Historic events for Feb 5
From a NY Times letter in 1885: "General John W. Phelps of Vermont, whose death was announced in your issue of this morning, was one of the most notable officers of the army. He was an accomplished soldier of the highest and best type, a patriotic citizen with an unblemished reputation, a scholar well versed in mathematics, science, history, theology, several of the dead and four or five of the living languages. As a soldier he was all that the best authorities demand, and even more, for it might be said of him that he possessed an inner sense of duty which no written formula could prescribe."
On Monday Evening at Brattleboro High School, B.B. Thatcher, Esq., of Boston, will deliver a Lecture at 6 o’clock. Subject, Boston Tea Party.
To Let, 2 Chambers and a Cellar, in the New Stone Building. J.H. Wheeler.
We saw a package the other day passing through the P.O. in this village, done up as newspapers are usually folded, and apparently about half eaten up by the rats. On examination, it proved to be well stuffed with Wedding Cake. Rats have a taste for the sweets of matrimony as well as other folks.
Mr. Roswell Sargeant of this town sold two pairs of steers which for size, form, and general appearance can hardly be matched in this vicinity. One pair four years old weighed 4160, and the other pair three years old weighed 3680. The two pair brought the handsome sum of $400. If there is any other farmer that can show better results of judicious stock growing we will chronicle his success with greatest pleasure.
The most familiar “music in the air” now-a-days, is that of the snow shovel. Somehow there is a sameness to it that almost makes one sigh for the season of band organs.
The new Bickford Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company commenced operations at their factory on Monday.
The bailiffs, at a meeting last evening, decided to put a stop to the children’s sliding on the village streets and walks.
Mrs. W.E. Kirkland entertained a party of twenty five ladies on Wednesday afternoon at the first “coffee” ever given in Brattleboro. The party lasted from 4 o’clock until 6 and was pronounced a most agreeable success. It can be imitated to advantage, and “coffees” are likely to become a favorite form of entertainment with Brattleboro ladies.
The boys succeeded in raising $250 for a toboggan slide, enough they think to build one after the genuine Montreal pattern, but owing to the lateness of the season, it has been decided to postpone the scheme until next season.
A handsome design of a marchpane cake, a product of the German confectioner’s skill, is on exhibition in H.B. Chamberlain’s window. Cols. Estey and Fuller received specimens of these cakes from Louis Ritz of Hamburg.
The town hall will be carpeted at the time of the annual military ball.
The adjourned meeting of the business men of Brattleboro for the purpose of forming a board of trade and hearing the report of the committee appointed to investigate the coffin industry will be held at Festival hall Thursday evening of next week.
One of the electric cars collided Tuesday with a load of ice which was being drawn to Dwight Goodenough’s on Western Avenue. The rear part of the sled was smashed, and the ice spilled.
A meeting of the Baptist society was held Tuesday evening to consider the matter of raising money to defray the expenses of the present year. Of the $2900 necessary to pay running expenses $2500 has been raised.
