The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-01-30
PRINCE EDWARD IN
MONTPELIER.

In his history Of Montpelier, Dani el P.
Thompson, Vermont's Walter Scott, tells
! an Interesting story OF The visit to this
place, in the winter Of 1890 81, OF the father
OF Queen Victoria. IL vas then bat three
or four years from the time when the frat
permanent settleme mt Of the town had b. on
| effected, and Col. Jacob Davis, the pioneer,
had but recently completed and occurred
the first frame house that was reared here
in the wilderness. Mr.. Thompson's story
runs thus:
"Au event occurred during the first winter
after Colonel Davis moved into his new
house which afforded the settlers the unex-
pected opportunity OF setting their ewes on
embodied royalty in the person of Prince
Edward, on the occasion of his passage
through this part OF the country from Mon
treal TO Boston. The Prince was OF course,
the son of the bigoted and muddy brained
George III, and must have been, if all ac-
counts OF him are correct, true chip of the
old Eastwood block At all events, his say
ing and doings, as he passed through these
settlements, furnished the people with food
for many merry commentary on his as
tuteness,
Reaching here from Burlington in one
day, he and his suit put up with Colonel
Davis over night. Full OF the notion that
the Americans especially on the border
settlements Of the North, where lis coun-
trymen in the then recent war had received
several costly lessons, we're little better than
savages, and possibly still hostile in spirit,
he at first was evidently keenly apprehen.
sive OF personal danger from assassination
or poison. And TO guard against the FORM
er, he had brought along with him band
OF hfteen or twenty med attendants wv hile
to ensure his safety from the latter, he had
provided several OF what our people called
his tdsters, who must examine, taste and eat
a portion OF every meal prepared for him
before he would venture to touch 1t himself
far hnu thn,
morning by long talk with Colonel Davis,
who greatly enlightened him respecting the
intelligence and moral sense Of our people,
and who told him he was far safer here than
in the streets OF London, that he consented
to dismiss the greater part of his armed re-
tainers to return to Montreal, and he then
resumed his journey in much better spirits.
HIS next stop was at Judge Pane's of
Wllliamstown n his dinner. Here he be-
gan to be himself again and seemed dis
posed to become quite chstty and jocoss
Il suppose, Madam he said to Mrs Paine
among other of his witty efforts, that you
have never read anything but your Bible
and Psalm Book?'
go, yes, we do promptly replied Mrs.
Paine, we are all quite familiar with the
writings OF Peter Pindar.'
"Those who have read the scorcbing
satires OF Pindar ON the character and ca
pacities of the then royal family will read
lily appreciate the keenness Of the lady's re-
tort.
Still another incident has always been
related by our old people, of his Journey
through Vermont, which occurred at the
house of a shoemaker on the road, where
for some purpose, he had made short 'call.
By this time he had become 80 much like
himself at home, that he rudely stepped up
and kissed the shoemaker's wife, observ-
ing, by way of soothing her evident resent
ment, %, never mind it-you now can tel
your people you have had the honor OF be-
ing kissed by British Prince
40, never mind exclaimed the incensed
husband, as he unceremoniously sent the
royal puppy from the house by kick in
the rear--'O, never mind, sir, you can
now go home and tell your people you ha 70
had the honor OF being kicked out of doors
by an American cobbler'"