Morning journal and courier., 1893-10-27
VERMONT NOTES.
The "Floodwood,'' or sold Milish.''

The "Floodwood,'' or sold MfIish."
vi.
In 1851 the militia was the standing joke
of the day. There was hardly the skeleton
of uniformed company in the whole state.
The adjutant and inspector general was
the only one who wore a uniform. His
official report for that year was so stuffed
and padded with military phrases as to be
incomprehensible to the average reader.
THE report was "nuts" to the third
house. L. E Chittenden was chairman of
the committee OF foodwood. The COM
mittee at once reported that the militia
laws of Vermont were "unconssitooshun-
ALL" They therefore presented can act
for the resurrection of the Vermont flood
wood, and to create certain salaried officers
therein named"
The proposed "Act" made 1t the duty OF
every male citizen above the age of sixteen
forthwith to provide himself with q
feather or plume at least three feet long,
together with such other ornaments as the
taste or ability of the individual may sug-
gest, with some offensive weapon, not
dangerous to be handled, printing wire
and brush, for the purpose of doing duty
In the "Floodwood" of the state. Pro
vided, that in lieu of these equipments
and ornaments any person may provide
himself with any musical instrument OF
which he can play.
Section 2. Provided, that it shall be the
duty of every such male citizen to repair
armed, equipped and ornamented ss afore
said, at the break of day on Tuesday and
Thursday of each week, to the yard OF
dwelling house of the town clerk of the
town where he resides for "Floodwoed'
purposes, and to spend said days until the
going down of the sun in sucn services.
Section 3. That there shall at be least
two officers to every private, provided that
any person with eurled hair and black
whiskers shall be ex-whiskerands as Officer
of the grade of lieutenant general.
Section 4. That 1t shall bs the duty Of
the adjutsnt and inspector general to i'm
mediately set out from his place Of abode
armed and equipped as the law directs
preceded by drum maj or, drummer, fifer
and corporal, armed with some weapon OF
war, and procsed into each school district
to consult with the boys as to the best
method of encouraging spirit of martial
ardor, and to make permanent arrange
ments with the schoolmaster or mistress
as the case may be, as to the best way tc
get up spirit of military enthusiasm, and
induce the pupils of each school to attend
all June and other trainings in suct
towns.
Section 5. That there shall be immedi
ately appointed $50 assistant adjutau,
generals-men noted for personal beauty
to be chosen by female committee OF three
of mature age, to be appointed by the
governor; which officers shall assist tn;
present adjutant general in his arduous d u
ties, and hold up the general interests O.
the "Floodwood. These officers, If al
ready married, or If they shall marry with
in sixty days after their appointment hsl
hold Office for life at a salary of 81, 500 PEI
annum.
This proposed "act" was published IL
| the Third House Journal, and brought a
| food of ridicule upon the militia system
which resulted in its complete reforua
ton.
The influence of the third house upol
| legislation was powerful and permanent
| But some members of the lower house
| were rash enough to complain of the stat
| librarian for allowing such ''psrtilent fel
lows" to show up their folly in the stat
| library. The third house at once publishe,
| their solemn protest against ''the interior
| ence of spies" with their d!gnifed sessions
| and gave notice that they would appeal t
the people to abolish the clover houses
altogether.
The result Was that the third house we
let alone, and the roysterers continued t
make the action of the legislators as ridic
| uious as possible
A bill had bsen introduced to build
railroad across Lake Chsmplain at Rouse
Point, and an excursion Of the legislator
was planned to visit the locality. TIL
third house at once voted to ''excurse" t
"Pocatapaug Flats, where it was feare
that proposed bridge would raise tn
water ten miles above four feet higher tina
the bridge, whereby the navigation of LAX
Pemigewasset in New Hampshire would b
obstructed," and the legislature took n
more excursions. They passed a string
ant act against the sale of liquors "e1
cept for medicinal, mechanics
and chemical PURPOSES" and til
third house committee on useless informs
ton produced sundry vouchers for til
year 1888, containing ''rhum, cyder, an
flip for the legislature, and it was resolve
that the term "mechanical' should includ
the raising of barns and like cares; "ms
dicinar" should cover cases of thirst an
the like, and chemical" cases where tn
fluid was used as an aid to digestion.
Mr.. Chittenden's book, from which W
have culled some of the material for thes
"Notes," entitled Personal "Reminiscences
1910 $780," ia we'll worth careful perusa
| A. N. L.