USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 3
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Reading, to be sure, is an inland town-all the streams run out of it-and many of the young people mi- grate early in life; nevertheless, Reading has been a good place to be born in, to live in, and a royal place to come back to.
The labor-saving farm machinery, the cheese fac- tories, and the improvements within the reach of every farmer and his wife, and within the reach of every busi- ness man, have reduced the hours of labor in all voca- tions, and afforded more time for study and recreation.
Reading's best crop must continue to be, as it has been, honest, industrious, intelligent, ambitious boys and girls.
My earnest plea today is for the home and fireside, for God and native land, that these beautiful homes in Reading may be made attractive and elevating.
"Home is the resort
Of love, of joy, of peace and plenty, where friends, Supporting and supported, polished friends And dear relations mingle into bliss."
-- Thomson's Seasons.
"Let me live amidst high thoughts and smiles As beautiful as love; with grasping hands And a heart that flutters with diviner love Whene'er my step is heard."
-Proctor's Mirandola.
I am not a believer in chance, I am a believer in the cold logic of cause and effect. All great results are achieved a's the result of either knowledge or wisdom, and the best results are reached by a combination of the two. Knowledge is the storage battery, wisdom is the application of facts to the conditions of life. The boy must not only go through the college, but the college
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must go through him, before he is educated. There must be less of dress parade, and more of solid study. The young lady was not educated whose boast was, as she returned from her college term, that she had learned to do up her hair in nineteen different ways.
Athletics are proper and to be encouraged, but not to the development of the muscle at the expense of the brain. I am interested in a ball game, in the manly strife for honorable victory, in the partisan loyalty in support of 'our team'. It is a part of the education of the average modern boy. In it he will stand up under kicks, punches and whacks, without wincing, and come home with a black eye or a score of bruises, without wincing, and with glorious pluck.
The common school, the high school, colleges, uni- versities, technical schools, professional schools; are some of the ways of getting an education, just as riding a bicycle or an automobile are some of the ways of loco- motion. 1137047º
The bicycle and the automobile all serve on the whole quicker and better than walking or riding on horse-back. Schools and colleges are on the whole the shortest cuts to an education, but they are by no means the only routes, since in education the process itself is as important as the result; frequently the longer way proves to be the better in the end.
An educated person is one who has made some small department of the world expressive of his own reason and purpose. He has first mastered himself and then has mastered the crude elements about him. The schools may have helped him.
What science and art do for the college students, hard work in the chosen line and religion together do for the people outside. Neither intellectual work done as mere drudgery, nor religion received on mere authority, with- out rational investigation, can ever produce that specific
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mastery which is the ear-mark of an educated man. For the person who is too lazy to work patiently at the prosaic details of some special employment for the sake of some practical or artistic end, for the person who is too slothful to search and interpret the lessons of the rocks, the flowers, the development of geological research, the results of the excavations among the buried cities of the East, the developments of the sciences, the discoveries of astronomy, to comprehend these wonderful developments from hard won conquests over the stubborn materials, there is no such thing as education in or out of school. Each needs a mastery of self and of particular lines of knowledge and a rev- erent faith in the Great Creator.
The public library, with its well selected books, presenting the latest results of scientific researches, the choicest thoughts of the great poets and authors, the latest discoveries in science, the brightest fiction, the choicest literature of the ages, affords to every man, woman and child the golden opportunity for an educa- tion.
The man who makes his farm or shop, office or store, expressive of intelligent order and study; the woman who makes her kitchen or parlor truly, strongly, neatly, sweetly expressive of a sane and kindly purpose, 'is on the right road to an education.
Disabuse yourselves of the idea, if you ever enter- tained it, that a birth or residence in an inland townlike Reading is necessarily a disadvantage. Let me remind you that some of the greatest statesmen, generals, agricul- turists, inventors, business men, teachers, scholars and professional men have been the product of the farm or the smaller village among the hills and mountains of this Republic.
Look over the roll, and you will find Vermont has been the birthplace of many of the mighty men of this nation. Their names are legion. Time will not permit
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me to enumerate them :-- Vice president, cabinet officer, senators and representatives in congress, ambassadors, generals and colonels, governors of states, presidents of colleges, professional men in all the learned professions. Each is proud of his birthplace, and they are this week returning by thousands to the scenes of their childhood and each asking himself or herself, 'What can I do to pay the debt that I owe to my birthplace ?' To do some- thing in the way of beautifying and preserving the old town, to build or do something to keep the old town up in the front rank of modern progress, to give the boys and girls a chance equal to or better than they each had in their youthful days, is the thought uppermost in the minds of all these returning children of grand old Ver- mont.
This is not in the line of charity, but is in the line of debt-paying. Is the dutiful son or daughter giving his aged parent anything when he takes kindly care of him or her in old age ?
Reading has just as many square rods to the acre as any other town six miles square, and perhaps a little more, as some of it stands up edge-ways. It has a roman- tic history. Its population reached high tide in 1820, when the number was 1603. The present population is 649. From among the 'natives' have gone forth seven- teen lawyers, nineteen physicians, eighteen clergymen, a long list of musicians, druggists, teachers, bankers, printers, business men in all the varied industries of life, and first-class farmers.
It has a long list of college graduates. The students at law here have within my memory been eight in num- ber, and for many years a theological school was main- tained at the Center by Rev. S. C. Loveland.
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Of its citizens three have been honored with a seat in the State Senate, and one sat for several years in the old council, while our neighboring town of West Wind- sor has never had a senator, and Plymouth has had only two. The town has had five resident attorneys, and one of your citizens has been elected the State attorney of the county.
Reading has its lodges of Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, G. A. R., and its Relief Corps, each doing an efficient work, each without a permanent home, each deserving one. Shall some public-spirited citizen or former citizen be found who will see to this ?
I, in common with you all, am interested in 'Reading Public Library', with its more than two thousand vol- umes and its portraits of distinguished sons of Reading. That is your library-I bespeak for it your abiding inter- est, your generous fostering, your frequent visits, the careful reading of its books, the filling of its shelves, the ornamentation of its walls, the extension of its benefits. It ought to enrich, develop, strengthen and expand the mind of every resident of the town.
In this connection, there is another matter to which I wish to call your attention at this time, and that is, the debt we owe to the memory of the soldiers, living and dead, who were natives or residents of Reading. No permanent monument exists to their memory. They are rapidly 'crossing the river.' I have recently looked up the list, and the roll, as I have made it, numbers about one hundred. You will find a roll with D. E .. Washburn and another with Mrs. Kate White, subject to revision, that comprises all natives and residents who were (so far as I could ascertain) in the Union Army, in the War of 1861.
The subject of memorial tablets has been investiga- ted, and I find two tablets of bronze, 27 inches wide and
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105 inches long, each to weigh about 500 pounds, can be cast that shall contain the name, rank, company and reg- iment of each and all of these soldiers, and these tablets can be firmly placed on each side of the main entrance to the library building-there to remain forever as a just and fitting memorial of these boys who 'wore the blue.'
The expense will be $225.00 at the foundry. This money ought to be raised and this work done, and today is a good time to discuss it and put it in the way of accomplishment.
In the town of Wallingford, Vt., stands the 'Gil- bert Hart Library Building', and upon the walls in the reading room of the beautiful structure are placed bronze tablets to the memory of the soldiers of Wallingford.
Let us for a few moments take up the matter of public libraries in Vermont. It may interest you to know about them. In May, 1900, there existed free pub- lic libraries in 117 of the 244 towns and cities of this State. 129 towns were without them, although in 34 of these there were libraries accessible to the share hold- ers and, to a limited extent, to the public generally. This reduces the number to 95 that are without lib- raries more or less accessible to the public. In ad- dition to these public libraries, there were 29 school libraries and 13 academic libraries. In this list I have not included the Vermont State Library at the capitol, with its large collection of law and miscellaneous books and public documents, nor the extensive and valuable collection of the Vermont Historical Society of books and curios relating to the history of this State. Neither does my list include the great number of private libraries gathered by members of the learned profess- ions or by private citizens.
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. I find from the best sources of information obtainable that these public, school and academic libraries contain a grand total of 420,865 volumes, but large as this num- ber is it provides only 1 1-5 volumes to each inhabitant of the State.
Coming to the town of Reading, you now have only three volumes for each inhabitant.
To show the increasing interest in this subject, I have gathered facts showing that during the year ending May 1, 1900, 25,852 volumes were added to the public li- braries of this State.
On this subject I am an ardent expansionist. The nation has expanded until the echo of its morning drum- beats encircle the earth-until our territory stretches near- ly half way around the world and includes all climates from the equatorial to the arctic regions, and within our own borders can now be produced about everything we need.
I am here today as an advocate of home expansion. I want better home facilities. Reading people are intelli- gent readers, and the records at the library show an ever increasing interest in the best literature. They have ever been notable for industry, frugality and intelligence.
The epitaph of the old woman who always was tired was,
'Don't mourn for me now, Don't mourn for me never. I am going to do nothing Forever and ever. '.
Too often the attitude of the average citizen towards the public library is that of respectable indifference-not opposed to it, yet as the boy said when asked if his fath- er was a Christian. 'Oh yes ! but he isn't working at it much of late.'
I have long since ceased to purchase many new books aside from professional books. Why? I have free ac-
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cess to 10,000 volumes across the street at Windsor, and 2,000 more at Reading.
Given the public library, enlarged as it ought to be and will be, and the citizens of Reading need not cross the ocean or travel extensively by road or rail,or get be- yond its health-giving zephyrs to keep abreast with the times. Why ? Because by books, at his own quiet fire- side, he is brought into touch with the greatest thinkers, poets, historians, theologians, inventors, scientists, nov- elists, musicians, agriculturists, astronomers, and reform- ers of the past and present.
You of a liberal education appreciate all these con- siderations.
Their thoughts and researches are before you-your property for the regulation of your conduct in civil and religious life, for your solace and elevation. The great- est thoughts of all ages are at the command of the quiet citizen, the greatest men of all ages are his companions of the fireside. With them he converses, reasons, argues; by them he is amused, instructed, advised and restrained. These are trite remarks. With a public library, Reading will become more desirable as a home for the wealthy, for the retired business man, for the scholarly man or wo- man who wishes to spend the evening of life in dignified leisure, for the busy man in active life who wishes to keep up with the procession and be broadened by the magic touch of the best literature, by the refined lady who scorns idle gossip and delights to hold daily intercourse with the world renowned poets,.essayists and historians.
In conclusion permit me to express my sentiments in the words of another :
'Here's a song of our green Mountains, Fair and loved and honored State,
Of her valleys and her fountains,
And her sons who made her great.
Bright will shine her deeds in story,
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Ever more her fame will ring, Covered is her flag with glory,
And her praîses will we sing.'
'It's the best State in the Union, For the care of that distress,
Which a sight of people die of, Known as chronic laziness. For her summer is too fleeting For a man to sit at ease,
And her winter such a wild one, That he's bound to work or freeze.
Stamped upon her vales and mountains, Clearly seen by every eye, Are these words of solemn import, You must either dig or die.' "
1
Mr. Davis' speech was followed by music by the band, and then by a humorous speech by Mr. Aden C. Estabrooks of Lunenburg, Mass., a native of the town, who related many anecdotes of Andrew Spear, the first settler, of the struggles and triumphs of these pioneers, of Simeon Buck, who married a daughter of Mr. Spear.
Mr. Estabrooks' speech was well received, and the exercises of the forenoon closed.
The people of Reading provided a free dinner for all the invited guests, and all those in town who had contrib- uted to the repast. This was served in Newton's hall, and was a banquet not to be excelled in its quality and variety. There was enough and to spare, and reminded the home-comers of the 'olden time.'
At 2 P. M. the people again assembled in front of the schoolhouse and were charmed by music from Windsor Cornet Band. The exercises then proceeded as follows:
Rev. M. B. Parounagian was introduced as a clergy- man who has won a warm place in the hearts of the people of Reading. Mr. Parounagian is by birth an Armenian
1
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and came to this country and first spoke English after he had attained his majority. With his strongly marked foreign accent, and his ready wit, he kept the audience in good humor for an allotted time. He regretted that he is not by birth a Vermonter so as to be able to join in all the sentiments of the day. He said:
"I have often been called upon to speak at G. A. R. gatherings and felt my position. I am not a veteran be- cause I was too young and lived 8000 miles away during the Great Rebellion. I cannot call myself the son of a veteran because my father lived in the same distant country. I did the next best thing. I married the daughter of a Vermont soldier, and so I came to be the son in law of a veteran and half of a Vermonter." He said further: "My stay in Reading taught me several lessons ;- when I arrived at South Reading on the stage, driven by that illustrious mail-carrier, Calvin Robinson, I wore a silk hat. I looked around town the next day and took in the situation and went and bought me a soft hat, and wore that all the time I remained in town. I put that silk hat in the bottom of my trunk and used it to keep my collars and cuffs in."
Mr. Parounagian went on in a similar happy vein and was warmly applauded.
Dr. Aurelius C. Sherwin, of Boston, was the next speaker. He announced himself as one of the 'boys', who were to have the platform in the afternoon, and further announced, "I came here today with my little brother, Dr. O. W. Sherwin, to meet and greet my former acquaintances in the grand old town of which I was for many years a resident." Dr. Sherwin warmly expressed his feelings at meeting his friends and noted some of the changes in the town. The Dr. was enthusiastically received.
Dr. O W. Sherwin was then introduced. He is one of the Reading 'boys', and here began the practice
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of his profession. His words were well weighed and touching, and he concluded his interesting remarks with "God Bless Reading." This speaker was heartily cheered.
O. S. Holden then gave in his inimitable manner that grand old song "Hurrah for Vermont" and greatly stirred the hearts of the large assemblage.
Frank H. Clark of Windsor, a native of this town, was introduced and read a poem, of which the following is a copy :
JONATHAN'S ACCEPTANCE.
Now Sairy Ann what do you 'spose I found
Along with our other mail today ? .
Can't guess ? Well I'll be bound
"Iwas an invite to observe "Old Home Day,"
Way down East in old Reading town, Where both of us were born ;
Where first I met you, with eyes so brown At an old-fashioned party, husking corn.
I was a barefoot farmer boy
With a freckled face and yellow hair,
But full of life and hope and joy
Thinking of you, and tagging you everywhere.
Those were our happiest days, my dear, With never a thought of aches or ills,
Breathing our fill of Vermont's pure air, Viewing the charms of her many hills.
To the East, old Ascutney rising high, Guarded by lesser heights, somber and green,
Rearing their heads aloft to the sky,
As charming a picture as e'er was seen.
The old red house on the hill, With a row of maples set before
In a small front yard, I can see it still, Fringed with lilacs and roses galore.
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The orchard back of the barn Where the earliest apples grew, The meadow, with upland and tarn, And with bushes not a few,-
The school house down the road Where we conned our lessons o'er, The droning voices sounding loud As they came through the open door.
Then we got married and started West For the land of the prairie and sky.
Where we've worked on, with little rest, Until we're almost ready to die.
In the thirty odd years now gone, How often we've planned to go back ; But something has always gone wrong, Perhaps we were heedless and slack.
And sometimes the children were sick Which costs a pretty penny, you know, Or a mule got into the creek
And was drowned, so we could not go.
Some years there has been a drouth And the crops would almost fail,
But on the mortgage there was ever a growth, Unless we had produce for sale.
But now that the farm is paid for And the children are older grown,
We can take a little more pleasure And journey back to our native town.
And there we'll renew our youth Among the hills we long to see, For in spirit and in truth
Reading's greeting will be hearty and free.
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Rev. William Douglass of Windsor was next intro- duced. Here he commenced the work of the gospel min- istry, and was pastor of the Methodist church in South Reading for three years. He said he felt great gratitude to the people of Reading for their kindness and forbear- ance in his inexperience. He had had eight pastorates. and had been invited to return to each, but he turned his footsteps to this old town in preference to all others. Mr. Douglass' remarks were intensely interesting and well received.
Rev. Edson Reifsnider, now of Danvers, Mass., was next introduced. He was at one time pastor of the Uni- versalist church at Felchville, and here began his work as a clergyman. Mr. Reifsnider was in a humorous mood and kept the audience in excellent spirits. He was grateful to the good people of Reading that they had borne with his imperfections and permitted him here to spread his youthful wings, and deliver to them his crude ideas. He related many witty anecdotes and made nu- merous local hits that were greatly enjoyed and appreci- ated by the crowd. His stories of Pat and the dough, and the result of fifty shots with his kodak from a buggy in Reading were especially apt.
After music by the band, Miss Ida White read an original poem written by Rev. Homer White, of Ran- dolph, a former resident here.
I DREAM OF HOME.
I dream of home; what happy thoughts Danced in a glowing train, As bright as hopes we know in youth, Through my delighted brain.
Old scenes were spread before my eyes Old friends were with me still, And from the leafy orchard tree I heard the robbin's trill.
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The years since they were numbered not, I was in heart the same
As when my brow was free from care And soul was free from blame.
I saw my father's smile again, My mother's voice came through the years,
And from my sleep-closed lid escaped The last of boyhood's tears.
I woke with thoughts more pure and true Than manhood manly deems,
The years, and not my sleep, appeared An interval of dreams.
I woke from boyhood, not from sleep, The past seemed as a night
And to my opening eyes there stole, My boyhood's morning light.
Chas. M. Keyes of Springfield was next introduced. . He is the son of the late Solomon Keyes. Mr. Keyes spoke in a happy manner, expressing bis pleasure at meeting with his acquaintances in the old home town. His sentiments were very appropriate and well received.
Miss H. Gertrude Roscoe, the pastor of the Univer- salist church at Felchville, next rendered a solo with much force and appropriateness.
Edward R. Buck, Esq., a native and attorney, next came upon the platform. Mr. Buck has represented Reading during the last two sessions of the Legislature. He, too, told some apt and comical stories, which were to the point. Unlike the Rev. M. B. Parounagian, the speaker did not wear a silk hat when he arrived in Reading. 'I came to town bare headed. I was born here and I never regretted it.'
Levi W. Carleton of Woodstock, next had the at- tention of the crowd. He, too, is a native and lived here many years. He expressed in a pleasant way his
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pride in the history of the old town, and his happiness in meeting the acquaintances of his boyhood.
After music by the band, the vast assemblage arose and, following the band, joined in singing "America".
Thomas Curley, Esq., of Waltham, Mass., a dis- tinguished lawyer and inventor of electrical appliances, was next presented. He spent his boyhood days in Reading and spoke feelingly of the old times when he attended the schools, lyceums and sociables of the town. "I remember once when father called me early in the morning and shouted 'the early bird catches the worm' as an incentive, that I replied 'what of it, mother won't let me go fishing ?' "
The great inquiry today is 'What have you done in in the world ? Reading boys and girls can give a good account of themselves, their records are clean, their average success phenomenal."
Mr. Curley went on to discuss the vocation of farm- ing, claiming that it required the highest talent to be a successful farmer, and intelligently decide the various questions that arise in carrying on a farm, and he urged the farmers to establish an exalted ideal, and avail themselves of all reliable sources of information and keep abreast with the wonderful discoveries of modern science.
Mr. Curley then took up the subject of the library. He eulogized Mr. Gilbert A. Davis for his interest in the development of Reading, for his generosity in building the beautiful library that bears his name-a monument to his memory that will always remain and be appreciated.
He said further that the safety of the nation depends not upon armed battalions, but upon the education of the children supplemented by the public library. Mr. Curley's remarks were enthusiastically received.
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Benediction by Rev. Ira Carter of North Da- kota, formerly a Methodist preacher here.
The exercises were attended by about 1000 people, 600 people were served with a free dinner, and 100 with a free supper.
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