The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-19
CORRESPONDENCE.
From the Garden City"


To the Editor of the Bdnner:-DEAR
SIR:-A few lines sent to you last week,
telling of my poor health in not being in
a condition to write anything for the
BANNER, l suppose l have been ex-
cused, if not l will take the liberty of
excusing myself. am not able to give
YOU the number of deaths in this city at
this time, but the death rate has been
fearful-hundreds have fallen in their
homes, at their daily toll, on the street,
on the sidewalk, in the pleasure wagon,
in some of the churches, in the ceme-
teries, at the ball, at the theatre, at the
bank teller's window, in the pulpit in
the saloon, in the gambling room, on the
race track, and various other places, that
we will not stop to mention, but such is
and has been the results of few scald-
ing days in July and quite number up
to date in this month. Reading over the
columns of one of our morning papers
that some of the farmers have died from
the excessive heat in the town of Hills
boro of this State, while in the field
working, and also, in the town of Mas
coutah, John He'll a prominent German
farmer, was found Frustrated in the
field by his daughter In Burlington,
Iowa, the thermometer ranged on FIJI
day, Aug. 9Th at 1902 in the shade. The
habitual whiskey drinker who was con-
stantly seeking for the cooling draught,
has fallen at the bar, whilo putting this
most of all destrOyers to his lips. No
one can estimate the destruction of hui
man life by this wholesale destroyer
whiskey in ouA land. 1t is fearful to
contemplate, and what are we doing 10
stop this blight? How will we cast our
WIFI ~ ha on tho ci1a of fnu1
ance or will we give it another impetus
to destruction, by voting for the party
that helps move on this iugernaut till
this Nation is dressed in deep mourning
for the loss of our sons and daughters?
What do we find in one of our papers
devoted to temperance and prohibition,
headed thus: Congressman drunk, this
last Congress-" Yes, this last Congress!
Did they pledge to reform, they have
not reformed! Pledged to legislate, they
they have not legislated! Absenteeism
was never so pronounced! Lack of pur-
pose was never so clear! Lack of COM
mon business prudence never more glar-
ing! Drunken members have reeled
about the aisles, a disgrace to this re-
public, disgrace to the civilized world,
to their constituents, their wives and
children, and in the midst of maudlIn
ramblings have been heard to ask: "Mr.
Speaker, where was | at, was at!''
Some like the man whose name was,
"Am l." He became very much intOxi-
Gated and started for his home. This
was in city. He came to gate open,
found it was not his gate and travelled
on to the next with the same mistake.
So on to the next and having knowledge
enough left he began to enquire to him
self and asked himself the question, am
/, am l, or am | not; am |. and if | am
not am l, who in HI am l!
Congressman Watson is entitled to
vote of thanks for his courage in thus
exposing the drinking and drunkenness
of Congressman. No amount of denial
will avail, for the public already knows
too much about the scenes of debanchery
even on Congressional funeral trains, to
doubt his statements.
You will remember while l was
short time in Bennington, you introduce
ed me to a gentleman by the name of
VIM. Bates, who informed me of his
having a son in this city. l told him l
was acquainted with him, and since
have been home understand he is to be
a candidate for one of the judges. l be-
came convinced he is from the New
bJOCh, anu do L nave LlOI6 COu-
fidence in them than any other, it may
be possible he may get my vote, although !
he being a Democrat, l think by the
looks of his father and conversation
with him, can safely give him my suf-
ferage. Mr.. Editor, l intended in this |
letter to give the readers of the BANNER |
some account of the progress of the Fair,
but have only room to say that with |
all the opposition brought against the |
appropriation of the s., 600, 900 the build |
ing is progressing at a rapid rate, and |
that all the main Worlds Fair buildings !
will be enclosed by Sept. LIST. The big |
manufacturers structure will be COM
pleted in time for the dedicatory cere-
monies. New York will exhibit curios,
among them will be medals of the first |
independent iron arch bridge. In its ex-
hibition New York State will not be be- |
hind in interesting and historical relics,
prominent among which will be Wash
ington relics, autographs of all the Presi-
dents, the signers of the Declaration of |
Independence, and famous men of the |
revolutionary war, portraits of famous
citizens Of New York, including those of |
all the Governors; model of FultOn's |
steamboat and many other relics dating
back to old revolutionary times. l have
not time at present to tell of the exhibits |
of this and other States, but will in my |
next devote the whole to this great Fair. |
CORP. w. Z. SHELDON.