The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-06-09
FRANK L. HOWE, Editor and Publisher
Hapgeod on Vermont

hAAN- va VII v "
N. J. Hapgood the sage OF Peru had
letter in the current issue of Expani-
son as follows
"These mountain towns of old Yer
mont are destined soon to become the
great breathing place for the many
nearby and congested cities. They
ali have superior advantages to attract
that most desirable class to associate
silh, those who seek quiet seclusion,
and wildness of surroundings; while
many ofthem like my own town, have
the supreme advantage of high eleya-
tiol above sea level.
"The question with US is, how shall
we prepare to receive them? | would
answer, by taking pains to establish
clean, sanitary quarters, with no at
tempt at elegance, where true rest, with
as much freedom as possible from the
conventionalilies, can be secured.
"a certain class we don't want-~the
pulled up millionaires who would at.
tempt to make us mere "hewers Of
wood and drawers OF water"
"a certain class we do want, the
class hcalthiul to associate with, who
come not for display, but for quiet en-
joyment, and especially we should aim
to cause them to establish permanent
summer hones of their own, so that
they will necessarily have interests
alike with our own in the affairs of the
community
"I would not, if cou d, ever see the
day when my good old native towr
we're converted into a Lenox, but do
hope to see the day when there are d
score, or more, Of quiet Lodge" resi-
dences scattered along the mountain
side within my town limits
"The typical one would be a grea
stone fireplace around which is bull
A simple structure, devoid Of paint,
but with broad porch overhanging the
valley below.
LET all the rough places grow up tt
timber, notably the spruce, balsam
and pine. Don't shear and trim toe
much, Take our purling brooks anC
cross them every few rods with {
simply constructed dam, thereby to in
ereas. the number of good trout holes
Two sturdy workmen can, with spade
and bar, construc. dozens in a day.
Each one of our mountain towns has
scores OF such brooks, and they will b.
properly waited upon by our Fish AM
Game Commissioners, If application i
made.
'Aboye all, protect our deer. Shoe
only with the camera, in season ant
out of season. Never mind the com
paratiyely slight damage they do
The benefits they bring, both aesthet
and pecuniary, outweigh hundred
fold the grain aud cider apples the
consume Who can associate wit
them fifty-one weeks IL the year, not
the wild charm of their contour, tn
elegance OF their movements, the calr
and trustful expression of their cOun
tenance and slaughter them the re
naming week.
"Only few descendants of the oil
first settlers the grandest class OF bC
ings that ever breathed, now renal
in our back towns But thousands q
them are scattered abroad many o
whom in their declining years, year
for sight of the old homestead. Le
us give them the warm hand OF a we
come back TO the old hills. Above all
let US show that the old graveyard
where their father aud our father
sleep, is still cared for, the tombstone
kept standing and the grass not ehob
ed down by weeds.
"Let us show ourselves true me
and women, proud Of our surround
ings, and notlnsensible to their charm
Letu not allow that only the ysito
from outside can appreciate the CRANE
eur and beauty of these grand oil
mountains and quiet secluded valleys
"When Champlain, our discoyeret
sailed up the lake now bearing his
name, the charm Of the scene was s.
irresistible that hats we're do1ed in
voluntarily. "Verde Monte wa
CALCULATED from the lips Of his fol
lowers. We, who remain, born, we'd
ded, moulded. to these same surround
ings, have good reason to be proud q
our inheritance. Hats OIL! Verd