The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-07-12
The MeddIer.


Both Principal Smith and the pru-
Dental committee call attention in
their annual reports to the need OF or.
ganized athletics in the high school
and The Meddler feels like saying
word in behalf Of their plea for com
petent athletic instructor to take
charge Of this branch of school life.
The question of athletics and scholar
ship has been settled by giving the
pupils to understand that in order to
participate in school sports they must
maintain a passing mark in their stud
les. As long as this rule is strictly en-
lieve that it will not be-athletics can
be taken up with profit by the school
authorities. Attention to the physical
welfare of our boys and girls If it is
given along systematic lines will not
only be Of benefit to them in after life
but will bring about an improvement in
scholarship by making them better fit
ted for mental effort. The taxpayers Of
the school district ought to put no OBJ
stacle in the way of reasonable ex-
ponditurc in this direction.
The Meddler has not been acquaint-
ed with the details of the July 4th
celebration at Sunset lake but from
what he can gather he il of the opinion
that it gave Wardsboro's carnival a
close rub in strenuosity. From cor
respondent comes the following meagre
statement about the aquatic sports at
the lake: "Guests of II. B. Willis at
Ash cottage were init oduced to the wa
tiers of Sunset lake in an interesting |
way. One was pulled overheard by a
bullhead and another after frantic
search on the bottom of the lake for
his pipe discovered the tobacconistic I
reservoir in his mouth. Still another
found SO much mud on the bottom that
he advises Brattleboro not to use the
water for drinking purposes; at least
not at present The fourth victim says
he does not understand how it hap
pened Mr.. Willis never enjoyed him
self more. y Surely the Sunset lake
must have been one Of an
unusual nature if this somewhat hazy
account of the proceedings is at all
trustworthy.
If reports are to be believed Muir
lerer Fairbanks is in an annoying situa-
ion for lack of suitable clothing. His
condition has improved to such an cx-
ent that he would be able to exercise
tally at the hospital grounds were it
,ot for the fact that his entire ward.
ni.a 80 ~ 10 |
The state of Vermont, it is said, has
,een requested to furnish Fairbanks !,
With a suit of clothes but refuses to
10 so on the ground that such a pro
eeding would be a needless expense
n view of the fact that the prisoner |
Sill soon have an outfit Of gray pro-
ided for him by the prison authorities
( Fairbanks makes the trip from Brat :
leboro to Windsor in his bathrobe he
yill be going Mark Twain at least one
etter. !
On certain days when the wind is
lst right the Meddler's olfactory I
erves warn him that all is not as it
hould be with Brattleboro s sewage
ystem. The unmistakable odor which
rises from the Connecticut is proof
ositive that the drainage pipe which !!
mpties into the river under the !
ridge should Ae extended and the pipe
lst above the mouth of MILESTONE
rock repaired. If the bailiffs are in |
lined to doubt this assertion let them ]
nell for themselves.
In order to settle the discussion |
bout the quality and quantity Of the /
unset lake water supply The Meddler |;
lggests that the proprietors Of the !
alter company get permission Of the |:
lifts to extend the proposed 16-inch |
ain from West Brattleboro to this
llage and then go about the work at !:
ICE. With this pipe laid it will be |
ny easy to determine just how much ]
alter the Stickney brook source will !;
rnish and there can be no disputing ];
e facts. The expenditure will be :
arranted in any event, for if the r
llage decides to purchase the Crowell
stems it would pay for the add
'nal work while the present owners
tend to lay the 16-inch pipe at their