The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-05

the most unique products of temperance
reform to be found anywhere. Proba-
bly, nearly all the readers of the journal
know of John G. Woolley, his fall, his
long struggle against his appetite and
his final triumph, as he stoutly NAM
tains, solely through the help of God.
He believes that the grace of God is the
only thorough temper ance reform agency
and he has established this retreat called
Rest Island, where the struggling victim
of appetite may place himself out of the
reach of temptation so far as his ability
to procure liquor is concerned, and may
surround himself with such influences
as are calculated to elevate him and
strengthen his power to resist his ap-
petite"
Last Sunday closed an eight days as
sembly for the promotion of religion and
temperance. 1t was their second annual
meeting and was participated in by all
denominations.
They have completed Hotel Russell
for the accommodation of about 100
guests, and have borrowed tents from
the militia, and the large tent for the
meetings will seat several thousand.
Part of the opening ceremony this year
was laying the corner stone of Willard
Cottage by Miss Frances Willard, after
whom it was named.
A correspondent who was writing
from there during the meetings makes
some comparisons with other places.
He says it is lovelier than Blennerhas-
sett's Island in the Ohio, to which en-
tered Aaron Burr with reasonable in
tent like the serpent entered Eden.
There are points in the landscape that
= H.. l.
full parts of its course, as at Rhinebeck,
seen from Ellerslie, the summer home of
Vice President Morton.
1.-THE primitive little cottage where
the rescued inebriates are house spot
lessly clean and homelike, with the
touch of womans tasteful hands. The
superintendent and his wife reside in it,
and the men form part of their house
hold, Only four as yet can be accommo-
dated to the great grief of Mr.. Woolley,
who has received applications from
nearly 60. but must await the longed for
completion of Willard Cottage before
holding out encouragement to even a
fraction of them. Nearly all these for
tunate four are men of culture and add
no little to the intellectual resources of
Rest Island. and are helpful and evil
IDENTIFY happy in this open doorway back
to the heritage they have left. The
Lake City people one and a-half miles
away, come great deal to the meetings.
One of the pleasant sights is to see the
ferry steamer Ethel Howard loading
up with them after the evening tent
meeting and steaming off ON its star-lt
way to the goodly little town, whose
wealth of white cottages is embosomed
in flowers. Some of the Lake City
ladies bring contributions of garden
flowers in vases to the meetings. which
with the rich profusion of wild flowers
and delicate ferns native to the island
farm, an exquisite fermentation, not
only in the meeting tent and drawing
,, room, but in the dining room as well.
The nine attractive young ladies from
the "Mary Woolley Y" of union tenn
perance workers, who have volunteered
as table walters during convention week,
win golden opinions from all for their
efficiency and gentle department. The
whole island scheme impresses one as an
enterprise with a heart in it," The
correspondent has other thoughts 1
would like to quote, but 1 expect you
have had enough on this line.
Yours truly,
&. II. BRECKENRIDGE.