Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-11-13
THE MEDDLER.
"T tie coat fits put it on y

The new Connecticut river bridge with
its handsome arch and shining white
paint has been an object of admiration
to many people since its completion
Its graceful outlines and symmetrical
proportions are such relief after the
hideous old hulk that formerly spanned
the river that people wonder how they
stood the old toll bridge as long as they
did. The town authorities of Brattle-
boro and Hinsdale will no doubt make
1t one Of their duties to preserve the
neat appearance of the new bridge, and
one Of the first things they ought to do
is to prevent small boys from climbing
all over the framework. scratching the
bran new paint and incidentally risking
| their own lives on several nights re-
Gently the bridge has been alive with
| youngsters "stumping" each other to
climb to the most dangerous and mac
cessible places. OF course IL they con-
tnue one of them will fall off some day
and put a damper on the aspirations of
the others, but before that time the
looks of the bridge may have been sad
ly marred. II would be much better If
the selectmen would take the matter
up at once and stop the climbing before
any OF the boys sacrifice themselves.
The custom of throwing rice at new
ly married couples has become so firm
ly established that 1t probably will
never become obsolete. There seems to
be unlimited satisfaction in showering
a silently suffering bride and mildly
protesting groom with handfuls of the
.t,r. 4,
ears and hair. II is true that the happy
pair generally take kindly to this dainty
show of affection on the part of their
friends it's become to be almost part
Of the ceremony. The objection to the
custom generally comes from the man,
who in hurry to alight from a train,
strikes car platform covered with rice,
loses his footing. and in the end saves
his hands by falling on his face. The
Meddler is not enough of radical to
favor the adjustment of the custom,
but would suggest a slight modification.
Traditions would not be trampled upon
IL faxed rice were used instead of
article and such a change
ought to be welcomed alike by the new
ly married couples. the man whose ac-
cident policy Is not large enough to re-
compense bad fan. the baggage mas
ter who has TO sweep off the platform |
and the grocer who carries the stuff In |
sealed packages.
Interest in the local license situation. |
which has been dormant for the past |
several weeks, will wake up again to- |
morrow evening when the hearings on |
the applications for new licenses will |
begin. Comparatively few opinions as
to what the commissioners ought to do
have been expressed publicly. People
are beginning to realize that the COM
mlssioners know almost as much about |
the conditions which warrant the
granting of licenses as anyone else. OBJ
Iections of one kind or another will
be raised by prohibitionists
who are opposed to the system under
my conditions. but the commissioners
nave proved themselves sufficiently ac-
luainted with the law to weigh the
natter fairly and decide for the best
interests OF all concerned petition
vas started the first OF the week by
certain Canal street residents asking
he commissioners to refuse any license
or the milestone block on the grounds
hat the signers did not wish to be
bliged to pass a saloon. To say the
east the reason for such an objection
3 selfish; in fact 1t looks almost like an
omission of weakness. Wherever a IL =
ense Is granted some unfortunate viii
ave TO pass the place. The best way to
o Is to shut your eyes and hold your
ose, II such precautions are necessary.
nd think OF the hymn which begins :
Yield not to temptation"
The Meddler. =