The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-11-29
A TRIBUTE TO VERMONT
And Praise for the Burns Monument in
Barre.


And Praise for the Burns Monument in
Barre
Editor, Barre Times, Sir: 1t gave
me a good deal Of pleasure recently to
read an article in The New York Scot
tish-American, under the heading, "a
Scot Among the Vermont His and
thinking that many of your Scottish
readers would enjoy its perusal | copy
a few extracts which consider quite
interesting and made me feel that /
would love to have a ramble through the
lovely green hills Of Vermont | remem-
Der passing through them from Maine
when young bride many years ago
We had just arrived at Portland and
were on our way TO Toronto and Niagara
Falls. | recollect quite well remarking
how much they resembled my own be-
loved highland hills in Scotland. The
writer OF the following in the Scottish
American does not give his name, only
signs the letter m, and this is what
he says Of your beautiful hills and IA.
nous old state.;-
There is no place on the American
continent that reminds a Scot of his
dear old Caledonia more than the hills
of Vermont Nor am / alone in this
opinion, as it has been expressed time
and again by many genuine natives OF
the land OF the mountain and the food
who travelled over these hills. As one
looks over the broad sweep of rolling
hills and luxurious valleys, the beautiful
homes and weIl-kept farms, not to speak
of the industry and care displayed in
the orchards and gardens, we do not
wonder that Scotsmen became the early
settlers OF the Green Mountain state,
and named one of the leading counties
Caledonia During the month of August,
1t was my good fortune TO spend my
vacation in Vermont. The weather was
charming and the tourist was every
where in evidence, many of them com.
ing from every part Of the union. The
warm sunshine and soft breezes which
God intended man should snuff into his
nostrils and prepare him for the more
vigorous life Of the city aided him in
the relaxation while going from city to
country.
'In 1890, a settlement was effected
between Vermont ard New Hampshire.
and in 1901 Vermont was admitted into
the union. AT the present moment there
is said to be something like 1900
Scotsmen and their families in this
state alone. They are located at Barre,
South Ryegate and Hardwick, and are
engaged in the granite business Some
Of these enterprising Scots settled in the
granite towns more than thirty years
ago, and by frugal living and industrious
habits m@nv of them became rich At
present nearly all the quarry and shed
owners are Scotch or sons Of Seotchmeb
and some OF the workers in the quarries
and sheds are also natives Of Scotia
These Scots as a rule are industrious
and sober and after time are able to
lay BY penny for a a rainy day.
"A large number of the stone cutters
hail from Aberdeen, the granite city of
Scotland Those who are single return
home about Christmas time with a good
bag ID siller for their mothers and
sweethearts. These Aberdeen Scots are
great savers. 1t seems that industry
and frugality are born In them
But Barre hereafter viii not be noted
81
elegant statue Of that prince OF Scots.
men, Robert Burns, which stands at the
corner Of Washington street, in front of
the high school designed BY Barclay
Brothers and one Of the finest in Amer
lea. The elder Barclay, now deceased
who was an enterprisng Scot, executed
the work in a manner that gave entire
satisfaction TO the whole community
cannot close this article without say
ing a word about the New England
Westinghouse which for two centuries
has been one Of the outstanding features
of the landscape
"The one church of the Pilgrims Is
the Congregational Almost every vil-
lage is noted for its white painted meet
inghouse and towering spire. The people
of Vermont are q religious people, noted
for their simple habits, conservative and
believers in the teachings of the old
Bible.
For many years al OF these churches
have sent forth streams of blessing into
all Of our large cities. They were men
OF integrity and renown, lawyers, min
listers, physicians and surgeons, states
men and business men in general, and
became mighty in the history Of this
nation. NJ"
| am proud OF this fine tribute to
Vermont and 20 the sons Of Scotland
who made it their home would like
to remind M, though, that the Barre
statue OF Robert Burns is not only, as
he says, "one Of the finest in America
but the very finest, and the only granite
statue OF him in the whole world Hur-
rah for Barre and her Scotch boys. They
are just grand, and | would like to take
them by the hand
Though far away from bonnie Scotland,
In the free and bounding West,
Still the pride of Scottish lineage
Swells within their patriot breasts"
Faithfully,
Mrs Holm r CampbeI1