Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-09-21
VERMONT OLD HOME WEEK.


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Governor smith Gives His Views on Such
Celebrations.
The current issue of Forbes's Vermont
err is an "old home" number, devoting
considerable space to Wimington's re-
cent celebration and the expressions of
several writers on the SUBJECT of institute
ing in this state sold home weeks"
similar to those that have proven so
successful the past summer in line and
New Hampshire. One of the latter com
munications is from Governor E G..
Smith. He says IN part:
am glad to note the splendid success
of the second celebration recently held
at Wilmington, and to know that our
friends in that town "set the pace" ten
years ago, and furnished the idea to
New Hampshire and Maine. | AIN glad
to observe also that our sister states
have adopted the plan so successfully,
and that they have shown us, as we'll as
the world, how well these celebrations
can be spread over the whole state, and
how much enjoyment and profit can be
derived from them. -TTheir good turn at
the wheel deserves another turn from US.
they having shown us Il broader way, II
is now for us to be heard from on the
subject; and proiiting by their thought,
experience and enthusiasm, to naugurate
next year an Old Home celebration here
in Vermont on lines that will surpass in
successful result whatever has gone
before.
am not sure that II is wise or profit
able to devote an entire week to the
celebration, or to spread the work
throughout every town in the state.
There would be the objection of too
great expense in the one case, and
d Illusion of enthusiasm and pl,asurab.e
profit in the other, that would defeat the
entire object, These criticisms have
been made upon similar celebrations
elsewhere. The idea should be rather
' to concentrate efforts in providing large
celebrations at one or two, and not 10
exceed three, localities about the state.
and in this way with the least aggregate
expense to secure The greatest possible
benefit.
hardly think it would be wise or
profitable to ask the legislature to
furnish an appropriation for this pur
pose II would he bad precedent. The
main celebration or celebrations should
be handled by an organization for that
purpose TO deal with the main events and
solicit the money necessary to provide
the entertainment. have no question
that on such lines as The above there
could be worked out an Old Home
.l,l,.
worthy of the state and the expectations
of those who desire something of this
character.
There are many people far away who
dwelt here long ago who would rejoice
to come back TO such gathering.
There are many here who would welcome
them again. and who would be glad to
tune up and thrum the responsive chords
of remembrance and friendship, aud
who. when separated afterwards would
by reasons of sentiment and pleasure of
the event find their pathways all the
brighter, and their bdrdens all the
easier.
Details of Porter Lake Drowning
The Nergennes Nermonter gives the
following details of the drowning IN
Porter Lake of Joseph Latham of Ferris
burg, a short account of which appeared
in last weeks REGISTER: Latham and
his bro.hcr-inlaW, j. Carpenter, were in
this city in the afternoon and started for
home about / o'clock, going directly
to the lake for the purpose of shooting
ducks. \ small round bottom boat was