Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-06-13


six or eight and young man detailed
to each group TO explain to Us the stu
pendous marble industry located here.
OF this, can give you only cursory
glance at few things which interest
ed me most. Outside the buildings,
or series of buildings, nearly quarter
of mile in length there was marble,
marble everyw here, blocks of all sizes
and qualities. We saw one huge
block, with model on top, out of which
a group of ornamental statuary was
| to be cbiseled. But what seemed
more wonderful than carving beauti-
| full figures from the solid block and
gave me a more exalted respect for
man, was to watch those huge ma
chimes, both INSIDE and outside the
Works, which pick up such blocks
and place them in the required posi-
ton with as much apparent ease as
we could pick up stick of wood. In
side, we began with the blacksmiths'
| shops where horses are shod, tools
are made and sharpened. Then we
watched the saving which is slow
process, done by the action of water
and sand, the turning, the chipping,
the growing, the polishing, the work
ing out of designs from models, which
is done by chisels worked by COM
pressed air, in the hands of skilled
workmen. Some of these processes
being for interior decoration and fin
ishings. While for the beautiful mo-
sale flooring and ceiling found in some
of our finest public buildings we saw
quantities of those tiny little cubes Of
which it was made. In colore, red,
blue, black and white.
We ended up with the monumental
department which is familiar to most.
AS great deal of sand is used in the
saving and polishing, l was greatly
interested in the way it was brought
from over steep hillside two and
one-half miles away. 1t came in met
al baskets holding five hundred pounds
OdCn ny SCOAO h1Su III
the air. A row of baskets coming in
filed, and going out empty all the
time. From here we went a short
distance to visit Sutherland Falls
where we found beauty and utility
combined. For it is from these beau
tiful falls that the power is generated
which, guided by the hand of man,
moves all all the machinery in this
mighty workshop. Across the Falls
was a narrow swing foot-bridge from
which we could have a more extend
ed view of the Falls, above and below.
This we traversed with more fear, I
presume, than did -Blondin in his feat
of walking across Niagara Falls on a
tight rope. From here we walked
past the plain, but substantial home
of the Senator, and when we reached
! the roadside which led up to a we'll
equipped hospital for employees and
others, carriages were provided for
those too fatigued to walk. Quite
distance in front of tht hospital was
huge block of marble in the rough on
which was inscribed the name, Old
Charlie. The resting place of the Col
onel's famous war-horse. According
to the stories of the boys, he had
earned his monument for he must
have had many a rider. But when
the Coloners chance to ride came in,
1, did not discover. Probably he
trudged on foot and let the others
ride, as he did on that day so interest
ing to Us but most fatigring to him,
and when urged to do so loosely re-
piled, 81 will let the old folks ride"
From here we returned to the Y. NJ.
@. A. building, aud had no more than
seated ourselves in the parlor for rest
when group of pretty young ladies
came in, and seating themselves in
rows on the floor, sang in delightful
manner the songs of the war period.
They soon attracted such a crowd
they we're invited outside to sinp
where all might hear. A polite young
man volunteered to show me some
interesting features of the building I
had not seen, among which was the
reading room where papers ard mag
azines in many languages were found.
He also showed me over nice and
we'll filled library building near by.
Then came the business meeting of
the Regiment when Colonel Proctor
was elected president for life. Then
Adjutant Gleason in behalf of the
Regiment,in few we'll chosen words,
presented beautiful gold headed
cane. To which the Colonel feelingly
responded while tears coursed down
his face. Then rousing cheers and a
tiger were given by the old boys to
their Colone' whose love he gained in
war and held in peace.
With kindly adieus from our friend
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