Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-10-03
COnnnI'a Vermont.


Text books adapted for special instruc-
tion in the history, geography and civil
government of Vermont are multiplying
Last year gave us Heaton's readable but
slipshod "Story OF Vermont which for
want of anything better at the time, was
adopted in several counties, for use in the
public schools. A few days since we noted
tho publication of Landon's excellent text
book aud now we have before us Co
nant's school history Of Vermont, just
brought out by tho Tuttle company
OF Rutland. II forms volume of 2SS
pages, neatly printed and bound in muslin.
Mr.. Conant had exceptional qualifications
for his task, and his book bears evidence of
painstaking and careful research His style
is clear and compact and he has condensed
as much information about our State with
in the covers of this volume as was ever
given in the same compass if not more
The first sixty pages are devoted to the geo
graphy of Vermont -Four maps add value
to this part, one being intended especially to
show the mountains and rivers; another
the routes of travel; another the rocks and
1uarries, and another the political divisions,
towns probate districts counties and con
grcssional districts. The historical portion
occupies 1870 pages. In the preparation Of
this Mr. Conant has consulted not only the
standard histories Of this region, but many
town histories and he has embodied a mum
Der of interesting incidents, not given in
tho former. The various paragraphs have
side heads in heavy type, which if they do
not add to the typographical elegance of the
pages, are convenient for reference, "a mat
ter of more importance.
A treatise ON the civil government is com-
prised in the last 100 pages. This embolIes
tho information which every citizen, malo
and female, should possess, in reference to our
town, county, State and national govern
ments. concisely stated. In chapter OF
this part the constitution of the United
States and the constitution Of Vermont are
sandwiched together by paragraphs for
what especial purpose is not distinctly APP
parent Perhaps the arrangement is do
signed to show that the two constitutions
are not antagonistic--a fact which might
be safely assumed since the constitution OF
the United States is by its terms the
supreme law Of the land
Some Of the phrases used in this division
Of the subject to us to be open to
criticism For instance, are the statements
> that the town Consists az people, land,
aws;''-that the county "co0Sj>is of peo-
t pic land, laws: that the State "coaviS'S
a Of people, land, laws, etc, strictly correct p
: With all due Difference to the high author
ity not named for this phraseology, al
- luded to 10y Mr. Conant it seems to us that
y the State which is the people, i, one thing,
and the State which is a geo
graphical division aud which may
N be said to consist OF the land
q is another thing. And We can se1 no
. propriety in the statement that State,
4 county or town consists of its laws How
y can a county pass laws In such delini-
a tions, words are things, and they should
3 be used with the utmost precision aud accu-
!, racy. Mr.. Conant, in his preface, acsnowl-
% edges valuable assistance from Judge II. H.
% Wheeler, of the United States district OF
3 Vermont, to whom the chapters on civil
!, government were submitted. from State
) Librarian H. \. Husc, ana others
, We note, in a cursory examination, two
p or three inaccuracies or omissions, which
% should be corrected in any future edition.
+ In the table Of 'heights of mountains p.
IS '''0 l.
y s''0H' '',' - '''1 "'''' '''"'''
81 O"'9' e'' wy 80 '''' i'''' - VIZ are COZ
70 '''''' - nc
= Ut Tue las SUI wy ''o'''n' VIM" o.
~ upo" 'i0 "oSe' ne cum ""I'" - '"'
- highest point of Mansfield mountain. i, up-
iu ,,.ori f qun f,+ hi,,b.,,. ,L.,, .i , f.
u ""'N' VI ''' ''N' "'e"'' wan '"' i''p' IL
% the list of ports Of entry St Adams. tn
ID L.o,-i,-t erb,,ort of .rt,,. il, N..,,... ,
ID guaged by its amount OF entries, is omitted
~ i o,.. :. va,
~ 20 - 80 ~
~ ...t,....,,., ,..,i.+ 1T, ....:..
40 tso. o,.'
n, 10 au'' 10 OF aIleE luclll rs may SUIT Ill