The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-10-09

those who have occupied the bench in the
past. Many are living to-day who remem-
Der the elder Redtield, whose name and
fame as jurist is not confined to Vermont.
1 need not recall to your memory that great
common-law lawyer who had no peer in
New England, Asahel Peck, nor that son of
Vermont whom you honored in so many
ways, Luke p. Poland. L need not call to
your mind John Pierpoint. need not recall
the name of many others whose names are
on record in this state. All through the
long history of Vermont, there never has
been time when your supreme court has
been accused of dishonesty. 1t has been the
belief of the people, and the belief has
been true, that they would administer the
laws as they found them. l rejoice that 1
was born Vermonter. L am glad l am
here to- night with you"
"Our Common Schools and Higher Insti-
tutions Of Learning" was the theme on
which
PROFESSOR WALTER e. HOWARD
was called to speak. No man, he said,
could ask a nobler theme than the one that
had been assigned to him. He referred to
the prominent men of Vermont, living and
dead, who have been the product of our
common schools. In choice diction, the
speaker paid his tribute to the schoolmaster
of the early days of Vermont. He who
turned out finished prodnct, such as the
world has rarely seen, has never been APP
preciated as was his due. OF the three col
leges of Vermo at, two are rounding out a
century of national life. The names Of
those whom these institutions have given
to the state and the world were referred to
in eloquent terms. The speaker believed
that in no state in the Union has greater
advancement been made in educational
matters in the last ten years than in
Vermont.
The response of
GENERAL j. j. EsTEY
of Brattle boro for The National Guard of
Vermont was warmly received, notwith-
standing the lateness Of the hour. General
Estey said the National Guard of Vermont
hadsno apologies to make. She is here to
stay, and the National Guard of the future
will be better than that of to-day. The
National Guard of Vermont has, however,
already reached position of which she is
justly proud. The speaker conveyed the
thanks of the troops to the legislature of
Vermont for the assistance they had rem.
dered the National Guard.
JUDGE WALTER P. SMITH
of St. Johnsbury responded to the last toast
Of the evening, 1.-THE Women of Vermont"
He said: "This subject is too large for the
limited time at my disposal. The state OF
Vermont is supremely fortunate and happy
in things of which to be proud. We are
proud OF the men who, on the battlefield or
in civil life have fought their way to honor
of Vermont and we do WE'LL but we too
often forget that they are sons OF the women
Of the state. cloud applause). They have
gone out to their successes under the in
spiration of the benedicton of Vermont
mothers. The women of Vermont are en-
titled to generous share of the honors due
the state, 1t Is the ability of the women OF
Vermont to do well, wherever they are
placed, that gives them prestige The
women Of Vermont are endeavoring to
enlarge their sphere of action. They are
organizing that they may cooperate with
men in the advance of the best interests Of
our state. They are enlarging and beauti-
flying our public parks, and, by the ability
shown, they are putting every man in town
to shame, to say nothing of the boards Of
trade. 1t has been said that the young
men Of Vermont never forget her when
they leave the state, but the women Of the
state are just as loyal as they They are
magnifying the state wherever they GO.
The patriotism of the women OF the
state has never been questioned. They
fought with the men of Vermont, not on the
field of battle, but at home, with patriot
ism as loyal az theirs. l do not know
possession of the state, but do know that
the true woman came early, and is here to
stay"
On the completion OF the programme,
which also closed the reunion exercises,
President Dillingham; wished all the men,
bors a safe return TO their homes, and ex.
pressed the hope that many OF them might
be present at the next reunion in 1905. AT
precisely twelve o'clock the audience dis
persed and the enjoyable reunion OF 1895
was ended.