Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-30
THE MEDDLER.
az he coat fits put ii en-"

Numerous stories are told at the
expense of boarding house mistresses
who nearly starve their patrons 10
death In an effort to make an honest
penny Out of the ordinary there
fore is the story the Meddler heard
recently concerning woman VINO
resorted to strategy to procure the
poultry man made his weekly visit
she told him confidentially that ten
der chickens offered SO little profit In
her line of business that she had de-
cided to buy tough ones. At her sug-
gestion the dealer separated all tough
critters" from the rest of his birds, and
when the woman was assured that
they were all picked out she purchased
what she wanted from those that
were left. If the Meddler could give
all the local poultry buyers quiet tip
on this scheme it would almost war
rant an advance in board rates, but
unfortunately with the story in print
the dealers are also likely to be wise
and an attempt at repeating the trick
might be disastrous to all parties con-
cerned
If the Vermont legislature were only
In session at the present time some
statesman could secure the everlasting
championing a bill making 1t a mis-
demeanor to whistle "Hiawatha" on
public thoroughfare or in a public
building: and If a fine of one cent were
made the penalty much would be done
toward replenishing the state Golfers
now so depleted by the hedgehog
bounty. 1t isn't because "Hiawatha'
is not a pretty bit of musical compost
ton that this suggestion Is made,
who
knows how to quicker his lips does 1t
to the tune of "Hiawatha." pretty.
catchy but now almighty stale. The
Meddler sincerely hopes that before
the winter is over some resourceful
will have given to the whist
ling public something to take the
place of this threadbare piece of
music which, together with THE Good
Old Summer Time" and others. ought
to be filed in a place where hand-or-
gans and hurdy- gurdies do not cor
rupt nor cheap orchestras break In
and steal.
Whenever measles. diphtheria, scar
let fever or any like disease becomes |
epidemic in a town parents are apt to
depend bit too much upon the capa- |
bilities of the local health authorities |
and too little upon the necessary pre- |
cautions which they themselves ought |
to take. This negligence Is not |
criminal, as the local option attorneys |
would say, for there is no intent upon |
the part of any father or mother to
help spread the disease, but often |
times a bit of carelessness on the part |
Of some parent whose child Is Ill does |
more to distribute the contagion than |
anything else For this very reason |
the duties OF a health officer are
ioubly exacting. He must not stop |
At doing his share in the quarantine
work. but he must impress upon par
ants the absolute necessity of their
20 cooperation. True Is II that the re-
luirements of the law relating to the
care of contagious diseases sometimes
seem to be too exacting. but 1t should
De borne I'm mind that a rigid adher-
,nce to these regulations is the only
way that an epidemic can be prevent
I'd. II would seem to the Meddler
hat the town pump cup. which is used
Tally by scores of children. might be
fairly good germ distributor. How
lbout 1t, health officer?
The Meddler.