The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-11-13
GRAND OLD MAN OF
BELLOWS FALLS is "a
Judge Allbe Quietly Celebrating Ami
versary Heard Daniel Web
ster Speak in 1910.
{ Special to The Reformer.)

BELLOWS FALLS, NOV. l3.
Albert Merriam Allbe is today observ-
ing quietly the oath anniversary of his
birth. Mr.. Allbe is one of the oldest
citizens of Bellows Falls and undoubt-
edIy the oldest member Of the Vermont
bar. Always of sturdy frame this son
of Vermont retains much of the vigor
of his earlier days, although advanc-
ing years have begun to tell their tale
and the Judge as he is familiarly
known, is not seen so often on the
streets as he was up to year or two
ago.
Sketches of the life of Mr. Allbe
have appeared in this paper on several
previous occasions therefore per-
haps it is unnecessary to go into some
of the details Of his earlier life. But a
chat with this "grand old man of
Bellows Falls is sure to elicit some
bit of interesting information or an
anecdote or two well-worth repeating
The Judge is probably the only
living resident of this or any of the
surrounding towns who heard Daniel
| Webster speak the day following the
great meeting on StrattOn mountain in
1910 He was living with his father,
| Ellery AIlbe, on farm just this side
/ of Westminster at the time His father
was a delegate to the Stratton conven-
! tion from Westminster and drove to
the mountain the day before the con-
vention and returned the day after.
\ When he reached home he told his son
that Mr. Webster would stop and speak
! in Bellows Falls; that his horses were
tired and that they ought not to be
driven to Bellows Falls, but if the boy
would hurry he might hear the states
man. Mr.. Allbe continues: Il hus-
tied up and walked to Bellows Falls, and
was one of the great crowd that heard
him speak from the balcony of the
Mansion House, and | presume / am the
only one now living in this vicinity
who heard him then. Mr.. Webster had
4 commanding voice, was large and
well-developed man, and had one OF
the best voices and the most pleasing
manner of delivery l ever heard. The
incident and the picture of the largest
crowd l had ever seen up to that time
has been fresh In my memory all these
years"
The square that day was one seeth
ing mass of humanity and to persons
; of the present day it seems wonderful
: that such a great number of peoplt
should have received the news tha
Webster was coming here, as ther
. were no telegraphs, telephones or news
e papers to carry the news to the coun
G tryside.
Six Hiram Maxim, the great inven
= tor, once felt the power of Mr.. Allbe
= good right arm. When the Judge
|. was young man he was employed in
e shop in Fitchburg as a clerk. The sho
l. = al
Young Hiram was one of the employees
Hiram was exceedingly proud of hi
prowess as a boxer and after defeatin
all those worthy of his mettle in til
shop was determined that Allbe shouI
have 4 taste of the gloves although h
never had engaged in a boxing mattel
Finally the two youths faced on
n another 1t was during noon hou
and the engagement took place in tn
office of the shop. A few minutes a
ter it started Allbe backed his oppt
nent toward window. Then with
D. terrific blow drove the present holdt
It of an English title through the windo
h and to the ground below. The WHINE
II of the combat was somewhat worried
d to what the uncle would say upon h
RS return but when the owner of the sho
IS learned the circumstances neither
le the youths were reprimanded, althoug
t the window had been broken. In speal
,e ing of Sir Hiram Maxim yesterday NJ
Allbe said that the inventor recent
It had written story of his own If
+ but had neglected to inscribe therei
N an account of the battle which he 10
:. in Fitchburg.
II Mr.. Allbe is spending the da
Ie quietly, no special plans having bee
g made to observe the anniversary of h
n birth