Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-05
OUR MONTPELIER LETTERS.


ARRIVAL AT THE CAPIToL.-OPENING
OF THE SESSION, WEDNEsDAT.-
DRAWING OF SEATs.-THE COVER
NoR's RECEPTION AND ADDRESS.
Montpelier, VT, Oct. 4, 1894.
To commence at the beginning, the
trip Tuesday was very pleasant. We ar
rived at our destination in time for a one
o'clock dinner, and found everything
ready. The fact is, Montpelier people
are energetic, well-to-do, and not a proud
people, only in so far as pertains to neat
ness-as pure as can be. We find this
characteristic feature all over the town,
suburbs and all, and we had time to
take IN" all the surroundings in the af-
ternoon, Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, all the Represen-
tatives having arrived, we wended our
way to the State House. At 10 o'clock
o'clock nearly every seat was taken. 1t
may be seen by the legislative report that
"Woodford democrat" is noticed"
even in so large a republican assemblage
of wisdom" | didn't just want to write
this last, but l knew it would please my
friends OF both parties
l must say few words about the draw
ing of seats in the House, which you will
not find in your regular report. This oc-
CURED at half-past one Wednesday af-
ternoon. The Clerk writes the name of
each town on slip of paper and these
are all placed in a box and given good
mixing" then drawn out one by one,
and as the town is called its Representa-
tive will respond, and select any seat he
desires, and during the drawing every
member is requested to stand, and there
are over two hundred and forty towns to
call and as the number of the seat as
chosen has to be recorded, nearly two
hours is required to do the work, thus
some get "leg-weary' before the job is
done. OF course Higbgate is just as apt
to be first drawn as Pownal, or Ripton
as Florence. LAS luck would have it,"
as the saying goes, Bennington was call
ed right away, so friend Bingham wasn't
kept standing long, and somehow l was
foolish enough to think that Woodford
would come right along out of the 200 or
more left in the box. And sure enough
it did. Well, chose number 23S, which
seat gives me location where can keep
an eye on all that is going on, and at the
same time am not far from the Speaker
and Clerk. Representative Hayes, of
Sandgate, sits next, and Burt, of Sunder-
land, Immediately in front. But the
''hard humor" that l wished to speak of
in this drawing of seats is, l felt sorry for
friends Orvis of Manchester, and Love-
land of Dorset, as their names were near
ly the last drawn. Orvis stood the ordeal
well, though tiresome it was, still his
head ''shone" for few minutes after
taking his seat Mr.. OTvis has rooms at
the Pavilion and is one of 1.-THE 400'' of
the House; at the same time he is ley
el-headed man, and is particularly bril-
liant in legislative work.
The Governors Reception Wednesday
evening was one of the most brilliant ev-
er given in the State House. One may
talk of large crowds in Railways, under
the gas-light or gilded dome, and rich
perfumes, and all that, not to mention
loW-neck dresses, of course, and this Oc-
casion was the best of all. Every inch of
space was taken in the big hallway from
the Senate Chamber to the Governors
room where, next to a richly decorated
mirror stood Gov. Fuller, the Lieutenant
Governors, Gov. Woodbury., and their
wives. Gov. Fuller's staff surrounded
the high officials, and, in their fine uni
forms presented pleasing and impress
sive spectacle. 1t will please our Wood
ford friends to know that when Mrs. Full
Ter took the 'Hermit's'' hand she had a
pleasant word for Woodford and her peo-
pie. At the close of the reception
heavy thunder shower prevailed and
many of the hundreds present were more
or less ''moistened." There were many
from adjoining towns present, including
a special train load from Burlington.
One o'clock in the afternoon, Cover
nor Fuller gave his valedictory address
in the House. At II o'clock to-day, the
Senate and House meeting in joint as
sembly. This afternoon, GoYernor-elect
Woodbury. will deliver his inaugural ad-
dress.
The occasion, probably, will be longer
than usual as there is much work to do,
not the least of which will be the revis-
ion of the statutes. Next week we shall
be ready for business, and then you will
have more interesting letter from
THE HERMIT OF WooDFoRD.