Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-08

uuCO III AIhOliOds
CHURCH fairs down in Massachusetts,
are enlivened by box-nailing contests by
women, which always create fun and en-
thusiasm, and brings in money.
THE State Board of Health gives the
good advice to never burn kerosene
lamps turned down low, as the fumes
from the smothered flame are believed
to help generate diphtheria germs. Burn
lamps at full power, or not at all, is
safe rule.
DIR. DEAN has decided to leave town.
He moved his family this week to Shafts
bury where he is to practice his profess
sion. The doctor has had a good prac-
tice while here and has been very sue
cessful. His many friends will regret
his Observation-Disclosures Enterprise.
THE following from the Burlington
Free Press will interest our local firemen:
preparatory to the remOdeling of the
Ethans' building for station of the
paid fire department, the spider which
was given to the Ethans by the Trojan
Hook and Ladder company of Troy, N.
Y, has been stored in the building for
merly occupied by c. B. Gray as car
riage shop"
BRER. HARRIS of the Hardwick Ga
zette revises his estimate of one of our
State quill-drivers: Under its new
management the st. Johnsbury Republi-
can is noticeably improving every week.
Its editorial column is particularly bright
and we'll edited, and if Mr.. Sault is to
blame for this, as he likely is, we will
cheerfully revise our recently expressed
opinion of his editorial ability. We ex-
plain the matter on this ground that Mr..
Sault has hitherto been trammeled by an
editor-in. chief and has not been allowed
room according to his strength"
Mrs. w. w. FOSTER Jr., formerly of
this village, now residing in Amsterdam,
N. Y, where her husband is pastor of a
Methodist church, has just finished edit
ing Sunday school singing book that is
now being prepared for the press by pub
fishers in New York. Mrs. Foster has
also been engaged to lecture to primary
teachers at Chautauqua assembly the com
ing season. Mrs. Foster has rec, ntly is
sued valuable work, the Kindergarten
of the church" which is being made use
of by nearly every religious denomina-
ton, and in which Bishop Vincent is
very much interested. Mrs. Foster is
now in Washington, where she is intro
ducing this work.
THE 2Sth annual encampment of the
Grand Army, Department of Vermont, viii!
be held in BrattleborO, January 30th and
3lst. The council of administration will
meet at the Brooks House on the even
ing of January Goth to receive creden-
tials. The members of the council are
Eff. johnson of Island Pond, j. B. Soul
ly of Burlington, Barney Cannon, jr., of
Bellows Falls, John Lombard of Ludlow,
and j. b. LOrge of Montreal. A campfire
Will NC uclu III Iho dllhOlJ IhO CNoulnS vi
January 30th, when the Commander-in
chief and other prominent Grand Army
men will speak. Barney Cannon, Jr., of
Bellows Falls, formerly of 'Brattleboro,
will probably be chosen department com
mander, as there is no one named against
him.
THE Russian thistle has come to be
one of the worst scourges of the Western
prairies. 1t was brought here in flax
seed from Russia and sown in South Da-
kota, and in one year it had done sever
al million dollars damage in this coun-
try, and now it has spread over 100000
square miles. 1t fourishes bestin prairie
countries, the wind rolling the ball
shaped plants QrOm one to six feet in di-
ameter each containing from 10000 to
2OO,O 900 seeds), with great velocity, some
times hundreds of miles, distributing the
seeds. This scourge is one of the prin-
cipal causes of hard times among the
farmers of Dakota, of which we hear so
much, the damage this year from it be-
ing estimated at scores of millions of
dollars.
SECRETARY SPEAR of the State Board
of Agriculture processes to believe that
summer boarders are the most profitable
crop now being produced in Vermont.
There is money in the summer visitor,
and the industry of catching them and
extracting the coin is decidedly profit
able one. The business too, is only in
its infancy. A rundown farm and build
ings that look picturesque" are favorite
resorts of this game, and they can be
produced to advantage in surrounding
unfit for anything else. But just the
same they appreciate modern conven
fences, we'll kept premises and well tilleC
land. Although Mr.. Spear may be right
it is well to be on the safe side and keel
things in shape for some other crop tc
fall back on. If you can't raise visitors
then try vegetables. Orwhy not both?-
Hardwick Gazette.
SATURDAY was the coolest day of thu
season. The air was clear and sharp
At 7 o'clock a. m. the thermometer a.
Shurtleff's drug store was 1Zo below zero
and at 10 o'clock the night before it wa