Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-03-04

Greene of the st. Adams Messengei
gets out newspaper about l0l pc
cent. too good for the Railroad City
but in local politics he exhibits al
habitual appearance like unto the fes
tive gamecock suddenly overtaken by
a powerful squirt from the carriage
hose. The Citizens movement foster
ed and encouraged by the Messenger
fell down on matter OF detail ana wa!
crowded off the official ballot Franz
simply foamed at the mouth. HI
denounced every one. He thund'
cred generously, when the whole
fact comprised a mere trife of care
lessness on the part of the citizens
and some sharp practice by the dem
ocracy. Sardonic humor. cynical phil
osophy or singing sarcasm would al
have been effective weapons. but
Frank preferred to foam. New boilers
and disgrunted politicians always
do
NV Reverend Brother Davenport
who has brought the Barre Telegram
from n condition of Fabulous inepti-
tude to the honorable estate OF real
newspaper. reminds me that / recently
confused the names of Sam Jones and
Sam Small Quite serious error TOO
as Brother Small has steadily trod the
dark and devious way of late. while
Brother Jones has gone in for the
lofty and untarnished. My apologies
TO the upright Jones.
TOO slangy," said critic Hof mine
the other day. What is slang. any
way? The picturesque colloquialism
of today becomes dictionary English
next fall Slang for slang's sake is
vulgar and absurd, but some OF the
pointed phrases of descriptive slang
embellish. rather than debase the Ian
guage When slang adds color and
detail, spirit and point, | shall use
slang But | am open to conviction.
Gilbert A. Davis of Windsor has
written an entertaining and valuable
book in his History of Reading, copy
of which he sent me recently. Read
ing is comparatively an unimportant
town. but Mr.. Davis has succeeded in
gathering lot of interesting data.
which makes the book of more than
local interest The chapters about the
original and only Hank White. his
partner George W. Clark. and the 9TH
duced by the Broadway Ministries and
Whitmore and Clarks Ministries, are
more than interesting; they are down
right good stuff, better than five
slxths Of the newspaper rubbish
printed about those black face lumin-
aries. But it's pity Mr.. Davis didn't
have the book little better printed.
90 b. broadway min
strels, the book tells an interesting
tale of when and why the name was
given UP. The show was organized
each season In Felchville. near Green
bush, So called, and the name Of the
town was made famous by their quips
and Jokes about the old place. one
iay the show was making parade
and when the gilded banner, Broad
way minstrels," hove in view by
stander snorted out, Broadway min
strels be burned! Them fellers come
from Greenbush, Vermont" Then be-
gan the era Of Whitmore and Clark.
which was easily one of the best OF
he old-timers, and a first class show
rom overture TO after piece.
Beware the unknown quantity in
politics. Don't tie up too early to your
DeBoers, Stantons Bells. Martins or
Clements Things will keep on hap
oening from now until September.
/ attended funeral the other day.
he funeral of man whom men were
proud to honor. There was a detail
If Knights Templar, detail OF Odd
Fellows and detail of Masons
eft my work at 2:15. waited In
odge room till o'clock, stood. around
n the cold until about four. Formed
n line and waited another half hour.
Then opened ranks and stood bare
headed while a long cortege marched
,ast, repeated this at the cemetery
vice and finally broke ranks about
,:15, with every third man coughing
IT sneezing from the cold and expos
ire of three solid hours. In the name
# common sense, why can not socie-
les agree on the simple salute, right
land held erect to hat-brim, as
mark of honor and respect rather
han this pneumonia breeding expos
ire of the head in winter tempera-
ure?
hat would never be permitted by a
ensible man alive.
/ would sooner honor a man In my
ieart and soul and keep my body well
han catch a DEATH sickness at his
uneral and require honors for my
elf.
Town meeting is the ideal Of popu-
ar self government, according TO
ONE wise Isaac who ought to know
,etter. True, the corruption and de-
,auchery of the larger elections are
wanting, but Of all the fore
ng- plants for the incubation of am
,itious politicians. town meeting leads
" several lengths. Its little rings.
oteries, cliques and gangs can not
rade states attorneyships. probate
secretaryships or any OF
he plums that go to pay the faithful
n state politics, but, on smaller
Gale. the trading is fully as brisk In
own meeting. Road commissioners
re traded for auditors. selectmen are
warped for listers. moderator
rings several trustees. while COM
nerce in school directorships Ian
.uishes. as II is a thankless task and
labor of love for the elect. Yes.
own meeting is where the party lead
RS are Matched, where the grouty
offers come TO life and the light
earted traffic in offices certainly
oesn't lead to the highest ideal in
tate and national politics. But the
australian ballot and the occasional
lement will pretty well prevent the
of s260.O00 campaigns.
Town meeting is the annual judg-
nent day for the crafty office-holder
those appropriations and expendi- Z
ures don't bear a proper proportion
A man whose judgment OF horse /
; absolutely sound will vote for hu- I,
nan mule in town meeting and get .
tuck with a balky. wind-broken, man. I
er-cribbing. misunderstanding brute 1
My At for the back pasture and wood /
buck company.