St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-10-23
"POOR OLD PEACHAM."

Correspondence Of the CALIFORNIAN
Years ago, when people spoke Of
Peachafn it was with respect. Why now
do they say Poor Old Peacham ?"
l have much interest in that little
town among the hills. l spent my girl
hood there and | feel much the same when
Ihear people speak of Poor Old Peach
am" as | should have done had | heard
my father or mother spoken Of sighting
ly. love every thought and memory
that the name Peacham brings up, with
all my heart. And because cannot bear
to hear people speak of it as they would
of an old worn.out horse that has seen
better days, am going to try to tell
what's the matter.
A hundred years ago if you had gone
to the top of one of the many high hills
about the town, you would have seen
here and there clearing and then fol.
lowing a path marked by blazed trees
you would have found log houses and
perhaps some sturdy enthusiast clearing
patch for next years crop of corn and
wheat. Now ask him how he expects to
build up prosperous town, out OF this
wilderness and he will straighten up and
throw back his head and shoulders and
tell you, schools, churches and law
Good schools will bring people here who
have families to educate, churches will
exert their influence for good. And if we
respect the law, it will protect us. And
the town grew and prospered.
They were arseeing men, those old
pioneers, and men of good judgment
They did not whine over their taxes, but
paid them cheertul'y and then went to
the bottom Of their pockets and paid
more and still more until they had the
best schools in the county, prosperous
churches and law-abiding community
What makes the town now of so much
less account?
When go there l see those dear ole
hills, with all their wonderful lights anC
shadows just the same. The clearings
are now well titled farms with cosey
often elegant homesteads and overflow
ing barns, supporting contented and in
tellgent families,
Why should it not be spoken of wit
respect as Of old?
1t is because, these children and granC
children, of the old pioneers, have lorgo
ten the lessons they taught. Althoug
education at the present time is conside
, ed OF far more Importance than it was
the old days, when school improv
ments are mentioned they clutch the
pockets with both hands and whir
, Taxes" When improved roads al
suggested they whine Taxes" The
gather at the stores and grumble
concert Taxes" have heard that II
honorable decendents of those Law
: abiding old citizens deliberately voted
e townmeeting to ignore law of the stat
!. because it added a lew cents to the
school taxes.
Now as long as the necessity for kee
u ing up good schools is ignored poop
If who have families to educate will mo,
out OF town for that purpose and the
will be abandoned farms, closed scho
buildings and general decay and IL
e town will deserve the contemptuo,
If epithet OF Poor Old Peacham."
But let the citizens OF the town on
wake up to the fact that, it has been at
always will be, only her educational a
vantage that make the town honor,
is and respected, there will be no mo
Poor Old Peacham," but Peacham
a town to be proud Of, for Peacham peoI
lie do not shirk responsibilities when tn
n are convinced that the responsibility
e. are theirs. That is why l am alwa
y proud to subscribe myself
1t AN OLD PFACHAMITF