The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-31
Notes Philosophy and News, by Quien
Sabef

Sabe2
Whether correct or not, the conclusion
is fast growing in the public mind that
Secretary Blaine is seriously i'll at Bar
Harbor on the coast of Maine. 1t seems
that little that is reliable can be had in
regard to the matter from the newspa-
pers. The papers of one class, for poHt-
ical purposes, say he is dying, while those
of another, for the same reason, say that
he is getting well. That the latter state
ment is true, all men, irrespective OF
party will hope, for Mr.. Blaine is really
one of the worlds great men. He is
fine orator. a great political historian, an
incomparably aggressive diplomat a
greet constructive statesman, and alto
gether the most striking political figure
in America, or for that matter in the
world.
Emperor William is great man among
the Germans, and he says and does about
what pleases him when he is at home. He
has lately been ''doing" England in royal
style. But his royal grandmother, the
English queen, was very careful that he
should not ''dO'' England as he pleased.
AT public gatherings he was, quite nat
urally, called upon for many speeches.
They were all submitted to the good
queen first, however, and after proper
adjustment the Kaiser was allowed to
speak them to his grandmother's folks,
Just as many another little grandson is
allowed to do. Emperor William was
we'll received by the English people, much
better than his English uncle who, how
ever, is no doubt the Kaiser's superior at
the royal game of baccarat.
The Bennington Reformer seems indeed
to be in hard lines. What with frozen
type got by express at about eight or ten
cents column, and dead ads" its
''space" must be valuable" and no
doubt life does not seem ''shoTt'' to the
editor. BY the way, it is matter of
commo6 remark that the Reformer has
- own hill rapidly since its editor
a ed over his own signature that he
ii I'D about Mr.. Barber. If he does
~ realize it now, mr.. j. h. livingston will
y Sme to know some time that it does not
pay to get reputation for using news
paper to SANDER reputable citizens as a
matter of personal spite, even in the alb
sence of ability to attract attention in
any other way. He fancies himself very
bright man, jim does, but how many peo-
pie smile to see the donkey's ears stick
ING through the lions hide. 1t is a mat
ter of common remark that the RefOrneI
is failing.
What a world of difference in ocean.
crossing scientific steamship-building has
made! A trip to London is now no more
in point of time than trip from Albany
to New York was few years ago Thou
sands of lawyers, clergymen and bust.
ness men, at present, go to Europe fol
their vacation. Half the prominent cler
gymen in our seaboard cities are there
now, and also many Congressman anC
government officials. Thirty years age
the round trip took a month, and there
was no closer communication. Now you
90 and return in about ten days, anC
events which happen in London at ter
o'clock in the forenoon are cabled to New
York and are published on our bulletin
boards before breakfast, or tlUo hours be.
fore then happen. This is a great age.
1t is surprising to note how rapidly the
use of the finer fruits is growing upor
the public. 1t is safe to say that theil
sale has increased thousand-fold in the
last decade. The banana is one of those
most in favor. Its high food value, it.
excellent shipping qualities and it,
abundance are all in its favor. 1t is sale
to be the most important food plant il
the world, surprising in that respect ever
wheat. An acre of bananas is said to
have as much value for food as 125 acres
of the latter. The banana is, moreover,
one of the oldest cultivated plants in the
world, and to this fact is probably due thu
loss of its power to produce seeds. Thu
plant has for ages been propagated en-
tirely from slips. Itgrows as rapidly anC
as naturally as a weed in all tropical anC
sub-tropical countries, where it is thu
principal food of millions of people. TIL,
best bananas are the Baracoas from
northern South Africa. Very few of then
are found in our markets.
Attention is called to the fact that tn,
Bennington Monument is not only TIN
highest battle monument in the world
but that its capstOne is probably furthe
above the level of the sea than that O.
any other monumental structure in tn
world. While the Washington Monumen
is 254 taller than ours, its base is so mucl
lower that its capstOne is nothing like a
far above the level of the sea as is tn
capstone of this one. In that sense til,
Bennington Monument is the highes
monument in the world.
The graded school has fine lawn, blu
the entire property is sadly disfigured b.
the lame apology of fence that has beef
in more or less tumble-down condition
in front of it for years. The trustee
should remove the so-called fence befor
the 10th. 1t may, however, occur t.
them that it protects the lawn. A mo
ment's study of the arrangement of tn
walks will show them that such is no
the case. Move the fence on Schoo
street and put up two or three neat "keep
off-the-grass" notices and marked vii
lage improvement will have been made.
That astute organ, the Reformer, state,
recently that the graded school trustee
have raised the salaries of the teacher
to an extent that will increase the schoo
expenses about $1,000 year. 1t is
matter for general regret that the state
ment is not true, for our teachers are in
dustrious and worthy in a marked de
gree, and our school, as result, is on
of the best in the State, if general re
ports may be trusted. The Reformer'
statement was too large, however, b.
seven hundred and forty-three dollars
the whole increase for eight teacher
amounting to only S257 year, or abou
that. Last spring, it will be remembered
mr.. j. h. livingston tried to get himsel
elected as school trustee, but the moral
the law-abiding and the respectful
wouldn't have it. Now j. h. |. is dis
gushing the tired public with very I'm
inviting display of malignant sore head
That may have something to do with tn
lack of news, so evident in the Reforme
lately, QUEEN SABEP
Examination of Teachers.
Examinations for the granting of Gel
tificates to teachers will be held in Beu