Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-08-09
THEN AND NOW.
Rev. Lewis CIRCUITS Comparison of Old
Time Modes and Means Of Travel
WIN Those of To-day.

Rev. Lewis CIRCUITS Comparison OF Old
Time Modes and Means Of Travel
with Those of Today.
In his speech at the West Brattleboro
celebration of the opening of the trolley
railroad last week Rev. Lewis Grout spoke
Interestingly, largely from his own memory
and experience, of the changes which have
taken place within the present century in
the means of travel, especially as these re-
late TO the common affairs of daily life, as
on the farm, or in going to church, to mill
or to market. 1t is hardly more than a
century ago, he said, that the ox-sled was
the only vehicle in use here among the
people. After that came the oX-cart,
though the sled continued to be long in use
both summer and winter, even after the
incoming of the cart, which was more than
some could afford to buy. Mr.. Grout had
seen many farmer gather his hay and
bring it from the field into his barn on an
ox-sled. And on this sled he would carry
his grist of corn and rye, oats or wheat to
the mill or if he was fortunate enough to
own horse, he might put the bags of grain
crosswise upon the saddle of the horse on
which he sat and rode, and carry his grist
in that way. If he had neither OK nor
horse he sometimes carried the grist on his
own back. For light work, such as carry
ing a box or two of butter to the store, or a
grist to mill, instead of the heavy oX-sled
kind of oX-drag or jumper, large, forked
pole, the section of small, crotched tree,
was used; the butt end made fast in the
ring of the oX-yoke, while the other two
ends, V-shaped, on which box was made
fast would rest and drag upon the ground.
Previous to the incoming of the wagon,
chaise, or buggy, the saddle bags and pill
lion were in not uncommon use. The
former, consisting of two large leathern
pockets united by two straps on leathern
band and suspended from the saddle on
each side of the horse, were the doctor s
Indispensable wade meCum for medicines,
or surgical and other equipments, on his
going out, horseback, to visit patients at a
distance. In these the traveller could carry
his lunch or other small packages on a
journey; in these the farmer, his wife or
daughter, would bring her packages of tea,
sugar, coffee, if they used any, aside from
homemade, and other small purchases,
from the store. On the pillion, a stirrup-
less saddle, pad or cushion, or even a folded
blanket, attached to the hinder part of the
regular saddle, second person could ride
with another on one and the same horse,
one behind the other; as a child with a
parent, or a wife with her husband. Be
fore the speaker was old or strong enough
to either walk, or ride a frisky steed alone
six or seven miles to church, he used to
ride in this way, every Sunday, with his
father, and on their way they would some
times fall in company with man and his
wife going in the same way to the same
place.
Even a hasty and superficial sketch of
the inventions and improvements in the
line of vehicles, from those early DAYS of
the fathers and grandfathers down to the
present time, the Introduction of steam not
excepted, would show the progress and
changes to have been both many and mar
velous, and now comes the electric car to
crown them all When the speaker stood
at his gate and saw that palatial coach
going past, moving so evenly, quietly, vet
with an air of might and majesty, propelled
by no visible power, but by what we used
to call thunder and lightning, now lassoed
from the skies, brought down to earth, the
thunder eliminated, the lightning bridled,
tanned, trained, harnessed to the car, and
made to do the bidding of man; and not
on the car alone, but to change the dark
ness of our nights to the light of day. or
take, if required, a message of business or
of friendship from our hand and with ii
jump the continent, jump the ocean and
deliver it in any land we might name be-
You'd the sea, almost quicker than the fact
can be told, he could but feel that all the
former and other 0han electric) wonders
of which he had ever read or heard were
outwondered by this last new wonder,
which, for short, we call the Trolley.