Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-06-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
"Old Burlington"
TO the Editor of the Free Press.

To the Editor of the Free Press:
Having read an article on the above
subject in a recent issue Of the Week
ly Free Press, feel forced to join with
our friend Irwin In reviewing some of the
early days Of Burlington and some of
the events as they occurred In the early
years Of 1900, some Of which I call to
mind were related by my father in the
days Of the opposition boat, "Saltus."
then plying UP and down the entire
length Of Lake Champlain.
Your mention Of the Howard House
and the glass factory, uncovers the sleep
ing past and brings wildly to mind al
most forgotten incidents, partly amusing
yet semi tragical One of the tourists Of
those days, commonly known as a tin
peddler, put UP at the Howard House,
backing his wagon under an open shed,
which to his mind was rather exposed
and unprotected. This caused his con-.
siderable uneasiness through the night,
and he finally stole softly down the
stairs and out into the yard and was
carefully feeling over the contents of
his cart when lie was suddenly seized
from behind and held in a vise-like grip
while the familiar voice Of Mr.. Howard
rang in his ear Now my man have got
you" The peddler, in speaking of the
/ occurrence later, said II was not the
least Of his troubles to convince his cap
| tor that he was really the owner of the
/, goods but when he did he went to bed
| and to sleep with no further thought Of
care or responsibility to disturb his
peaceful dreams.
On another occasion when a man who
owned a beautiful and perfectly matched
| span Of horses had the misfortune to
| have one Of them stolen, and the thief.
| ~, - a IlAxx VJs
tation as a short-stop down fine, rode
into the yard Of the Howard House and
shouted Justify for an audience, which
soon gathered, including the far-famed
proprietor, when he related in loud
voice how the mate to the horse he was
| then riding had been stolen and he was
in pursuit Of the thief, and as he had
ridden fast he might have passed him
| on the road and asked his hearers to do
him the favor of keeping a sharp look
out, and IL they saw the other horse to
| hold both the horse and rider and send
| for him as he was on his way to Shell
burne and Charlotte in further search
OF the thief. 1t is needless to say that
| in a short time the rightful owner of
the pair found himself in solitary con-
fnement through the vigilance of the
self appointed committee under the su-
pervlsion of Mr.. Howard.
In speaking of the glass factory. when
this industry was in the course of con-
| struction, one of the hotel proprietors
| called around to note progress and cas-
ually remarked to the foreman or over
1 seer, that IL he would preserve his first
bottle blown at the works and bring II
to his hotel he would fill 1t with the
best the house afforded, as sort OF
token Of his appreciation of the new in
dustry, which proposition was readily
agreed to. Some few months later after
the glass blowers had commenced oper-
atoms, this proprietor was called upon
to make good his promise and found out
side his door a large truck on which was
seated huge bottle, capable Of holding
something more than a BARREL The ira
dition does not say whether he was sur.
prised or not% but simply relates that hi
was game and at once ordered the bucket
brigade to commence hauling booze ur
out Of the cellar, thus proving that his
word was no scrap of paper.
To our mutual friend, r. j. Irwin whom
do not know personally. I would like
to say that In the wee small 7Os, l, my.
self. was knight Of the road, employed
by the United States & Canada EXPIRES.
while the National was in its swaddline
clothes and the American was unhearo
Of in the East
Might I be- permitted. through thes,
columns. to expressing sympathy for Mr.
Irwin and family for their bereavement
owing to the sad accident at the Col
chester bridge
Sincerely yours, an old Vermonter.
F. B. FARNSWORTH
GRANNY One n