Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-29
THE STATE


Some of the committees which give
out estimates on whether man can
raise a family dccently on S150O "a year,
or whether he must have $1,000, might
get some pointers if they took trip to
SearsburC, ". and interviewed the town =
postmaster ~ n. Bartlett. says the Bos
ton Globe. For Mr. bartlett doesn't wor-
~ about the IL. 6. OF L., or the question
Of Increased pay for postal employees.
Sometimes the government pays him
as much as 800 year And good years
he makes almost 81 selling ferns which
he nicks in the hills. Which is really
moro than he needs lie says so himself
Before had the postoffcc it was "A
mighty hard strucg'" al times he said,
smiling bonevolcntly at the writer but
with a steady income from the govern
mcnt, don't have thing to worry about.
| even havc a little extra money"
Although 50 years old. Mr.. Bartlett
doesn't confinc his activities to running
the postoffice and swapping his fingers
al the high price specter For 90 years
he has been a working member Of the
prohibition party, in fact. he is the orig
hal member in his section of the State.
He ha. held many offices in town. He
is editor, publisher makeup man. type
setter, reporter and copy boy of little
1uarteriy known the Christian Citizen,
and he dcvotes much Of his time TO fur
thering tIc cause which he has supported
SO long He also writes songs, mostly in
tho interests of the dry era.
Standing in the door of the little post
office. which he built himself from odd =
md ends Of lumber floated down the Deer
Held river. he looked rs contented as a
man could and husky enough to satisfy
the lonC-.ife specialists
Come and see" ne said when asked
how he managed to live on 500 a year. lie
picked mp a sign bearing the words
Over The ridge If YOU want me, pull
rome at right and remain in sight until
appear" and tackled up beside the dooi.
The rope referred to ran up to tho ton
of the steep hill behind the house and
was fastened to "A tin can full of stones
which hung IN a tree. 1t was the postof.
ice bell.
Behind the ridge was a garden. per-
1aps an eighth of an acre in size. and
Iotted with stones. stumps and outcrop-
Ding ledge I'm the clear spaces Of earth
veeetab es Of many kinds were thriving
On the outskirts were berry bushes.
Here's the answer" he said with an
explanatory wave Of the arm ION this
one hit of land | can get and do get prac-
.lcallv all my food | cannot raise wheat,
of course. ] could raise chickens and q
pig If | wanted to, but ! never eat meat.
would no more think Of doing so than
would drink liquor I don't mind a bit
Of chicken now and then. but ! don't crave
n II | get hungry for fish they can be
caught in the Dccrficld river, hut such
food Is not necessary and [ do not care
'or it
II can iue berries and store lnc vo-c-
tables Us for bread / nave the stage
irivc, bring what / need but / prefer
,.acIlers and usual.l cat then, drinl;
rocra on chocolate but no tea or coffee
press the Juice of rasphcrries and wild
Srap-s and bottle tacm after the Juice
'; toi'ed until fully stcriIized SO that il
-ar:gf Torment. \ couple Of crackers ard
4 small ,.Iass If pure unfcrmentcd fruit
luce. Is suffic ient Tor a nlca So YOU csl
see tlat don't haze to buv much
As 70 fircwood. That floats down tn,
liver in larger unanrite. tnan 7 can use
II can e. WOOL hesid, my door So in
80; c,icatin- doesn't bother me"
NJ. EaliletL u.,d TO 20 on ION. tramp,
,var to STATE collecting fInds fo- proh
,ition proparanua Once ht stated on
90 collect funds for VIVA. ne c,;i.d ta,
Home institute" a place Were mci
,ould bs built IN mentally AMI 3hy.,ca!IS
,.lay from the city. H2 WIS gcrc fop,