News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-08-16

credit of service. Every loyal citizen
will in all time be proud of her war
record.
We are proud of her scenery. She
stands second to no townin Vermont
in this respect. We stand in her val
leys and view natures grand monu-
ment, old Mansfield, with pride and
wonder; and from her summit look
back and down with rapture and adj
miration upon the beautiful valleys,
green pastures, silently running
brooks, and rich meadows below,
dotted all over with the plain, sub
stantial ana comfortable homes of
her industrious, thrifty and happy
people. Your fame for mountain and
picturesque scenery is worldwide,
and much of this is due to the enter
prise, efforts and popularity of one of
your much loved and highly esteemed
citizens-(HoD w. H. IL. Bingham.)
To-day he lies languishing, the vic
tim of dread disease. Let us send
him tender messages of sympa-
thy and offer up an earnest prayer
that he may still live to enjoy home,
friends and the fruits of his life work.
In meditating upon my theme my
mind has been called to the people of
your town of years ago. Well do |
remember and so will many of you
the earlier Luces, Benefits, Bensons,
BiDghams, Wilkinses, Bigelows, But
lers, HAIRLESS, Camps, Slaytons, Per-
kinses, Towns, Moodys, MOores, Rob-
%insons, Scribners, Lovejoys, Ray
monds, Thomases, Churchills, Waits.
Downers, Seavers, Straws, and scores
of Others that might be named.
Many people of these names lived
here 40 and 80, some 70 and 80, and
some an hundred years ago. Then
these names were as familiar as house
hold words, and what seems to me
as a most remarkable fact, is, that
these same names are as familiar and
in every day use here now, as in the
earlier history of the town, and that
the blood relationship of many hun
dreds of your present citizens can be
traced direct to the early settlers.
While there have been great changes
in the personnel of your town, there
has been but little change in the
blood lines of her inhabitants. |
hardly think another town in YER
mont can claim orshowa like record.
To ME this is evidence of what has
produced the material prosperity of
the town, its healthy social life, and
the extreme home love of her people.
Seventy years ago the Justices of the
Peace of Stowe were Asa Raymond.
Thomas B. Downer, Nathan Robin
son, Daniel Moody, and Riverius
Camp, and, to-day, people represent
ing the blood of all these men live
within your borders and nearly all
these names are still borne by some
of your citizens.
Though born here, a very import
ant event in my history, | remained
only three years. Since coming to
manhood | have spent many happy
hours within your borders, many of
them in f~estivity.
Well do | remember the soul and
foot stirring music of Robinson's
band of 40 and so years ago; when
Nat. John, Jeff, Tarrant and Dow Il
use the names of that day. took the
music stand it meant business, and
who ever heard such music? Itwould
drive away sadness, even pain, and
cause the awkward to move grace
fully, and transform bOisterous
roughness into genteel p~oliteness.
Only two of that noble band are left
to stand side by side with us to-day,
to sing and speak words of praise
and loyalty in honor of our much
loved birthplace.
You have sent out to your neigh
boring towns good men and women,
Morristown having received a large
complement. Many, yes, large num-
bers of our best citizens were either
born in Stowe, or have been at some
time of her citizenship. They are in
telligent, Industrious and worthy
people, and. we are glad to welcome
them. You have sent many a prime
young man and young woman out
into che great west; often we hear of
them in Chicago, Minneapolis. st.
Paul and other more western points,
and there, too, have they become
prominent, active and influential citi-
zens, and made themselves worthy to
be called sons and daughters of
Stowe. And to-day they are silently
singing your praises, and will anx-
iously and eagerly wait the coming
of the first tidings of the doings of
this centennial day. To such we send
greetings and bespeak for them good
health, happiness, and long, success
full lives.
l have said Stoves past century is
history; we all know it or can read
and learn it. Now, what of her fu-
ture 4? Her past has been what her
citizens made it, and her future must
be made and controlled by similar
methods. To be sure she has larger
resources, larger opportunities, bet
ter facilities, than in her primitive
days; therefore is capable of greater
progress.
The older men and women in this
audience who have held the reins,
have guided her affairs, and have
brought the town to it's present high
position in wealth and social infu-
pnce. are fast LETTING 90: gradually