The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-01-22
Gov. Page at Chicago.

Vermonters in different sections of
the country have been glorifying the
grand old Green Mountain state the
past week. At Brooklyn on Saturday
evening at Col. r j KimbalPs beautl-
full home was a most notable gather
ing: in Worcester's Horticultural Hall
and in the Grand Pacific Hotel, Chica-
cago, on Tuesday evening were select
and enthusiastic meetings. Bradford
and Orange county were represented
on all of these occasions. Majors South
worth and Redington and Hon. d. X
Pearsons at Chicago, Geo. Prlchard,
ESQ, Secy. at Worcester. and Col.
Kimball at Brooklyn, all of whom
are proud to acknowledge allegiance
to this town and county and state.
The speeches were all exceedingly
good, but we cannot des:st from CIV
ing our readers Governor Pages adj
dress, on the subject "The Dominent
Forces in the Formation of Vermont
Character" in full, as it is so replete
in statements that will interest all true
citizens of our good old common
wealth:
Last June walked into the Adams House
from the office counter, was agreeably
surprised to find myself in the presence of
an old acquaintance from Chicago, He was
one of those sons of the Green Mountain
State whose restless, hopeful disposition
chafed under the slow, conservative methods
of Vermont, and like hundreds of others of
those sons of whom our state is SO justly
proud, he had left his native heath for the
more enthusiastic and wide awake west The
customary greetings passed between us and
then, referring to his marked success in his
western home, said, 81 suppose you feel that
there is no place in this broad land like Chi
eago?" EYES," he replied, "Chicago is indeed
fine city. There is no place like it for a live
vigorous young man to make money in. |
like its push. its vim, and its enterprise but
wish | could go back to the old farm in YER
mont to bring up my children"
His reply made a deep impression on me.
Being gentleman of broad culture he appre-
ciated fully the magnificent schools of Chi
cago. He did not underestimate the many
social advantages which his children here
enjoy, and of which they would be deprived
in country town in Vermont, but notwith-
standing all this he believed that their high
est good would be subserved could they be
surrounded, during the impossible period OF
their lives, with that excellent moral and
physical environment which his own eXpe-
Renee led him to believe existed nowhere as
among the green hills of his native state. II
is from this thought would draw my inspi-
ration for the few words that shall this
evening say to you.
What are those influences so peculiar to
Vermont which have made her preeminent
as the birthplace and early school of success
full professional and business men, of good
citizens, eminent statesmen and brave sol
diers-men strong at home, strong abroad
strong in all the walks of life? | believe they
are in large measure traceable to her noun
tains, her scenery, her climate, and her
thrifty, frugal homes.
How many young man in Chicago tonight
thanks fortune that business prosperity has
enabled his father to surround him with all
those luXuries which wealth affords. How
different the lot of the average farmer boy OF
Vermont as you knew him in your boyhood
days. He struggled up through years of al
most incessant toll and hardship on the
rough hillside farm. He had little Opportun-
ity to be lazy. He found IL necessary to rise
at five in the morning to help father milk,
and care for the stock, and / dare say that
the Vermonter to whom / have just referred
did this every winter morning of his boyhOod
whether the thermometer registered 20 above
or 40 below, and when the chores were done,
breakfast eaten, and prayers said-for his
father was a good Congregational deacon-he
broke the paths with his cowhide boots
through the mile or two of storm swept road
which interviewed between his home and the
red school house where he received the rudi-
ments of his education. "Wasn't that tough %
think hear from some youth who rides in
an electric car from the front door Of his
home to the school house. Bless you, no.