davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
THE VALUE OF HIGHWAYS.

IN. national grange j. using its iniin'
enoe 10 secure the enactment by congress
Of a bill providing for the appropriation
Of $4,000 for the extension OF the work
az the United States office Of public roads
in aiding the improvement OF highways
throughout the country. IL Is claimed
that fully half Of the seo.oco,co expended
annually for road improvement u wasted
through lack Of knowledge on the part
Of road authorities, and the object oil the
proposed appropriation is to gave local
and state officials the benefit OF expert
advice and assistance from trained eng'n'
ccns II is believed that the construction
of modern highways in various sections
would demonstrate 10 the residents oil
those sections the advantages that are
sure 10 follow and that in this way more
generous highway appropriations IRON
state and town treasures would come
about Farmers who have always hauled
their produce over rough and poorly
drained highways do not realize how great
a financial burden they are Obliged to
carry on this account and are naturally
slow to favor adequate appropriations Tor
highway bettement. They are frequent
" inclined to consider such proposed ex'
penditure solely in the light OF what bene'
Ct is to come to the automobile tourist
and those who profit from him. But
when we stop to consider that over our
average country roads team IN the worst
hauling season transport only about sVo
pounds while in France every good
draught horse is expected to draw $40
pounds a distance of Is IL miles any day
in the year we get some idea OF the dis
advantage under which American farmers
labor. The United States is one oil the
few countries in the world whose govern.
ments do not actively aid and encourage
the building of permanent public roads.
In France, with its superb highway sys-
TEN, farmers can haul their produce at an
average cost OF 10 cents ton mile,
while our farmers are forced to bear an
average cost of % cents a ton. 1t is esti'
mated that an annual saving OF S3OO,OOO,'
600. or three and third times as much
as is spent on the roads of this country
each year, would result if the roads OF the
United States were improved to point
equal to those of England, France, Ger
many or Switzerland With such an OPP
portunity an appropriation of $5Oo,OOO by
congress to begin the work would hardly
seem extravagant.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
Anent Slippery Jake.

white River junction Landmark
Il was because he sold his birthright
for mess of pottage that has made the
name Esau a synonym of contempt in all
the ages down to this day. There are a
growing number OF men and newspapers
in Vermont entertaining the opinion that
the recent course of the man representing
the first district in congress Will prove TO
him a political Waterloo instead of one
of advantage and advancement. But be
this as it may there is no gain IN TINS
world that will overbalance the loss OF
respect and confidence, of decency and
character. To paraphrase a bit, it were
better to serve at the foot of committee
because of fidelity to previously sef-an-
nounced line of action than to be at its
head and cause the st: Johns1ury Gale
DOMAIN to say this: Slippery Jake may
become as familiar nickname for Mr..
Foster in Vermont as it is in Washing,
ton"
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29


According TO Washington dispatch
President Taft will visit Brattleboro and
Townshend this fail. The president is
said to have told Senator Dillingham; and
Representative Foster recently of his de-
sire to visit Townshend and see the ances-
trail homestead OF the Taft family, where
the presidents father, Judge Alphonso
Taft, was born. The Brattleboro board
OF trade recently voted to extend the
president an invitation to visit here and
although his secretary has made it known
that he will be unable to accept such an
invitation during the summer it is not
too much to hope that the plan can be
brought to a successful termination in
the autumn.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
For the Women to Think About
Written Especially for The Reformer by Lydia Eliot

carry her head like queen, and boy to
walk like soldier. Correct head-poise
may be cultivated by an effort to carry
the crown of the high. This lengthens the
spinal column and brings it into proper
curves. Headache and WEAKNESS often
are relieved by lifting the head to its
rightful place and stretching the back of
the neck. An authority upon such ques.
tons being asked how to carry the head
said: always show the top Of your col.
lar Examine your ruching and convince
yourself whether you show the top of
your collar, or rest the head upon it. The
two rules, to carry the crown of the head
high and to show the top of the collar
really amount to the same thing in the
end.
Papering all done? In some households
it is completed early. In others it comes
late. Everybody cannot be served at
once. If you would make a dark room
seem lighter, have the white ceilingpaper
extended one foot to one foot and half
down the side-wall and use molding
where the side-wall paper joins it. This
gives a low effect to the room, but makes
it lighter. To increase the apparent
height of a room carry the side-wall paper
to the ceiling and finish with or without
moldlng. Harmony in color effects is de-
sirabe this season. Rooms opening to-
gether are papered alike or in colors that
blend and shade together we'll The same
effect is sought with the hall and rooms
opening into it.
Have you tested your flower seeds that
are to be sown out of doors next month?
You may save much valuable time by
testing. A few seeds from each paper.
put into moist soil and kept in warm
place, soon tell the story.
Have you any zinnias among your flow
er seeds! The zinnia, is one of the most
satisfactory of ANNALS. Like the nastur-
tium there is no difficulty in telling it
from the weeds and it is of rapid and Wig
orous growth and blossoms early The
blossoms may be cut for bouquets If left
on the plants they remain perfectly fresh
for weeks if the proper amount of water
is supplied.
In recent article Peggy Quincy sug-
gests that the reason why many persons
feel awkward and ill-at-ease in company
is because they have two sets of manners,
one set for home and the other set for
company. If the same degree of polite
ness, the same tone of voice, the same
manner of conversation that is considered
correct when among strangers is in daily
use at the table, in the living room, on
the piazza at home, the awkwardness of
change, about which one feels trihe I'M
certain, is entirely done away with.
The Fifteen Minute Cure" is advised
Tor those who are over-tired, over-worked,
unable to carry the duties which come in
the daily rounds. OF course the rest
cure" in more pronounced form is under
stood-the going to bed for the whole day
or for two or three days, or for whole
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

The only honest opposition to the direct
primary idea here in Vermont seems to
come from the belief that it will compli-
cate the election machinery, but Vermont
need not have complicated law to bring
about changes that will enable the people
themselves to choose their candidates for
public office instead of merely ratifying
the choice of the political leaders. Those
who doubt the existence of serious evils
under the present caucus and convention
system will do well to read the article by
Judge Gibson printed elsewhere in this
issue
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
Mark Twain. "
Boston Transcnpt,l


In the death Of Samuel l.. Clemens bet
Ter known a. Mark Twain" great light
!, IN. world Of Letters has been eNiin'
rui.hed. lie has long been Acknowledged
a. the great American humorst and as
bunor has attained its highest develop
men, In thi. country, his primary In that
,c.nect covered the whole world. This
ouali,y Of his genius gave him his iirsi
fame and il has been his most striking
Characteristic throughout long and ex'
ceutionally busy career Of literary labor.
Bn, he was a many.sided man. He made
many apparent attempts 10 escape from
such a limited classification and establish
reputation for more serious and pro-
found literary talent.
His early experiences gave him pictur'
es1ue background against which TO project
his studies OF the life OF his generation.
To this We are indebted for the familiarity
he has gwen " with some of the quainter
types in the varied life Of this broad coun.
try. The vogue Of humor changes, and
though his has lasted longer than that oil
any of his predecessors, and even now
shows no signs OF passing, he was anxious
10 establish broader basis of literary i'm
he was successful The studies OF life
when true and vivid are those that endure.
Perhaps he has done as much for the ir-
responsible American boy as Cooper did
for the American Indian. In everything
that came from his pen he was strongly
original. In Pud'nhead Wilson, The Ad-
ventures OF Iuckleberry Finn and The
Adventures OF Tom Sawyer he made nota'
BILE contributions, both IN style and sub
stance, 10 American literature.
In some respects his Joan Of Arc was his
most ambitious effort, but while not nnsuc.
cessful. it hardly added to the bays with
which his generation has been delighted to
crown him. The historical novel is a sew
ere test OF literary power and when EN-
ployed as a side venture in the field OF let
tiers, the risks are even greater. Perhaps
he felt something Of this when he at
tempted to conceal the identity of its au-
thorship. He held the character and car.
eer of his heroine constantly to the high
plane OF her great mission: he invested his
scenes with strong dramatic interest, but
the blending of history and fiction was
not so perfect as to make the completed
production a masterpiece that will sur
vive the changes of taste and time. Ii was
worthy attempt. 1t differentiated him
self from himself as much as The Tale of
Two Cities did Dickens, but unlike the
latter, there will be few to assign it the
highest place in the authors labors.
Underneath his bubbling humor was
strong strain of philanthropy. Though
even misfortunes seemed to rest lightly
upon him few men felt more acutely their
pain and their responsibility. When in the
early nineties the publishing firm OF
Charles |, Webster 4 ca Of which he was
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

Gossip in New York political circles now
has il that Colonel Roosevelt will be a
candidate for the United States senate TO
succeed Chauneey VI. Depew. That the
time for Mr.. Depew's retirement is at
hand no one but the most conservative Of
politicians will deny. What prestige was
ever his has long since been lost, and he
is too old to think OF ever rcgaining it.
The Colonel would surely make a strnu.
Gus senator, and with him as candidate
New York state republicans believe they
would be able to bring success to the en-.
tire ticket this fall. There was time,
not much more than year ago, when the
country appeared tired of the noise of
my policies" but if indications are accu-
rate the silence is becoming irksome and
the public would welcome at least a mod
crate amount OF effervescence from the
Mighty Hunter.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
The Drift of Population.
tSt. Adams Messenger

Waterbury confidently expects to show
an increase in population when the 1910
census figures are published. Their, will
have to be large number of Waterbury,
to counteract some of the Somersets and
Baltimores, if Vermont is to make any
advancement in population. Waterbury $
gain is due to Barre granite largely
Barre Times.
1t will probably be shown by this cen
slls as it has been by other counts that
the falling off in population of some Yer
mont towns does not necessarily mean
that so many people have been lost to the
state. The tendency to urban life is pro-
portionately as marked. here as elsewhere.
and the drift is steadily away from rural
isolation to the village and city. That
very condition is developing for us one
of the most stubborn sociological and &C.
onomic problems we have yet to solve.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

Just at the present time, suckers by
the ton are being removed from the
streams running into Chittenden pond
So numerous are these fish that all one
needs is dip net to catch them and
they can be scooped out by hundreds. A
party of Rutland men were up there on
Sunday and the residents of the neighbor-
hood were taking out fresh fish by the
ton The suckers are about foot long
at this time of the year and provide lots
of good sport for those inclined to follow
it up.--Rutland Herald.
Do Rutland fishermen really consider
catching suckers by the ton in dip, net
good sport, or is the allusion supposed
to be sarcasm?
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

II .,u,ly ior ret and sn
ntrA ns1s foTrs. 1his he.sss.-
~ a,,,st Iu.on a. honir'
80 and tunnoil II hesisehu'i -
w az The going ASA 70 = aI.s
ehihs', .'',,ns ths desired ret, has
i5sss ~ :; ,,,,, ,u.at.s back into the OH
ave- - Il nlll. bet load into The sAins
hA,'N 800 ,sFnianrnt gain is hArp ~
~ 4, 4. the hes thought sAll.si anN
n ,,B =, tLai j. YrTuaaes,als snssi.as
sahsiH missed. Iiiile l. aeeotn ,lislra
- W" fatut. 1hls "fiiissh'Minu'e
~ M \, taken al home, u masl "
-, Trs,lafly and prrslsisnsp sss.s
~. a. ,loan ia : eumiofiahlr l1sHFts.s
ual, ~ ,hoe.. cover the fesi, u ie'ss,
~ io.,.,n the eluihlne and sleep 70, ~.
49,, wiuu,ss. II necessary SCI an alarm ~
- Ia your hol OF couch 20 a. NOV W
- i,fp a. THE makes one dsll anu
No.. lar hour. ioa may laugh anu -
~ - ior an alarm cleck a. t.a e"uiai,
's'a w fail a.lrep IN the halt hol, 70 H
' n oule,l That deIends' " YOU
,i,.I ,hTourh your mind a long procession
" ,Lins. you have done since morning eI
ia, you want 20 do beioTr nish' You az
noi iikek 20 sleep, II you he u.Nh ~
rad OF 20 worry OF 10 looe AZ -.
nlates OF eourse you cannot sleflh ~ NJ
piy depends upon the individual. ,,ia -
sI.en minute. 81 sleep some'iiheIall.,'oa.l
NV time during the day-h f.etss'sa ~
make. the weak strong and TIC N'A's
well.
To rmoye UNPLEASANT cdors from
I'm Ne often burn sugar. Professor
ThIlben d the Pasieur. institute AZ r1 en-
IN. ~ that the gas thu DEVELOPED has
,aw.riul anti.eptic qualities. How many
hing. our dear grandmother taught u
~ H.. moi because they were "antiscphe,
In, becanse they were sweet and shol.,
som. and eleaniy. Use plenty OF blnrhi
sugar. boiling water, fresh air sunshihe
IN the east room.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
A Political Rumor.

The II. Alhans Messenger heas the
rimor that letter. are heing sent Out 10
the medical profession, requesting sup
port lor a CERTAIN candidate for governor
an the ground that the mentioned eandi'
date i a physician himself, since the.
candidate had long ago discarded the pill
hos, the appeal will carry even lees iore
than Il would deserve. II the candidate
were in active practice. Small potatoes,
indeed, Il the rnnor l. true
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

The trout season in Windham county
opened on April ID, the chief reason for
securing the earlier opening, it was
believed from the appeals made to the
legislature, being that the trout might
be educated so that they would be more
wary when the date had arrived at which
time they could be legally taken in the
remainder of the state, which would pre-
vent the "skinning" of the brooks. 1t is
reported that SO far good catches have
been made this year, and it may be posi-
BILE that the brooks down that way may
be skinned before the date set for the
opening of the season in other parts OF
Vermont. Then there would be no trout
in Windham county to ducate.-Montpel-
Ter Argus.
We have given up trying to make the
capital city contemporary see the advan-
tages in the early trout season, numerous
and apparent as they are. In spring
like this, however, the Argus at least
ought to realize the disadvantages of hav-
ing the opening begin as late as May ID.
If there are any trout at all in Vermont
streams outside of Windham county they
stand little show of surviving the open
ing day
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
Political Bureau,
Brattleboro.

Gentlemen: ] have read your paper
ever since small boy as my father has
taken il for many years. While ! have en-.
loved reading the various letters written
TO the bureau and can easily identify the
writers permit me to say that you ought
10 have someone with wider circle OF
acquaintance than is apparently possessed
by the person answering the eommunlca-
tions to your bureau. Ii You should care
to consider me for such position you may
ask Governor Prouty as to my ability
along such lines. | will be pleased to send
you photograph of myself and arrange
for an interview with you.
Very truly yours,
J. f. p
Saxtons River, April -.
p. S. presume that you are aware OF my
official title.
Yes, colonel, we are aware OF your title,
and several other things. We also know
how you look SO the photo isn't necessary.
In fact, we don't believe there is an open
ing for you on the bureau staff.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

Last week reference was made to the
value of a smile. Those of us who have
glanced at the Cheerful Words calen-
dar. published by the Vermont Printing
company. through April have been re-
minded daily of the matter, and the lines
are well worth quoting in this column;
'srhe thing that goes the farthest toward
making life worth while,
That costs the least and does the most,
is lust a pleasant smile;
The smile that bubbles from heart that
loves its fellowmen
viii drive away the clouds of gloom and
coax the sun again; >,
It's full of worth and goodness too, with
manly kindness blent,
It's worth million dollars, and it doesn't
cost a cent.
Can we wonder that each year finds
more of the dwellers in cities coming to
the country early? Many feel the keen
endowment of watching vegetation develop
and of thinking that they have some part
in it by doing or directing operation about
the lawns and gardens. For those who
remain in town late, or through the heat
ed term there is the possibility OF much
beautiful plant life in window boxes,
porch boxes, in boxes placed close to the
house and on roofs. The root gardens
give pleasure to the owners and their
guests, while window and porch boxes,
few or many, interest the passersDy. Al
ter being limited to these opportunities
perhaps for years all who love to live near
to nature and can plan to do it are seek
ing the country where the freedom OF
the earth seems assured to them
By means of union suits in undergar-
ments and the one-piece slips over when
one-piece gowns are worn, it is possible
for the 1910 summer girl to attain extreme
slenderness and much straightness in
lines. She is said to admit of no consld-
cradle circumference except In her hat,
which makes up for deficiencies elsewhere
It is unsafe, however, for one to adopt
these extremes in fashion unless one is
able to do it to perfection. There Is
also vogue for degree OF fuliness, 1or
pleated skirts. and the ease and comfort
of garments of ample proportions.
Many linen and other wash dresses are
made with waist and sleeves cut together
instead of with separate sleeves to be
stitched in. The neck may be cut low and
the sleeves three-quarter or elbow length
to wear over dainty guimpes which in
fineness should be suited to the quality OF
the dress material used.
Was tuberculosis day observed in your
town last Sunday? When special day
is appointed for purpose its utmost
mower is attained only by general observ-
ance. There is certain inspiration in
unity of action with the rest of the coun-
try which makes one feel as if keeping
step with great marching army.
The pose of the head is what lends
grace. or the reverse, to the whole figure.
S.' l.r- l. h. fn,,lrl,fl 70,
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
Referendum Not Needed.
Huntington News.l

What does the Methodist church hope
10 gain in decency and morality by
change in the liquor laws, The moral con
dition under the present system has never
fallen so low as il was under prohibition.
That was time when law was openly
violated in hundreds OF places and nobody
seemed TO care. II bred hypocrisy. and
made the law a Joke; and hundreds OF
liars and perjurers. The Poop e now have
a referendum in every town IN the state
every year. What better can we do than
that
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29
Batch and bennington County.


A new entry in the eoyernoFship qncs'
,ion j. being forced in the effort TO have
James X. Baieheldcr oi Bennington eoun'
~ enter the contest, Remington county
may be- solid for him, hut then there are
other counties in the state bosides Hen
ningion- Gro,on Times. -,
And they don't seem 10 he veiy solid
for anybody in thr present campaign.
Supporters 81 various candidates assure u
positively that their man Is sure winner
but be- lint. None 81 the candidates IN
the field are particularly strong and me
voter are at present looking Tue heIn
over