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THE VERMONT PIICENIX, BKATTLEBOIU), FMDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1877. JlUATTLKDOItO FltlDAY. DECEMBElt -J", 177. Kill 1t. The Vermost Vituatix completes its 44lh volume with (lie present number. The year 1877. bo far ns we nre concerned, linn beeu one of toil ol earnest, unremitting, lmrd yet liocfiil labor. We luive inml no effort to lay before ourrenders, rut h week, the freshest, fullest nnd most reliable accounts of nil impor tanl loenl event ; to Keep them thoroughly informed in regard to nil. worth knowing, tlmt has transpired in other jmrts of the world : and, nt the Mine time, to furnish them it liberal supply of reading matter calculated to furnish food for thought and to promote their material and mornl'ndvaucemeiit. We have, in fact, pin more hard days' works into The 'V. ebmo.nt l'nassu during the pait year than ever before, and have made no inconsid erable addition to the amount of reading mat ter fumiRhed each week, to say nothing of the improvement in typographical appearance. It is not at all to be wondered at therefore as it is our great pleasure to announce that The l'uaacix will enter upon its Ifith volume, next week, with n largely increased subscriii tion list, with high hopes, and n determina tion to deserve and wm from the new year of 187rt still greater and more worthy triumphs. Wo trust that our readers w ill one and all ac cept from us. on our 45th birthday, the tender of a cordial and cheerful Hxrrv New Year : We nre told that at the New England Socie ty's dinner nt New York last Saturday ev ening President Hayes "politely declined the wine offered bim during the dinner.' The South Carolina Legislature has ratified au amendment to the State constitution, which levies an annual tax of two mills ujiou nil tax able property for the support of free schools. At tho close of the holiday recess the Presi dent will send it special message to the Sen ate, in which it is understood he will insist upon tho right of the Executive to select his appointments without dictation from the Sen nte. The trial of Dr. T. S. I,auibcrt, president of the American Popular Life Insurance Com pany, of New York, for perjury, resulted on Thursday last in a verdict of guilty : and he is now in the Tombs, awaiting tho result of a motion fur a new trial, or his sentence, if the motion is denied. The penalty is State pris on "for not more than ten years. The ease against him appears to have been clear. The news from the ltio Grande is regarded as ending the question of war with Mexico. The co-operation of Mexican regulars with our troops in following the outlaws into Mex ico shows that the information was true which was recently received tit the effect that tht regular troops Diaz was sendmg to the lor der were really to preserve pence, and not for the purpose of attacking our fore,,. A new departure in the management of the Central Vermont railroad affairs is announced this week. Superintendent G. W. Beutley of the New Loudon Northern road is to be sec ond vice-president of the company nud will assume practical charge of its affairs, ulthough ex-Gov. Smith still remains president. The business of the line is to bo classified in three dejiartments through traffic, local traffic and general pasbcuger, with Lansing Millis in charge of the through traffic with nu office in Boston. Further reorganization is likely to take placo as hoon as Mr. Beutley assumes his new duties. President Hayes, accompanied by his laui ily, and Secretary Evarts and Attorney-General Deveus, arrived in New York from Wash ington last Friday, and in the evening the President was given n grand reception by the Union League Club. Saturday evening Mr Hayes attended th' 22d annual dinner ion Forefathers' Day) of tue New England Socie ty at Delmouico's. Among those seated at the table with the President were Secretary Evarts. President Porter of Yule college. President Eliot of Harvard, and Gov. Fairbanks of Ver mont. The ofter-dinner speaking was begun by Secretary Evarts. who responded to the toast, "Tho Day Wo Celebrate." The second toast was "The President of the United States." nud Mr. Hayes in replying said "I beg merely to make my acknowledge ments to you for your grent kindness, and to say to you that I am in the fullest, heartiest sympathy with what I believe to be the best sentiments of New England men. and of the descendants of New England men applause, and to say that among the recollections I have which are most cherished, are those associated with the names, lues and hopes of my New England ancestors ' Itcv. Dr. James Freeman Clarke of Boston spoko for that city. Gov. Fairbanks of Ver mont respouded to "Tho New England States." Prof. Marsh of Yale sjioke for Connecticut, and l'rcsideut Eliot of Harvard and President Porter of Yale resKnded to a toast compli mentary to Hananl and Yale. On Sunday the President and his family attended church in New Vork, and on Monday the party re turned to Washington. Tlie ztullroutl From a private letter just received by a gen tleman of this village from Mr. George E. Mansfield, tho manager of the Billericu and Bedford narrow-gauge railroad, wo learn that there is, us is usual in such cases, only a grain of truth in the exaggerated reports, set atloat by interested parties, of the excessive cost and large indebtedness of this couijiauy. Mr. Mansfield emphatically rtqieats his former statement that the building and equipping of the road has only cost $t'iO,(H)Ot and that, with better management, ev eu this sum might have been somewhat reduced. The statement of the amount of indebtedness is also much ex aggerated, though it is not denied that, owing mainly to the fact that n considerable portion of the capital stock, (."). (0(h has not been aid in, there are outstanding debts against the cortKmttion on construction accounts, and that through disagreement of the directors as to tho management of the concern, nud th" consequent delay in providing the means to pay this indebtedness, the corporation ho. been sued by one of its Pennsylvania creditors, and is suffering somewhat from financial em barrassment. This fact, however, has noth ing to do with the question as to whether the roaJ can lie operated at a profit, and its pros pects in this direction are of the most favora ble character And still less does it impeach the uarrow-guuge system. Admitting every charge its enemies make, the great facts still remain, that this two-feet gauge road can be built and operated us cheuply as has been stated, that it will do all the business of the West ltiver ; valley as well in ull respects ns nny other road. In another column Mr. Harris makes a plain and business-like statement of the case in re gard to the legal rights of the towns interested to transfer the aid already voted to the three feet gauge llrattleboro and Whitehall project to this roKised two-feet gauge road. We believe the jwsition which he takes to be sound and reasonable, both from a common sense and a legal point of view ; and every friend of the enterprise will cordially endorse hu suggestion that there shall be no attempt at any unwarranted action in the matter, but that every town shall be asked to vote square, ly on the question of transferring its proosed aid. Jn addition to the letters ami oouimiuuca- Hons which we have pnblMied from Town ahend, Jurnnicn find Londonderry, we have received nwiuy nemrntxtm by word of mouth, nud from various private source of informa tion, that In nil them towns the people nre deeply interested in the subject, nud ready to help the project on by every menus in their power. Not the least encouraging of these hopeful indications is the rommmiicatiou, or appeal which we publish this week from n score of prominent mid responsible citizens of the good town of Weston. These men urge, nnd with good reason, Hurt the promised rond shall not lie allowed to stop short of their town, nnd wo hope nnd Isdievo that it mny he found practicable to carry out their sugges tion nnd put the rond through to tho head wntcrs of the West lliver. Is it too much to liojie, iu this closing week of the yenr 1 "77. tlmt before nnother year shall have rolled nwny the sound of the steam whistle may be henrd throughout the length of the beautiful nnd fertile West ltiver valley Whether the question receives an affirmative or n negative reply depends entirely on the amount of ener gy nnd determination which all the towns nnd eople interested put into the matter. It is not n day too soon to take hold of the work in earnest Ruilrrn llur Utiles. At the sent of war there is Christians weath er with a vengeance . Horses nnd men frozen to death, transport trains buried in snow, and the entire campaign paralyzed by the grasp of Winter, is tho sum of the news that comes "from the front." Thus, though the Itnssian preparations nre being innde to crois the Balkans, there is n fair prospect tlmt some thing like n compulsory armistice will give a chance for the negotiation of terms of peace A grand ovation welcomed the Unr on his arrival nt St. Petersburg last Saturday, nnd the reception liore every evidence of genuine reverence nnd homngt . The Cznr will return to the field in about n month. He has de clared that he will march through to Constan tinople ns the Germans did to Pans Our state department at Washington, it is now said, bus for some tune lieen in jvossch siou of information from nn official source in EuroH3 to the effect thnt the Turkish govern ment hns felt, from the moment the war be gan in earnest on the part of ltussia. nnd without interference from the western pow. era. thnt it would not be nble to maintain itself in Europe, but w ould be obliged to withdraw into Asia and abandon Constantinople and nil Turkey in Europe to ltussiu. .TIl.tOll VU1'I. Matt Carpenter is said to be the most bril liant pleader before the United States Su preme Court, and to be making there nn in come of ijoO.Otiti or r.(l.(si(l n year. Warm weather in winter is not of itself unhealthy, the physicians any, but it induces carelessness nnd exisisurc from which sick ness results. The prudent mau is in no more (Linger of dying of nu open December thau from n hot June. The careless mnn is ulwnys in danger. Senator Edmunds of Vermont has gone by the Dismal hw amp canal to the coast of North Carolina, with the hoiie Hint the trip will break up malarial symptoms which liuve somewhat troubled him of luti . Alexander Stephens's committee on weights nud measures is going to rejwrt a bill making the metric system obligator- in ull govern ment transactions. Mr. Stephens is positive that tho system is going to bo adopted, soon er or later, by all civ ihzed nations, and thinks that the United Suites ought to take it up promptly. The Maryland court of appeals has decided that a colored man cannot be admitted to the courts of that Stato under the 11th amend ment of the I". S. Constitution, because the matter of regulating udniissions to State courts is purely n Stato matter. The commission appointed to investigate the management of the New York post office reports that the force cif employes cannot be reduced without injury to public business, and compliments jiostiuuster James on his ef. ficiency . Axotueu llov Mcr.nrnEB A second Jesse Pomeroy has made his appearance in Boston, although his crimes are not as extensive as those of the original "boy fiend." Last Wednes day afternoon uliout .'I o'clock, as Mary Cro uiu, aged I!, and her little brother John, a child - years and k mouths of age. were de scending u staircase in their lather's house on Lenox street, they were met by Henry Ilick ey, a lad of between 12 and 14 years old. who also lived m the house. Hickey said to the little girl, "I'm going to shoot one of you." Mary replied: "I guess you won't shoot me or my little brother cither." Upon this young Hickey pulled out n revolver and took aim at the little boy. and ns he moved to go down stairs shot hiui iu the head. The child only lived an hour. Hickey immediately lied nnd was not arrested until Monday of tins week, when he was found by an officer on Tremont street, meditating as to w hether he would sur render himself to justice or hide ugaiu. It seems that he had been in a Catholic Chant able Institution in the city since the commis sion of his crime, having deceived the officers of that institution as to his name. On con fessing to the priest on Monday he w as ud vised to give himself up to the officers. The boy now declares that the shooting was acci dental and that he had forgotten that the pis tol was loaded when ho aimed at the Crouiu boy. It is probable, however, that it is only another case showing tho effects of dime nov el reading Pen Poutiuits or Coxkuxq. The other day, I heard a good story of Couklmg, whose magnificent maunensms and stately decorum are matters of national note. A friend who know s linu intimately usserts that his punc tdious deortmeut is not a garment donned for the public gaze, but thai it is u (tart and parcel of himself and that he puts on his night-shirt or pares his toe-nails with the same moderation and impressment that marks the delivery of n speech. The other day, about noon, he confronted his clerk with thin solemn conundniui: "Mi. . did you or. der my breakfast to be reudy this morning. as I directed you ?" Poor Mr , mindful of his own dehuqueucv. stammered and halted, not knowing what to sin . There wus u jiaiu ful silence of u moment. '1 hen u lrowu set tled on Coukhug's brow, and drawing him self up to his full blight, he said slowly and with all the inflections of the rhetorician : "louug man, your negligence hits cost me my breakfast. Next time 1 direct you to have my breukfast prejiared for nu-. see that it is done." The uverage stutesmuu would havt ejaculated simply "D you! why didn't you have my hrenkfust ready, iu I ordered?" Not so the lordly ltascoi . It is hardly necessary to describe Couk hug's physique. The auburn looks, tufted out on either temple : the auburn beuid run ning to it point below, and giving a triangular look to tho front contour of the head; the broad shoulders, the long body idttuys poised slightly forward from the biis. the bent knees and peculiar gait, the immaculate linen and spotless English clothes above ull the long, sharp nose, with the chronic sneer hov ering at its base are ull well known. There can be no question of Conkhug's ability, but he is an entirely diflerent type of man from Goidou (of South Carolina . The latter is warm-hearted, impulsive, generous, charita ble and manly. The former is cold, calculat ing, politic, implacable and ulso manly, but with u manhood subservient to his isjlitic uud his ambitions. One has the hot blood of the South, tempered and controlled by u great heart and a tnie conscience ; the other, the cool blood of the North and u great brain which is ruled absolutely by ambition. Tho January number of the Galaxy was the last, Messrs II O Houghton A I o, having purchased the good will and the subscription list, the magazine will hereafter be merged with the Atlantic niLLRMCA it llBDFOltn Jl. It JLeller from 4il?i.TittnilleliU.1fMnuirr OrrtcK II. A 1). lt.tn.HoAn Co.. i llrtironn. Mass.. Dec. it, 177. i Jtmi. H. 1). Jlttrrii. Jlrattlrlnn: Vt. : Mp l)mr fir. I have read your letter of the iith Inst., published in tho Drattlcboro pa pers, describing our little railroad and its workings, with much interest. If 1 had tho time 1 should be glad, by way of further explanations, to go fully into details, but the lsrge pile of unanswered letters before me from ull parts of the country, inking for in fnrnmtion nbout this new departure in rail roading, forbids. Ho I must content irtywlf with simply saying that all the statements con taiued in your letter as to tho construction, equipment "and practical workings of this road nre correct in every particular, as I am preiwred to prove to any one who will come here nnd see for himself, And 1 shall ! es ieeinlly glad to see any parties from good old Windham county, t my former home i. and will do all I can to make their visit interesting, and perhaps give them a little knowledge Msnit cheap railroads nud cheap transporta tion. 1 conceived the idta of this kind of road for the benefit of New England towns, that they might have cheap railroad commun ication, nnd thus liriug prosperity back again to their deserted lulls nnd valleys. Thin is n road to lie built on a solid basis for the Inter, cats of the people, and not of rings. I have proved by the llillerica & Hedford road thnt Mich n line can be built, and will iay. in al most any part of the country, and yet lie ca llable of doing all the business that can be brought to it. So tell your people not to hes itate : but if any do, let them come and see with their own eyes. 1 repeat that 1 can demonstrate the entire tnrth of every state, mcnt in your lcttir to Mr. Martin. I am. iu addition to passenger trains, haul ing various kinds ol freight, including gran ite and coal. Ouo has only to nee these little cars weighing only 4TAK) lbs., taking Ui heavy loads lroni the big cars, whose weight is SMI.OtMl llis.. or so. to rcnlue the fact thnt "dead weight" adds enormously to the cost of transportation I made two round trilm with passenger car to-day, n distance of 85 miles in all, dur ing which the consumption of coal was only 1 ."HI lbs., costing about 40 cents; and on one of these trips the rate of sieed was thirty miles an hour. In running Its) miles we use only a pint nnd n half of oil nnd a jiound of waste, both costing less thau !'." cents. How is this for economy : All I ask is. let any who doubt come and see. tours truly, in haste. Uko. E. MAHania.il Manager II. 11. A- li. H. TIIK l'HOl'OHEV TWfhFl!ET UAUGE JtOAl) Tlif tfttirsllon aif XtiMii Aid. "7 ihr pUin i if building tlie tirv-jWt pavyt to Januuen or JjttmUmdrrrft nhtniM Ac adopted, tehai further action, if any, trill lie required tf the toitn that hare already v-tnl. or traiufrr red aid, to Uir Jlratlitifru ! Whitehall mil road, to make eueJt aid atallahlr f ' Mr, Editor: The above inquiry, iu sub stance, has bceu so frequently made, both verbally and by letter, that I beg space in your columns for my answi r 1 . The law authorises towns and cities, on certain conditions and within certain limita tions, to aid in the construction of "any rail road" in this htat : and. no particular kind or gauge of railroad beutL. apeciHtd. it obvi ously applies as well to U two-feet gauge as to any other, lgal decisions have settled this point, nnd no one is likely to dispute it. 1'. Ihe volet, of the different towns that hate granted aid vary somewhat u form, but are substantially nuke in their legal bearings Take the cast of llrattlelioro. for examplt The aid was oted iu three distinct proposi tions: 1. That the town will aid in the con struction of the llrattleboro A Whitehall rail road. .'. That the amount of such aid slutll Ikj r.'ai.tHKI, in the form of a subscription to the capital stock of the coiupam . .1. 'ITje commissioners chosen were Authorized to bor row the money required on the credit of the town, and give the town's notes to rejuty one tenth of the sum so borrowed each yeur until the w hole is paid. And the votes of the other towns that have decided to aid are equally free from all conditions toucluug the charui -ter of the railroad to be built. There is nothing, then, in the laws of the Suite authorizing' aid. nor in the specific ac tion ol any of the towns that have voted aid, which does not apply us completely to the two-feet gouge as to the three-feet or any oth er: consequently the binding force of any such grant of aid would not lie in the least un paired by the adoption of the two-feet gauge. It would still be the same llrattleboro and Whitehall railroad comjany, authorized by law and specified iu the votes of the towns, with all its corjioratenghtiiaud jiowers unchanged. This is u fair statement of the legal aspects of the case, as 1 understand them : and in this opinion 1 am sustained by 'Voun-. 1 learned in tit law." who have grveu tht siibfect care ful attention t-o mudi for utrict legality. There is. how ever, another view of the matter which can not, iu common fairness, be overlooked. In the public discussions of this subject during the last year, both in speeches and iu the uewsjiapen;, it was reiatedly and distinctly btated that no money would be t.dkd for until the whole amount of menus necessary to com plete the road to Whitehall had been secured ; and this condition was embodied in the form of Bubscnption that was adopted. The jieo ple unquestionably so understood it. While, therefore, it is clear that the continued valid ity of any aid heretofore voted would not be endangered by the protiosed change of gauge nor by the decision to build a part instead of the whole rood at the outset, it is equally clear, to my mind, that no such aid should be enforced until another fair opportunity lias been given to the voters to make known their wishes, in some proier way. under the altered conditions now presented. If the people of the West ltiver valley do not waut this road, and are not willing uud ready to pay for it, they should lie allowed to say so, and that should end it. If it is a good and desirable thing to leave, it is good for all, and all should supjiort it. If it is not a good thing, it ought to be abandoned. The active friends of this enterprise liave no desire to force it upou au unwilling public, and dis tinctly disclaim any purpose to succeed through indirection, or taking advantage of mere legal technicality 1. D. IUuus. llrntllelxiro, Dec. 24, 177 -iu .lipeal from Ytestun, To Hon. 11. 1). Jlarri. Jlmttkboro : Sir : We have read your letter published in the llruttlelioro mpers iu relation to your narrow-gauge railroad project. Wo hove ob served with pleasure uud pride your ierse verauce nnd energy in attempting to get some kind of railroad facilities through the West ltiver i ulh v. We thought and still think we proKsed the liest line for the people nud the railroad company (the O. M. N.-G. 15. It.) but we wish, as you do, if we cannot get what we want, to take what seems to lie the next best. We now think a narrow-gauge from Brattleboro to Weston is good enough for us, and we herein Jiledge ourselves to do what we oau to carry the project through. We want it distinctly uuderstotsl that you do not leave Weston township out in the cold, for we want belle r county facilities than we now hat i . to- getfi. r vtitU the railroad nlm tiwi ihinLWiud- Iham countv tan hi Ip (. i. We want row hereafter to speak of your projected railroad frutn Jlratlleboro to Merlon, an the head Jin If you do we will remain servants. Fain A. KiMDMim. i AuufltT n. l'Jun, Lnwre OttArrox, N. U WAtTt, A. 11 llATt. ('. I'. MABSfll, T. II, HicitAuiwon, Wji. W. MAMirtttn, IIarbt Finn, lo. W. Wiusv. A. L. ATM BATON. eounty, 'l. l-'riiiii lmi ti KixiKOToH, Iowa. Dee. Ill, 1R77. Tn The ) 'ermont l'hanir : 1 wonder if old New Kuglnml can lsmst of finer weather than ours. Wo should almost be tempted to call it springtime if our calen dar did not read December. The first week in November gave us a sharp taste of winter. Nov. 4th snow fell tolhe depth of several inches, making good sleighing for a week. Nov. Oth the mercury fell to 12 below zero and we thought winter had come in good earnest. The two weeks following were Indian Sum mer. Mince then the Weather has been varia ble. We have bad no more snow of any ac count and no very cold weather. The pant two weeks have been very warm and pleasant, r.hnost equal to tho "sunny South." In an other week we mny imagine ourselves at the North Mile. so sudden are the changes often cxpunencil m this northern climate ; still we hope for another mild winter. The two win ters we have passed in Iowa have been the ftucst on record. Even that far-famed indi vidual, "the oldest inhabitant." never saw the like before. This may prove equally pleas ant : we certainly need not murmur at the weather we have had thus far. We are in clined to think tin old Indian's prophecy is coming true. Four years ago was a fearful winter iu northern Iowa and Minnesota. During the winter a party of Indian hunters camped hero for a few weeks The chief, a very old man. prophesied very cold weather and hard storms for the remainder of that win ter aud the next, which proved tnie : after that he said, we should have fourteen beauti ful winters. Vt e have already had two of them and why not hope for the other twelve ': The prospeet for the coming year is far more encouraging than n year ago. Grass hoppers are things of tho past aud have ceased to he a dread in this section. The ex cellent wheat crop of the past season has placed the farmers in ranch easier circum stances, aud what helps the farmer helps all the rest. We bear but little of "hard times," which was the leading topic last winter. The price of wheat has ranged from Hi to WO cents since the new crop came in, which is consid ered to be a fair price. Trade hu been live ly, work plenty and wages good. A good many improvemcuU have been made : n re building have been erected and old ones re paired: carpenters and masons have been more thau busy, and wages have been high. Trade is not as lively just at the present time, owing to the bud state of the roods. An im mense umount of wheat will be sown here if the spring opens favorably aud a number of of new lanus will be opened in this vicinitt Fanners and nil others are ui good spirits and look f orwartl w ith bnght hopes to the com ing year, lours tnily. e. m. . Let him who hopetli to become "the oldest inhabitant'' make a note of the fact that the newsjiaperN of N-w Entrhtnd on Christinas Day. 177. wen- chronicling the budding of hlac bushes iu western Massachusetts, the ploughing of land in Br.stoi county, the re turn of the fish to Nanturket waters, a move, men) of the finny tnlies usually put off till spring, aud. quite as noteworthy as any of these unseasonable phenomena, the making of maple sugar from fresh drawn sap in the town of Huntington. JtotUm Jlerato. Judgi Stoddard of 'lownshend is out m an earnest appeal for the building of a narrow gunge rntlioad from Hrattletiorn to Tuwns heud ut ouee. as the only way to secure the continued prosperity of that section of Wiud ham county, and put au effectual check anon the "Alleu county' movement Judge Stod dard is out-of tin "solid uu n ' of okl Wind ham, so fur as giHxl svuse aud sound judg ment is concerned, aud having examined the matter with cnr . bus reached this coudusuiu. Tins is the most sensible railroad project orig inated of lut.-. HuUimd Jleruld To the qualities of a debater. Edmunds adds the still more valuable one of perfect self-control. Edmuutls angry. Edmunds discompos ed. Fxiniuuds discouraged. Edmunds taken aback, is a spectacle reserved, 1 fear, for the day of judioucut. If a keg of nitroglycerine should explode under the Senate Chamber and hurl mto apace every honorable gentle man except himself and the chair. Iklmunds would wnggli- up out of his seat aud move u call of the roll, to ascertain whether a quorum was present, as calmly and duqiasMonately ss if be was moviug the previous question on a 910.IKIU appropriation bill Wiuhtnaton Al ter. Harlan, the new Justice of the 1'. S. Su-preiut- Court, is a stout, heavy man. who has the appearance and high color of a man foud of good living. His head is large and three quarters bald. What hair he has in scanty gray. His forehead falls m nearly a straight line toward his uose. broken in the middle by a deep crack of a wrinkle. His nose is straight, and rather inclined to a sharp point. His mouth is thiu-bpted aud small, under which is n pugnacious double chili The rich, beefy red of bis face extends upward to the top of his skull, where gleams a bright fight that re lieves the pink. He wore his new robes eiui ly. He rested on of his fat cheeks uun his right hand and listened intently to the read ing of every decision delivered to-day. Wiuhitiyton Cur VIIUlO.M ITKtl. The young son of George 11. Osbonie of littsford, who was thrown from a carnage with his' jsireuta three weeks ago. ami thought to lie fatally hurt, is slowly reeovenug The officers of the Vermont Merino Sheep Breeders' Association, aud of the Hoard of Agriculture, have arranged to hold a joint meeting iu Middlehury, on Wednesday. Thurs day and Fnday. January !, 10 and 11. 1S7. Au amicable adjustment of the differences lietween the Pussuuipsic and southeastern railroads lias been effected, uud trains weru run through over the Southeastern to North Troy. Saturday . While John McVee of Sharou was taking railway ties from belaud u circular saw, re cently . a tie caught aud threw him across the saw, cutting off Ins right leg ubot the kuee uud Isully inaughug the other, so that he bled to death in a few minutes. Mr. Harrison B. Howard, who . recently died iu Fairfax, left u will liequuutbiug all his proiHtrty. uiuountiug to -t..(Hl, to the Stab of Vermont, in trust, for the erect Kin of an orphan asylum or home for destitute children, upon land belonging to his estate in Fairfax. The will provide that if the State should not uoospt the bequest aud appoint trustees, then the entire sum is Ui go to the Burlington Home for Destitute Children, the income on ly to be exiieuded Fred Frost, of Northfield. tried to r fonu a trick recently, which lie had success fully practiced a number of times, of cocking his gun and striking the hammer on the cap w itliout exploding it. Feeling sure of success on this occasion, he placed the muzzle iu lu mouth aud cocking the gun with his foot snapped the hammer on the cap. The gun was discharged and the couteuts passed through his head, killing hiu instantly. He fell from the fence on which he was sitting, breaking lus neck. His age was nbout 17 years lluartl uf .AirriruWitre. Winter meetings of the Vermont Board of Agriculture nre planned for the following places : Towushend. Felchville. Middlehury, Willistoii. North Tuubridge West Coucoad Last Hardwn t Johnson. Albanv. Marshficld Olli' r jiluer- will soon be select d and the dates of the meetings annouuo d IIekbx M. Seely, Beerctary. tern of ty'tut liiiir your most obedient Asa U. Fostxii. C. W. 8rAfL. 11. A. llANNrx, E. D. IhTCAKT. L DoavAL. A. D. Oiunuii . M. Is HwmsTLAXU, A. It. Dim. JottH T. IlUVAKT. Isaiah IlAna.To, J. I'. Awn. HVstun, IIYfwitpr Jir-ttrr from Huston IMstok. Dec. IS, 1877. There was n double liirtlalay celebration at the Brunswick last night. New England's beat loved poet, our own dear Whittler, bad co!iiHtMl his seventieth year, and the "At lantic, " New England's favorite magazine, with which Mr. Whittler has alwsys been so closely Identified since its very commenc msnt, reached its twentieth year the mine day. It was, tsmseqneutly, ecllrly fitting that Messrs. II. O. Houghton & Co., tl pres et! t .publishers of the magazine, should make a feast in honor of the day. to which Mr. Whittler was bidden as tho chief guest, Willi nbont fifty other choice spirit, to do him the liomngn which conies from the heart of every one. it was a royal occasion, and one which will be long remeinlsjrcd by those who were so fortunate as to be among Ihe chosen guests. Why ! 1 would liave lieen happy had 1 Isnen relegated to the loucwoincst corner, could 1 have had a pie like thnt to bsve pick ed the plums out of. Jack Horner would have been nothing to me iu my self-glorification and exaltation. What matter if I was put away from tho table, set out among the shadows, I would yet have had the perfume of the flowers, the sight of the faces and the sound of the voices. I was denied my corner, but some one has brought the spirit of the oc casion to me, standing in the gloom and the chill of the outside, given me a glinqsie of tin brightness and warmth, aud infected me with his own enthusiasm. 1 feel a little less like Glory McQnirk this morning than I did butt night; for although thi "good lime' was go ing on all the same, and "1 wasn't in it." yet sonic one was kind enough to Imug a bit of it away for me, so I get it with not much of 'its freshness lost, if it was at second hand Fancy n table crowned with guest liki Whittler. Emerson. Iongfellow and Holmes four names most revered in American liter ature, a quartette whose equal is rarely seen the world over. Beside these were Whipple. Iiigginsou, Urancb- - the artist, poet and phi losopherand Charles Elliot Norton, while among the younger men were II owe Is, the most charming of essayists, critical of con noisseurs and loyal of men, who edits the At lantic with a grace and discretion which none of his predecessors have surpassed: Charles Dudley Warner, the freshest and cheeriest of our writers, who has never grown up. as his last book. "Being a Hoy." distinctly proves. John Boyle O'Reilly, the fiery young Irish refugee, who. coming here n few years ago in poverty and exile, unknown aud unfriended, has won for himself it proud place in litera ture, 1L E. Scudder. the author of the charm ing Dodley Books, and Samuel L. Clemens, under which formal appellation the inajonty of the world wont recognize the pnnce of good fellows Mark T wain. Do you think we need to fear for the future of our national lit erature, with men like these to take the place of those who are passing away ': Hoi rues had a poem in which he paid the loveliest tntmtes to Whittler. lngfellow aud Iiowell. Isn't this reference to Whittler exquisite "ana uie wood to rusk of Kstei, xou know whom T msso. Whose sosz echoes ronnd , trhlie he lilt sssteo, Whose heart-throbs of verse tb-routh oar nmnortM unit Use s breith from the wood, like s bress f row Is hi.' We think it tor voice of a smell tsvt stats Alss ! e rtmnahar thai sossli have wlnn Whst itorr is this of the dj of his blrtb ? Let Sim live to a hasarcd I wo mat Inm on earth." This is refreshing after all the twaddle the public has been treated to lately on tins same topk . Mark Twain made a funny speech, grotesque iu its absurdity. It seems to me that Twain is inexhaustible in his droUuess and his latest effort is always the most whim sical. With sentiment and humor the eve ning passed, aud I nut sure Mr. Whittler will count his seventieth birthday as not the least pleasant of all he has kept. The Old South fair is almost over ; one day more and it will be closed and like iu predecessors, will be but a memory. During the Nisi two weeks, our women of leisure hare been playing at shopkeeping and mak ing believe work with a white-lingered dainti ness, which lent a charui to everything they did. and with an enthusiasm that will "tell" when to-morrow the receipts will be counted up. 1 think the Old South is safe : the wise women who have had the matter in charge have taken care of that They have sent to tlie ends of the earth, levied contributions from every nation to set the temptations which should snare the unwary feet ami coax the money from uususpecUng pockets. There have bem thousands of doUars spent there during this holiday season, and I should feel like congratulating thine who had it in chnrge, did 1 not know how much actual trouble they have unwittingly caused. The Old South fund has gained, but it lias I wen at the ex pense of men who had looked forward to this holiday season to retrieve the fortunes of u most disastrous business ear. There is not a dealer of any account iu Boston who Is not thousands of dollars poorer for tins fair. Look at it for a minute. Tht- year has been uncommonly bad : most of them have done hUio more than keep themselves on their feet . they had counted on the holslsy trade to give them a uew iui)Mtus. This fair vt as projecUal : they were all exjieeU-d to contribute to it aud diel so most generously : then the very people whose trade they had looked for. ejHsut their money there, so they wert double listers. Is it surprising tuat among this class of men there isn't that enthusiasm for the cause that its advocates think it the tluty of every one to exhibit '- Certainly, snvi the Old South by all means, but 1 question whether it should be done at the risk of destroying even ouu man's chances for a fair busineas future . 1 liave heard this story of loss from at least a dozen lips during the past week. Now don't think 1 um lacking in jtatnotnau or that I liave no veneration for the old Uud marks of Boston. I wouldn't have tlie Old South destroyed, but there are so many men awl wometi of fortune who might come to Ihe rescue, who would not feel it us those tin on w horn the real burden bus fallen, the re tail merchants of the city The Museum and Globe are following Eng lish fashion m giving us something jolly and nice for Christmas specialties ; only we are to be treated to Opera Bouffe nud burlesque in stead of pantomime. At tho Museum the Christmas bill consists of "Beauty aud the Beast" and tliat lovely play. "Dot." This comes the nearest to the never-to-be-forgotten combinatiou of "Dora" and "Black-eyed Su san." which attracted so many thousands of delighted jversons to Selwyn's during the first winter of its existence At the Globe, the new opera lwuflV. "Pip. pins" by J. Cheever Goodwin and John Bra ham is to lie produced with Eliza Wetherby and Nut Goodwin. It will be a great attrac tion . lioth on account of the authors and the principal actors, who are nil great favorites, and because it will be brought out in the wr feci manner which characterises everything which is produced under Mr, John Stetsou'b management. No one has ever labored more earnestly to please the public than has Mr. Stetson. He lias made tho Globe very at tractive, bringing the best actors aud finest combinations and sparing no excuse in put ting the plays on the Huge. I think all the theatre-goers owe lum a large debt of grati tude . The most charming trio of juvenile books are issued for the holidays by Lockwood A' Brooks. It includes "AU Around n Palette" by Lizzie W. Champuey with illustrations by "Champ." "Life at the Cedars" by Ellis Grey, nnd "Ileal Boys aud Girls" by Mary C. llart lett. Mrs. Chuuipney's book while most en tertaining, is also instructive uud lavs a foun dation for future art culture, which is now considered so necessary a iart of a hbend cd- i ucatuin The other two are natural, sponta neous books whieh wdl do children good t" read, thry are so pure and elevated in torn ' uutl so sweetly cfiud-nko witfiut Hir.i.iE Jox White. Local Intelligence. llruttlrlMiro Five persons united with the Mclhodist church last Sunday morning Annual festival of the ladles of the Mtth odist Mwiety nt the town ball, Iient Wednes day evculns Tho nnnunl rcutnl of pews hi the Uulver Mtllst church will take btoe on Thursday eve ning of next week. Betting A Son liave recently ojitnetl a branch store at Bellows Fulls, which is In chnrge of Mr. Charles Betting. Lecture in the UulverssJIst chnreti tint Sunday evening. .Subject. "Tlie great Olstta ele which Every Man meets." Tho person who left nn umbrella in the town hall at a recent entertainment can recov er the article by calling at S. N. Herrkk's of-flc-. There is a general movement among all tho banks of this village to keep open during noon time, and close nt it r. .. to tnke effect January lnth. The asylum patients enjoyed their annu al Christmas dinner on Tuesday, and in the evening a sociable was held in the chapel for the benefit of all those who were nble to at tend such a gathering The selectmen are considering several different gilans which liave been presented for the purpose of securing additional means of egress from the town hall, in case of it panir or alarm of any kind. We hear it authoritatively stated that the machine shop, brick block, etc., belonging to the estate of the late Ferdinand Tyler. will IKJsitively be sold in the course of nnother month In the absence of llev. Dr. Walker, last Sunday, the Congregational pulpit was filled by llev. Mr. Burchard of the Baptist church, nnd Mr. Durchard's pulpit was supplied by llev. C. A. Votey of West llrattleboro Owing to a mituutlerstanding between the lecturer and the officers of the reform club, Mrs. Molloy's tern iterance lectures, an nounced for Wednesday and Thursday eve. tungs of this week, nre indefinitely post smed. Kev. Dr. Walker's eugsgetnent with the Center Congregational society ends with the close of the present year, and we learn that, owing to the condition of the health of his family. Dr. Walker refuses to renew or pro long the connection The last of llev. Dr. Walker's sermons on special topics will be preached Sunday eve. mug at 7 o'clock at Ihe Oongreostioual church. Subject. "The Atonement : Unitarian aud Uidvarsalist views compared with the biblical and historic one " An unexpected but, to the recipient, very welcome fruit of the Christmas tree at the Baptist vestry on Monday evening was a full set of Johnson's Cyclopedia, which a few of Mr. Bnrchard's parishioners had thoughtfully provided as a present to him on the occasion. Mr. I. Leonard, the well-known job printer, aud his wile, were surirised st their resideuce. Christ mas eve. by a company com posed of fellow-members of the craft, who presented them with a silver pitcher and cup in tokeu of their high regard aud good wishes for the future. At the annual meeting of the Baptist so ciety, held last week, the folio wing officers were elected : President. O. II. Post : vice jiresldent, Jacob Estey ; secretary. II. B. Chamberlain : treasurer. E. II. Van Doom : collector. S. II. Sherman : trustees, J. J. Es tey. E. O. Warren. L. II. Dearborn ; auditor, A. A. Cheney In compliance with the almost nmtn itnous request of the bar of Windham county, the judges of the Supreme Court assigned to this county, have ordered the am for trial at the next February term to be heard at llrattleboro. Tlie term Issgms Feb. 11th. It is hoped and expected that the lower town hall can lie obtained for a court room, some reasonable arrangement being made with the present lessees to yield po-nessiou for a week or ten days Muts I Franc was soocesful iu her at tempt to walk Ml miles in IX hoars at liut land on Weduesday. Her quickest mile was made iu in - 7. or in '.i seeoals lietter time than her fastest milr m Hrattleboru : her slowest time was Hi minutes, aud her average time was l:i : 10. Thirty-two minutes only were taken for rest, aud at the end Mm Le Franc had seven minutes of time to spare Her hurt mile was made in lit. IK. At tht close she was apparently bat little exhausted A grand Cliristiuas entertainment is an nounced to lie gtveu at the town hall next Monday eveuiug by una hundred members of the rniversahst Sunday School The fairy play. "The Kingdom of Mother (rtiose." and "The Auction Sale of Children," will be brought out on the- occasion, ami vocal music by some of our best llrattleboro tuleut will form au attractive feature. Au adiuissiou fee of L' ' cents will be charged for adults, and 1 cents for chikh-cL. Very many Brattleboro jsjople will be clad to learn that Mr. Dormuu B. Eaton sif New York has recently jiurchased the estate just this side of West river bridge, known as the "Pettes farm." and lately owned by Mr. George Folsom of New York, with a view to its occupation in future us u jiermanent sum mer residence for himself aud wife. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have made many warm fnends in Brattleboro dunng tliepnst two summers who will cordially welcome them to our list of t. teemed and talued summer neighbors and residents A clear, sharp, frosty October morning, a bright, unclouded sun throughout the day. u mild but broeiug air with the merest sugges tion of a gentle breeze from the north, on the Southern hills in the far-away distance, a blue, drwnny haze, and m all the surrounding atmosphere a genuine Christmas influence of good cheer aud hupefulusM such was the wondorfully beautiful Christmas morning and Christinas day lu tin year of grace 1K77. Let us every one uiukv u note of it, lor we may hardly liojw to again see its like iu our rigorous New England climau-. The celebration of the Christmas festival has never beeu more generally and heartily observed by our people than m that which is just now ias.iug. The holiday trade of our local dealers has been, on the whole, u satis factory one. ulthough tho gross amount of goods sold bus not been so large as in many former years. It ns pleasant to know that the beautiful custom of Christmas gift-giving to friends ami relatives is coming every year to be more uud more universally observed. Although not so many oxpeusive gifts have beeu liought this year, a Sat larger number of smaller, though none the less welcome and expressive tokens of love nud affection have beeu Iwught by a greater number of jK-ople than ever before. Saturday's trade was a good oue, but the grand rush came on Mon day, when, from morning till late in the eve mug nearly every tradesman's plaoe in town was literally packed with eager buyers. There was lively, though good-natured strife umoug tho diflerent tire companies at Monday night's fire to see who should put the first stream on the burning building, and thus secure the twenty-tive dollars which the new chief engineer promised to the company which should get the first stream on tho first fire under his administration. As elsewhere stated the new steamer company came iu ahead and carried off the honors of the occa sion, although all the companies showed them selves thoroughly wide awake. The new lioys' company exhibited au admirublo spirit of eu c rgy and determination, and had it uot beeu that they found their suction hose too short to reach the water in the brook the first time trying, they would probably have thrown the first dream tuid secured tho coveted prize. It is n gratification to our )nple. nnd odds not n Utile to the general fstiltig of security In onse of fire, to see the new steamer showing itself so efficient and reliable nn mljunct of tlie fire department. One of its engineers 111 forms us tlmt tlie gauge showed HA iound of stenm pressure before the machine left tho en glue house Monday night. On Monday night, nlsmt n quarter jswt one, fire was discovered in the Mttlo white boose standing just west of the Braltlelwro House, near C. L. Piper's store nud dwelling. An nhtrm was given which brought the cie. istrtmetit promptly out, nud iu n coiiiiiienda bly short sce of time the village stenmer bad a stream on the building, the hnud ma chines follow ing suit in rapid succession. Hut litllo trouble wn found in putting out the Are. although the flames laving secured a hold lie tweon the shenthing in the clutmber eeiliitg and tho rafters, showed n dkqiosition to re jieatedly break out in tho roof. The house was occupied by N. J. Evans, who had gone, that night, with his family, to attend a Christ mas imrty at West Diiuimerstou. On going away a wood fire was left in the sitting room stove, and the fire caught where the pijic from this stove jed through the chamlicr floor to reach the chimney. The goods and household effects bslonging to Mr. Evnns were removed from the house by members of the lawk nnd ladder coininny. They were insured fornlnmt Sk) with Jeuno A Shennnn. The house, which Isslongs to Mrs. Ellen Doyle, of Keen, N. II.. is insured in the New Iaiflwhire Fire Insurance Company through a Keene agency. A general feeling of righteous indignutiou was ft roused on Main street, on Wednesday morning, when the fact became known that the large and venerable oak tree standing just outside the sidewalk m front of the High school grounds, had that morning been cnt down without leave or license from any au thorized )ierson. The man who thus cnt down the tree on lus own resjKmsibihty says that it was given to him fifteen years ago hy the district school committee, nnd this, as we understand, is the only claim which he is able to make to tho tree, au hundred times whose value for firewood would uot liave purchased u. or the right to remove it. from any resi dent on the street. The tree was nn old growth oak. iu n thrifty condition, and un doubtedly sprung up in the place where it stood years before any mnn now living was bom. Its loss is one which cannot be road good in this generation, and its unwarranted and needless destruction seems like little less than an act of pure vandalism. The provis Hms of the Vermont law oiKm the subject of the unauthorised removal or injury of nny jiubbc shade or ornamental tree nre very stringent and clearly defined It is getting to be nbout time that they were enforced in this village uf Brattleboro. Must! a. Thorn A Sous, druggists, receiv ed information from Boston on Monday, by telegraph, of a bold attempt which was made on that day to procure goods from a well known drug house iu that city by some un known jierson who represented himself as one of the "sons" of their firm. From intel ligence received a day later by letter it ap Hsars that on Monday afternoon a young man appeared at the retail counter of Weeks A Potter, Huston, nnd ordered goods to tht amount of about 20. including morphine, Lu bin's extract, celluloid couiIm. etc., and. saying that he was one of Mr. Thorn s sons of Brattleboro. requested that the goods be charged to I. N. Thorn A Sous. In going to have tlie order put up the clerk jstweil Mr. Potter and stowed it to him. Mr. Potter's suspicious were at once aroused, from the fact that Mr. Thorn does not pay retail jiricea for gtiods and does not buy in such small quantities. The clerk was accordingly in structed to require a voucher from the would lie customer ls?f ore the goods w ere tlelivered. Whtn told of Mr. Potter's decision the young man became very angry, and. saying that he would produce n uucher lu n very shon time, left the store and has not since beeu seen. A disTMitch was immediately sent to Brattleboro asking Mr. Thorn if one of his sons, or any other ersori uuthonzed to buy goods iu the finu's name, was in Boston, to which a nega tive reply wus sent. It is evident that the would-lst swindler is somewhat acquainted with Thorn A Sons' business and that he knows where the firm is in the habit of buy. mg goods in Boston, but snspidou does not yet fix u)u any particular jiersou. The following is the list of letters remiiu mg at the post office in this village. Dec. 27 : Ladies Annie Cavran. Mrs. Ada Munroe, Jennie McCornuell. Mrs. McFarland. Mrs. Virginia 11 Boot. Mrs. Isabelle Tibbitts. Miss Nellie C. Wilson (rent- Geo. Arnold. Herbert W. Axtell. Charles Clement. John II. Davis. E. Elling wood, Alviu Gates. I'. M. Holland, C. P. Nash. Ira M. Whiw Thousands of homes have lieeu made happy and the rough places m the path of life mode smooth by presents bought nt Chen ey A Ctspp's. nnd the firm would probably say that time and opiwrtunity still remain for thousands more. CUEISTM1S IN THE CHUUCHES. The Christmas festival received appropri ate recognition lu all the village churches and Sunday schools. St. Michael's Episcopal church presented it beautiful appeuranoe with its tasteful evergreen decorations. At the service of Evensong on Chnstmas Eve the chauoti was handsomely lighted with a doub le row of wnx caudles hung in an ev ergreen chandelier, while overhead uud at the sides roiies of laurel and running evergreen hung in graceful festoons mingled w ith various ap propriate devices wrought in evergreen. On the walls of the church nt the sides were ever green wreaths and crosses, and tho pillars through the lKxly of the church, and the organ loft were ulso decked with greeu. The music jierformed by the choir ou Christmas Eve and Chnstmas uionnug was as follows cuzisruAi xvc Organ Oflertetre. in X minor ttoptML: UliexiiDg Ufaib It euoe upou tne mid, ulrbt sir. luue of Ataetis. CiDUte TLma.. lleneslc AFsrA. Vt Uile khrpberai s itched th ir llocls. larlep, Urssa 'Qftue In 1 mlDor Ihut. cuuirrius mobkiko. Orgiu I'reluda, ktyof l' livtU, Venue flnfler. Ts Ileum JomI. JubutU. ilanl. llsrt, the herald ADgeJj sine ilutlmhn, LUrk, wbsl tnrtu those bolj voices f lane of Fsben. Orgsu I'M Undo, krr of F Ilnmmi '. St. Michael's Boman Catholic church was also gayly decked for the joyous festival. At the celebration of the usual midnight Christ mas mass, u brilliant star of gas jets buug aliove the altar, nnd the altar itself was bright with ujiers and beautiful flowers and flower ing plants. The sanctuary w as also decorated with trees and festoons of evergreen, and ropes and wreaths of green hung between the sup iiortiug pillars which ruu through the hotly of the church on either side. The choir ier formed Ooneoue's mass, aud at the close of llev. Mr. Lane's sermon carols were sung be fore the altar by 26 Utile girls dressed in w bite. On Christmas morning low mass wus cele brated nt 8 o'clock ; at tho grand high moss at 10:80 the choir aguiu sung Concone's mass and Mr. Lane preached n sermon. At Ves pers on Christmas evening the sermon was preached by llev. Mr. Cullahan of YVulpole, N. II. The children of the Baptist Sunday school, celebrated Christmas Eve with tho distribu tion of presents from a Christmas tree at the church vestry, and suitable refreslnueuU were also served ou the occasion. Tho Unitarian Sunday school held their an nual Chnstmas entertainment at Kindergar ten hall ou Monday evening The exercises opeucd with a piano overture, after which there was tinging by ihe children, and u little play, "Tlie Minstrel's Carol." illustrating tie' lieaotlfat 1 seems nt lbs Christmas fistiml. was brought Bat by luetnlsjni of the ie hn,,l A carol liy tlis ehiMreh followed, nnd v n. Inst notes of the closing hymn dud asiv Santa Clans, with far rtilsfi nnd bells desi i ml d through the ebtvnmy in orthodox fashion uImI, nttern raniial greeting to the thildrni. led tho way to the brilliantly lighted Chi isi' mas tree. Tlie distribution of presents f,,i. lowed, ami the entertainment ilosid at nu early hour with the serving of plain nnd mi pie refresh merits. The Centre Congregational Sunday school held a Christmas concert nu Sunday evemni' which wns well attended nnd seemed to . ceed in interest previous occasions of kind. Two large evergreen trees on the p.d. pit platform mpported the motto in hthr- of gold. "Tlielonlicoi.i " A prominent pari of the exercise wan (lie singing of caroU l.y the children, whose char nnd sweit vou.s were brought out to good ndvnutng uud. r Mirn Sjiragne's careful drill. The chants and resjionMs by the choir also added mueh to th. general imiressiveness with which the them, was developed. On Sunday evening the .Methodist bundav school also gave a Christmas exertis" lonsiM iug of Scripture recitations, singing by th. children aud tlie reading of jioctical selections suited to the ooensiou. West IlrutllrlKiro. - The fair and festival held at Acad, u t Hall, last Friday evening, by the Ladus l.n terprise Society, was n miceees in every rorti. nlar. Tho evening wns pleasant : thi room was filled with persons of almost eviry nt; the refreshments were excellent in quality nbundant in quantity, and well s-md th. music was highly satisfactory : tho piny. "No Cure, No Pay," and the tableau, were will executed : and last. Imt not least, the receipts amounted to the jirctly Utile sum of runny dollars. The Baptist Sunday school had a Chnst mas tree Wednesday evening. 2ith Th' church was crowded. The exercises luelud. d the reading of a portion of Dickens's Chn-t-unts Carol by Col. L. K. Fuller, singing by n local quartette, a charming duet by the lmi. Misses Miller, and numerous recitations, all well rendered. Santa Claus appeared in jn r sun, and to young nud old the occasion was one of genuine enjoyment. IlrooLslilr. The "Union Lyceum Club" met at th" schoolhouse Thursday evening. Dec. 20th. and chose the following officers for the next four weeks : President. Wm. Yeatv : Vice Prtsi dent. J. J. Wordeu ; Secretary. Herbert M Adams : Treasurer. 3. W. Brown. The ques tion, "ltesolved. thnt Agriculture is the surest road to wealth." was discussed with vigor, and decided in the negative, after which Messrs. Hale aud Jones favored the compare with declamations Voted to hold the nn' meeting iu the vestry at East Dover. Monday evening, Dec. 21th. nt half-fiast six o el., i The club accordingly met nt thnt turn and place, when the following question was di cussed "ltesolved. That the West hold t. it greater inducements to the busini ss men than the Eastern and Middle Statts " After it tin cussiou of two hours the board of decision d. -cided it in the negative. Percy Jones favor, J the audience with the declamation. 'Ih-r was where she had me," which was well d- -litered. nud it fairly brought the house down 3Irs. C. D. Ooan and Mrs O. M. Joni- by request, repeated the reading of tin pap- r which they edited nnd read nt the lycci.in Dec. Oth. The question for next meeting is "ltesolved. that imaginary evils nre greater than retd ones." Adjourned to meet at the same place iu one um1.. m. a Uummrrsloa. Clark Bacon's horse is dead nt the nge of 37 years. His hair, once dark, hud become grey. HU master had owncdhbn all this length of time : and the old horse might have lasted a little longer, but it was evident he must soon go the way of all horseflesh. His life was snuffed out from the effects of u shot. Was he not the oldest horse iu Vermont ': District No. 1 has 32 scholars for the winter term under the instruction of tlie low it sujierinteudent The fall term of distm t No 2 was taught by Jeanne E. Arthur. Anna F Houghton teaches in No. H. and she taught the fall school in No. ." Ella L Uenm.tr teaches iu No. t. Fanny E. Ilobinsou. of W.l liamsville. iu No. fi, Lucy M. Wukefitld in No. s. A teacher has been engagrd for No 1 West, but the school is not iu session at th. time of this wntiug. L. Ambell Elmer teoc L -ea in No 3, Eva J. Miller iu No. .1. Lizzie li Cbnmlierhn of IlrattlelKiro began the school in No. 4. Not . 5th. was tukeu sick about thre. weeks afterward, and died Of fever Dec. '.ith She was in good health nt the time we visibd her school. Nov. 20th. The Indian ageut 11. M. Pratt, at Bed Lake. Mum., writes in a letter dated Dei. 1 1 to relatives in Dummerstou. quite encourag ingly of the work ut his agency. He says that the school is the pnuoqtd object of interest just now. There are 20 pupils in the board nig hall. The school has not been in opera tion long, aud already there is u marked un provcuient iu the looks and actions of the peo ple, and especially the girls, the oldest of whom is sixteen years and the youngest six or seven. They huve all been dressed like white girls, wearing hats, etc. They attend churi L and behave us well us white children. Doubt less some white children might profit by their example. These girls have learned to sing uictly, and it is to be hoped will soon be quite a help in singing at the meetings. Thoy are very willing to work, and Mrs. Bancroft, the matron, makes good use of their service They are all the help she has had until recent ly, when an assistant matron was engaged to assist Mrs. Bancroft. There is much sewing to do for this large family. Very few of th. pupils bring anything with them suitable to keep and wear. They are learning to read and write, and oue of the boys has already learned the multiplication table thoroughly "o we feel," says the agent, "that we could prove to any candid mind that it is ikbsible t.. do something with the Indian children in th way of education." He bus never seen Hunt's look so favorable as uow for some permuut nt good to be douo. lleligioos services ure hi Id Sunday luoruiugs iu the Ojibttu lauguug. . .. union Sabbath school in the afternoon, and a seruion is read in the evening, l'rayer meet ings are held on Thursday eveuiugs and liave very good meetings." says Mr. Pratt They now- have chimneys iu the house which the ageut has built, for the first time during bis fuur years' resideuce at lied Lake. Much improvement has beeu mode within a ytai They now have five comfortable dwellings oue boarding house, oue schoolhouse. a war. house, eurjienter's shop, blacksmith's shop saw uud grist mill, and two barns ; also au of floe for the agent. The whole makes quite s little village peopled with sixteen white folk The reservation contains about twelve hun dred Indians. v. i it JSiktONI llltt, For several days past sup has freely mu . aud striped squirrel have beeu out merry as iu autumn. Stephen Huberts has recently removrd from East Dover to this plaee and is in th. employ of C. C. Johnson, working at black smithing. Christmas eve was celebrated at the I m veraulist church ou the eveuiug of ihe 2 tti inst. The attendance was very large, the ex. . cises unusually interesting t tbs usual trc' were adorned with a rich vanoty of choice or tides which were distributed to tho sausfai tion of all, especially tho litllo folks.