Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-11
AROUND THE STATE,
ITEMS GATHERED HERE AND THERE
FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

| A Piece of Pottery of Colonial Days
The House of Correction Makes A
! Record-A New Law for Mixed Grain.
DR.. o. L. Watson of Montpelier has
found remarkable and rare species of
worm. 1t is fully four inches long, as
large as mans finger, and is evidently
gifted with hind sight as to all appear
ances it has an eye at the end opposite
its head. No one to whom the doctor
has shown this creature can locate 1t in
the worm kingdom, or give it name.
He is undecided whether to place it
among Prof. Perkins collection in the
cabinet at the state house or put 1t on
exhibition at the city liquor agency as a
warning to those inclined to an excess in
the use of liquor even to the point when
they are sometimes 'seein' things at
night"
Alderman Kent of Montpelier is the
possessor of piece of pottery, which,
though the age is uncertain, must have
been manufactured in colonial days.
Mr.. Kent found the relic in the ditch in
ward six in which the new sewer pipes
are to be laid. 1t was found ten feet
below the surface of the highway below
the old corduroy road. The gilt orna-
mentation of the pottery is as fresh as
though Just taken from the oven and it
also bears upon its surface the medallion
likeness of a woman, probably that of
some celebrity of the time in which it
was manufactured.
On July l new law went into effect
whereby each sack of mixed grain sold
in this state must bear tag certifying
that it contains wheat having so much
protein and so much fiat. These cards
can only be obtained at the Vermont
agricultural experiment station and are
guarantee that the grain Is as repre-
sented, as there is a heavy penalty at
tached for selling the grain unlabeled
This Is to protect the farmer from buy
ing worthless grain for his stock.
The house of correction at Rutland
has larger number of law breakers
than is usual for this time of the year
and the proportion of tramps among this
number Is also much larger than usual
There are l55 prisoners in the institution
and an astonshingly large number of
these are tramps. The state seems to
be full of them and nine came in re-
Gently in one day, three from Montpe
lier and six from Swanton. This must
be the state record.
A remarkable case of longevity and
robust health is that of Israel Averill,
who lives at Northfield Centre. He was
% years old last April, does not know
Ixl,h lie fn ha do
In the bayfield,, doing as much work as
many younger men, and without ap-
parent fatigue. He uses no tobacco or
stimulants in any form and has always
been democrat OF the Jacksonlan type.
He lives with Henry, his son, who is ~
years old.
The destruction of the big rOundhouse
Of the Rutland railroad is at last accom-
plished and an old landmark thus
removed. 1t is said that the dome of the
roundhouse was the third largest in this
country. 1t was taken down by pulling
out the supporting timbers and brick
pillars, but it was not as spectacular an
event as the crowd which had gathered
hoped for, as it didn't collapse all at
once, the work taking nearly whole
day.
The camp at Groton pond, occupied
by Marshfield people, burned down Sun
day. The members of the party set a
bonfire in front of the camp Sunday
morning while they went out to fish.
During their absence the fire spread to
the camp, burning up everything before
it was known When the party re-
turned their camp was in ashes. They
lost a number of valuable guns, fishing
rods and all their clothing.
While repairing large barn IN Wealth
ersfield James Hatch found glass flask
on one of the stills under the barn that
perhaps was left there at the "raisin''
many years ago. On one side is a
medallion of Washington with the words
Father of his Country" over it in half
circle, and the other side has medal
lion of Gen. Taylor with the words,
"Gen. Taylor never surrenders." 1t is
quite curiosity.
The residents of Norwich are con.
siderably excited over an attempted
burglary at the house of Capt. Con
verse of the United States steamer
Montgomery. The house was entered
early in the morning. Mrs. Converse
and daughters were aroused. One OF
the daughters gave chase with revolver
and fired several shots at the man, bu
he succeeded in making his escape.
The Rutland railroad has recently
bought railroad velocipede, run by {
gasolene motor, which is intended fo
the use Of the roadmaster and bridge
master in making trips of inspection. l
can run from 10 to 20 miles an hour
and it is claimed, can run $50 mile
using only two gallons of gasolene.
The farm buildings of George Arm
J strong at Newport Centre, including hi
, house and three barns, were burned Mon
( day night. The household goods AM
r contents of the barns were destroyed
{ The loss is estimated at $4,000 and
3 partly covered by insurance.