Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-02
vERMONTERS IN CHICAGO.

The Sons of Vermont held their six
teenth annual banquet at the Grand
Pacific Tuesday evening, January IL.
After the dinner was served, Thomas
j. Sutherland, the retiring president,
addressed the assemblage in a short
speech, at the conclusion of which he
introduced Lewis H. Bisbee, the new
ly elected president. Mr.. Bisbee, in a
few words, thanked the society for
placing him in the position, and hoped
that he would be able to acquit himself
as well in the position as had his pred
ecessors. The gentleman then acted as
POSTMASTER, introducing the Imperial
Quartet, which, with the assistance of
John NJ. Hubbard, entertained the
guests with vocal music during the
evening.
The banquet was not confined to the
members Of the society, but a general
invitation was extended to all resident
natives of Vermont, and a goodly num-
ber OF them were present, as, consider
ing its size and population, Vermont
has furnished larger proportion Of
Chicago's prominent men than any 9TH
er State. Several of her prominent
men are graduates of Middlebury Col
lege and they never forget the green
hills.
A good deal was said about Ver-
mont's part in the Worlds Fair, and
all agreed that the States exhibit
would be large aud creditable. The
association is anxious to see ''troops of
friends" from Vermont during the fair
and assures all, good entertainment and
good time.
MR.. GRoUT's ADDRESS.
In his address, Congressman Grout
said in substance -
Every State has history peculiar to
itself and full of romantic interest. But
there is one dear little State, constitute
ing very small part Of this fair land,
the unique history OF whicn transcends
the romantic and partakes OF the heroic
and sublime. Need tell this audience
that / refer to the gallant little State of
Vermont?
"Land of the mountain and the rock,
OF lofty hill and lonely glen;
Where, nursed by the tempest's shock,
Is found a race OF iron men,"
How like poem, in gentle rhythm,
come tender memories of the old home
stead on the hillside, with the trout
brook near b. and the tinkling cowbell
coming up the lane at night memories
also of apple parings and husking bees,
of skating and sugar parties, of sleigh
rides and spelling schools, and of that
New England nursery Of learning, the
district schoolhouse, where, from the
alphabet up, you learned to read and,
at last, in concert of
1.-THE old oaken bucket-the iron bound
bucket,
The moss-covered bucket which hung in
the we'll"
In a recent conversation with dis /
tinguished federal Judge of a western
state, he asked, "Why is it that ver-
monters, whom one meets everywhere
throughout the West, manifest for one
another an attachment and for their
native State a pride not noticeable
among people from other States?' And
ask, Why is it! | will tell you. 1t 4
is because of her heroic early history,
because of the brave deeds and wise
craftsmanship Of the men who built a
State, not out of an ordinary wilder
ness. but out of tract of country
which no human being had ever before
dared occupy as a home-not with the
ordinary incidents which attended the
settlement and admission into the In
ion of the other States, but through a
series of stirring events, sometimes bor-
dering even on the tragic, thus making
the early history OF Vermont wholly
unlike that Of any other State, and fill
ing it with passages of valor and wis
dom which not only appeal to the pride
Of Vermont but challenge the admira-
lion Of the general reader.
Mr.. Grout then briefly sketched the
States early history, calling attention
to the patriotism of the early settlers,
their hatred of slavery. bravery at the
battle Of Bennington and Ethan Aliens
boIdness and honesty in aiding the lit I
tie republic to get on her feet.
Continuing, be said: 81 must not,