Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-06-05
&*BY THE WAYw
We all wished we were old vets Sat
urday. But we will be some day.

Let's not be too swift IN concerning
the results, so far, of the new license
law. Give it chance. We should not,
lust now, take too seriously the fact
that more arrests have been made, that
more intoxicated persons have been
seen on the streets. Court records
show eight convictions for drunkenness
two weeks ago, only three last week,
and one this week. Who shall say that
the law is a failure, that the town is
going to the bow-wows, at this early
stage of the experiment? A temperate
mind is good thing to possess along
with other temperate things. Follow
ing half century of prohibition, :"
deception and sneaking, its not sur
prising that few weak minded men
have cut loose. The rest of us abide
in patience and charity the outwork-
ings of this new phase in our local life.
Six months hence we shall be in far
better position to judge if it be iniqui-
tous.
Bailiff Bacon takes calm view and
sizes the situation correctly. He says:
Probably for the first fortnight the
law was in operation there was more
drunkenness than before, but the po-
lice have had instructions from the
bailiffs to arrest every drunken man
they can find, and this has consider
ably cleared the atmosphere. As to
the workings of the new law, it is i'm
possible to judge fairly of its operation
until a more lengthy test has been
made That has the ring of fairness.
And Mr.. Bacon, it will be observed,
does not publicly volunteer to hold out
at arms length 165 pounds of fight
ing drunk" No observing, expe-
rienced man, who sits up after dark,
would accept the task. Chief of Po-
lice Hall says he couldn't. One may
write, in the security of ones study,
in perfect safety.
Pot-hunters, fishing with a clothes
bag or something equally alluring and
roomy, scooped Spotford lake Monday,
June l, and the worst of it is that they
were within the law and there is there
fore no legal redress. One man drove
to Keene with over 80 pounds of black
bass, tied in burlap sack He got rid
of them at the fish market, Just like
bull heads, suckers, mud-turtles.
There were four that weighed from
five to six pounds apiece. Imagine the
slaughter Sportsmen for miles about
are boiling with indignation, and Tues
day the wires were kept hot sending
word to the New Hampshire game com
missioners. At last they were located
and they replied that they would
CLOSE the lake Immediately, which
they are empowered to do. and so per
haps the devastation is not complete
The worst of it is that this raid was
made just at the spawning season, and
consequently it will take several years
to repair the damage and make up the
loss. 1t was shameful proceeding,
and it would be pleasure to print the
full names of the wholesale poachers.
They knew that by an error in an act
passed by the last legislature the bass
could be caught June l, instead of
July l, after the spawning season.
They took advantage of this mistake
and swept up everything in reach, with
both hands The fish were so tame and
numb that you could catch 'em with
shovel.
1t ought not to be necessary to eau
tion local Automobiles as to speed. |
It's matter of judgment, and in this,
as in general, good judgment is best. |
1t saves regret later. Some of the cars |
spin about at very lively rate and /
even the Vermont horse, which has
the regulation horse sense, is some
times puzzled just what to do at cor
ners. It's a wonder he doesn't Jump
out of his skin now and then. Nobody
could blame him. Another thing,
which applies to both sides--it will
make everything pleasanter if the
driver of the approaching team and the
on-coming Chauffeur understand each
other. If the driver will hold up a
hand the Chauffeur will halt
I or ought toy and then the teams may
pass without trespassing. Chaffeurs
regard this rule or the road and they
will hazard no chance of collision just
for the fun of it. Raise your hand in
if you are driving skittish
colt, and all will be simplified.
Rector Mathison of ST. Michael's
has been very delightfully."- remembered 7
oy some of his old friends in Ansonia,
Conn. where he was rector of Christ
church before coming here. During !
MS pastorate there Rev. Mr.. Mathison
vas elected an honorary member of
Fountain Hose Co. No. l. He appre- '
dated the compliment very much and !
although he didn't turn out at mid
light fires he was fully in spirit with !
he boys, if not in fact Tuesday he i
eceived from them very handsome /
title gold shield, suitably inscribed I
With the name of the organization and b
,earing the word, Honorary. " He is 1
cry proud of it, as well he may be. 4
The man who went to local doctor
or something for his liver got it, The :,
octor listened to the story, lit his pipe,
ipped back in his comfortable chair,
nd diagnosed the case on prescrip-
ion blank, as follows: o
Rx One AK G.
Some Wood
As Needed.
1t cost dollar but it was worth it. u
low the patient thinks of sueing the :,
octor, because his landlady threatens ~
, kick him out, owing to his tendency =,
, eat what's in front of him. Az
ia
The latest society in town is 1.-The W
glers." Meetings Sunday evenings,
q the curb or thereabouts, near "
nurch time. Is there, need to name al
lie president and tell the rest? 1t C
mt secret society. Would that it in
araf Ryrop ran nm NON Of y,,rch tho