USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Rutland > Centennial celebration of the settlement of Rutland, Vt., October 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, 1870, including the addresses, historical papers, poems, responses at the dinner table, etc. > Part 9
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physique, the same instructed and educated soldiership, the same thinking bayonet, and the same terrible earnestness of purpose.
At the height of our civil war the rebels raised the cry of "Puri- tan," and tried to make it odious, and they would announce that 10,000 "Puritans" or 10,000 "abolitionists" had landed at certain points on their coast. It happened at that date that two powerful steam rams for our navy were about to be launched, and our lamented President, Mr. Lincoln, named one "The Puritan" and the other "The Dictator." These names were very significant, were very suggestive, and had a pregnant meaning, judged by the train of events which followed. We heard nothing more afterwards of the word "Puritan" as a term of reproach, and all idea of "cutting off New England" from the republic was abandoned.
In the war it is but simple justice to say that Rutland sent forth her full quota, heroes who returned with honorable records, show- ing that they were worthy sons of a State whose expressive motto is "Freedom and Unity,"-a motto seemingly selected by our ances- tors, and with prophetic insight to suit just such an emergency as the late rebellion. We trust that ever in these mountain regions the country can find a lofty patriotism and a martial spirit, which can promptly send a heroic band to fight its battles, worthy descendants of the iron framed and lion-hearted Puritans who gained renown in the days of Milton and Cromwell. The name of Milton is sug- gestive of the highest virtues and the most brilliant inspirations of the Puritans He mingled his religious faith with his poetic aspi- rations, and said at an early age, "The great achievements of poetry must rest in devout prayer to that Eternal Spirit who can enrich with all utterance and knowledge, and sends out His Seraphim with the hallowed fire of His altar to touch and purify the lips of whom he pleases." In these piure mountain heights and among these lovely valleys, a race kindred to that of Milton and Hampden have every influence favorable to success in poesy, in learning, as well as in action.
What image more suggestive than a fountain, a bubbling, living, perennial fountain, perchance embowered with verdure and foliage, springing up in a moutain glen? Your hills are filled with lakes and fountains. In poesy the Greeks had the Castilian fount on the Heights of Parnassus. Palestine had the fount of Siloam, where,
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in the Jewish dispensation on the last day of the Feast of Taber- nacles, an annual libation of its crystal waters was poured out, emblematical of the Holy Spirit and a coming Savior. To this Isaiah alluded when he said, "With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation." And the same prophet said of the Gen- tiles, "Their pastures shall be in all high places, they shall not hunger or thirst; neither shall the sun or heat smite them; for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them; even by the springs of water shall he guide them."
A birthplace is a fountain-head, whence should a fountain of rejuvenation flow pure, sparkling waters to gladden, vivify and fertilize the vale of life. A return to it takes the memory back to youth and all its gilded hopes, joys and enjoyments. To carry youth forward into age, and let the mind remain equally susceptible of vivid impressions and generous impulses, should be the aim of every Christain.
Here I watched the clouds and stars, and commenced with the cheering smiles of a mother's love to learn my first lessons of science and religion. Can influences thus planted in the midst of these lovely mountains ever die out? Like Wordsworth, who was born and spent his days under the shadow of Skiddaw, in the Cumber- land Mountains, and among the lovely lakes of Windermere, I can exclaim,
"My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky! So was it when my life began ; So is it now I am a man! So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die ! The child is father of the man !- And I could wish my days to be, Bound each to each by natural piety."
Gen Alvord was followed by Rev. Aldace Walker, D. D., of Wallingford, formerly pastor of the Congregational church at West Rutland. He gave a brief sketch of the Congregational church in this town, with notices of Rev. Benajah Roots and Rev. Lemuel Haynes. We regret that we are not able to give his remarks in full. The fourth toast was
Rutland-Rapid in growth, wonderful in development, her past honorable and distinguished, her present happy and prosperous,- her future is in her own hands.
To which Warren H. Smith, Esq., responded substantially as fol-
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lows: Prominent among the subjects presented in this toast is the "rapid growth" of Rutland. I am supposing this is a reference to the modern history of the town. Many listened to, and all have the opportunity of reading, the published addresses (of Henry Hall, ' Esq., and Chauncy K. Williams, Esq.,) upon its early history. My personal acquaintance with this town began in 1848. Prior to that time, as I learn, the town had remained nearly or quite stationary, celebrated, and very justly, for its age, its distinguished citizens, including several Governors of the State, eminent and incorruptible judges, a long list of able lawyers, distinguished divines and staid and substantial business men in all departments of industry.
Taking 1848 as my starting point, I feel justified in saying that the "rapid growth" of the town since that date has justly been the pride and boast of its citizens. It was about that date that new life, enterprise and energy seemed infused into the whole business and diffused among the mass of the people of the town, and hence its progress, rapid and resistless, in all that constitutes material growth. Statistics, always tedious in detail, best demonstrate this. In 1848 the population of this town was about 3,900-now about 11,000. Then there were about 600 voters-now near 2,000. Then the appraised value of her taxable property was $1,120,000- now $4,960,000. But the material growth has been still more apparent in the village of Rutland. At the date named it consisted only of Main street and the road towards Castleton, with no dwell- ings below the brow of the hill; now hundreds of acres all around us are covered with comfortable houses and pleasant homes and many stately mansions. Then her business center consisted of some half dozen old wooden one-story stores and shops, scattered around Court House square ; now we have our Merchants' Row and Center st., lined for long distances on both sides with massive blocks of three and four stories, filled with elegant stores, affording us a business center unequalled in the country. Then we had but a single news- paper, the Herald, worked upon the hand press; now three weekly and one daily papers, all four power presses. Then but one school- house and 130 scholars; now fourteen large and substantial school- rooms and 1700 scholars. Then but three churches, and poorly filled; now seven, and more being built. Since that date, railroads connecting us with all parts of the country and from all directions
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center here. Marble interests were then just beginning to be devel- oped, which since have produced supplies for the whole country.
In view of these facts, who can gainsay the "rapid growth" of this town? We claim that it is unequaled in Vermont, and unsur- passed in New England. It is also noticeable that the prominent business men of the town at the date named were in the decline of life, and most of them have gone to their honored graves, and that the very large proportion of the business men of to-day are in their prime, in the full vigor of life,-men who have contributed largely to make the town what she to-day shows herself. That she is "happy and prosperous," this occasion and as you see her speaks more eloquently than any words I can utter.
What shall be her future? With such elements of success, such master minds, such energy, such enterprise and industry as has produced what you see, gives abundant promise for her future rapid growth in all that is good and great.
The fifth toast was
The Orator of the Day-Eminent alike as a scholar and divine, his eminence, honorable to him, has honored us.
In response to this toast, the orator, Prof. James D. Butler, spoke as follows :
Mr. President and Townsmen: "Eminent alike as a scholar and divine!" What a non-committal toast! Its language is as ambigu- ous as the utterances of the political candidate, Mr. Facing-both- ways." A man may be "eminent alike " who is not eminent at all. The sentiment reminds me of a horse-dealer who flourished of old not far from Rutland, and who, wishing to get rid of a vicious ani- mal, advertised him as "equally kind in saddle and harness," and warranted him to be up to the recommendation. Nor did he long lack a purchaser. No sooner, however, did the buyer harness his horse than he was run away with and his wagon broken to pieces. Thereupon he called on the horse-dealer and demanded damages. But the dealer said to him, "Have you tried your horse in the sad- dle?" "No;" said the buyer. "Why," returned the other, "if you had mounted him he would certainly have thrown you off, and so I hold that the beast is everything I warranted him,-that is, 'equally kind in saddle and harness.'" In calling one "eminent alike as a scholar and divine," your toastmaster seems to have shirked responsi .
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bility no less dextrously than the horse-jockey did. On the whole, however, I am inclined to think the words "eminent alike as a scholar and divine " were intended for a compliment. But viewed in that light they force me into a difficult dilemma now that I am 'called up for a speech. For how shall I speak? Suppose I try to prove the toast a truthful assertion, and that I am an "eminent scholar and divine," then you, and everybody, will say, "Thou bearest witness of thyself, thy witness is not true," and you will charge me with forgetting Solomon's injunction, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own lips."
But, on the other hand, suppose I prove by all manner of logic that I am no scholar, and no divine. Then, while you would admit that I made out my case conclusively, you would charge me with insincerity like that of the bishop, who, when he hears of his elec tion, cries out, "Nolo Episcopari!"-or rather you would compare me to the most beautiful belle in Rutland, who, when she would rouse her admirers to double raptures in her praise, glances in a mirror and exclaims, "How like a fright I look! was ever any being so horrid?"
Through hopes of contradiction she will say, "Methinks I look most wretchedly to-day."
So my words of self depreciation, one and all, would be set down as prompted by "hopes of contradiction." Accordingly, whether I speak for, or against, the toast proposed, I should myself be tossed higher than any bull-fighter I ever saw in Madrid, on one or the other horn of a dilemma.
But in my despair how to meet the demands of my toast a hope rises upon me, for I have been invited to say a word as a substitute for Col. G. A. Merrill, whom his duties in the State Senate prevent from meeting with us at this table. And yet the idea of serving as a substitute is not altogether flattering. Only a substitute, only a substitute,-substitute for George A. Merrill !
Yet who'll my claims to thanks dispute As an unflinching substitute ? For of all heroes new and old, Where can be found a chief more bold Than he who on this speaker's block, As gazing-stock and laughing-stock, The gauntlet for his brother runs And braves the blows that brother shuns ?
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Who'll then my claim to thanks dispute As G. A. Merrill's substitute ?
A villain once of blackest guilt His brother's blood had basely spilt, Impelled by fiendish thirst for gold, In fair Vermont in days of old. Suspected, seized and put to trial, Convict too elearly for denial, The rascal stood upon the scaffold; Yet justice of her dues was baffled. The murd'rer's lawyer'd found a flaw, Some jot or tittle, form of law,- A subtlety not worth a word, Unheeded when the case was heard, And so had from the judge gained leave For a new trial, by reprieve.
Then murmurs rose from all the crowd, Whispered at first, but soon more loud: "No longer shall he live," they cried, "By whose cursed hand his brother died; His guilt is clear, to-day unbind him- To-morrow who'll know where to find him? Who'll trace him through law's trackless maze ? Who'll guard his dungeon nights and days?" "Yeomen," 'twas said, "here come from far, Risen before the morning star, O'er hill and dale, through mud and rain, And sacrificing hay and grain, You've hastened to bchold this hour-
A spectacle unseen before. Lose not your day,-let not your sun Descend, till he see justice done; Nor let us quit this village green Till we our hanging scrape have seen." Then rose the shouts both thick and fast, To hang the culprit in hot haste, Till, perched upon a neighboring stump, Huge Ethan Allen with a thump Of club herculcan on an oak, Enforced attention while he spoke :-
Friends! Give this guilty rascal law, And if his lawyers find a flaw Therein, why, let him live, like Cain, By conscience he'll each day be slain. Nor fear that hanging scrape to miss In which you hope to taste such bliss, For, if the wretch reprieved to-day,
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Escape you through the law's delay, Or slyly slip its meshes through, I, Ethan Allen, ever true, Who ne'er have disappointed you, I'll stand the rascal's substitute, Jack Ketch shall bind me like a brute And hang me high on gallows tree, A rarer show for you to see."
Townsmen, in Allen's shoes I stand, For G. A. Merrill's fled the land, Yet shall not you, as critics, lack A victim now to hew and hack. While Merrill then at large may roam, To execution, Lo! I come! Who'll then my claim to thanks dispute "X's G. A. Merrill's substitute ?
Col. Merrill as a railroad superintendent was expected to speak in the line of his profession, although those of us who have ever heard the car whistle are ready to think that the locomotive may be left to speak for itself.
Regarding railroads, few men have had more experience as trav. elers than has fallen to my lot. My first car ride was thirty-two years ago, and I have been riding ever since. My journeyings have been as a preacher, a lecturer, and a tourist in search of knowledge. In 1843 I traversed most of the European roads then in operation, and a quarter of a century afterward was not only on the new European lines, but on others in Asia and Africa. Last year I swept the whole length of our trans-continental line to the Pacific.
If one should praise the bridge that carries him well over, then I ought to praise railroads, for they have never harmed a hair of my head. In my Oriental travels I became convinced that in the material torce of steam there lurks a tremendous moral power. " What do you call your donkey ?" I asked of the Arab urchin whose beast I was riding to explore the ruins of Egyptian Thebes. Ilis answer was, "Merkeb Babour," a name which I soon found signifies "steamboat." So the most common charcoal sketches on the rocks of Syria are intended to shadow forth the locomotive. For many reasons, my conviction is firm that steam will carry Christendom,-and that as a Christianizing conqueror,-through and through the Moslem world.
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If I were the only speaker, I would delight to expatiate on rail- roads in their diversified influences,-and especially as just now, and notably in Nebraska, preceding settlement and quickening its pace a hundred fold,-but I can only allude to a few facts in this our home field. The earnings of all the roads centering in Rutland have been tripled during the last six years. Forty-eight trains now enter or leave Rutland every twenty-four hours, and some one of them is passing over its line during every minute of every secular day. Arrangements have been perfected for building a new rail- road west of Lake Champlain, which will within two years insure Rutland an additional line of steam communication with Montreal.
Believing that this progress in railroads and these prospects are due as largely to my friend Col Merrill as to any other man, I beg leave to close my speech with a sentiment in his honor :
George Alfred Merrill-May he continue to rub the Aladdin's lamp of railroads until all the miracles they have wronght shall be forgotten among the greater miracles which they shall hereafter work.
The sixth toast was
The Poetess of the day :
" And, long as poetry shall charm mankind, Her flowing numbers will admirers tind."
Responded to with music by the Wales Cornet Band.
The seventh toast was
The Elderly Citizens of Rutland.
Responded to briefly and humorously by Jesse L. Billings.
The eighth toast was-
The Adopted Sons of Rutland .- We recognize their worth and the advantages of their accession, and gladly extend to them equal rights and privileges with those to the "manor born."
To which Hon. Walter C. Dunton responded as follows :
It was not my fault that I was not born in Rutland, although I dearly love the little town so closely nestled under the Green Moun- tains, in an adjoining county, where I was born, yet, it I had had any- thing to say as to the location of my birth place, I am quite sure that I should have been born in Rutland. However, I did the next best thing that I could, I married a Rutland girl "to the manor born" for my wife, and our only child was born here; and if no unforseen event changes my purpose, I shall spend the remainder of
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my life in Rutland, and, although an adopted son, will endeavor to be true and faithful to the town, which, when commencing the practice of my profession, extended so cordial a welcome to me, not only to me, but to all of her adopted children.
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. It was my fortune to spend a few years in the west, and become somewhat acquainted with western men, their enterprise, activity and treatment of strangers ; and I have often remarked that I could content myself to live in no other eastern town than Rutland, which more closely resembles, in the character and enterprise of her inhabitants, the thriving and prosperous towns of the west than any other town in all New England. And in no respect is this re- semblance greater than in the cordial welcome extended by her in- habitants to all worthy persons coming here to reside. Rutland most emphatically, in the language of the sentiment to which you have called me to respond, "extends to her adopted sons equal rights and privileges with those accorded to her oldest inhabitants."
The people of Rutland have ever been ready to bestow honors upon those to whom honors are due, alike upon all, irrespective of the place of their birth or former residence, as the honorable positions assigned by them to many of her adopted sons will attest, of whom time on this occasion forbids me particularly to speak.
Allow me, native citizens of Rutland, at this time in behalf of the other residents of the town, who form no inconsiderable part of your inhabitants, to thank you for your generous treatment of us. Be assured that it is duly appreciated and will never be forgotten by us, and that it will continue to be in the future, as it has been in the past, our utmost endeavor and greatest pleasure to co-oper- ate with you in promoting the future prosperity of the town, and in making Rutland what her location and great natural resources have designed her to be-one of the most prosperous, thrifty and enterprising inland towns in New England. We will extend the same cordial welcome to others who shall hereafter come here to reside, which you so kindly extended to us ; and we are happy to unite with you to-day in welcoming to our homes and our firesides, the former residents of the town, many of whom went forth to mould and form the institutions of the new states of the great West, and there occupy positions of honor and trust, and of whom you have just cause to be proud. Let us, fellow citizens,
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not only continue to develop the resources of our town, and in- crease its prosperity, but also continue to " build school houses and raise men," so that those whom we shall hereafter send forth will honor both themselves and the town by their intelligence, and be as highly esteemed and useful citizens as those whom we are to-day so happy to welcome.
As it is getting late, allow me, Mr. President, to close by offer- ·ing the following sentiment :
The Native Citizens of Rutland-Generous, hospitable and enterprising ; the town is alike indebted to them for her prosperity, and her adopted sons for their success.
The ninth toast was
The Centenarian-The connecting link between the past and the future.
To which A. A. Nicholson, Esq., responded in the following poem :
THE CENTENARIAN.
I.
He stands upon the shadowy verge Of life's remotest shore,
While ancient mem'ries oe'r him surge With deep and solemn roar! And once again he seems to live Amid the fervid glow
That lighted up the ways of life
One Hundred Years Ago!
II. The summer skies seem fairer then- The birds of Spring more gay,
And every hope was loftier Than those of stern to-day! And each pulsation of the heart Was quicker in its flow,
And yielded back a deeper thrill One Hundred Years ago!
III. The eyes that sparkled brightest then No longer wake or weep,
And locks that paled the raven's plume Are frosted where they sleep! The blandest smile has wan'd in night- The step infirm and slow,
That led the wild and giddy dance One Hundred Years ago !
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IV. He lingers near the stormy past Like mourner near a tomb,
Still watching for some olden joy To lighten up the gloom! Yet from the past no rays sublime His yearning heart can know
Like those that gilded life's young dream One Hundred Years ago!
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V. Like ancient forest tree he stands Unrifted by the blast,
And links with centenarian strand The Present and the Past ! And who among this festive throng His wintry years shall sum,
And bear the burden he has borne, One Hundred Years to come ?
The lateness of the hour compelled the postponement of further remarks, but as responses had been prepared, we give the two remaining toasts, with the responses prepared for the occasion.
The tenth toast was
The Press-The great educator of modern times. May its teachings ever be worthy of its immeasurable power.
The first response was by Mr. George A. Tuttle, senior proprietor of the HERALD, who was to have remarked:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentleman: I exceedingly regret that the committee who were charged with the duty of providing for the intellectual part of this entertainment should have thought filt to place my name upon their list to respond to the sentiment just read, and I now also wish to offer my protest to being appointed to speak after such eloquent responses have been made by those whom I am to follow, for my theme is an humble one, and I claim no ora- torical gifts. But we are here to celebrate our centennial anniver- sary and to greet old friends, and I have no heart on this occasion to shrink any responsibility which may be thrown upon me.
Whatever I may say will be more of a historical character,- entering largely into and embraced in the history of our town,- than any effort for oratorical effect.
My first acquaintance with the press dates back a little over forty years, when my apprenticeship commenced, and it affords me pleas
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ure to look back and review the improvements in my day. There were then few daily papers published in our country, and a far less number of weeklies than now. If I recollect correctly, there were but two dailies published in New York. They were about two- thirds the size of the present Daily Herald, printed on coarse type and largely devoted to commercial interests. I recollect reading in an early number of one of them a notice calling the attention of the business public to the fact that that paper, in con- sequence of having reached a daily circulation of about 1300 copies, mostly among the merchants and business men of the country, offered peculiar advantages to advertisers. It was printed upon a hand press, and it took two men five hours to print a single side of it.
There were no lightning presses in those days capable of turning off their 20,000 impressions an hour, and there was no occasion for them, for there were no telegraphs, no railroads or ocean steamers to give quick transit of news from place to place and from all parts of the earth. News thirty days from England was considered very fresh, and more ordinarily it was forty days old when received. It took ten days to get news from New Orleans, and about six months from China.
But what a change forty years has wrought. There is now in New York, including daily, weekly and monthly issues, one hun- dred and seventy-one newspapers, devoted to every branch of indus- try and every department of literature. Fourteen of these are dailies, some reaching a circulation of nearly one hundred thousand copies per day, and a single one taxing the capacity of two large paper mills to supply the white paper, and in the aggregate giving employment to millions of capital and an army of workmen.
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