The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 North Chester 8/2/1889 Rev. E. J. CHAFFEE of Galesburg, Ill., and former pastor here, is expected to preach in the Universalist church, next Sunday, at 4 p. m. N. F. SHEDD spent two days, last week, at L. BEMIS', as he was on his way from Worcester, Mass., to Bulington. Loring BEMIS has a white leghorn hen, five years old, that laid 28 eggs in the month of July. Frank HOLDEN is improving his house by putting on a bay window. Mrs. G. E. LEE and Mrs. Frank HOLDEN visited, over last Sunday, at J. P. FARMER's in Londonderry. Last Tuesday, as Sidney BAILEY was shooting woodchucks, the gun "kicked," breaking his collar bone, which will give him a vacation of a few weeks. J. B. HALE of Williamsville, Mass., made a short visit at L. BEMIS', this week. Miss Carrie ADAMS of Bellows Falls is spending a few days at O. W. FLETCHER's. Mrs. Frank SMITH is visiting her brother, Charles O. ROBBINS, at Brattleboro. Charles WATERMAN has moved back to the mill house, that he recently purchased of the GOWING Bros. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Chester 8/2/1889 A long-felt want has been supplied by the erection of a public water-trough and drinking-fountain in the street at the lower end of the park. The structure is of iron, was made in Connecticut, and combines with the water-trough a drinking-fountain, which will be appreciated not only by the quadrupeds but by the wayfaring bipeds who may quench their thirst from its cooling waters. The public are indebted therefore to the enterprise of E. A. HALL, who secured the funds for the purchase and superintended the placing of the structure and connecting it with the aqueduct, thus securing a permanent supply of water. It is evidently more designed for usefulness than for ornament, as it is placed on a solid base of rock and cement. The prospect is favorable for having a hotel in our village in the near future. Walter J. HADLEY has put into his store and postoffice a new jeweler's safe, made in Cincinnati, which weighs about 4,000 pounds. Miss Mary STEELE of Hartland is the guest of Rev. W. L. NOYES, and assisted at the concert, Wednesday evening, by singing a couple of opera songs. The concert given by the Congregational church and society, for the benefit of their organ fund, Wednesday evening, was a decided success both socially and financially. A large audience was present, who showed their appreciation by the hearty applause with which each performance was greeted. As an elecutionist, Miss Sarah ROUNDS fully sustained her reputation as one of the best. Her rendering of the frog colloquy,with other recitations, would be hard to equal. The several singers successfully performed their parts; and the piano recital as given by Prof. TRACY, Mrs. TRACY, and Miss Louise ROBBINS, was especially fine; while B. H. RIGGS, although a young man, showed much skill as an amateur pianist. Miss Mary STEELE, Miss Julia HUBBARD, and E. E. GORHAM, added much to the enjoyment of those present by excellent selections and fine singing. A. BLAISDELL of Orange, Mass., a former resident, is calling on friends here. Josiah JEFTS will soon sell at auction his personal effects, and shortly leave for Minnesota, where for a time he will make his home with his brother. Lonnie SMITH of the International hotel, Boston, Mass., is spending the week with friends in town and at Lowell Lake. The centennial of the organization of the Baptist church, which occurs the 10th of August, will be suitably remembered by a rehearsal of the church history for the past 100 years, by the pastor, Rev. H. B. TILDEN. Lloyd A, VEAZEY, the gentlemanly clerk with ADAMS & PARK, is spending his vacation with his wife and daughter, at Winthrop beach, near Boston. Will ROUNDS in the employ of the Michigan Central railroad co., in their office in Detroit, is spending his month's vacation with his parents, Judge and Mrs. ROUNDS. Glad to see Will looking so well, after his sixteen months absence. Monday evening, Mrs. A. D. FLETCHER gave a pleasant "high tea" to a party of the young friends of son George. After spending several weeks here, Bert JOHNSON started on his return to Colorado Springs, Monday, leaving Mrs. J. and son to follow in October. John BALLARD, after spending a short vacation away, has returned to his old position in ADAMS & PARK's store. Mr. McGRATH and wife, of Boston, are stopping with Mr. and Mrs. Frank ADAMS. Mr. and Mrs. Geoge H. GREENWOOD and son Chester, of Boston, are the guests of Mr. an Mrs. A. D. FLETCHER. Mrs. W. P. DODGE is very ill; but at this writing is, we are glad to learn, apparently improving. Mr. and Mrs. Ed FARR, who have been with Mrs. DODGE for the past week, returned to their home in Vernon, today (Thursday). Mr. and Mrs. L. M. CARPENTER are spending a few weeks with friends at Middletown Springs. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

Thursday 23 February 2012 Page options: Print this page E-mail this page Previous page NAS website links: Search rooms How to find us Preparing to visit Disabled access Regulations Catalogues and indexes Other websites: ScotlandsPeople The NAS is not responsible for the content of internet sites other than its own. Feature: Victorian Valentine A Valentine's Day card became the poignant symbol of broken promises rather than a token of love when it was produced as evidence in a 19th Century court case. In 1879, Mary Ann Lindsay began working in the shop of William Steel, wine and spirit merchant in Johnstone. It wasn't long before she caught the eye of her employer's son, William Steel junior, a student at Glasgow University, where he was studying for the ministry. He 'repeatedly took [Mary Ann] out walking and paid his addresses to her as if in honourable courtship with a view to marriage, and did all he could to insinuate himself into the affection of [Mary Ann], for whom he professed the warmest love'. In January 1880, Mary Ann discovered that she was pregnant. At first, William appears to have accepted that the child was his and promised financial support if Mary Ann would 'keep the matter quiet', but by the time little Ann Lindsay was born on 27 October 1880, the relationship had turned sour. Mary Ann goes to court On 7 December 1880 Mary Ann and her father, David Lindsay, a mason, raised an action against William in Paisley Sheriff Court. They claimed that Mary Ann, by now 19 years old, was entitled to lying-in expenses and alimony as well as compensation because William, also 19, had seduced her by promising marriage. William claimed that he had only walked out with Mary Ann twice, after a quarrel with his girlfriend Agnes Braidwood. He denied admitting paternity and alleged that 'during the time the pursuer was in the shop she did not conduct herself as an engaged person but on the contrary was over familiar with a number of young men...'. Mary Ann produced correspondence from William to back up her claims - including the 1880 Valentine card. She claimed that she told William's father about the pregnancy in the spring of 1880. It appears that she lost her job at about the same time. Evidence produced in the sheriff court case , 1881 (National Records of Scotland, SC58/22/630). The fathers met to try to resolve matters, but their accounts of what passed between them differ. David Lindsay had wanted Mary Ann and William to get married, but William's father proposed that Mary Ann should be sent away until after the baby was born, after which she would get her job back. David Lindsay's brother in law, Joseph Fields, who accompanied him to the meeting, claimed that William Steel senior had said that his son 'was a poor useless thing on whose education he had spent £500' and that he could not support a wife. William Steel senior, on the other hand, denied this version of events and claimed that his son never admitted to him that he was the father of Mary Ann's child. The court's decision On 19 July 1881 the Sheriff Substitute found against William. In his summing up of the 'very painful case' he acknowledged that a verdict against William would be 'detrimental to the defender's prospects in the profession to which he purposed coming forward', but that on the evidence 'the Sheriff Substitute...cannot come to any other conclusion than that the defender is the father of the pursuer's child'. He awarded Mary Ann court expenses and the money she had claimed for the birth and the maintenance of the child. He did not, however, support her claim for damages for seduction, as there was nothing to prove that this case was any different to any other ordinary action of filiation and aliment (an action to determine the paternity of a child and to establish any money due by the father for its upkeep). William appealed to the Court of Session on the grounds that Paisley Sheriff court had no jurisdiction over him because he had been lodging in Glasgow at the time of the allegations. However, the supreme court upheld the Sheriff Substitute's original dismissal of this argument. On 6 December 1881 they also upheld his verdict, awarding Mary Ann Lindsay expenses incurred by her in both the sheriff and supreme courts and ordering that William pay her a total of £55 6s 1d. (NRS reference: CS46/1881/12/69) Detail of Interlocutor sheets, sheriff court process , 1880 (National Records of Scotland, SC58/22/630). Thousands of single mothers like Mary Ann Lindsay took men to court to prove paternity of their children, usually in an effort to extract financial support. Most of these affiliation and/or aliment cases were heard in the sheriff courts and can be found in the NRS catalogue under the names of the parties. Where there is no separate entry it is worth searching the records of decrees issue in a particular court. What the court records can tell us - social history This case illustrates what a wealth of information can be contained in the papers of Sheriff Court civil processes, over and above the bare details of the legal action they record. As well as the account of the case itself, the surviving papers hold a great deal of detail about many aspects of 19th century life in a small Scottish town and about its inhabitants. It is interesting that although they appear to have been from different backgrounds, Mary Ann and William mixed in the same social circles. Mary Ann's father was a mason and she worked as a shop girl for 9 shillings a week, 8am to 10pm each day, and 11pm on Saturdays. William was a university student, who, even after his father ceased funding his university studies, was able to secure a post in an engineer's office in Glasgow at a salary of £45 a year, pretty much double what Mary Ann earned. William Steel senior was a pillar of the local community: a shop owner, Sheriff's Officer and candidate in the municipal elections of 21 January 1880. He could afford to spend £500 on his son's education, despite having at least four other children to provide for. We discover something about the social lives of teenagers at the time. There appears to have been a large amount of 'walking out' with friends, the 4 mile walk from Johnstone to Paisley, returning home by train, being a popular choice. Mary Ann and William mainly walked out on Sunday evenings, after he had finished teaching at Elderslie Sabbath School and she had finished attending Johnstone Parish Church Sabbath School. Life in the wine and spirit merchant's shop is described, including the 'drinking box' or small room where customers drank their purchases. The train service linking the 13 or so miles between Glasgow and Johnstone allowed william to commute to Glasgow daily for during this period, returning to Johnstone to help in his father's shop or do his own studying there each afternoon. We catch a glimpse of the high days and holidays which punctuated the late Victorian calendar. Mention is made of the municipal elections, Ayr Race Day and of Johnstone Fast Day. Scotland did not observe many national holidays until the 20th century, apparently because these tended to have Catholic origins in other countries. However, dissenters' 'fast days' began to grow in popularity during the 19th century, and came to form the basis for Scotland's present system of local holidays which can prove so confusing to visitors. (Callum G. Brown, 'Religion and Society in Scotland since 1707', Edinburgh 1997). What the court records can tell us - family history There is a lot of family information available in the records - names and addresses of witnesses are given, including Mary Ann's father, sister and uncle, and William's father and girlfriend. This information throws up more avenues for research in the statutory registers and census returns. For example, the space for Ann Lindsay's father in her 1880 birth entry was left blank, but in 1883, William Steel was recorded as her father in the Register of Corrected Entries. Why 1883? It was obviously not a direct result of the conclusion of the court case in 1881. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that William married his girlfriend, Agnes Braidwood, in April 1882 and their first child was born in August the following year. Was he somehow prompted to set the record straight on learning that he was to be a father for the second time? What became of Mary Ann is less clear. She does not seem to have married in Scotland. She and her daughter were living in her father's house at the time of both the 1881 and 1891 censuses but then disappear. Ann is described as 'Ann Lindsay Steel', 5 month old granddaughter of David Lindsay on the 1881 census, but as 'Annie Lindsay', 10 year old daughter of David Lindsay in 1891. Presumably, this was to protect her and Mary Ann from the stigma of illegitimacy, and one wonders whether Mary Ann and her daughter eventually travelled to her parents' homeland of Ireland for a fresh start sometime between the 1891 and 1901 censuses. Perhaps the Lindsays or Steels appear in your family tree? Entry for Ann Lindsay in the Statutory Register of Births, 1880 (National Records of Scotland, 559/03 0388). Entry for Ann Lindsay's birth in the Register of Corrected Entries, 1883 (National Records of Scotland, 559/03 0388).

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Cavendish 8/2/1889 Rev. J. N. EMERY will preach in the stone church, Sunday, August 4th and 11th, at 2 p. m. Frank SPAULDING set out the cigars, the other day; and all because the boys found out his recent marriage with Miss Nina WALLIS. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Perkinsville 8/2/1889 A Mrs. BROWN and daughter have been visiting at Otis STEARNS'. Anna SHERWIN, from Ludlow, was in town over the Sabbath. Irving SHERWIN, from Baltimore, is shortly to move into the house owned by Miss PERKINS. Rev. Wm. H. RUGG, having finished his three Sabbaths' engagement with the first Baptist church, Brockton, Mass., as supply for pastor J. K. RICHARDSON, is at home again. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Felchville 8/2/1889 C. M. FAY joined his wife and children here, last Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. M. A. DAVIS entertained a few invited friends at their home, Monday evening. The entertainment, last Saturday evening, given by Mr. HOWARD, was considered good. There was a small audience, the rain preventing many from attending. Mr. and Mrs. John McCOLLOUGH from Claremont, N. H, are spending a few days here. D. S. WHITE started for his Western home, the 30th ult. Recent visitors: Mrs. WELCH and daughter, from Woodstock, at E. K. HEWLETT's; Miss Annie SHERWIN, from Ludlow, at B. M. NEWTON's; Mrs. S. S. SMITH, from Bridgewater, at E. H. CARPENTER's. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Proctorsville 8/2/1889 John A. HUBBARD of Cambridge, Mass., is spending the week in town. Frank BRAGG has moved his family to Smithville, Ludlow. The wet weather of the past week interferes greatly with the work of hay-making. A crop one-third more than average is reported by the farmers, but of inferior quality. Chas. A. SKINNER of Brooklyn, N. Y., is stopping at the hotel a few days. Miss WEST is moving her goods into the Hill block, east of the hotel. Mrs. C. B. STREETER and son, from Brattleboro, are the guests of her father, A. E. MOORE, for a few days. Will MOLONY, who has been in Claremont, N. H., the past year, has returned to Centre Rutland as head clerk in the store lately run by J. E. ROBINSON & Co., but now under the management of the Vermont Marble Co. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 West Windsor 8/2/1889 Supervisor DUNBAR, and wife, while on their way to Proctorsville to hold the teachers' examination, called at C. D. SHATTUCK's. Throught the mistake of pen or printer, we were made to say, last week, that F. W. SHATTUCK is from Winchester, N. H., whereas he is from Winchester, Mass. Mrs. James LAUNDRY and child, of Windsor, have been spending a few days a Prosper COOK's. Mrs. WILSON (nee Laura FAIRBANKS) and little son, of Abington, Mass., are visiting relatives in this vicinity. We have in our possession an old "History of the World" purporting to give events transpiring from the creation of the world to A. D. 1800. The book was printed in 1807, and is quite difficult to read for the letter f is made instead of s and there are many other peculiarities of spelling and printing. Horace HOOK of Granville has been visiting his brother, W. D. HOOK. A. B. NICHOLS recently treated us with apples grown last year that were as fresh as they would have been last winter. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Windsor 8/2/1889 J. TEBADO, while at work for W. H. BARRETT, fell through the trap-door of the high beams, striking on his head in the wagon beneath, rendering him insensible for two or three days, but is now improving. Miss Diana HAGAR, who has been sick with dropsy for more than a year, died July 29th. About 50 tickets were sold, Tuesday morning, for the excursion to Providence Island. The train left at 6 a. m., and came back before 10 p. m., less than an hour late. A ride across the hills to Woodstock, July 29th, shows a larger amount of hay uncut than usual for this date. Corn is growing finely, oats badly lodged, and potatoes rusting. Some farmers seem to be getting reckless, and without regard to the weather, over 20 tons of hay were down on one farm, Tuesday morning, besides 10 acres of grain. Heavy showers, Monday and Tuesday, washed the hill roads badly; and some corn-fields were badly flattened by the wind. A house owned by Mrs. FREEMAN, on Buena Vista, was struck by lightning and considerably damaged, but it did not take fire. The family were away. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Weathersfield Center 8/2/1889 The cry of deserted homes has been one which some of Weathersfield's inhabitants have rung the changes upon for years. It will have to be given up now. The listers found but two in the whole town. There are many without buildings, and more with buildings unoccupied; but the land is carried on by someone. If some of these lugubrious gentleman doubts that someone owns these farms just let him undertake to homestead one of the places. How long dies he suppose he would be allowed to work one unmolested? The truth is, the farms are not deserted; they simply lack occupants, while the land is worked the same as it used to be. Help for haying is very scarce. The short help and the abundant crop is a discouraging combination, to say the least. Luke PERKINS died at the town farm, last week, and was buried Wednesday. He has children, but not one followed him to the grave. Miss Lettie WARREN is to teach the school this fall. Miss Emma GOLDSMITH will go back to district No. 5 for the fall term. Mrs. J. W. HILL has gone away from H. P. TOLLES', where she has been doing housework for some time. Lizzie DUKE is at work in a hotel in Charlestown. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Ludlow 8/2/1889 It has been a poor week for nighthawks. Henry HOWE is home from Boston, on his vacation. L. G. HAMMOND takes the blue ribbon for first ripe tomatoes. Will WILEY has moved into Joe ROWE's house, on High street. Mrs. Minerva BALLARD has returned home, ill, from a visit to Jamaica. Mrs. E. H. TAPPER is visiting relatives in Lynn and Kingston, Mass. Harry and Russell COLE of Dedham, Mass., are guests at William RUSSELL's. A. BIXBY is reported on the sick-list and unable to attend to business. Phil CROSBY has returned to Bellows Falls, to work in one of the paper-mills. M. E. ROBBINS and wife, from Putney, are visiting relatives and friends in this vicinity. Oscar GASSETT has concluded to be in the fashion, and has taken down his front fence. The same board of teachers as last term have been engaged for Black River Academy. Episcopal services at Odd Fellows hall, next Sunday, by Rev. T. S. OCKFORD, at 5 p. m. Mrs. WOLFE and son Richard, of Bellows Falls, have been visiting friends here, this week. The band have been invited to accompany the Providence Island excursion; but it was not practicable. Alonzo GRAVES and wife were in town over Sunday. Mr. G. is now a manufacturing jeweler in New York. Capt. H. B. ATHERTON of Nashua arrived here Wednesday. Illness will prevent Mrs. ATHERTON coming this season. Lila and Charlie WALKER are spending their Summer vacation with their aunt and uncle at Amsden--O. E. BELLOWS and wife. The hotel and the grist-mill will next be treated to the Metcalf roofing compound, if the weather reaches a permissible stage. Mrs. William BURNELL of Boston has been here, this week on a visit to her parents--Thomas CONNOR and wife,--the latter being seriously ill. John R. SPAFFORD, who has been on the sick-list for some time, has been visited, this week, by his brother, G. A. SPAFFORD of Chesterfield, N. H. David FARWELL and daughter, Mrs. M. M. TARBELL, and Birdie TARBELL, have been passing a week with friends in Mechanicsville and Wallingford. John LAMERE jr. has quit work for E. L. MACK, and will succeed his father, by purchase, in the business at the old LAMERE blacksmith stand. Rev. H. B. HUDSON, pastor of Trinity Baptist church, New York city, has joined his family, at E. W. SMITH's, for his vacation during August. The base-ball nine had arranged to play the Springfields, at that place, yesterday afternoon; but rain caused postponement of the game until this afternoon. Mrs. T. S. DAILEY, formerly a resident of Ludlow but for the past 12 years a resident of Stamford, Conn., died in Pomona, Cal., the 13th ult., of consumption. The band will make another attempt to play from the band-stand, tonight, having failed, through absences of several members, to keep their promise last week. M. H. GODDARD and wife have gone on a carriage trip to the White Mountains for a brief sojourn, Mr. G. purposing to also take in some other eastern Summer resorts. John A. HUBBARD, from Cambridge, Mass., has been calling on old friends here, this week. He reports another little girl at his home, to fill the vacancy caused by death some months ago. Mrs. P. C. DICKINSON of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. Mary L. DRAPER of Boston, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. L. G. HAMMOND. They will try camping at Lake Rescue, weather permitting. L. O. GREEN and granddaughters, --Florence and Bertha NEWCOMB,--from Boston, guests of L. G. HAMMOND last week, are now domiciled at G. H. HILTON's delightful Summer resort, Lowell Lake. F. C. PAFF remembered many of his friends with generous gifts of fruit, last Saturday, in return for their congratulations on his recent stroke of luck. The lottery company's check for $5,000 was received yesterday. The Ludlow House is again under new management, having been leased, the past week, to George E. RICHARDS, who has for several years been engaged in similar business in Massachusetts, last at Winchendon, Mass. George E. JOHNSON exhibited a stalk of herdsgrass, the other day, that was six feet and nine inches in height. Had the whole field been of similar growth, it would have had to be seasoned and handled a la cordwood. Rev. A. J. AUBREY of Beverly, Mass., was in town, early in the week, accompanied by Rev. I. B. CODDINGTON of Somerville, Mass. They were en route to the sylvan seclusion of the gold-mine and vicinity for a brief rest from pastoral duties. Not an hour of sunshine, all together, since last Friday, is the record at this writing--six whole days of dog-day gloom, and about six feet of rain-fall in the meantime, we should say. how much longer is Jupiter going to pluvi us! Postoffice candidates LOCKWOOD and HOWE went to White River Junction, Monday, where Congressman GROUT weighted the merits of their respective cases. Something definite will probably be done by the delegation within the next month. Rev. J. N. EMERY and wife, formerly of Bellows Falls, now located in Massachusetts, will spend a part of their vacation here, at the Ludlow House. Mr. EMERY will occupy the desk at the Universalist church, the next two Sundays, morning and evening. There was no preaching at the Congregational church, last Sunday, owing to a misunderstanding between Rev. Mr. HYDE and the church committee. It is understood, now, the Mr. HYDE will occupy the desk whenever it would be otherwise vacant, during his Summer sojourn here; a favor the society are not slow to appreciate. We respectfully suggest to the Village Fathers that the gutters of the village, and their grassy borders, be treated to a shave. It would wonderfully improve the looks of the place, and cost but a trifle. The doing away with the old practice of scraping out the gutters is commendable, but the improvement is only half consummated when the grass is allowed to attain its present height. The Central railroad announce their annual picnic excursion to Providence Island, Lake Champlain, Tuesday, August 6th; from all points, Bellows Falls to Summit, $1.25 for round trip for adults; Summit, to East Wallingford, $1.20; East Wallingford to North Clarendon, $1.10; North Clarendon, $1.00. Children half-price. Train will leave Bellows Falls at 6:20 a. m. and Ludlow at 7:45, arriving at the Island at 12:25; returning, leave the Island at 2:50 and reach Bellows Falls at 9:10 p. m. A good band will accompany the excursion. The base-ball boys went to East Wallingford, last Friday afternoon, and played the second game with the Mechanicsville club. As the help of PIERCE and TAYLOR of Chester, and McNULTY and POLLARD of Proctorsville, had been secured by "our boys," there was considerable talk on the field about "playing against Windsor county;" but the "Mechanicsville nine" showed up to no better advantage, having themselves secured four outside players, including a battery from Rutland. The score was 21 to 7 in favor of "Windsor County," and the boys came home feeling considerably elated--not to say elevated. THIEF CONVICTED.-- The peddler-thief whose arrest was noted in our last issue had a hearing before Justice BALL, last Friday morning, was fined $7 and costs for petit larceny, and in default of the wherewith to settle was sent to the Rutland workhouse for about 75 days. In addition to the lace stolen from Mr. DENNETT, in his little trunk were found several boxes of hair-pins bearing DENNETT's cost-mark, which had not been sold to him; also, several pieces of jewelry, the possession of which he could not satisfactorily account for. He gave his name as ODERKIRK, and claimed Danville as his home. When Deputy HOWE arrived at the workhouse with the prisoner, he was at once recognized as an old offender, who was discharged from that institution, March 19th, at the expiration of 115 days' sentence for larceny committed in the town of Burke; and last Fall he was discharged from state prison on completion of a 7-years sentence for stealing a drove of cattle. ACADEMY DEDICATION.--To the former Students and Friends of Black River Academy: The Fifty-fourth Anniversary of Black River Academy will be observed on Tuesday, August 27th, 1889, at which time the new academy building, which has recently been constructed from funds largely provided by the munificence of the former students and friends of the Institution, will be formally dedicated by appropriate exercises, as follows: An address of welcome and congratulation by Rev. R. L. OLDS of the Baord of Trustees; oration, by Rev. Henry L. SLACK of Bethel, Conn.; a poem (not yet assigned); a dedicatory ode, by Rev. J. M. HULL of Kingston, Mass.; report of building committee, by Capt. E. A. HOWE of Ludlow; a view of the building and inspection of its appointments; a banquet of the associated alumni and other friends of the institute, in the afternoon, with toasts and responses; a concert in the evening, by the celebrated and popular Ruggles Street Quartette of Boston, assisted by as reader, followed by a social reunion. The Academy now enters upon a new career of usefulness, and you are most cordially invited to be present at its auspicious beginning. The committee on entertainment will be most happy to secure entertainment for you. You will please notify Prof. Geo. SHERMAN, principal of the academy, of your purpose to be present. PER ORDER OF COMMITTEE. Ludlow, Vt. July 31st, 1889 Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 State Notes 8/2/1889 Senator Justin S. MORRILL and family are at Mount Mansfield House in Stowe. A horse recently knocked Johnny LUCIER down at Jay, and stepped on his neck. It is now hoped the Bennington woolen mills will be in readiness to start by the 15th of August. A party of 225 Fresh Air children from New York were distributed at points along the Bennington & Rutland railroad, yesterday. Hendryx, a gray gelding bred at Dowagiac, Mich., won the $10,000 stake at the Detroit horse-trot, last week, time, 2:18 3/4. Hendryx is a great-grandson of old Vermont Black Hawk. Adella DOLOFF, 23 years old, living in Sutton, shot herself with a revolver, Sunday night, the ball entering just above the heart and passing through the body. No cause is assigned. The chances are that she may recover. The new steam yacht Elfrida has reached Burlington after steaming from the Delaware river in eight and one-half days. She is 117 feet long over all, and is manned by a crew of 15. She is made of steel, with handsome fittings and appointments. The probability that First Lieut. Ralph W. HOYT of the Eleventh U. S. Infantry would give instructions in rifle practice at the annual encampment of the Vermont National Guard, is now made a certainty by an official order detailing him for that purpose. Patrick McMAHON, aged 55 years, station agent at Montpelier junction for five years, was instantly killed, Tuesday forenoon, about 11 o'clock. In jumping from a morning freight-train, he fell under the saloon-car, his head being nearly severed from his body. State's Attorney E. D. CUDWORTH of South Londondery, went to Brattleboro, Tuesday, and summoned G. E. SHERMAN, proprietor of the American house, before him on the charge of illegal liquor-selling. SHERMAN plead guilty to 40 first offenses, and was fine $300 and costs. The Vermont Valley Railroad Co have closed a contract with the Boston Bridge Co. for a new iron bridge to replace the wooden structure near the mouth of West river. The span will be 200 feet, with an approach of 50 feet at the north end, and will cost about $15,000. George KANE was assaulted by Michael SULLIVAN in J. R. BOOTH's lumber yard at Burlington, Tuesday afternoon of last week, and died from the effects of his injuries last Monday morning. KANE and SULLIVAN had been fellow workmen in the lumber yard for some time. At Norwich, last Friday night, the store of E. W. OLDS, in which the postoffice is located, was entered by burglars, who cut a door-panel. A considerable quantity of clothing, boots and shoes, and about $15 in money and stamps, were stolen. There is no clue tot he burglars. An insurance adjuster for a Hartford company recently stated that in the last five years his company had lost over $3,000 above premiums received in Brattleboro and vicinity, and that in Rutland they were $29,000 behind; but equilibrium is preserved, and they even up out of other places. A section hand on the Central Vermont line, while walking the track between Swanton and St. Armand, P. Q., Tuesday morning, discovered the mangled remains of a man who had been overtaken and crushed to death by a freight train passing over the road during the night before. The dead man proved to be Feton BROW of Swanton, and is presumed to have been under the influence of liquor at the time of the accident. A case in the town ofCalais is puzzling the medical fraternity of that region. A two-year-old daughter of Charles SILVER, a well-to-do farmer of Calias, the 22d ult. sank into a profound sleep, and neither her parents nor the attending physician have been able to rouse her. The small amount of nourishment that she has taken has been forced down her throat a drop at a time, while the child appeared perfectly unconscious and made no effort to swallow. She has heretofore been in perfect health. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Home-Made Fire Extinguishers. 8/2/1889 Fire extinguishers of various sorts have for some time been hawked about the country and sold for considerable prices. The following receipe is the basis and make-up of pretty much all the extinguishers no in market. As given below, the article is inexpensive and easily prepared. Dissolve 10 pounds of common salt and five pounds of sal ammoniac in three and a half gallons of water, then put in bottles, which may be distributed about the house, three or four in a room. In case of fire throw one or two bottles into the burning place with force enough to break them, and any ordinary fire early treated with this dose will be put out. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 More Genuine Vermonters Wanted 8/2/1889 [From the Northfield NEWS] A Vermonter writes from South Dakota saying that he thinks if he was here, he would keep Vermonters at home. Well, as Frank PIXLEY says about the Jews, there are Vermonters and Vermonters. Some we do not care to have kept at home. The West, or Mexico, or Africa, would suffer by their presence. Let them "slide out" for their country's good. There is another class of Vermonters which are preferable unto the state in which they were born. They made excellent citizens in the newer states of the West. They gave Vermont a reputation it cannot afford to lose. WE do not want any kept in Vermont who are anxious to try their fortunes elsewhere. What we do want is more Vermonters of the genuine stuff, so that we can fill our own borders and all empty space besides. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

Smithville is a PLACE in Ludlow. Go here to find place names: http://crs.uvm.edu/community_data/gazetteer.htm

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 A VERMONTER IN THE "WILD WEST." 8/2/1889 A Vermonter in the "Wild West." Salt Lake City, Utah, July 15th, 1889, Mr. Editor: Leaving Chicago Tuesday evening, July 2d, at 10:30, I awoke to behold the beautiful prairies of northern Iowa. The corn was the best that I had seen. Took supper at Omaha, which has had an amazing growth since my visit there sixteen years ago. Had a good breakfast at North Platte for twenty-five cents. Here we came to mountain time, and I turned my watch back an hour--the second time after leaving home. From Julesburg, up the South Platte, I saw many herds of fat cattle. This river is a river of sand from thirty or forty rods to a half mile wide. Excepting in times of high water, this stream is appropriated by the up-river people, for irrigation; and those lower down have to whistle. I spent a few days in Logan county, northeastern Colorado, visiting my brother, Capt. L. E. SHERMAN, who, in addition to ranching, locates new comers, attends to notarial business, presides at justice courts, and effects loans of money in his neighborhood. Nearly all the people live in sod houses. They have a sod school-house and church. Miracles have been already wrought by the hand of man, here, in two years; and as one looks over vast fields of corn in what was a treeless waste, the wonder is, how can it be? I have visited Colorado Springs, Manitou, Ute Pass, Garden of the Gods, Glen Eyrie, and other places, which have often been described with more adjectives than I can command. I took the Denver & Rio Grande railroad from Colorado Springs to Utah, passing through the Grand Canon of the Arkansas. It is five miles in length, and the naked ledges of granite rise rough and cragged from one to two thousand feet on either side. The railroad is a marvel of engineering, and one admires the work of man while adoring the Creator of this stupendous wonder of nature. We had an observation car, and our necks were tired when we got through. The sharp curves of this narrow guage railway are not to be beaten anywhere. The next thing is to climb Marshall Pass. We come to a park-like expanse encircled by mighty mountains, with spots of snow glistening in the sunlight. This is repeated with variations. Our train is divided--six cars, with two engines, going ahead; our train consisting of one engine and two cars. The grade, in places, is 217 feet to the mile. Now for the horseshoes! We shake our handkerchiefs to the advance train, coming back hundreds of feet above us. This is repeated several times. Lofty peaks seem to sink, and awful chasms open their mouths. It is twilight. The full moon is in a light haze. I have a slight headache. Pull away, grand old steed! Get up, now! Don't stop! What if you should get to going backward? Or what if the leading train should break in two? It grows dark. The great timberless peaks sink lower. here we are at Summit--10,852 feet above the sea! The chimney of Ludlow woolen mill is 100 feet high. Main street is about 1,000 feet above the sea. Set 100 chimneys one above the other, and you have our road-bed at Marshall Pass. Ludlow mountain is over 2,000 feet above the village. It would take over five stories of that hill to equal this altitude! The next indescribable wonder is Black Canon by clear moonlight. This is some fifteen miles in length. I sat on the rear platform of our sleeper the entire distance. It was after midnight when, almost shivering with cold, I turned into my berth. The Black Canon is like splitting Ludlow mountain range in the centre down to a level with the village, knocking it into a a devious water course, converting it into rock of all shapes and postures imaginable, spreading it irregularly wide enough to admit Black river. Turning the river in, let it go dashing and crashing along for fifteen or twenty miles. Now hew out a railway, make bridges from one side to the other as occasion requires, suspend telegraph wires on poles where you can and on projecting irons stuck in holes drilled in the rock, place your trackmen very near each other with lanterns, place stationary green safety lights in dangerous places, and then take a fifteen-mile ride. Look up to the stars, and at the moonlight as it catches the crags a thousand feet above you. Whirl along. Now you are on a shelf under a dark perpendicular or overhanging mountain of rock. Now you are aiming right at the rocks. here is an open cross-cannon, and you see the moon. But, enough. I wish I could tell you what George Q, CANNON said yesterday at the great Tabernacle. He is First Counsellor to President Wilson WOODRUFF, the power behind the throne--Apostle, ex-delegate to Congress, ex-penitentiary polygamist, and now figuring in the role of semi-martyr, as a spotless victim of persecution under the Edmunds law. President WOODRUFF, Mr. CANNON, and eight other dignitaries, faced about five thousand attentive listeners. The great organ discoursed beautiful melody. Choir and soloist performed well their parts. The speaker said, " Latter Day Saints" were successors of the apostles and primitive church; and the results of their work in the erection of this temple, the gathering of peoples from the ends of the earth, so nearly of one mind and one heart, prove the truth of this assertion. Who had been taught by to do evil? If we have been persecuted and sent to prison, it was not for breaking God's commands. Women and children have been greatly afflicted by this persecution or prosecution--call it which you please. He counseled union. "Divide and quarrel, and God's anger will be kindled against you." "I tremble to think of disunion. Our enemies are like the leaves of the forest. We stand by the power of God." "If we seek God's guidance in all we do, he will save and deliver us and accomplish his great purposes on the earth." These are a few things out of many which were said. He advised peace with one another, and prayer for persecutors. President WOODRUFF, aged eighty-five, in a fifteen minutes address, in a rapid and rigorous style, supplementing "brother CANNON's" speech, which occupied forty-five minutes. he said, Father Abraham was one of the noble spirits sent of god on a great mission. His successors are the Latter Day Saints. Great reformers were always persecuted. You are the heralds of God in this valley of the mountains. You are his people. You have the Holy Priesthood. Descendants of Israel, God has sent us to warn the Gentiles of judgment of which the heavens are full; and the judgments of God will come in spite of earth and hell. F. W. SHERMAN came here a few days in advance, and was able to introduce me to some of the best men of the city, including Alderman SOWLES, formerly of New York state, the Baptist and Episcopal minister etc. I found Frank PIERCE, a former student of Black River academy, who has a fine law practice, which is rapidly growing. He will be heard from, later, in the history of this city. Respectfully, A. F. SHERMAN. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 That Fool Tax-Law 8/2/1889 [From the Burlington CLIPPER.] It sometimes seems almost in comprehensible that with the rich and undeveloped resources of Vermont, capital should seek newer fields, win which they have more possibilities and ten times the risk to encounter. One illustration of development in Vermont is the town of Barre. A few years ago it was a quiet little town. Somehow a reasonable amount of capital, probably by accident, commenced to open up the hills of granite in that section; it proved a success and plenty of capital was soon at the command of a Vermont enterprise. The result in brief is that the town is now the most rapidly growing one in the state, and it has already begun to put on metropolitan airs. What has been done in Barre could be done in all parts of our state with its hills of granite, slate and other minerals, even if the surplus money of Vermont could remain here. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 As Good As There Is. 8/2/1889 [From the St. Johnsbury REPUBLICAN.] Old Vermont is about as good a country as there is, to live in. It is true, as the old saying is, we have eight months of winter and four months late in the fall, but some things we do not have, such as Pennsylvania floods, Western tornadoes and cyclones, Charlestown earthquakes, yellow fever, etc. If we only had a Fort Payne boom here, especially when a 35 per cent dividend was declared, we would be all right. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Vermont Still at the Head. 8/2/1889 [From the St. Albans MESSENGER.] There is no state that affords better homes and habitations for its people than this, or furnishes means in greater abundance for their maintenance. No state furnishes more desirable neighbors, better or more economical government, or greater facilities for the development of business all in all. It is claimed for Vermont that with the same productive soil and equal advantages, farming lands may be obtained here more cheaply than elsewhere, and t at the farmer cannot improve his condition by selling out and going away. the desire to change locations must have its origin in faulty information or discontent. As a rule it is not to be doubted that the person who would be discontented here would be in the same mood anywhere else, with disappointment added. The great mass of Vermonters today live in luxury and ease in comparison to their ancestors, on whatever occupation and upon much less labor. The same comparison, beyond a doubt, will also hold good between those who remain here and those who have "gone West." Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Not So Bad After All. 8/2/1889 [From the West Randolph HERALD] Much is said about the deserted farms in Vermont. We don't believe there are many deserted farms in Vermont. There are places where homes once stood and only a mound or a cellar remains. But the farms are there and somebody occupies them. The houses first built decayed or burned up. Newcomers preferred to live in some village and either carry on the farm from a distance or rent it to occupants of adjacent farms, or have sold it by piecemeal. Let any innocent, unsuspecting "feller" come along and squat down on one of these farms, and he would soon receive notice to "move on." Highways have changed and several things have happened to effect the external appearance of old homesteads, but they have not been abandoned. They offer excellent pasturage, or timber for another generation is growing upon them. We are bad enough off in this state but not so bad as some think, for the state is small. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT