Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-19

Appearances to the contrary notwIih-
standing. il is still considered q duty,
occasionally at least, and sectarlan leal-
ousies will sometimes drive Us out when
duty isn't strong enough; but lecturer
has no such hold on us speaker - apt
TO be greeted by an audience, good what
there Is OF il. but not enough OF Il to fair
Iy redeem the waste OF chairs that con-
fronts him. Three fourths of the people
you see at a concert stay at home and have
a quiet game of whist perhaps IN prefer
ence 10 taxing the mental stimulus that
might possibly have the disastrous eHeet
of making them think-an operation they
seem 10 find as irksome as saving Wooa.
A lecture this evening by Mrs. Mary
Church Terrill OF Washington, ID. O., viii
afford an opportunity for verifying or dis
proving the statements here made.
Gratitude Shoulders In Fire Of "a.
An item recently appeared in this paper
regarding the fire that destroyed the busi-
ness blocks Of the village 20 years ago, IN
December 1854, at which time that fam
Gus humorist, Robert J. Burdette, lectured
here in the entertainment course and
made a substantial contribution toward
the public reading room, which had SUI
fered In the contiagration. That item,
reaching California. called forth the fol-
lowing letter, which will be read with IN
terest By the people OF Randolph, who re-
member not only the aid received from
Mr.. Burdette's generosity but also the
pleasure derived from his lecture:-
Sunnyrest, Pasadena, Cal,
January 9, 1903.
To THE EDITOR w. A. Gourley Of
Los Angeles sent me a copy OF the HER
AID AND NEWS Of Decemb Der Is and
found very delightful Christmas surprise
in your columns. My memory OF the
great fire is very vivid. II. III. Mcintyre
was chairman Of the lecture committee the
night before. and the next time l saw hun
he was a volunteer fireman. ] said good
bye to dear Henry TewksbuI late in the
afternoon. He wore a tireman's helmet,
| had Babcock extinguisher slung over his
shoulders and had just profered me the
| hospitality OF Randolph in tin cup full
| OF coffee and handful OF crackers.
But what pleases me beyond all express
sion Is that Randolph has remembered my
| poor little part in 1t. For twenty years
| ! did nothing that any man Fouldn I have
| done under the circumstances. But nave
all my life preached that there were more
/ good people in the world than bad, more
appreciatiye than unappreciatiye, more
/ grateful than forgettul. ! have had
/ good many disappointments IN proving
nv doctrine. but / only need about one
/ illustration in every twenty years, and I've
/ got one now that will last me as long as
/ live. / thank all Randolph say, didn't
we call II West Randolph at the time Of
/ the fire for il with all my heart.
1 wouldn't take five thousand dollars, now
/ for that s75. That was one OF the best in
vestments / ever made ! have in my
4 route books OF Is years, lists OF many SIM
/ liar donations made to unfortunate lecture
| committees, but this one In Randolph hi
sspay dirt right on the surface. That's
| the best 'slecture notice. | ever got. Every
/ time think OF that s75 | raise my price OF
IL. wouldn't take ten thousand for 1t
now.
Cordially and gratefully yours,
ROBERT j. BURDErrE.
Mr.. Burdette, after p years OF pleasant
and profitable relations with the lecture
/ bureaus, has severed his connection Will
them 10 devote himself more closely to lit
erary work. He still gives, however,
limited time each season to the platform
At present he is pastor Of the Temple Bap
! fist church in Los Angeles, and has hi
! home, sunnycrest, at Pasadena, who's
! Christmas beauty he thus descrihes:-
Rose OF red and white carnation, pur
pie violet and the bridal orange blossom
interbreathe their incense on the sol
breezes that drift in at the open window
The opal SUBMITS of the Sierras lose them
selves IN the tenderness Of the turquois
skies that bend to the earth as thougl
heaven should enfield the world in celes
tial purity. This is Christmas at Sunny
crest y