Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-04-03
VERMONT AND HER MERINOs.

In our early boyhood days when
our worthy sire often travelled
eastward for the wrinkly Vermont
Merinos and in the years which
followed as we attained mans estate
and still found Merino eve our fos-
ter mother, there was ever a desire
to see that land where Merinos were
first made famous and visit the men
who made Merino history such as has
been inscribed on Times book of live
stock breeding in no age or country
by any other domestic animal. So
that it was not an interest inspired
by the spur of the moment, nor by a
sudden activity in the development
of sheep breeding which led our foot
steps to old Vermont in the closing
days of the year. Rather was it a
reverence and admiration of the men
and their work which was Unborn and
had been cultivated by years of in
innate acquaintance with their results
that drew US with irresistible force.
AS we travelled northward from the
capital of the Empire State on an
ideal sunny December morn, we in
tuitively knew that we were crossing
into the realm of the Green Noun
tains when we saw numerous f1ocks
of sheep as we viewed this country
for the first time from CIR
window as the train wendell its way
up the narrow valley between the low
mountains, through hamlet and vii
lage, to the city of Rutland, our first
impression, which strengthened with
acquaintance was of State of noun
tains and marble whose fame Morgans
and Merinos had spread to all the
world. 1t was the spell of the latter
that drew US quickly on to that old
time Mecca of their breeders, Middle
bury.
~ pretty little city lying on either
side of the swiftly flowing Otter
River, it is distnctively a collection
of homes. One marble factory repre-
sents its sole industrial activity, while
Middlebury college adds its exclusive
intellectual tone to the place. Near
by Uncle Samuel has added the pres
tige of his power by the establish
ment of government breeding farm
Large and artistic buildings furnish
dignity and practical Importance.
Erected by men of wealth who made
their fortune in the nearby metropoli-
tan cities of Boston and New York, and
have sought this quiet, secluded place
among the verdant hills and sparkling
lakes to pass their latter years, these
masses of brick and granite will l1ng
stand as their monument. The houses
are old but substantial, and men point
with pride to dwellings erected for
more than century which still stand
as plum and true and well preserved
as when first built. Ancient oaks and
widespread naples lend their size and
beauty to the general plan.
Over all hangs perceptible and
yet intangible air of age, of expert
ence, of things well done and past.
The people are old. On every side
gray haired men and women seem tC
impress the stranger with the ever
prominent fact that they have livec
there long; when you talk to them
they tell you of times and deeds ir
the distance past. Perhaps it i'm.
pressed US so because we visited here
when the sands of the passing year hao
well nigh run their course, perhaps
because we met and visited men who
themselves had seen the SHOWS of many
winters and who told US enchanting
tales of other times which listened like
stories of another world. perhaps it wa.
because we sought this knowledge anC
heard with this spirit of age. Whatever
it was which made our eyes see thus
we pay all homage and obeisance t.
these good men of Vermont, many o,
whose forbears and contemporaries.
joined with them in producing anC
developing the first distinctively Amer
lean breed of improved pure-bred liv,
stock, Merino sheep
A third and half century ago al
this country was covered with flock.
of Mernos. No man could find plac,
in Addison county who neither raised
nor handled Merinos, nor attended tn,
wants of men who did. The infection
spread all over the State, and to the
adjoining States. For years Vernon
was the breeding ground of wrinkly
heavy-heeced Merinos, and her breeder.
boosted that she could ever maintain
!. her supremacy as the fountainhead
Times change. The world moves. Ever
travels the star of empire on its west