Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-21
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ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
There was no mlstaklng popular sen.
tiinent on the question of the ice bill,
which has just passed the legislature
and become law. The sentiment
WAS so completely In one direction that
there was not even an attempt to de-
bate the question. Wherever there
was any discussion In THAT connection
1t seemed to take the form of Gues-
ton whether the legislature would or
would not pay attention to the pam
popular demand for the sale or hve-
cent ice. IF an ice company can re-
fuse" said the advocates OF the Dill
(nnder agreement with all the other
ice companies in city), to sell Ice III
reasonably small quantities. then bak-
ers may refuse to sell hve-ccnt leaves
of bread or butchers decline to sell
less than a dollars worth of meat to
any customer. II the public can he
forced to submit to eXactiOns in one
branch Of trade, the movement will
not stop there. Evidently majority
OF legislators took this point of view.
Less than ten years ago the richest
man just across the river in Somcr-
vile, worth Mt least $4,000, 900, and one
of the richest men In Boston was
Charles II. North. Today he Is a
vegetable peddlcr. From the windows
of the room he occupies he can see the
large pork packing establishment with
his name in great letters. In striking
contrast his name appears in small
letters OH the side Of his peddler's
cart, and after them the word
agent" He still hopes to regain his
lost fortune, ant, although cut off
from family and friends. is remark
ably cheerful and energetic, showing
the same energy which characterized
him when, as a young man, he came
from Vermont to Boston and laid the
foundation of the fortune which
through bad investment has been 50
quickly swept away. If one had
known the man In his prime one could
hardly believe in this strange vicissi.
tude of fortune.
You will recall the case Of Francis
Truth, the selfstyled "divine healer"
who swindled people all over the
Union until he was brought to book
by the postal authorities. His case
has been stringing along until this
week, when he was allowed to plead
guilty to five counts. and to be re-
leased on the payment Of $500. Two
indictments were placed OH file, and
1t was ordered that if in future he
shall violate the United States postal
laws, these shall be brought forward
and sentence Of Imprisonment imposed
on him. The contents of seventeen
full bags of Truths mail, now in the
possession Of the post Office inspector.
and estimated to contain about $4,000
in money. will be returned to the send
ers. Perhaps some of my readers are
among those who will receive divi-
dend.
If you ever visited the common ten
years ago and more you will recall the
preternaturally ugly fountain near the
West street entrance. 1t was given by
DIR. H. G. Cogswell of San Francisco,
the founder of Il polytechnic college in
that city, He gave drinking fountains
TO many cities throughout the union,
and was an ardent prOhibitionist and
we'll known as Il philanthropiSt. Ros-
toms aesthetic taste was 50 outraged
tlMt the fountain was finally removed
about ten years ago and stored. This
week a report was prottered to the city
council asking that the fountain be
returned to DR.. CoggSwell. and while
the matter was being considered the
news came Of the Mtter's death. 1t
was a curious coincidence.
The news here Of the death Of Mrs.
Winnie Perrin. wife of Rev. DR. G. l..
Perrin. pastor Of the Every Day
Church, cast a gloom over many fami-
lies. Mrs. Perrin died suddenly Of
heart failure while on her way, with
her husband and a party of 40, to At
lauta, Ga, to attend the National COIL
vention Of the Y. r. :. G. l.. Mrs.
Perrin was an active church worker,
and had always been prime favorte
in this locality since DR.. Perrin first
came TO the Every Day Church. then
the Universalist church, in 1882. In
1890 he was sent to Japan. and she
accompanied him. She spent four
years there. coming back with him In
1884 to the Every Day Church.
1t Is high praise in these days Of Off
cial corruption that comes to certain
of Bostons officials by the way Of
Chicago. l have told you before OF
the most prominent feature of our sub
way here-that it was built way in
side the appropriation. Chicago is agi-
tating the subject of a subway. and
the News Of that City says: "BOston
takes special pride in the fact that its
great urban Improvement from first
to last was handled in II business way
and without the shadow Of II scandal
upon It, Every dollar was honestly
accounted for and accomplished its L.
gitimate work"
How quickly the Boston gamin
"tumbles" to u situation was shown
this week when 1O-year old speci
men of humanity knocked his compan-
lon Of the same age into the middle Of
the dusty street. or course, the vic
tim yelled, and candor also compels
the statement that he swore blue
streak. but lOycar-Old was equal to
1t. Come on, yer boxer! Stop yer
yawp. Ill learn yer t say dem tings."
Accident insurance companies do
more business when times are hard
than they do when every one Is pros
porous" says an III >urance man. 1.-The
workingman thinks Le should insure
his family against danger when he Is
out of work. He does not think OF the