Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-04
.xBY THE WAYS

stantly under call ana whose SerNiSeo
are In public demand almost daily
should be SO poorly rewarded as is
Mrs. Powers. Within the past three
months, she has received the munifi-
cent sum of 81 from the state society,"
truly a reward of merit. In that time
she has, as agent of the society, inves-
tigated scores of cases and accom-
plished much good In many quarters.
The very fact that but one person, be-
side herself, felt able to attend the
regular meeting of the local branch OF
the society, held last week, testifies
to lack of interest in this community
which is deplorable. Mrs. Powers IS
doing a good work, and she does 1t
we'll she gets results, OF course 1t Is
said of her that she does 1t Sin her own
way" why not, pray? 1t may be
added that a man engaged in the same
position would not be SO considerable
or so careful. Prosecutions would be
oftener forced and the newspapers
would have some hard stories to tell.
Mrs Powers should be encouraged.
One of the street railway conductors
was confronted by a puzzling issue
Monday afternoon. A prominent
man, perhaps as we'll known as any
man in town, boarded the car at West
Brattleboro. He took the front for
ward seat in the car (not the one next
the motorman) crossed his legs, lit
cigar and Struggled back in perfect
ease. On the seats behind him were
many ladies, say a dozen or more,
and the smoke from that cigar blew
into the faces Of every one OF them.
The conductor noticed the annoyance
and violation of the rules, and he
skipped along on the sideboard and
told the man to desist. But that
didn't cut ice. The smoker smoked
along. The conductor expostulated;
so did the other passengers, but the
man remained complaisant When
the roads office was reached the car
was stopped and the conductor COM
planned to Superintendent Jones, who
came out and protested vehemently
calling attention to the rules of the
road and adding that if the man was
anything of a gentleman" he would
take rear seat among those pro-
yided for smokers. Just then, 1t
Tile Illdfi WdS IOt SAicnih6,
SO the argument ended without a free
fight which would have been very UNI
pleasant for the ladies as witnesses,
say nothing of other consequences
But when the car was started, 1t Is
said the smoker lit up and kept up
till he left the car, which was when
he got good and ready" By Tuesday
nearly everybody in town had
heard of this interesting controversy
and it was common street talk But
one opinion was expressed. that being
that If the offender had been some
other mana smaller and less inf1u-
entail mamie would have been land
ed in the lookup without ceremony.
However that may be. Superintendent
Jones says that he has instructed his
and that the next offense
Of the sort will receive summary
treatment The car will be sent
along until an officer is sighted and
hen the man will be handed over.
Meantime it is the intention OF the
to have every con-
iuctor qualified as a special deputy,
with full power to arrest, and thus
prevent a repetition of the trouble.
For the mans side of the case 1t
should be said that he claims that the
wo rear seats in the car, reserved for
were more or less occupied
" women who could have found seats
elsewhere If they had cared to. but he
lidn't wish to sit beside them and
moke. so he took a front seat which
vas unoccupied
Those timber bridge builders are so
cry nimble that crowds gather at
he pier this end to watch their an
les Aside from skipping over the
les of false work as one might skim
ballroom floor, these chaps swarm
Ike spiders in the net work of ropes
nd swaying rafters nearly 100 feet
bove, which means a drop of say 140
eet to the water They are quite
rec of nervousness and the way they
angle in the air and walk narrow
lank from one end to another is
ather blood curdling. Most of the |
zen employed are sailors and they are
used to trotting about at |
izzy heights, but the spectators are |
unanimous in favor of terra firma and |
lenty of it for themselves. The |
ridge work is going along rather |
lore expeditiously than was antici-
ated, and the contractor says that
18th good weather and no illness
mong his men he may have things
-ide open in a month.
DO you know what a rainy Sunday
leans?" inquired the philosopher on
lie car coming down hill last Sunday.
later was falling in sheets; the air
as full of moisture. the wind carried
n occasional swirl which splashed
pod folks on their way to church, and
lie morning was entirely disagreeable
Think of the loss which a rainy Sun
ny brings" he said. How many out
gs do you imagine have been spoiled
I'd mothers who would take their
,ys and girls out for a stroll, for an
ring, on the only day in the whole
eek when that opportunity affords.
ow many disappointments there
ust be. Plans made through the week |
e all blockaded: families are kept
doors, the children fret and cannot
lderstand why the picnic arranged
r Sunday, and all talked over in ad-
nee, is postponed. Some of us, who
I've an outing every day. do not con-
der these matters, and a rainy Sun
" does not disturb us. But remem-
r the laborers, the men in the shops,
e women in the kitchens. who look
rward to every Sunday as literally
y of rest It's the only chance they
t to commune with nature, and when
lnday brings such a drenching rain
this thousands of people are filled
tn regret"