The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-08-18
No Secondhand Air.

Some one, a recent visitor in this
village, has in the Milford, Mass, Ga.
zette of Aug. IA, an interesting letter
describing the view from the writer's
window, and some reflections occasion
ed by it. Below are extracts from the
| letter:
How beautiful are the little Villages on
the old-time flood plains of the countless
rivers and riverlets of this state of green
mountains Go where You please, you
will find these villages, all alike and yet
different, nesting among the hills from
whose springy nights descend in pipes
the clearest and sweetest waters to give
life to man and beast to lawn and gar
den. Far across the valley rise the foot
hills, one above the other, and in turn
reaching little higher for night cap
of clouds, until at last one caps itself
and disappears in the heavens.
No need Of breathing secondhand air
here. From forests primeval it sweeps
down and into my room. Perhaps the
vigor of the atmosphere has inspired the
natives to greater eXertion. Perhaps
the play of shadows on the mountain
sides, as the clouds drift by the sun,
awakenS the imaginative faculties. AT
all events | am told that they are unusu-
ally progressive and well informed, and
that the village is noted for its pretty
rates the two statements.
Here, too, the man of wealth has made
himself felt. A beautiful library build
ing and modern four-room school
building, both in brick with stone trim
mings, mark his liberality, and bear the
name of Woods. What is more unusual
is the fact that he was not native of the
town. Just south of me stands the birth
place of Captain Clark of the Oregon.
OF course the town is quite proud of this.
There is one very fortunate matter.
There are only two churches, two we'll
to'do societies, instead of bakers dozen
to half live. There are miles of concrete
and electric lights, the latter made by
the Waits river-while it didn't wait-all
signs of progress.
Moreover, when some time ago one
church outgrew it's building, the ladies
of the village organized, got possession
of the old building, made village hall
mot a town hall) of it at considerable ex-
pense, and now have a delightful place
for dramatic and musical entertainments
and fairs. When the ladies take matters
in hand they move, and the aesthetic side
is not forgotten, and SO the hall is a de-
light to the town.
Every town has its local characters"
One of the early settlers was Benoni
Wright, for whom a mountain is named
Here it was in the Devils Den that Beno-
nj tried to beat the record of the prophets
by fasting for forty days You will OBJ
serve, however, that in his belt, he had
punched AZ holes With the intent OF taking
up one each day. Hence we may infer
that he intended to make new record of
two days to his glory. Unfortunately his
two were at the beginning instead of at
the other end of the belt; for his appetite
got the better of his beard, his belt, and
his fanaticism, and he was detected
seeking food far away" from his den.
Little events often determine a name.
Captain Waite had gone north to whip
the st. Francis Indians. He did so; but
was obliged to hasten back because of
lack of food. North of Bradford the band
separated as in their desperate condition
they could not live in such numbers up
on the country. Just here the captains
companions shot deer, satisfied their
hunger, reserved part for future needs
fastened to the limbs of one or more very
noticeable trees the remainder, and then
the captain cut with his knife WAITE on
the bark so that his friends, should they
come that way, would understand the
seeming miracle. Therefore the very ap-
propriate name for Waits river and
Waitsville hose house.