Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-09-08
OUR GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE.

vermont is territorially one of the
smallest states in the Union, yet veri-
flying in her intellectual and moral
greatness the old saying that the best
things are put up in the smallest par
cells" says David ]. Brewer, associate
Justice of the supreme court of the
United States, in the Verm,onter ely
ing between the Connecticut river
and Lake Champlain, about 1877 miles
in length, and with width varying
from 35 to go, she has but 1922
square miles. The Green Mountains
run north and south through her bor-
ders as a sort of spinal colu mn,
from which ridges as ribs extend east
and west towards the river and
lake. Over these ribs, and in the
valley between, is poured the rich
soil, like the abundant flesh of the
we'll formed man, while brooks and
streams course as veins and arteries
in every direction. Mount Mansfield,
towards the north, lifts up the pro-
file of human face. And thus she
seems like great earth being recum-
bent through the centuries, with face
towards the heavens, and supporting
upon her ample bosom multitudes OF
her human children.
"From bill-tops and mountain sum-
mits eastward and westward stretch
visions of beauty. There may not be
the awful grandeur which arrests
attention in Switzerland and the
Rocky Mountains. One does not hold
ones breath in mingled fear and
wonder. And yet you may travel the
wide world over and see no such pic
ture of rich and quiet charm as that
which the valley of Lake Champlain
gives to one standing on the western
slopes of the Green Mountains. The
lake is itself thing of beauty. Not
a great lake as compared with Hur on
and Superior, yet 145 miles in length
and 16 miles in width at it's widest
point, and narrowing towards the
south, until it is scarcely wider than
river. Dotted all its length with
islands, many of them only large
enough for a summer cottage, yet
some towards the north, like North
Hero and Grand Isle, of considerable
size. West of it rise the lofty peaks
of the Adirondacks, grand back
ground to the picture. Its blue
waters at the foot of those peaks
bring to mind Whittier's lines on
Galilee:
"Blue sea of the hills,-in my spirit hear
Thy waters, Genesaret, chime on my ear
SITS shores, especially on the Yer
mont side, are not as abrupt and
striking as those of Lake George
The earth comes near to it's waters
gently and lovingly. AS you gaze
upon it, you do not wonder at the
story of Vermont minister, who
called to the bedside of one supposed
to be near his end, after praying fol
all the comforts and consultations ap.
propriate to such an hour and place
closed with the petition that the las
moments of the dying man might b.
as peaceful as sunset on Lax
Champlain.
ssNo one can spend summer on tn
shores of the lake or on the slopes Q
the Green Mountains, without comin
to appreciate something of tn
strong attachment which binds ever
true Vermonter to his native state
1t is like the love of the Swiss for hi
Alpine peaks and snow-girt valleys
It is love that never fades away
Go where he may on the face of til
, earth, the child of Vermont eve
turns in memory a loving gaze @
her hills and waters. 1t is true tn.
, Stephen A. Douglass, himself Vel
monter, said that it was good stat
' to be born in, if you only move
q away soon enough thereafter. II
stirring, active, ambitious statesms
evidently thought its peaceful Ii
b was not suited to his tastes al
C struggles. But to one who is n
: ever grasping for high places, al
r who loves nature in her quiet al
Y sweetest moods, there is little mo
g attractive than the Green Mounta
IT state.
o 'sThe character of her people tells
it the surroundings of their lives. He
y is not busy, busting mercant