The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-03
AS OTHERS SEE US
Impressions OF a Stranger Hiking
Through Bennington


Through Bennington
w. A. Macdonald of the Attleboro,
Mass, Sun STAFF drifted into town Fri
day evening clad in clean khaki and
possessed with the intention of cir
cumnavigating the state of Vermont
on foot. He walked from South Pow
nal to Bennington yesterday after
noon and left this morning to walk to
st. Adams by way of Rutland and
Burlington. From st. Adams he
plans to walk across the north end of
the state and down the Connecticut
valley to South Vernon. He isn't do
ing 1t on a wager or to make a repu-
tation but is taking a months vaca-
ton and will write up the trip illus
trated by photographs for the New
England magazine.
He carries a camera and a tooth
brush and bought nere a cake of Ad-
ans mineral soap before undertaking
to penetrate the partially civilized re-
gion known as Rutland and vicinity.
He spent the night at the Putnam
house and was pleased to find it such
high grade hotel.
At the request of the Banner Mr..
Maconald wrote in brief his impress
sions of Burlington and was asked to
show up the weak points in order to
nelp educate the public ITO work for
Improvement. He contributes the
| following:
Every thinking person has strong
notions regarding ideal town and city
conditions. Every thinking person
/ trrhn i~ fnf Oh In. no 90
humanity Immediately upon entering
strange town compares 1t with his
ideal and with towns with which he
is familiar
1t is very easy to criticise adverse
! ly any community.-error lies upon
the surface. Bennington has plenty
of obvious faults.
| am aware that blame is safer
than praise; but | have a fair word
for Bennington. Coming down the
state road between the fragrant fields
| noticed a careless path which grew
into an apologize sidewalk. 1t was
| the beginning of Bennington. The
sidewalk improved only a little; but
there rose pleasant atmosphere
about the place. The town looked a
little struggling for its population and
the postoflice seemed very meager,
and some of the street corners were
| haloed with smoke-and gas.
| | asked somebody where the office
of "The Banner" was located and re-
ceived courteous direction, and
when | had found THE Banner" there
was lot more courtesy. Then there
was pleasant feeling in the air at
the hotel-no, did not find it in the
bar room-and everybody seemed to
have left their CROUCH in storage.
Kindness and courtesy to stran-
gers seem to be the rule in Benning-
| ton. Perhaps 1t is the hills and the
history and the fragrant air; it might
with reason be the water-neyer was
such drinking water Probably ii is
the combination of all these
| Bennington seems to possess a un-
ity of spirit that ought TO weave a
happy estiny for the town. village
Improvement society that appeals for
clean streets, and Y NJ c. A. that
houses, trains an entertains its boys
adequately are signs in the East.
There may be towns in less favor
able settings than Bennington that
| nave dppIudCutu nearer lHe iuedl, Out
direction is of more moment than po-
sition; and Bennington has a billiken
outlook across the fields of POSSIBLE
ity.
| There is room for manufactures
that clear headed board of trade
could induce here, room for more ac
commodation for travellers, for i'm
provement in streets and sidewalks
for organizations to keep young PEG
pie using their energy for something
better than holding down the side
walks.
Bennington gives the impression o.
a clean country town with people moi
in haste so pressing as to prohibit
kindness. and ideally situated where
there is room enough to see the star.
that shine down upon the strength Of
the hills.
W. A. Macdonald.