Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-12-02
The LEGISLATURE.

Everyone agrees that thisis talking
Legislature, meaning that it has more
than the usual number of members who
have the ability as well as the inclina-
ton to express themselves on the floor
Those who are posted on such matters
say that it has beer long time since
better extemporaneous speeches have
been heard in the House than have been
delivered this session. 1t is expected,
as a matter of course, that lawyers will
have the ability to talk and in MIR.
Peck of Burlington, Mr.. Amey of
Brighton, Mr.. Webster of Swanton, Mr..
Rowland of Poultney, Mr.. Martin of
Brookline and Mr. Stone of Walling-
ford the House has sextette of good
speakers who not only bear out this ex-
pectation but thus far have had the tact
not to bore the House with too long or
too frequent remarks.
But it is among the members who
follow other occupations that unexpect-
ed talent in this line comes as sur.
prise when sooner or later it is uncov.
cred. This the present House has fal
beyond the average.
Perhaps the most graceful speaker
who has as yet been discovered is MIR
Bryant of Ludlow, who is a physician
by profession. DR.. Bryant has fine
command of language that enables hin
to avoid tiresome repetitions, has seem
ingly inexhaustible stock of apt quota
tions, works in story now and ther
that lends point to his argument and al
though his remarks are at times extend
ed he is not tedious and has the goot
judgment not to attempt a speech un
less his knowledge of the subject is sui
ficient to render his remarks ineligible
The doctor has been heard from severa
times and has always been listened t.
with the attention a speaker of his abil
ity is sure to command.
The abilities of Mr.. Fletcher of Cav
endish as speaker have been tested il
other Legislatures and like many othe
good things he improves with age anC
experience. Mr.. Fletcher has a sharp
incisive manner of speaking that carries
his points home with force. He is no
sparing in the use of sarcasm when hi
thinks the occasion requires, yet it i;
couched in such graceful language that
it does not give offense. He is NJ
stranger to the use of metaphor and hi
comparisons are always clearly drawn
Mr.. Fletcher has that sense of hume
that enables him to make use of it OF
his fellow members without creating re
sentiment and is always as ready to taxi
as to give in this respect. His thorough
knowledge of parliamentary usage als'
enables him to observe the decorunr~ O
debate that is all too often violated b,
some of the speakers. All in all tn
gentleman from Cavendish is one of tn
most polished and convincing takers tn
house has.
Mr.. Dartt of Springfield has taken bu
little part in debate thus far, but tn
speech he made in favor of the passag
of the bill providing teacher trainin,
courses showed that he was an adept a
the business. His remarks on that occa
sion showed the scholar and were de
livered with vigor and eloquence tina
proved him master of the old schoo
oratory that is so seldom heard in thes
days. Mr.. Dart is now in his 74tl
year but the fire he put into that speed
belied his age and showed that his hear
was in the subject. The members lis
tened with surprise and attention an,
only the speakers gavel prevented
round OF applause as he finished.
The great find of the session in tn
speaking line, however, is Mr.. Ives O
Mount Holly. Not that Mr.. Ives is a
orator, far from it. His voice is thi
and weak and he has not The command
ing presence that is associated with tn
orator, but he has bucolic wit that er
ables him to bring out the ludicrous i
most any proposition he applies it tt
Nothing is safe from his attacks an
many of his attempts are genuinel
funny. This wit of his is usually s
blended with common sense that
makes a very effective weapon in debat
and the members are coming to fear tn
sallies of the wag from Mount Holl
more than they do the remarks of som
of the more polished speakers. M
Ives is 70 years old but the keenness {
his mind would never betray his year
Another speaker who is to be reel
oned with in debate is Mr.. Rabbit