The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-20
CHATS AND SKETCHES
About Town and Elsewhere.

Within but little more than fifteen
years Montpelier has wiped out almost
all it's old landmarks. Think of the old
Caldwell house; the arch at Gleason's
corner; the Berlin bridge; the WATCH
MAN building which the Government
building replaced; George Scribner's
tin OPP has even marched across the
street 10 this progressive era and Signor
Thomassi now holds his esoteric Sc
ances upon Its former site. The origi
nal Langdon building is already almost
transformed into one of striking beauty
and commodiousness. The Page and
Shepard homes have become the peo-
plies. The Union house, the Montpelier
house and the now Adams house have
changed hands, grasped hands and
grand-promenaded around until, doubt.
less, the weary drummer gropes in the
maze. And while we are thinking
about these things let's not forget the
cd stone fountain which used to stand
at the head of State street. This old
fellow struggled as hard as a Transvaal
Dutchman to hold his own. He shifted
his coat and form, but withal he
couldn't help stopping over. He, too,
had to move and now prankles away in
his broad basin in front of Bethany
We wish he had little more pride. A
beautiful fountain should precede every
other public adornment of our city, and
when it comes let's have one basin
down low enough for the smaller ami
mails to drink from.
~.
Probably the most disturbing ques
ton before the world today is: When
will the present century end? Histo-
rians, editors, mathematicians, actuar-
les, hotel clerks, niggers and children
are rending facts, fostering falAcies,
spouting sophistries and generally run
ming amucK. 1t becomes our painful
duty to step into the midst of this mael-
strom of folly, run the finger of wis
dom around Its rim the other WAY and
Calm its turbulence. There was no
year one until one year had elapsed.
There will be no year 1900 until 1900
years have elapsed. We are absolutely
obliged to look backward at Time. AT
the end of this year only 1899 years will
have passed since the Christian era.
Therefore one year more, 1900, will be
needed TO complete the nine teenth CEN
fury. We wonder if the crsnks of the
Tirst century ever went home from the
Coliseum early enough to worry about
the close of that period.
-.
1t was about fifteen years ago. Some
kind of convention was in session at
the Golden Fleece and that great hall
was filled. Stirring speeches had been
delivered, rOuslng cheers had been
-lven, songs were sung and bands
played. l think it was Grand Army
reunion for, as l remember, member
followed member with stories and
recollections. Along about the last,
two white haired old men stepped
toward the center of the platform-one
tall and stalwart, the other slight--and
each putting an arm around the other,
and cIasping hands, sang with an i'm
pressive energy that hid all the quav-
erings of their old voices and thrilled
he multitude, the song of Aud Lang
Syne. The men were Moses Cheney
and E. p. Walton.
-.
A contemporary tells how Bill DAILY
Sloane and many other jockeys, wai
one day getting an old horse in form
by soaking his feet in boiling watel
when tender-hearted man came along
and threatened to have him arrested
tor cruelty.
"Why that water amt hot" sale
DAILY. ~ can put my own foot in it.
"l'll bet you $40 you can't" says lh
other.
After little thought the old gaffe
, said: l won't bet $40 but I'll bet s
that l can keep my foot in there tw
, minutes" The stranger did not know
that DAILY had wooden leg and too
the wager. After he had gone the sta
: BILE boys guyed the old man about hi
lack of nerve when he could have mad
) 800 just as easily as So.
"Now you boys hush up" command
ed Bill. 81 tell you nothing is cine
at the track. Supposin' I'd put in tn
wrong footl"
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A little girl in England was aske
out to tea. On her return. her mothe