. l.,
and although the attendance was not
large, yet there were sufficient teachers
present to form a good working class,
and it was a noticeable fact that the
teachers attending were those who were
generally considered as being our best.
| Special instruction in methods of teach
ing, school management and common
school branches of study was given, the
good results of which were apparent in
the fall and winter terms of school
! taught by those teachers since that
| time. This season a school of similar
character was organized, under the di-
rection of Principal F. G. Avery and
George F. Morris of this place. Just
before the time set for the commence
ment of the term, Principal Avery was
taken i'll and the services of Principal
b. V. Child of Woodsville were Sc
cured. A good number of teachers at
tended four counties being repre-
sented, and the same fact was observed
as in the previous school, that nearly
all the teachers attending were those
who are recognized as our best instruct
ors. This is significant, as showing
that such teachers are quick to acknowl-
edge the need of special training and
eager to avail themselves of the adj
vantages offered by such institutions.
Special instruction in methods OF
teaching, pedagogy and school manage
ment, also in general history, English
literature and algebra, was given, and
the teachers were expected to make a
practical application of the principles
taught by conducting recitations, gen.
eral exercises, etc. A buster school
would be hard to find. Those attend.
ing were made acquainted with the
principal methods now employed in
teaching, with special reference to their
use in the common school; also with
teaching as a science and the general
history OF educational work. An
abundance of books on nearly every
subject taught in our schools was made
accessible to all. During the term 9
series of excellent free lectures was
given to the teachers attending. Among
the speakers were Superintendent f
F. Palmer, Hon. j. w. Patterson OF
New Hampshire, Professor W. f
Rocheleau of Sank Center, Mimi, DIR
II. II. Lee and Supervisor Goodhue
The people of this village took consid
cradle interest in the school, kindly
took the teachers into their families tt
board at reasonable rates and en-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
RetributiOn Due.

The annals of California abound in
tragic episodes. In the CLEAN of the
lurid incidents of her civil history the
highest lights of fiction "pale their
Intellectual fires" Last week, in
railway dining station at Lathrop,
tragedy was enacted that has no par
allel even in the crimson records of the
Golden State. The actors were judge
of the United States supreme court, a
deputy marshal of the United States,
and a former chief-justice of Cali
fornia. The latter fell a swift victim
to the marshal's pistol. The provoca-
ton was an assault upon the United
States judge in supposed attempt to
take his life. The source of this feud,
eliminating in blood, dates back to the
early years of CALIFORNIA; history, to
the time of the reign of the famous
vigilance committee, although the i'm
mediate origin of the tragedy is of re-
cent date.
In 1880, Senator Sharon of Nevada
met one Sarah Althea Hill, an adven-
turess, who, four years later, claimed to
be his wife by virtue of secret mar
riage and sued for divorce. Senator
Sharon had great wealth, and Miss Hill
had apparently entangled him in the
meshes of scheme to obtain a portion
of his many millions. A long and bit
ter lawsuit ensued, during the pend
ency of which Sharon died. The fact
of a marriage was denied by the de-
Tense, but Miss Hill produced written
marriage contract, the courts sustained
her claim, granted divorce and gave
her share of Mr.. Sharon's vast estate
But this decision did not end the litiga.
ton. The case was taken to the United
States courts. After the death OF
Sharon and the decision of the state
court, Miss Hill married her counsel
who was the notorious David S. Terry
who had been chief-justice of Cali
fornia and who had signalized career
marked by many desperate encounters
by killing Senator Broderick of Cali
fornla in duel in 1859. In thu
federal court over which judge
Field was presiding the marriage
contract exhibited by Miss Hill wa
declared to be forgery and she wa
held to be entitled neither to tn,
name nor money of Sharon. WheI
the final opinion of the court was beinl
read by Judge Field, Mrs. Terry crie'
out in court, declaring that the decision
had been bought and denouncing Judg
Field as venal and corrupt. An office
was ordered to remove Mrs. TER
from court. In the scenes that ensue
Judge Terry knocked the officer down
drew large knife and threatened wit
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
The Saloon Problem.

1t is simply useless to hope that the
time will ever come when, in city like
New York, or any other large center of
population, it will be possible to close
all the drinking resorts, unless some
thing is substituted for them that will
answer the same social ends. 1t is
easy enough to say that men ought to
spend their leisure hours at home with
their families that they ought not to
frequent the saloons for any purpose.
In. the abstract this is doubtless true,
but it will not apply as rule of prac-
tical life. In every large town there
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

THE anarchist, recently incubated
organ of the st. Louis anarchists, an
nounces that it is paper of "strict
principles" and that emo business adj
vertisements will appear in it, because,
as experience teaches, such advertise
ments lead to the subordination and
prostitution of the great cause to cold
and corrupting mammon.'
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

THE contract for furnishing the gov
eminent with postal cards for the next
four years was awarded last week to a
Brooklyn firm. 1t is estimated that
two million of them will be required to
meet the demand during that time.
The cards are to be made in three
sizes and improved in quality.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

STEVENS, the bicyclist, who was sent
to Africa by the Ne0 York World to
find Stanley, has given up the search
and is returning to the coast. The
Dark Continent was not constructed
with a view to the convenience of the
modern wheelman.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

GOVERNOR Lowry has finally vindi-
Gated the honor of the state of Missis-
sippi. Bruiser Sullivan has been cap
tured, tried, found guilty of prize fight
ing and sentenced to one years
imprisonment. Kilrain has also been
arrested and will probably receive the
same sentence.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

THE New Hampshire legislature re-
fused to pass a license law. The bill
was defeated in the house by twenty
six majority.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
GMattbman & guurnaL.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 81, 1889,

SEVENTEEN seats will be contested
in the next house of representatives,
all by republicans.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

SENATOR EvARTs will sail for Europe
in few days to consult foreign oculists
in regard to his eyes, which are troubling
him.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

NORTH DAKOTA takes the lead
among the states in providing for a sys-
tenn of manual training. Forty thou
sand acres of land are set apart for this
purpose
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

LAST Monday, the question of woman suf-
frage came again before the Montana con-
vention on proposition to submit the ques-
ton to the people, as separate amend
ment, at the same time with the constitu-
ton, but the proposition was lost, as before,
by tie vote.
, 1889-03-28
How She Took Caro- of Money.

Albanians who entered the Adiron-
dack region last summer via North
Creek and stopped at that little village
to look after their mail will not forget
the pretty young woman at the post
Office who answered their inquiries
and did it so well. She was the
daughter of Postmaster Sheehan, a
neat, jaunty, business like miss, and
the entire management of the postofnce
seemed to be in her hands. More than
one visitor made the comment that she
herself ought to be postmaster, as she
filed the place SO well. Not long
since neglect vas charged against
Postmaster Sheehan in not forwarding
his money statements TO the Albany
office. Investigation was made by a
postoffice inspector and Miss Sheehan
to his amazement, when asked to ac-
count for about $1,000 of the
~postofice funds, produced a shoe
box, in which she had the
money packed away in various
strange receptacles. She had made it
q habit to carry the money with her
to and from the office, and her novel
bank proved TO be a good deal more
secure than some iron or steel safes
have been. Miss Sheehan impressed
those who met her with her ability
to take caro- of herself and to run her
fathers postof1ice. ALBANY Journal.
, 1889-03-28

Senator Hampton has n queer habit,
He does not chew or smoke TO any ex-
tent, but he is fond of pinching off
sections of n fine cigar, powdering it
in his hand and SMILING it. He will
sit in the cloak room where he can
see the presidents desk and snuff
cigars for an hour at n time.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia, also
has a nicotine fad. 1t is to indulge in
a dry smoke" That is, he keeps an
unsmoked or half smoked cigar in his
mouth all the time.
Gen. Samuel Thomas, of the Brice-
Thomas Sency syndicate got into this
habit rs n compromise between smok-
ing and not smoking, and the result
was a surgical operation to remove a
tumor like growth that appeared on
his lips just at tho place where he al
ways held his unlighted cigar. The
doctors told him TO either smoke or let
the whole thing alone, but not to carry
an unlighted cigar in his mouth
Washington Post.
, 1889-03-28

Time was When 1 looked upon the SO
called social clubs, of which there are
fully a couple of hundred distributed
over the city, as nursebeds of vice and
training schools of hoodlumism. My
views have undergone a decided
change of late years, in keeping with
the change in the conduct of the clubs
themselves. Five years ago the clubs
were for the most part organizations
of very bad boys, and their meetings
were simply beer drinking bouts, but
now many of the clubs have finely
equipped quarters, and the member
ship is composed of hard working and
respectable young men, who meet
really for improvement. l do not
mean that there is much about the
nightly sessions hatsuggests the Chau-
tauqua circle or the society for ethical
culture, but they do meet and enjoy
themselves with singing and musical
instruments, reading of papers, and
books sometimes, or a social game of
cards. The social club results in keep
ing boys and young men off cor
ners and out of bar rooms. Particu-
larly is the good effect of the club sys-
tenn noticeable in the comparative alb
N of gangs" who stood on the
corners and made the life of the pc
destrian a burden. Police Captain in
Globe-D Democrat
, 1889-03-28

Several weeks ago a belated way
farer was passing a mill in the south
part of the town late ono night when
he was not a little astonished to hear
a tapl tapl tapl a sort of clinking
sound, exactly as if a pick was being
struck against a milestone. No one
was in the mill at the time, it being
dark and still. He told his story to
several persons, but was hooted at. OF
late the mysterious sounds have again
been heard, and always late at night.
A few nights ago an excited throng
~congregated near the mill, listening
to the mysterious sounds. The mo-
notous clinking kept regularly sound
ing, as if the ghost of the workman
was finishing his neglected tasks. The
sound seemed to come from far up in
the building, neal the roof in fact.
Several of the perplexed listeners en-
deavored to persuade some one to go
into the building and solve the mys-
terry they themselves dare not investi-
gate, but no offer of love or money
could tempt a single venturesome soul
to enter the mill. AS the steady clink,
clink, clink sounded continuously,
even the bravest grew almost un-
controllable, and a general STAN
pede was the result. The follow
ing night was simply a repetition
of the preceding one-the ghostly
workman still steadily tapped
away at the milestone and the excited
listeners could but stand s~pellbound
until their fears proved too much for
them. Once or twice since has the
sound been heard, but no one has yet
been found brave enough to beard the
ghostly terror in its lofty abode
Marshall Qlls.) Letter:
, 1889-03-28
Ball Room Manners.

A society woman writes ~deprecatingly
of the want of manners that so many
people exhibit at balls and other social
entertainments, and of tho ruthlessness
with which they will interrupt an inter
esting conversation How are they to
know that it is interesting? Well, If
they have only a little discrimination
they will DO able to see for themselves.
"Once upon a time" she says, "it was
understood that opportunities were to be
waited for, and tete-a-tetes were not alb
ruptly broken in upon" But such a
state of things-if it yer existed-exists
no longer. A woman will becker to a
man across the drawing room, and lol
he will arise and go, leaving the woman
he had been talking TO all alone, and
perhaps h knows no one else in the
ROOM Another woman will cross the
room and enter into conversation with n
man who is enjoying a quiet talk with
another woman, whom she does not
know. But it is 30 easy to ignore the
other womani A man will seek out an
other man who has retired to a secluded
corner with n pretty girl, and, not know
ing the girl, will tell his friend he wants
to introduce him to a certain lady. If
you arc a woman, your host or hostess
ONE up and carries off the mar to
whom you are talking, in order to intro
duce him to some n else, and you are
left standing alone, perhaps in the mid
die of the room. These are actual oc-
currences.-Philadelphia Press.
, 1889-03-28
A Strange Feathored cannIbaI.

A remarkable bird, about the size of q
robin and much resembling a kingisher
without the prominent tuft of feathers,
attracted considerable attention on a
street in Kennebec, Me-, recently. Fly
ing along to an English sparrow, with
dart Of his hooked beak he killed the
little bird, and then, placing one foot
upon his victims breast, proceeded to
tear in pieces and devour him. A stage
driver picked up the feathered cannibal
and his prey and carried them into a
near by store, where, perched upon the
counter, he devoured the sparrow with
apparent relish. The bird seemed to
have no fear Of any one, and showed no
antipathy against anything but the
sparrows, several of which he killed dur
ing the afternoon. His species was I'M
known to any who saw him, but it is
thought he is n of the variety known
as butcher bird.-Maino Paper.
, 1889-03-28

The Denver and Wyoming Oil com
pany has been incorporated at Denver by
Donald Fletcher, Frank Il. Edbrookc,
Louis Dugal, j. Opperman, Il. r. Bar
ton, X. II. Gilmore, Geo. L. Aggers and
p. T. Mcnamara. The two last named
gentlemen have been interested in the
Wyoming fields several years. 1t is the
intention of this company To at once sink
several wells on their oil property in
Wyoming and build a pipe line to Den
ycf. The company owns and controls
over 500 acres OF the most valuable oil
property in the Wyoming fields, and when
it is developed it will be oncof the most
valuable pieces OF land in the West.
, 1889-03-28

A gang of swindlers whose specially
in crime was tho fraudulent imitation of
Mont de Piete pledges, or pawn tickets,
has just been discovered. Avuncular
guarantees of this description have fire.
quently been falsified in Paris by q pro-
cess known among those who live by
their wits as the lavage des faffes. But
the knights Of industry who have been
captured went further than this and bod
lily fabricated fictitious pledges, which
they sold In large quantities to purchas-
ers or marchands de reconnaissance du
Mont de Piete. The swindlers had sue
ceeded in realizing about 81 900 between
them by their transactions when bounced
upon by the police. At their headquar-
tiers in the Faubourg st. Martin was found
a complete mandatory of false tickets.
Paris Cor. London Telegraph.
, 1889-03-28

In to northwestern part of the town
Of Castleton, Rutland county, VT, is
the only mandatory of slate pencils
in the United States. The slate rock as
it comes from the quarry is first
sawed into blocks as wide as the slate
pencil is long. These blocks are easily
split into slabs a little thicker than the
finished pencil, which is about FIVE
sixteenths of an inch. These are passed
through a planning machine and over
an emery belt, which makes them
even and smooth. Next they are
pushed into the jaws of a machine
called a crocodile" which consists of
a pair of steel plates, in the under one
of which are six rows of curved
knives, each being set so as to cut a
little deeper than the preceding one.
These pillow out parallel groove half
way through the slab, which is then
turned and laid on a steel plate having
ridges which just fit these grooves.
This slides back under the six rows of
teeth of another Crocodile" which
cuts the grooves on the other side and
leaves the square pencils side by side.
They r. then rounded and pointed
by holding them on an emery belt,
and n man can thus sharpen about
5000 a day.
This factory makes 80, 900 pencils
daily, and employs twenty-five hands.
We might wonder where so many pen
ellis go, but when we consider that
there are me or two million school
boys and girls, and many of them
rather careless, and that slate pencils
are easily broken, we have no doubt
the factory will have its ''hands full"
to supply the demand
The old way of making pencils was
TO saw them out square from the slab
one by one. They were then boxed
and distributed among poor families,
who whitfield them round by hand for
about a half a dollar q thousand.
Pencils are made from slate much
softer than the states upon which they
are used, and very nice pencils are
made from soapstone. New York
World.
, 1889-03-28
How the Husband Gave 1t Away.

Here is another good smuggling
story from the Belgian frontier: A
newly married couple were returning
to Germany after a tour to Brussels.
AS the train approached the frontier
the bride grew uneasy and presently
confessed that she had a quantity OF
the finest of Brussels lace in her bag,
on which a high duty would have 70
be paid. Put it inside your hat, she
pleaded. This was done. The custom
house officials looked all through the
boxes of the elegant young lady,
knowing by experience that such are
the most daring Of smugglers, but
found nothing. The chief officer,
charmed by the amiable of
the husband, accompanied the couple
TO the train, when the wretched hus-
band, forgetting his secret in the joy
of having escaped, raised his hat TO
the officer and was instantly enveloped
in a soft white veil. Tableau Pail
Mall Gazette.
, 1889-03-28
Personal POINTS.
Wesley is up from Denver.

Charles Wesley is up from Denver.
VI. B. ClmDlin is down from Douglas.
Rllph Friend is in Cheyenne once
more.
Donald MacPhee is in from his ranch
near Cheyenne Caves.
VIII. Force and his bride are expected
home to day.
G. b. Keen and wife, New York, are
lntsr Ocean guests.
Jesse Harris, who is raising Cleveland
Bay, Shire and Clydesdalc horses near
Fort Collins, was in the city yesterday.
VIII King. formerly city editor of the
SOm, has returned from a successful trip
to the coast for the National Trotting As
sociatiou.
Dan Hogan, head trainer for the Post
Pcrchcron Horse company, has returned
from New York, where he spent the win
ter very pleasantly.
ID. II. Andrews, part owner. of the
%shipwheel brand in Crook county, is in
town. Mr.. Andrews soon leaycs for
Alberta, Northwest territory.
Father Meyer, a prominent and highly
educated Jesuit priest, en- route to Cali
@fornia, visited his friend Bishop Burke a
few hours yesterday. He will visit Pacific
coast brethren.
, 1889-03-28
MeteoroIogicaIIy spenkIng.

OBSERVERS OFFICE, Cheyenne, Mar.
2s.-The rainfall yesterday for the twelve
hours ending at 8 p. m. vas as follows:
ST Louis. .O4 inch, Kansas City .O2. Buff
ialo, N, Y, .O2, Valentine .O2 and Gal
weston %. The temperature was gen
orally about the normal except in the
lake regions and the Mississippi Valley,
where it was near freezing. Range of
the thermometer in Cheyenne from 2Go
to 5Io. For to-day. light rain Or snow
followed by fair weather and slightly
c,,lrr
, 1889-03-28

Discoveries of what has been already
discovered are not i~nfrequent. One of
the latest cases in point is hat of Mr..
Kitton, the high priest of English Dick
ems worship. Mr.. Kitton declares sit is
not generally known that the nam of
Charles was entered in the baptismal
register of st. Mary's (the parish church
of Portsea) as Charles John Huffman
Dickens" If it is not generally known,
II is not the fault of the great novelist's
biographers. Dickens dropped the John
Huffman early, despite the fact that it
was the name of his fathers old friend.
Boston Transcript