Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-01-31

Boston TO enjoy the SNORT vacation Wnlcn
the closing OF E. A. Thomas store for re-
pairs will allow her to take. Before return
ing, she will visit Mrs. Ernest Burridge
in Somerville.
The grip, masquerading this year under
the title OF the prevailing distemper, is
keeping the doctors comparatively busy.
Almost every family has stricken mem
Der or two, whose nurses are at times con-
WINGED that all the temper OF which their
fussy charges seem possessed is the one
distinguished by the prefix dis. A severe
sickness does not require half the grace in
order to be patiently borne that the grip
demands Of its victim, who, il he be a
man, is sure that his last hour has come
and is about as easy to manage as an all.
ing mule.
The social stagnation this winter is ex-
citing general comment. A tea party
seems fairly giddy in the present state OF
dizziness; while church sociable quite
throws the population into futter. Con-
cert troupes, lecturers, and even the dime
shows have passed us by, and as far as the
"pomps and vanities of this wicked
worldn are concerned, the village Of West
Randolph reminds one OF peaceful clois-
ter. Business life, on the contrary, is
fresh and vigorous, and when people are
making money, they do not require so
much in the way OF amusement.
The travelling fraternity so far have not
allowed any little thing like the new
tramp law to discourage its members in
their practical study OF the geography of
Vermont land these travel stained tourists
continue to be fully as numerous as ever
great many of them claim to be printers
and by their flow of language, their fund
of general information and anxiety to i'm
part the same, as well as by their eagerness
to scan the state exchanges and their evil
dent fondness for telling strange and Gu
rious yarns about the old Adams hand
press, they would make it seem highly
probable that they may sometime have
occupied editorial chairs and been brought
to their present impecunious condition
by not conducting their enterprising
journals on the pay in-advance system.
Occasionally one OF them closely resem-
bles rather tottlish spirit lamp, and
such one, it is greatly to be feared, was
not, before his fall, in the habit of run
ming a plate matter temperance column
on an inside page.
Saturday morning, wind and snow
storm began to rage nightly and the
feathery flakes were soon piled high in
picturesque drifts. The heavy roller,
drawn by six horses, rendered the roads
passable, and by the time the snow plows
had made the rounds Of the town, the
wind abated and neighborly SITUATIONS
woS'e exchanged at the mouth OF the tun-
nels shoveled from front doors to the
road. The morning trains were not great
ly delayed by the storm but the afternoon
express was about fifty minutes late and
the mail train did not reach here until
after four O'Clock. Ii this fall of snow will
only fill up the holes in the road made by
the brakes on heavy teams, it will be an
excellent thing. In some towns you see,
at the top OF hills, notices posted, request
ing teamsters using brakes to keep to one
side of the road; so that the other side
may remain smooth and afford good
sIeighing for the lighter cutters. Before
the storm, the South Main street hill had
been worn by the brakes until ii looked
like a sandy highway that had been wash
ed by spring freshet, and was about as
easy thing to ride over as row OF rail-
road ties.
Last Thursday night, there was bril-
liant gathering in Dubois q Gays hall on
the occasion OF the Firemen's ball. Fifty
couples joined in the grand march, which
was led by Mr.. Frank p. Merrill OF Bos-
ton and Miss Bertha Manpey of West
Randolph. The costumes were many OF
them strikingly pretty, and the scene was
one of life and gaiety. An unusually
large number OF spectators watched with
pleasure the evolutions Of the graceful
dancers, whose "twinkling feet' kept
tme-to the glorious music OF Gilson's or
chestra. Supper was served at the Red
Lion Inn in manner to meet the unquali-
fled approval of the most fastidious. The
handsome menus rivaled the ball cards in
appropriateness of design, while the
delicious viands ordered from them were
fonnd to be most daintily cooked and
served. There were over a hundred at
supper, not including the orchestra, and
mine hosts OF the Red Lion Inn were the
recipients Of many compliments for their
successful entertainment Of the apprecia-
tive fremen. After the banquet, dancing
was resumed with fresh vigor and contin-
ued until close upon the hour "when day
light doth appear"
Sliding on the sidewalk may be great
fun for boys, but the unhappy pedestrians
who attempt to travel over the icy path
after 1t has been worn to the smoothness
of glass by the sIeds of the youngsters,
fail to find it so amusing. While ginger
ly picking their way along, dignified per- |
sonages find it peculiarly trying to have |
their respectable heels start out on an in
dependent line of action, while the rest OF |
the body endeavors to overtake the adven-
turesome extremities by coasting down the |
ulLJ Wlluout u olSu, anu buc lIUpS VINO
are directly responsible for the whole re-
dicnlous proceeding, stand by and howl
In tiendish glee. There is some danger
this practice of sidewalk slid
ing, aside from the injury to the feelings
Of the unfortunate tumblers; for the
coasters are not always remarkably care
ful about running into people, but in
stead are more than likely to come swoop-
ing down the hill, giving the unwary
footpassenger hardly time enough, by the
display OF considerable agility, to leap
into a drift by the side OF the
road. Those sharp pointed runners would
be decidedly unpleasant things to have
strike one with full force, and an elderly
person, whose athletic days are over,
would stand good chance of being seri-
ously injured.
In an address at Minneapolis, Mimi,
some time ago, Mr.. Woolley gave this de-
scription OF his awful career: ~ walked
through the streets of New York city one
August day, starving, but was sober. 1t
Is sometimes an awful thing to be sober.
was ruined man, Goddess and hopeless,
md that is hell whether it happens to a
nan in this world or another; but l was
sober. / saw the three witches, Starya-
ion, Beggary and Crime, stirring black
broth for me ON the bleakest moor of life
that ever the fanged hounds of appetite
and remorse hunted man over; but /
vas sober. And as man with difficult
short breath, forespent with toiling.
scaped from sea to shore, turns to the
oerhous wide waste and stands at gaze,
i Inrx RI hr<a L. Il