Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-08
VERMONT A CENTURY AGO.

VERMONT A CENTURY AGO.
An interesting glimpse Of Vermont Gus
toms. things and conditions century
ago is afforded by a copy Of "The New
England Farmers Diary and Almanac
for ISIS, which lies before US. This wcrg
is by Truman Abel and it was published
in Windsor by Jesse Cochran. We are to
bear in mind that almanacs were then
not only best Sellers but also in the
absence of newspapers the chief current
reading with their miscellany and other
matter.
The list of Vermont educ ational institu-
tons included the "windsor Female
Academy and Juvenile College. Josiah
Durham, A. M, principal" The accom-
panying appeal for patronage says: "This
institution began December. 1915, and
the number of members within the last
year was LII females and g. males"
Concerning the State university, the fol-
lowing interesting statement is made
nshed at Burlington. November ]. 1871
Tho act OF Incorporation was SO altered
by tho Legislature. at Nher session in
1910. that there arc to be in future. fifteen
trustees chosen by the Legislature. and
commissioned by the governor, beside
tho Governor of the State. the speaker
of tho House of Representatives, and the
president Of the college, who are ex-
officio members of the corporation"
Tho Rev. Samuel Austin, d. D.. was
then president of the university, and
the members of tho corporation included
such men as His Exccllency. Jo.as
Galusha, ESQ.,, ex-officio, William a.
Griswold, esq, ex-officio. Hon. James
Fisk esq. Titus Hutchinson, ESQ.,, 4. NJ,
Rev. iona Going. jr. A. M. Hon.
Martin Chittendcn. Doct. John PoLneroy.
Elder Henry Green. Hon. Samuel G.
Crafts. Heman Allen. esq, Milton. Tru-
man Chittenden esq.," and others.
We have this early glimpse OF Middle
bury College: "Middebury College was
established by the Legislature, November
]. 1900; and by the name Of The Pres-
dent and Fellows of Mddlebury College
have all the powers OF an Independent
corporation, and may elect and remove
the members OF their own body"
Tho Rev. Joshua Bates was president
elect and the Fellows" included such
well known names in Vermont history as
the "IIon. Natl Chapman. Ill D. Rev.
Heman Ball. y. D.. Hon. Gamaliel
Painter, Seth Storrs. ESQ.,, A. NJ, Hon.
Danl Chapman. Hon. Horatio Seymour.
A. NJ. Hon. William HALL" and others.
II is of especial interest as mirror OF
the customs of the times to note this
footnotc of Middlebury: Commence
nually.
We are given a vivid idea of the travel
of a century ago through Vermont by a
List of roads, with the names of the
Inn Keepers" Then as now Burlington
was sort of half way house between
Boston and Montreal. The highway legend
for travellers reads as follows: From Bos.
ton to Montreal thro' Concord, Groton.
Keene. Walpole. i, Falls. Rutland, Mid
dlebury and Burlington"
Then follows list Of towns with the
and innkeepers in Vermont being as fol-
lows: Bellows Falls, Nichols. Webb. Cook;
Rockingham, Holt. Evans Chester.
Miller. Blake: Cavendish, stiles. Proctor;
Mount Holly. Green: Shrewsbury, Finney;
Clarendon. Parker. Rutland, Gould.
Reed; Pittsford, Kendall; Middiebury.
Bell: Vergennes- Painter; Ferrisburg,
Hawley; Charlotte. Barnes; Sheburne,
Parsons; Burlington. Crane; Colchester.
Hine Milton. Manley; Georgia. Doane;
st. Adams. Keith; Swanton. stearns; St.
John. Watson: Montreal, Holmes.
The wide prevalence of filthy habit
Of century ago, now happily obsolete
In all refined circles. has this inter-
esttng side light "On Taking Snuff"
There follows this observation: Every
protested, inveterate and incurable snuff
taker. at a moderate calculation, takes
pinch every ten minutes. Every pinch
with the agreeable ceremony of blowing
and wiping the nose, and ether incidental
circumstances. consumes one minute and
half One minute and a half-mcans
thirty-rix days ard half in year.