The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-07
wooDfoRo AERMIr's LETTER
Three Hours In Hurllngton-A few
Happenings at the State Capitol
MONTPELIER. Jan. 5. II.

Montpelier, Jan. 5. II.
Dear Friends: Wish you could
have been with US coming up on the
train Monday. AT nearly every sta
tion one or more representatives,
senators, clerks, and lobbyists would
board the train, and, although only
two weeks had elapsed since we had
seen each other, our meeting again
was very cordial and before arriving
OF Montpelier the cars were so
crowded that elbow room was at
premium.
We stopped over three hours In
Burlington, during which time a
severe snow storm prevailed, but we
cared not for that, neither did the
people Of the Queen city, as large
number of them were sleigh riding
and the streets were crowded in
many places.
Judge Ernest D. Barber was one
Of our number, and | thought it prop
err excuse me for pralsing myself
to be real good to Ernest, so after
dinner | invited him to the Star the
atre while waiting for our train
and we both enjoyed the program.
The theatre was crowded, and never
saw any one so lucky as Ernest was
in getting a comfortable seat right
between two young married ladies',
Q supposed they were married as
each had little child; and believe
me- right In the middle of the matt
nee, through kindness, or for some
other reason, Ernest was holding one
of those tots, and caressing the child
just the same as If 1t were one OF
his own. | never saw the Judge
appear happier.
After the show, Ernest and | had
some blue-point oysters on the half
shell, for | did not want him to get
hungry so far away from home, and,
| knew that | would not have time for
supper at the capital, before the ses-
sion opened at 1880, and for once
was right in my conjecture; but you
can imagine my surprise, when on
a'ighting from the train on our ar
rival at Montpelier, Ernest eagerly
asked me where there was restau-
rant, saying that he did not have
time to eat any breakfast at Ben.
nington In the morning.
After directing him to the Lahgdon
street eating house, left my grip
In my apartment at 62 State street
and the next time saw Ernest was
in the lobby of the State house. after
adjournment, smoking a cigarette, a
few minutes after 8, Tuesday even
ing and up to now. IL o'clock, We'd
nesday evening, have not seen him
although, General Bates of Benning
ton, who also came up Tuesday, told
me today that the Judge" was ION
deck" in the halls where laws are
made
Ernest has not said a word to me
what he Is here for, and, for all that
| suppose he knows why.
At the opening of business Tuesday
evening It was amusing to listen to
the several petitions introduced by
prominent members from different
parts OF the State. containing all the
way from one hundred TO eight hun
bred names OF women praying for
the passage of House bill 1888, giving
women Of the state Fl years old and
over, the same rights as men TO vote
yes or no on the liquor question at
the annual March meeting. As
my readers know, the bill was read
the third time before the holiday ad.
journment. 1t was called up on Wed
inesday. and on motion OF member
was made a special order for 1880
on Thursday From appearances now
Notwithstanding the earnest impor
tunings of so many of the fair sex
with Mrs. Parmlee right here
amongst the members, "straws' indi
cate that the bill will not pass.
When the session opened Tuesday
evening there was less than a quorum
present-11l members, though some
came in on later train; 10 members
lof the Senate were present
The Babbitt bill making an appro
priation of $4,000 for the highways
OF the state, was ordered to lie in
the Senate. on account Of the alb
sence OF several members OF that
body.
Several more bills have been intro
duced thus far this week, and the
number now reaches nearly 700. Al
! though the legislature has been II
session &C days It has not made fna
| disposition OF half its work. yet II Il
now thought that final adjournment
will be taken by or before February
| |.
Right In this conTBTIS
Hon. Charles d. Watson OF ST. Al
bans. the present democratic stand
ard bearer OF Vermont, has been a
the capital again this week. Mr.
Watson is one OF the finest types o
men. He was told the other day BY
one who opposed him politically, tina
he wished he was a republican.
Sleighing is good here again. Thu
Thursday morning thermometer
stood at Ii below zero.