The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-12-19
elLooI SnaUa uIosgs
NEWS AND NOTES.

The Montana deadlock does not ap-
pear TO be progressing very rapidly to-
wards a solution. The Democratic Sem
ators want their Republican colleagues
10 select join' committee to investigate
the alleged frauds in the Tunnel precinct.
irrespective ofreturning board or courts.
Secretary Proctor's dignifed reply to
Mayor ShaBespeare's announcement Of
the death of Mr.. Davis will be every
where commended. OF course no ofi-
cial recognition of the circumstance was
possible, and Mr.. Proctor says so in a
courteous way least adapted to give
The Iowa Railroad Commissioners in
their annual report complain of the diff
nculty they have experienced in collect
ing statistics from the railroads, and ask
for legislation to increase their authOri,
W. The cause of the trouble probably
lies in the strained relations" between
the State and the roads. ..l.t.,. .a
Dom Pedro's frank remarks about the
superiority Of free institutions are not
calculated to increase his popularity
among the crowned heads of Europe.
His intimation that it is only imperfect
ly educated nations which require mon
archs is particularly adapted to offend
that old-fashioned sovereign, the youth
tul Emperor Of Germany.
Apropos ofthe discussion about aband
oned farms in New Hampshire and Yer
mont, correspondent of the Christian
Union reports that within four miles of
Brooklyn, Conn, there are 81 such
farms, containing from 10 to 100 acres
each, and says that most of them can
be hought for half the value of the land
and the buildings Free" This would
seem to afford the needed opportunity
for a certain class of city people who are
looking for cheap homes in the country
for the summer.-NelU York Tribune
The newspaper press was never 30
clean, 30 carefully just and 80 candid in
lts statements as it is to-day. The ex
ceptions are the papers of the least in
huence, character or circulation. Al
over the country the papers that art
leading in their fields or are growing
great and powerful, are those that cdmt
pearest to the ideal for cleanliness and
candor, while those that are running
down and being left IN the rear of tn
procession, are the ones whose PARTISAN
ship suppresses or distorts truth, tina
are controlled by personal malignity OF
are subservient TO outside influences
those papers, in short, whose readers
cannot rely on them always and every
where, OF. the truth, as they honestly be-
lieve it to be.-Brdttleboro Ph@ntT.
Santa Claus Dutch Santa Klaus OF
hlaas) is an abbreviaIion of st. NIchola-,
or Nicolas, the patron saint of boys and
girls. He is said to have been bishop Of
Myra, In Lycia, and to have died abou
go A, ID. Ths young were taught to re
we're him, and the popular fiction thai
represents him as the bearer of presentst'
children on Christmas Eve is thus giver
by Yonge "St, Nicholas is said 10 have
supplied three destitute maideus witt.
marriage portions by secretly leaving
money at their window, and as his day
occurred just before Christmas he thu,
was made the purveyor of the gifts oil the
season to all children IN Flande ant
Holland, who put out their shoe or stock
ing in the confidence that Santa Klaus,
or Knecht Globes, as they call him, will,
put IN prize for good conduct befor'
morning" Another legend described
he saint as having brought three muir
dered children to life again, and thi,
rendered him the patron of boys, espec-
tally scboolboys. .s.
United States Senator Colauitt of
Georgia delights in telling a story of his
rtorts at missionary work among thu
Afro-Americans in The vicinity Of hit
nome. He selected as specimen test
l"Uncle Gabe, a former slave. who had
learned to read IN a very crude way. and
to whom he offered IS If he would read
The Bible through to the end. Gaoe &C.
cepted the offer and took away with
MIN brand new Bible and began bis
wreslle with the Scriptures. Two weeks
l4,er Gabe returned, Bible in hand
We'll, Gabe, how did you like the bookT'
Gabe hesitated to reply and was pressed
further. well, Marse Colquitt, tells
you how it is. don't like de book no
how" explain yourself | DON
catch your meaning" said the Senator
What part of the Bible did you read
Gabe p II reads, sab, until gifts to
whar Abraham fergits Isaac, and Isaac
fergits j ,cob, and Jacob, he fergits Jo-
seph, and den reads no noah. There
is too much fergitting, sab, to suit me. u