The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-22


their rightfu inheritance. The deter r
mination, energy and tenacity OF pur-
pose which tinobs through all history
OF Nermpnt, will come once more to
the defense OF the higher interests Of
our State Once let Nermonters learn
what the danger Of the situation is,
realize what better country schools
would mean, and how they can be
obtained, there's no @pubht that the
danger will retreat baffled and beaten
as did tie earlier enemies OF the State.
Another important factor In the
situation Is the character of the new
State Official who has taken up their
cause. Miss Lucia inherits from gem
GRAFTON after generation OF her Yer.
mont fanny the tradition OF gener-
Gus, energetic service to Vermont.
one of her great grandfathers was
Robert Haven the stout hearted first
settler OF Royalton From that day
to this the family has always owned
Hand and lived in Vermont and stick
sturdy roots deep into Vermont ira.
ditions OF courage, plain living, and
intelligent work for the common good.
Another great grandfather founded
and was first president Of Dartmouth
which gives an educational background
to the family, but as though they
feared this lead might lead to I'm
practically. another great grand
father turned to the business world /
founded and was first president of the
! Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Com.
pany. Miss Lucias grandfather was
for many years State Librarian, as
we'll as Il prominent attorney In Mont |
peller, her uncle was author of the
Vermont photography. Miss Lucia S
father. joel II. Lucia, a Middlebury
! graduate, Civil War hero. was on
Gov. Washburns staff. and for several
years chairman OF the Republican
Congressional Committee of the See
ond Congressional District
Public service Is a family tradition
and Miss Lucia has lived up to it,
For u years she has been Unidentified
with the Montpelier public schools and
Is years principal OF the Primary
schools has built up the primary de-
partment to one OF the best in the
ieountiy. has grown herself and made
the, Montpelier schools grow up to a
higher and higher standard of efiici
: ency, intelligence and usefulness.
Fer years she has been one of the
best known. most respected and most
Influential citizens of our capital
But this has not been enough. Part
OF the inheritance which our braeing
climate and active vigorous life gives
to most Vermonters is tremendous
, amount of physical stamina! Miss
Lucia has perhaps even more than
, her share OF the driving power which
, comes ABUNDANT health and strength
, and her powerful personality has car
ried her far beyond the limits of a
one.town usefulness. To Vermont
, teachers she has been a well known
I. figure one OF their trusted leaders in
! any organization which has tried to
. increase their efficiency and improve
! their conditions. She was one of the
{ incorporators of the Vermont Teach.
+. er's Retirment Fund Association, the
q organization instrumental in getting
o the present Retirment Annuity Law
n for teachers, and is one OF the two
q elected members Of the present Retire
r ment Board,e created by the statute
o But is IT for none of this that Miss
[ Lucia is known outside of Vermont
!. and yet she lis widely known and
q greatly loved wherever there arr
/ American childrea Most people
Il know here as the author of the utterly
delightful peter and Polly books
= four small volumes which are class
les among chi,dren's books. because
of the transparent simplicity of theil
style the singular charm with which
as one of our crystal clear lakes thel
reflect the sweet, quaint happy. idyl
lie life OF two little Vermont countr!
children, All over the country. child
rem on the plain and in the great cite
read Peters and Pollys adventures
n and sieaingly conclude that the rea
\ name OF Heaven as far as children
II go, is Vermont.
Well they are right or they Shouts
I'd be. Vermont average level OF its IN
y habitants, with its beautiful scenery
e. with It's free happy hunting ground
s. OF woods and brooks and valleys ant
"a mountains, and glorious stimulatin
y climate. should be next door to Feave
y TO children. Vermont has not muc
or money compared to some other States
IN But IL Is not much money which /
4. needed for children. but interest
u some money, and much care. though
= and intelligence. Every countr
m school in our State ought to be cen
ter radiGtlng health and hope am
- strength and intelligence to an
r child attending il, and 1t can be
we will only gather our scattered er
= ergles, set our soulders TO the wheC
and give one good push, all OF II
> working together.
II Is, 10 help MS gather our seattere
energies, to show us how to set GU
shoulder to the wheel, that Mis-
Lucia has given up her stable, con
Portable. honored work in Montpelier
and has taken up her new State pos
tion All her strong, active usefr
life has been q sort of unconsciou
/ preparation for this effort to hel
lie Vermont children. She has the VII
on OF what country life might blessed
- ly be to Vermont boys and girls, sh
has set il down in her books, she ha
n trained for II with the hardest sort {
q steady work. has helped to reali2
b II In one Vermont city, and now stan
rpady tn throw into the greater Wor