Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-10-03
THE MEDBnER.
"F the coat ITS put ii on"

Inc Meddler mas been requested TO
call the attention of the town and vii
lage officers to the condition of the
| fence on the south side of Church
street hill This Anticipated wooden
structure has become so dilapidated
that it is no very difficult matter to
imagine its giving way beneath the
hand of some weary pedestrian and al
lowing him to fall % or 30 feet upon
the points of row of ever waiting
bean poles. The fence in question has
been practically useless all summer
and it is high time it was replaced by
an iron railing of some stability,
1t has been several weeks now since
Brattleboro people have been enlight-
ened with any Information from the
trustees of the Thompson will fund.
This Information is generally re-
ceived by the local papers IN type writ
ten form and is given to their sub
scribers without comment or explana
ton. The Meddler does not know what
effect these epistles have upon the ma
jority of the people who read them, but
to him they convey the idea that the
trustees have nothing to say but feel
as if they ought to say something. The
fact of the matter is that these trustees
ought to have something to say and
that something ought to be in definite
form by this time. Almost year has
passed since 1.-The Hemlocks" became
the property of the trustees and the
hospital seems to be no nearer than
ever. While the Meddler would in no
way underrate the good work which is
being done by the Thompson fund
nurses and the associated charities, no
one will disagree with him in the opin
ion that the trustees themselves are
dead slow. With matters as they are
it would almost seem the best plan to
take the advice of the Catholic Union
minstrels and open hospital in
Walle Horizons block.
But with no hospital on their hands
this winter the trustees will not have
to rack their brains over the problem
which is being wrestled with by al
most everybody in town, viz. how to
keep warm without coal. Within the
last week the gravity of the situation
has become too apparent to be over
looked. Even those who are inclined
to smile at the worry of others through +
rose colored glasses have put away their
optimistic spectacles and are examin-
ing the situation in a true light. The
salutation is no longer good .
but have you got your coal /
in:' To the man whose coal bin is .
empty there may be some comfort in /
the thought that his neighbor is SINH
arly situated but this consolation Will
lot keep him comfortable if the
thermometer goes much below zero
Many people are planning to shut up
parts of their houses and spend the
winter in few rooms well heated
while others are hravely looking for
ward to sleeping beneath piles of blan.
lets in chambers with all heat exclud
ID. The latter method would no
ioubt prove beneficial TO many but it
would tax to the utmost the resolutions i
If the early riser. The coming winter,
With matters as they are now disposed,
will certainly see a general return to
he habits of our forefathers' time
when the fireplace was the exclusive
means of heat and the kitchen was the
living room for all during the cold
weather..
The Meddler