Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-07-24

they die after century of useful work. like the spy OF
Worcester, Mass.
journal worthy of the name is more than piece OF
property; more than a business enterprise Thoroughly
identified with its community and its commonwealth be-
institution guided by high ideals and inspired by
lofty thought Loyal to these standards acquires grand
associations while alive to and nober as
pratiors Men may and men may but "the paper
must live up to its splendid traditions.
Consciously unconsciously the newspaper of the peo
pie voices composite sentiment of its constituency Only
when newspaper becomes strong in determination or re-
both stand far in advance of the varying
popular opinion it must often defy advocating what must
keep mind the true interests of the people whole
The Spirit of the Age of Woodstock which according to
it's own announcement will go out Of existence next
Saturday, is published in small community but its
loss may for it's region than would the
dropping out of of the many strong papers of great
city like New York. for the metropolitan district especially
if we regard its long period of varied service.
As indicated by its name, the Spirit of the Age had
unique individuality. founded a democratic paper
and for this if for other would necessarily
have strong personality behind it IN eon soiidly adj
herring to antidemocratic principles While was estab
shad sevrntythree its first rumber having ap
pearod May s, 184O it long remained steadasy demo-
cratic sypathes except for brief support OF the Free
Sole,s when the ID party split the slavery
question
One Tie most wholesome influences in government
and politics strong opposition journal constantly alive to
the duty of proddng the party power to the best
sble service and the highest available standards This
service the Age consistently performed.
That Charles g. Eastman the founder OF the SPIRIT OF
the Age, well qualified by nature and acquired SYM
pahies put keep guard the old Wing party of his
time is indicated by his in the national campaign Of
1874 In addition to his regular issue of the Age in his sup
port of James K Polk for president Editor Eastman printed
a campaign edition called the Coon Hunter, and he also
issued against the Wing candidate quaro publication en-
titled, Henry Clays Duels.
At the end of the third year of its existence the of
the paper changed to the Woodstock Age but when Mr.
Eastman succeeded by A. E. Kimbal in 1915 the old
time In 1S47 Mr. Kmball succeeded by E. NJ Brown
and the latter in turn by W. D. Mcaser who conducted
for thirtyfour years, making political in that
region
Mr. Edward C. Dana, the present editor has made gal
liant struggle in the face of competition which constantly
narrowed his field and in announcing the suspension of the
Spirit of the Age and the substitution of monthly to be
called the Elm Tree Monthly, he yields to conditions which
being felt many Of the rural regions not only in YER
mont but also throughout the nation.
this connection it may be we'll recall the birth of
printing the Connecticut valley the cradle Of Vermont
Journalism not many miles distant from the home Of the
Spirit of the Age and almost concden with the Declaration
Of Independence and the beginning of the American Revou
ton. According to E. p Walton former editor of the Mont
pelier Wachman the first printing press in Vermont
probably brought here by Samuel Gale Englshman who
was married Brateboro 1773 and appointed county
clerk of Cumberland, now Windham county. In the West
minister he of the SIDE and the
State confscaed his property the after long mpson
ment finding refuge in Canada.
The first newspaper in the Green Mountain region
started June H. 1778 in Dresden which with various other
the east side Of the Connecticut then included
in Vermont territory these being represented
Vermont Legislature which in the year named Voted and
resolved that Judah Paddock and Alden Spooner be
hereby appointed printers for the General Assembly Of this
State"
The printing Office in question moved in 1873 to
Westminster from Dresden which with other New Halap.
shire towns set off from Vermont for the rs time in
February Of the year named the manifest purpose being
put the Office within the boundaries Of the State for which
the firm public printers.
The first newspaper printed in what is Vermont,
The Vermont Gazette Green Mountain PosBoy, is
sued from the Westminster Office February r. 1881 and
of volume of this paper dated Monday, April 2
1881 is preserved together with the press which it
printed in the of the Vermont Historical Society
| at Montpelier.
1t is believed that this press the first brought
to New England having been set in 1889 in the house
Henry Dunster first president of Harvard College 1t
used by Samuel Green printer in Cambridge Mass of
whose descendants, Timothy Green, partner with
| Spooner in the publication of the Post-BOy.
Well may the newspapers of the twentieth century live