Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-09-03

have here pleaded. In closing he said:
s.Mr. Chairman, voice the sentiment Of
this assembly OF people in saying that 1t
ia great pleasure to be here on this In
teresting occasion and an honor to Ue thus
invited and thus welcomed"
Miss Bessie Bell Collier of Boston, the
child yiolinist, then favored the audience
with solo, exhibiting in her control OF
the violin genius that may well be called
marvellous. The applause following her
selection was something deafening and
she was compelled to respond.
To ex Governor Roswell Farnham had
been asslg ned the task OF preparing the
principal historical address OF the occa-
sion. This selection was the most appro-
pirate one that could have been made,
n It only on account of Gov. Farnham's
well.known literary ability but because OF
his familiarity with the matter In hand.
No man in Orange county has made more
valuable contributions to the department
OF county history, legal and otherwise,
than has Gov. Farnham. Selecting as the
title of his address "The Early Courts of
Orange County," he performed the duty
assigned him with rare good taste and
skill. After briefly recurring to the Pc
riod OF centennial observances, which, be-
tended along down toward the close OF the
century, he took up, In order, the estab-
lishment OF Orange county from the old
county of Gloucester and its subsequent
contraction to substantially the present
limits, through the setting off of Caledonia
and Orleans counties; the determination
of the shire town and the location OF the
first building used for courts therein ;and,
finally, the character and achievements oil
the early members OF the bench and bar.
The paper, replete with valuable histori-
cal data, and yet framed in simple, direct
diction, held the close attention OF the
audience to the end and was accorded
hearty and enthusiastic applause. No abb
stract OF Gov. Farnham's paper can do 1T
Justice and therefore none is attempted.
The next mum Der on the program was a
violin, piano and vocal trio by Homer A..
Norris, entitled "Protestations.n The
artists were Misses Bertha, Julie and
Pauline Blakely. These young ladies are
the daughters OF Mr.. David Blakely OF
New York, who, we understand, is man.
ager of the celebrated Sousa's band. The
Misses Bakely are accomplished musi-
clans, possessing, in addition to line nat
ural abilities in this direction, the results
of extended musical study in France and
| Germany. The trio was received with
sponded TO the encore.
The feature OF the program that was
| looked forward to with the greatest inter-
est was, perhaps, the personal Reminis-
cences of Halfa Century Ago" by Hon.
| Matthew Hale OF Albany, n, Y. Mr.. Hale
was born in Chelsea in 1929 and Is the
Youngest son of the late Harry Hale, as
well as the only surviving member OF the
| family. No man mas been more proml-
nsnty identified with the history OF Chel-
sea or with the Orange county courts than
was Harry Hale, and this son, now one OF
the leading lawyers OF New YORK, was APP
propriately selected to contribute to the
| literary program OF the occasion. Until
within a few days, Mr. Hale fully expected
to be present, and he looked forward to
the occasion with much interest and
PLEASURE. But a sudden attack OF illness
prevented his attendance and forced him
| to remain at the.Isle OF Shoals, where he
| is spending the summer.
Much as was the regret OF the people oil
the county at Mr.. Hale's absence, II was
partially, though far from fully, miti-
gated by his calling in stenographer as
soon as he found out that he could not be
present, and debating the recollectiont
which 1t was his intention to give orally
These recollections, as transcribed by the
stenographer, were read to tine assembly
by Major Charles X. Darling OF Boston, .
member OF the Massachusetts, bar, and
son OF Hon. j. X. Darling. They were Of
intense interest, and we regret that oul
space admits OF only the briefest sort OF q
notice respecting them.
Mr.. Hale began by stating that his rec
objections OF the courts OF Orange county
were all prior to 1916, and that they were
merely the recollections OF boy. III
said that the first case OF which he hac
any recollection vas the trial OF Mrs. Re
becca Peake for the murder OF her nus
band, which trial occurred at the Decem
Der term, 1885. He described some OF Thu
incidents OF the trial, which resulted in
verdict OF guilty, and the preparation;
that were made for her public execution
in Chelsea, Feb. %, 1886, and told how
she defeated the sentence OF the law b,
taking poison the day before that upor
which her execution was to take place.
He then alluded to the trial OF b. +. kel
lam OF Braintree, for murder, at the De
cember term OF 1910, which he remem
bered very we'll. Both OF these murdel
trials he said, took place in the Cong
church, the courthouse being too small 4
hold the spectators.
Then followed some very interesting
"reminiscences OF Judge Jacob Collamer
lnOmnS JOutS, ftTity v. JouSrt Jonn w
Smith, Levi B. Villas, Asa M. Dickey, A
P. Hunton, William Hebard and other
from this and other counties, who, as at
torneys, we're accustomed to attend cour
at Chelsea. Mr.. Hale then describes
briefly the Jail and courthouse OF tba
, period as he remembered them. He closet
by expressing the hope that the centen
NAL "may prove great success and tina
by 1t the old town may be awakened ant
that a career Of prosperity may lie befor
1t, so that on the next centennial Their
, may be much more worth remembering
and talking about"
When the applause following the read
ling OF Mr.. Hale's letter had subsidized, tn
: chairman presented Miss Edith Bruc
Jones OF Bradford, who recited in
charming manner humorous selection
entitled nAt the Photographers" whic
was received with so much favor tina
another selection was demanded, {
which demand Miss Jones graciously &C
coded, reciting "Fowl Hits" with grea
effect. Miss Jones is graduate OF tn
Detroit Training School OF Elocutio
.. and English Literature, and is reader O
rare promise.
Following Miss Jones' Rotations cam
violin solo by Miss leila Paulin
Blakely, Raff's "Cavatina," beautiful
i selection rendered in manner worthy 0
it and OF the artist. AS an encore number
Miss EBlakely gave the 'Serenade" by