The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-09-24
A GOOD STATE TO COME TO.

Some one at someti me in the more
or less distant past expressed the
sentiment that Vermont was a good
State to go away from and the saying
has never been forgotten. The re.
mark was probably thoughtless, as it
was certainly meaningless, but never
theless it has hung over the State like
a pail for long time and it's effect
has been dire and dismal. 1t was a
little thing to say but it has been
echoed and re-echoed until it has be-
come part of the gospel of many
Vermonter who has acted upon his be-
lief and gone, and of many another,
also, who has staid at home and spent
his years in think ing what he might
have done somewhere else, to the end
that he failed completely to do any
thing anywhere.
This spirit of dissatisfaction with
Vermont has stood beside many a
cradle in the old State and whispered
to this effect, What bright boy he
he only had the opportunity, or in
other words, 'if he could only leave
Vermont. - This same spirit has
stood at the grave. too, and told the
mournful tale of what might have
been. Indeed it has been sounded up
and down the Green Mountains so
long and Justify that the Vermont
boy of the last four generations, who
was contented to spend his life in his
native State was one of the rarest
beings to be found anywhere. But
this is threadbare story AMI it is un.
necessary to tell it except that itmay
be contrasted with another phase Of
Vermont life which has not been
talked about so freely, but which is
all important just the same. By this
is meant that while a good many Yer
monters, bright and otherwise, go to
other States, of late years, a good
many bright men from other States
have been coming to Vermont to fill
their places.
No, these are not summer resi-
dents or city tired men looking for
abandoned farms with old colonial
houses i'll good repair, and trout
brooks that always yield ample re =
ward to the fishermen; rather they are
men who know how to direct modern
industries of various kinds, who can
build and manage railroads, harness
streams and seud power along the
wires to awakening cities and towns,
manage great financial institutions.
lift factories out of the Vermont way
and put them in keeping with fac.
tories elsewhere. These are the sort
of men that have been coming to Yer
mont in generous numbers of late, and
they are here to stay
1t may not have occurred to Yer
monters generally that many of the
most progressive institutions of Yer
mont today are under the guiding eye
Of men who have come from other
States or other countries, but such is
the truth and a little thought ON the
subject will convince one Of the facg
This will mean much for Vermont
in the future, and already it is posi-
BILE to see where its effect has been
beneficial. 1t is teaching young Yer
monters the lesson, that it is not W Use
to walk blindly over good opportu-
mites at home to search for doubtful
ones elsewhere. The boys of the
State are coming more and more into
contact with these men who have
come to the State with a purpose,
who battle with difficulties and win,
who are willing to work night and
day with an earnest, ceaseless, aotiv-
ity to surmount obstacles and reach
the goal of success The example of
these men is slowly but surely per-
meating a not inconsiderable part OF
the life of the State, the rising gen.
Grafton see them and see what they
are accomplishing, and when a young
man once truly catches this spirit, he
knows that Vermont is and will be
what its inhabitants make it. Then
thousand croakers may whine the
old story of Il good State to go
from" but that boy knows it is also
good State to stay in, and he will
stay. So let the builders of industry
come to Vermont, and let them teach
the youth of the State that success
can be achieved here the same as else
where if it is sought Alright. That is
the spirit Vermont needs and every
means that may inculcate it should be
heartily welcomed.
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