The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-07-22
VICE PRESIDENT IN VERMONT.

VICE PRESIDENT IN VERMONT.
Hon. James S. Sherman Welcomed to Yer
gennes. Responds in a Felicitous
Speech.
Vergennes, July l5-This city had the
honor yesterday of entertaining the Vice
President of the United States, who
comes from good Vermont stock. The
party, consisting of Vce-President James
S. Sherman, Mrs. Sherman and the Misses
Miller of Utica, n y, were guests of the
Stevens House Tuesday evening and
came from Manchester in an automobile.
On learning of Mr. Sherman's arrival,
Mayor Arthur w. Norton called upon him
and welcomed him in behalf Of the city.
Yesterday morning the Vlce-President
and his wife, accompanied by Mayor Nor
ton visited the grave of his grandfather,
Capt. Richard Sherman in Prospect ceme-
tery, and also the grave of his great grand
father, Capt. Jehaziel Sherman, who was
captain of the steamboat, Phoenix, which
was built here in 1915 and was $40 feet
long costing 5000 and had speed
of eight miles an hour A visit was also
made to the house near the wharf below
the falls in which Mr. Shermans grand
father lived and which is now owned by
Peter Lovarn.
On their way to Prospect cemetery, the
residence of William A. Sheriff. was point
ed out to the party and on hearing the
name the curiosity of Mrs. Sherman was
aroused by the fact that it was her maiden
name. A stop was made and after an
exchange of genealogical history, Mrs.
Sherman found that Mr.. Sheriff. was a
distant relative of her father
The Vice-President expressed his graf
ifcation at the beautiful and well kept
Prospect cemetery grounds at its loca-
ton and the magnificent view OF Green
mountains and Adirondacks.
As soon as it was known that the Vice
President was in town. the stores and
business places as well as many of the
residences were decorated with the Amer
lean flag. and across the main entrance of
the Stevens House banner was stretched
bearing the word Welcome. From here
the party went to Shelburne Farms, the
property of DIR. W. Seward Webb, re-
turning at 2:30 o'clock. On his return, at
the Stevens House the Vice-President was
serenaded by the Vergennes city band
and large number of citizens turned out
to welcome him.
SPEECH BY VICE-PRESIDENT.
On a request for a speech Mr.. Sher-
man responded in part as follows:
| remember some years ago of hearing
Mark Twain introduce himself. He said
the next speaker will be Mark Twain.
say to YOU that the next speaker this after
noon will be a grandson Of Dick Sherman
whom YOU either knew or have heard
about. come among you not as public
official but as a descendant OF YER
monter. | thank God that | am descended
from Vermont stock, that my grandfather
lived and died here in dear old Vergennes
and his ashes enrich her soil.
Il was unable to attend the celebration
of last week but this cordial reception in a
measure makes good my loss at not being
able to be in Vermont and New York
week ago 1t also makes up for the loss
which suffered in not being able to attend
your local celebration.
We enjoy prestige and standing as
nation higher than any other nation IN
the world. The quality OF our citizenship
is higher. We have a little partlsanship
once in four years, but as soon as the
President is elected he becomes the SER
want Of all parties He puts the country
ahead of party and this is as it should be.
Il am always proud of Nermonters.
proud of my Vermont origin, proud OF
what the Vermonters did more than
hundred wears ago at Ticonderoga and
later at Pittsburgh. 1t was awfully
good of YOU to show me this attention.
appreciate it and shall bear away pleas
ant memories of the day and wish you
all prosperity and long life and trust
NAV be able to come again.
At the conclusion of the address which
evoked enthusiastic applause, Postmaster
Thomas Mack called for three cheers for
the Vice-President of all the pepole which
were heartily given and the distinguished
guests started on their return to Man
chester followed by the waving of hand
lkerchiefs and the best wishes of the en-
thusiastc crowd. Although entirely in
sarmal, the event was one OF the most
pleasant this city has known in years,
both the Vice President and Mrs. Sher-
man charming all by their simplicity of
demeanor and good fellowship.
A pleasant incident of the NicePresl-
dents visit was the presentation to him,
by Mrs A. b. Taber, of a mahogany cor
ner washstand that once belonged TO his
grandfather. Capt. Richard W. Sherman,
and which did service in his private cabin
on board of the two steamboats, which he
commanded on Lake Champlain for many
wears. Mrs Taber also presented Mr..
Sherman with copy OF picture of his
grandfather, taken few years before his
death, the original of which Capt. Sher-
man presented to Mrs. Taber when she
was a young girl.