The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-11
Vermont Fish and Game League.

AddressnTHe AfsaIr a3 Great a s9soess op
tailed Story OF The Day.
Two special cars were attached to the
train for Burlington last Friday morning, to
carry the delegation from Montpelier and
vicinity who were to attend the midsummer
meeting OF the Vermont Fish and Game
League, held on the spacious grounds OF |
Lieut-Gov. N. w. Fiske at Isle LaMotte. |
This interesting event. once postponed had |
been long anticipated and the weather last |
Friday was all that could be desired. The
announcement that President Mckinley
would attend this meeting and was expected
to speak, made it by far the most important
meeting OF the League ever held in Yer
mont
On the arrival of the train at Burlington,
shortly after noon, the Reindeer was found
moored at the wharf, loaded with five
hundred gentlemen from all parts of the
State who were making the island home OF
Lieut.-Gov Fisk their Mecca on that day.
The politicians, the "old rounders," the
young men and the newspaper men were
out in force and the Reindeer carried rep
resentative party Of Vermonters.
One OF the cardinal principles Of the Yer
mont Fish and Game League is that 1t shall
be non-sectarian and non-political and its
members endeavor to thus keep it, but with
such representative party of men on board,
politics could not be entirely tabooed. 1t Is
well remembered fact that the boom for
w. W. StickDey for governor and n. W.
Fisk for lieutenant governor was born dur
ing the midsummer trip OF the members OF
| the League and their friends to Isle La
| Motto two years ago. and last Friday the
name of Col e. G. Smith Of st. Adams for
| the next governor Of Vermont was discussed
with an enthusiasm that was surprising to
some. 1t is safe to say that Col Smiths
| boom acquired growth on that day that
will undoubtedly keep it alive and flourish
ing thr 1ugh the cold winter months that are
| ahead OF it.
The party arrived at Isle LaMotte shortly
after three o'clock. The harbor presented
a gay appearance. Many Of the yachts
| lying there were artist cally trimmed with
flags and bunting, and an English steam
yacht from Montreal loaded with gay
| party OF ladies and gentlemen, lay to, while
| the President was on the island, and fired
national salute in his honor upon his de-
parture.
The Presidential party left Plattsburgh on
the steamer I" Maquam, in time to arrive at
| the island about one o'clock. They were
met at the dock by Lieutenant-Governo
Fisk and breakfast was served Immediately
upon their arrival. There were in the
party beside Mr.. Mckinley, Secretary AL
ger, Senator Proctor, Governor Grout, Ex-
Governors Page and Mansur, Hon. Smith
M. Weed, Private Secretary Porter, Assist
ant Secretary Pruden, Miss Proctor and
Mrs. +. ID. Proctor. The bill OF fare in
cluded trout from Darling's pond in Groton,
doughnuts made by Mrs. Fisk and pyra-
| lulu vi Cu66So IOT WDlCu bu6 ItSl-
dent expressed special liking.
The ladies of Isle La Motto did them
selves proud and were congratulated on
every hand on the splendid dinner they
served. The Ladies' Aid Society Of the
Methodist church of Isle La Motto, of which
Mrs. Fisk is president had the affair in
charge. When 1t is remembered that there
are only five hundred people on the island,
and that on this occasion they had prepared
food for and served nearly one thousand
hungry men, it can be seen that the under
taking was OF no little magnitude.
The dinner included chicken pie, escal-
loped potatoes, cold meats, ice-cream, cake
and coffee 1t was promptly served by the
ladies Of the island, old and young, and
more than twelve basketsful" of frag-
ments remained after every one was salts
fed The dinner was served under an i'm
mense tent and by actual count seven hun
dred and sixty-fve men were seated at the
tables.
When cigars had been reached President
Titcomb raped for order and a brief bust
ness meeting of the league was held al
which one hundred and six new members
were admitted. President Mckinley sat al
the right of President Titcomb, then came
Governor Grout, Secretary Alger, Secretary
Governor Fisk, T. f. Conway of Plsttsburg
General ]. G. Mccullough, Ex-Governor
Page, x.Lieutenant- Governor Mansur, Ma
ior Pruden, and Fish Commissioner FL. W
Bailey. At Mr.. Titcomb's left sat #. l.
Greene of St. Adams, the toast-master Of
Circuit, Ex-Governor Woodbury., Hon. S. M
, Weed of Plattsburg, Professor d. Y. Com
stock Of St. Johnsbury. Congressman Foott
Of Port Henry, Congressman Foss o
!, Chicago Colonel Z. G. Smith of st. Adams
p. W. Clement Of Rutland, and Elk
Lieutenant-Governor Stranahan. There wa
also large number Of the prominent mel
of the State in the company.
After the business meeting President Tit
comb introduced Frank L. Greene of the st
Adams Messenger as the toastmaster OF TIN
afternoon. Mr.. Greene met the expecta
tions OF his friends on this occasion and 81
we'll did he fill the position that it over
flowed for the next two hours with wit ap
illusions and pat stories that kept the audi
ence in roar. President Mckinley seemed
to be especially impressed with and inter
ested in the POSTMASTER and it was refresh
ing and enjoyable to watch him as he sa
there, relieved for the time of any otficia
responsibility. or care, quietly putting hi
cigar and applaudinag the S bright hits % %,
was present and sang To Thee, oh Coun
try " with fine effect. Thomas f. Conwa,
OF Plattsburg was first introduced and spok,
for the Empire State. Mr.. Conway sale
that he might with propriety speak Of thu
patriotism of the sons Of Vermont. He
could not we'll speak on educational topic
because it was one of the birthrights O
Vernonters to have good il not an excel
lent education He said that the people O
New York wished to congratulate the leagu,
on the work it had done and was doing fol
the preservation of fish in Lake Champlain
They felt an interest in the work and h,
was sure he spoke for them in extending
thanks for the invitation to pay respects t.
their excellencies, the President of thu
United States and the Governor of Yer
mont He hoped the people Of his State
might be able to reciprocate by inviting tn,
members of the league to participate in
similar gathering on the New York shore
The next speaker was Prof. d. Y. Com
stock principal of St. Johnsbury Academy
Professor Comstock said that when Presi
dent Titcomb asked him to make few re
marks at this dinner he expected an audi
ence of possibly fifty, now, in facing this
large assemblage he felt like a man who
stood before one of the cathedrals in the ole
world and saw over the main entrance the
inscription This is the gate of heaven
Underneath were the words, "Pease &c
4 around to the side door" He was afraid
his speech would remind his hearers of the
criticism an old Scotchman made on his
clergymen's sermon. He told the clergy
man that it was all right except for three
things First you read it; second you
did not read 1t WE'LL third, it was not worth
reading at ALL He said his speech might