St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-04-23
SUGAR PARTY AWAYFROM HOnE.
How the Washington VermOnters CeIe-
brnted the Season.


Wednesday evening, April 10th, fount
the Vermonters of Washington and theil
friends out in full force to attend tn,
annual maple sugar party of the Yer
mont State Association, at the Nationa
Rifles Armory. The large hall afforded
an excellent place for a social time, ant
allowed all to be presented to the con
gressional delegation, while an orchestra
discoursed lively music.
At nine p. m. the company formed in
line and proceeded to the large dining
hall, where tables running the length Of
the room were soon filled by the 375
guests. The menu program handsomely
mounted in green informed us not only
what we might enjoy but where the ar.
ticles came from; Maple sugar from
Bennington Co., waxed on ice, orgrained
style la Verde Mont; pickles, London.
derry make; nut cakes of Essex Junction
export; biscuit petit, Green Mountain,
with Winooski butter; cream cheese, OF.
ter Creek Valley best la sage; "spruce
gum and beechnuts may be ordered ad
libitum." The sugar was pronounced
to be of the best kind, unusually good.
Next followed the toasts. The presi,
dent quoted verse from SAKE, stating
the four things for which Vermont was
famous:
THE first are strong, the last are fleet,
The second and third exceeding sweet
And all are uncommonly hard to beat"
The first toast, vermont men, loval
and strong, and power in the councils
OF our natiou," was responded to by
Senator Proctor, as Congressman d. !.
Foster was absent. He spoke of Yer.
mont boys, their advantages for educa-
ton, healthy environment in the noun
tains, coming close to the heart of
nature, giving them a love OF freedom,
and making them thoughtful and re-
f1ective; gradually developing into prac-
tical business men, good agricuturists,
worthy citizens, and generally an honor
to the state.
THE women of our state, the help.
meet OF man" was the theme for Hon.
Charles A. Prouty to enlarge upon He
introduced an element of fun by saving
he did not know why he was selected to
speak on that subject, unless because
their hired girl had taken French leave
and he had been obliged to assist in the
homework. His anecdotes brought forth
ripples of laughter and he closed with a
tribute to women, for be declared there
could not have been so many fine men if
there had not been so many noble
mothers.
Congressman Haskins was asked to
speak about Vermont Horses and Maple
Sugar; essential to the happiness of our
people" He thought he was not an au-
thority upon horses, for be had never
owned one of the blooded horses, but
was well acquainted with the sugar. He
felt Senator Proctor had been too modest
IN referring to Vermont statesmen; their
record IN the past has been a remarkable
one, for he had never known of one who
had ever lett congress with a stain upon
his reputation.
The last toast was "Old Home Week.
the JOY OF all Vermonters abroad, and the
pleasure of the old folks at home" SEN
ator Dillingham; responded most grace.
fully and fehcitously; its observance was
tried as an experiment last year, with
such great success that all, old and
young, urged that it should become an
annual affair hereafter. He referred to
the pleasant reunions in towns and coun-
ties, and he pictured the Homecoming Of
the sons and daughters OF Vermont to
the Green Mountain State; the happiness
it brought to the aged parents, and
grOwn.up brothers and sisters, the meet
ting of old schoolmates and comrades.
separated perhaps for years, once more
reunited and made yonng again. He
closed with tribute to the grand old
state.
The following are the officers of the
association: Honorary presidents-Hon.
Redheld Proctor, U. S. S.; Hon. William
P. Dillingham;, u S. S.; Hon. Kittredge
Haskins, NJ. c.; Hon. David J. Foster.
M. c.; Judge Edward F. Bingham, Hon
Leslie B. Shaw, and Hon. Charles H.
Darling.
Officers: Maj Edward R. Campbell
president; Charles f Fairman, first vice
president; Hosea B. Mouton, second vice