Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-09-23
THE MEDDLER.
~ me coat hts put IL on"


Alas, too true are the statements In
recent editorial of the Burlington
clipper regarding the average hish
school pupils inability to punctuate
properly. There must be something
wrong In the method of teaching 10
have such state of affairs exist
BUSINESS colleges ought also to come
I'm for their share of criticism along
this line. A large majority OF the
multitude Of stenographers that are
graduating weekly seem to lack the
fundamental principles OF punctuation
IL their letters can be taken as an eN-
ample of what they know. Commas
are interspersed at a ratio of so many
to line without the slightest regard
to the effect they have on the sense
of n sentence, while semi-colons, col
ons and dashes appear here and there
as If they were made solely for orna-
ment. Punctuation is good and nee
essary thing, but little of 1t prop
erly used goes long way Inc
newspaper rule Of using just as little
as possible without obscuring the
sense of a sentence is an excellent one
to follow under all ordinary circum-
stances.
same old story; nothing new"
quoted n man the other day as he
watched the familiar red, white and
blue bunting being put In place on the
business blocks In preparation for
Valley fair week. There is no deny
ing that the decorations used from
year TO year have rather wearisome
sameness, but their effect on the
whole must be pleasing to the visitor
who comes to the Valley fair for the
first time. The town must have some
sort OF party dress to wear during It's
gala week, and what is more appro-
pirate than raiment of the national
colors. It's easy enough to wish for
something different in the way of dec
orations but finding II is great deal
more difficult. The Meddler is hoping,
however that the decorative com
pany has lost those hideous chromos
Of historical scenes and characters
which have been used in years past.
Red. white and blue is a combination
which hardly ever loses its effect, but
of Columbus discovering America.
They are altogether too remindful of
the street banners of an Uncle Toms
Cabin company
There is no surer sign of waning
summer than the close of the band
concert season. The First Regiment
band gave the last of its series Mon
day evening from the Brooks house
balcony, and il is safe to say that no
one In the large audience was not
sorry that the summer program had
come to an end. Brattleboro is very
fortunate In having such an excellent
band. Its concerts this year have
been unusually good, and the crowds
which have attended them show that
the people in town are appreciative.
In behalf of the public The Meddler
extends Mr.. Leitsnger and his asso-
ciates a hearty vote of thanks.
Some vandal broke another of Jar
dine & Co.'S plate glass windows Mon
day evening. Appearance would tend
to give the impression that the deed
was deliberately planned, although
it's hard to think that anyone In town
would be mean enough to do such
thing purposely. Personally The
Meddler does not believe that some
of his friends did 1t to get back at s.
b. Emerson through his son-in-law.
The season of pigskins and mole
skins having arrived, many people are
wondering IL Brattleboro will be rep
resented by a football team this year.
There is certainly plenty of material
in town. and all that is needed is a
hustling manager. Already chal-
lenge has been received from Shell
burne Fails and there is no doubt that
a good schedule of games could be ar
ranged To many there is no game (
so interesting 10 watch as football, |
and 1t seems a pity that the local sea- /
son should pass without a few grid |
iron contests.