The Willimantic Journal

The Willimantic Journal.
FRIDAY, September 23, 1887.

TOWN TALK AND JOTTINGS
—Take "A Night Off" and have a good laugh.
—A decidedly smoky atmosphere on Wednesday.
—Editor Bigelow of the Portland Record and Colchester Advocate was in town on Wednesday.
—James Hughes was committed to the town house on Monday for 20 days for intoxication.
—Charles Ford is acting as clerk pro tem, in the coal and wood yard of Lincoln & Boss, and his hands are rather full just now.
—Anyone who is willing to assist in decorating the W. C. T. U. booth at the fair building is requested to be there on Saturday afternoon.
—Frank Cheney, the brakeman, caught his hand while coupling cars yesterday, and two fingers were so badly crushed that amputation was necessary.
—Major S. J. Miller, who was unfitted for duty by a severe attack of dysentery all the week he was at Camp Lounsbury in August, is slowly convalescing.
—The headquarters of Francis S. Long post, G. A. R., will soon be changed from the hall in Keigwin's block to the Gun club room in Opera House block.
—The members of Montgomery Hose company will turn out to-morrow in new uniforms of blue, which were obtained through the clothing firm of H. E. Remington & Co.
—The attendance of all members is requested at the regular meeting of Natchaug lodge, Knights of Pythias, at the lodge room in Keigwin's block next Monday evening.
—The railroad commissioners inspected the New London Northern, on Wednesday, stopped that night at the Hooker house, and yesterday morning started on a trip over the New England road.
—Rev. C. W. Holden, pastor of the Methodist church, has rooms at the new residence of W. G. Morrison on Prospect street, and those who seek him at the Methodist parsonage will not find him.
—The line of march of the firemen's parade is given in another column. It will gratify the local firemen very much if places of business and residences on the streets through which the column will pass are decorated.
—Gov. Lounsbury left for the Adirondacks on Tuesday, his annual trip to that region having been delayed by press of other events. Agricultural fairs will have to do without his presence during the remainder of this month.
—It is not surprising that "the biggest storm of the century," predicted by Wiggins, failed to come to time on the 19th, for he is invariably at fault in his weather prognostications, but repeated failure does not discourage him.
—Stafford Springs people live in hopes that the management of the New London Northern road will in time see that it is to their interest to give as good accommodations as possible to the traveling public. There ought to be an evening train north from Willimantic throughout the year.
—The pulpit of the Baptist church will be occupied next Sunday by Rev. W. D. McKinney of Ansonia. "Love Beyond Knowledge," will be the subject of the afternoon discourse, and "God Hiding Himself" in the evening. Mr. McKinney is a gentleman of scholarly attainments, and a preacher of fine abilities.
—Business is taught as it is practiced at the Snell Business college in Norwich, an institution which is receiving marked public favor. Young men hereabouts who desire to fit themselves for business will find it to their advantage to avail themselves of a term at this college. Short hand and type writing are also taught.
—H. J. Morgan, manager of the Rock Band Concert company (Till family), was in town this week, and arranged for a concert at the Congregational church on the 20th of October. This troupe furnish a novelty in the musical line, as they play on an instrument composed of Skiddaw rock, which has a complete chromatic scale of five octaves.
—The shoot of the Gun club on Tuesday resulted in Mr. Alpaugh retaining the gold badge, and James McFarlane winning the silver medal. The score is appended: Alpaugh 16, James Macfarlane 14, Webb 13, Dunham 13, Crane 13, Chaffee 12. Wheeler 12, Ross 12, Baldwin 11. Alford 11, Geo. Macfarlane 11, Culverhouse 11, Larrabee 10, Smith 10, Lincoln 9, Thompson 9, Hartson 8, Moulton 7, Gates 7, Free 6.
—Alert Hose company and Excelsior Hook and Ladder company are to give a series of sociables in the new engine house, which are to be in charge of a joint committee comprising for the Alerts, C. H. Webster, J. T. Bradshaw, B. J. White; for the Excelsiors, H. A. Sanderson, Chas. A. Henry, C. H. Barrows. The first sociable is slated for Oct. 14. and thereafter every two weeks. This will afford a good opportunity to dance in nice company, and no doubt will prove profitable for the two fire companies interested.
—It is a pleasure to note that the Willimantic Male chorus have been successful in arranging for a return of Prof. Minor Baldwin and Miss Lillie Runals, and that another of their charming musical entertainments can be enjoyed at the Congregational church on the evening of October 4. All who heard these artists before will go again, and they should let their friends know what a treat is in store. Mr. Baldwin is a perfect master of the organ, and his style of playing is very taking. Miss Runals made a very favorable impression as a vocalist and elocutionist, and will be heard again with delight. The male chorus were out of pocket in giving the first concert, but we trust the receipts of the next will be so large as to cover the deficit and leave something toward a fund for a rehearsal room. The admission to the next entertainment will be only 35 cents.
—There will be music in the air to-morrow.
—Get ready for the fair, which begins next Tuesday.
—An increased pension has been granted Patrick Dunn.
—Edson & Calkins gave their 35 employees a supper at the Chafee house on Wednesday evening.
—W. S. Purinton served on the grand jury of the United States district court in Hartford on Monday.
—Chester Tilden sells a first-class ticket from Willimantic to Chicago via the Grand Trunk route for $18.50, and has done so for years.
—The Willimantics polished off the Stafford Springs on the latter's grounds, last Saturday, by a score of 27 to 4, making two victories for the former.
—Among the passengers on the east bound Washington express on Monday morning were Gen. Phil Sheridan and family en route to New Bedford.
—Chief Daniels, of Willimantic, is praying at least hoping for clear weather next Saturday, the time set for the annual parade of his fire department.—Westporter.
—The old buildings standing on the site of the new Morrison machine shop are being torn down. One is to be removed to the rear of Johnson's livery stable and form a part of it.
—Those who have made articles for the ladies of the W. C. T. U. to sell at the fair are requested to leave them at Mrs. Chas. Webster's, Union street, before Tuesday of next week.
—The scrap book, which C. A. Sweet of Eagleville exhibited at the fair in 1884 and for which the owner received a diploma, will be shown again next week. It is well worth the attention of fair visitors.
—There will be a harvest festival at St. Paul's church next Sunday. The church will be appropriately decorated for the occasion. All offerings outside the regular contributions will be devoted to diocesan missions.
—Workmen engaged in digging in the rear of the Babcock building on Church street created quite an excitement last week in unearthing the putrid carcasses of five hogs. A novel place for a porcine cemetery.
—W. H. H. Bingham has gone into company with Joel Fox, and they have utilized the first floor of the former's building on Church street for store purposes. The firm will carry a much larger stock than did Mr. Fox at his old stand.
—Tilden & Fryer's tailor shop has been removed to the second story of Tilden's block (formerly Hamlin), the rooms on both sides of the hall on the west side being occupied for the purpose, and they make very pleasant quarters.
—Referring to the trip of the gallant Nepts of that borough to Willimantic to-morrow, the Stonington Mirror says: "To say that they will not only enjoy themselves but also receive the best of treatment by the firemen of that place is prophesying but little."
—Officer H. C. Whitford was one of the large number who attended the family reunion of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Whitford, in Willington, last week. Relatives, young and old, from Ashford, Stafford, Tolland and other towns had a good old fashioned time and enjoyed themselves hugely.
—In its report of a meeting of French Canadians to consider the subject of naturalization, the Waterbury Republican says: "A. D. David, of Willimantic, made an address, encouraging those before him to take an interest in American affairs, and to become citizens. He was very earnest in his remarks, and was frequently applauded."
—Less than 100 persons heard W. E. Hermance lecture at the Baptist church last Friday evening, but the house ought to have been filled, for the account of his trip and adventures in a canoe from the Yellowstone Park down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico was very interesting and entertaining and pleased everybody who heard it. Mr. Hermance is an attractive speaker, and the stereopticon views displayed added to the effectiveness of the scenes described. Those illustrating the geysers in the Yellowstone country were of marked beauty.
—It is believed that Senator Hawley, Gen. W. B. Franklin, Mayor Bulkeley, Mark Twain, and other distinguished guests will accompany the Putnam Phalanx on their excursion to Washington week after next. A large number of ladies are also going. Major Warner, in Battalion Orders, No. 11, says: "In this suggestive and memorable excursion, with such promised features as a sojourn of three days at the national capital, a special reception by the president, a trip down the lovely Potomac to the hallowed tomb of the first president, at Mount Vernon, and a stop of one day at Baltimore, it is earnestly hoped that every member of the battalion will participate." Last evening the major and Capt. Perry came here and drilled the Willimantic members of the battalion in order to familiarize the men with the company tactics and maneuvers.
—Mrs. L. W. Rouselaux left Willimantic last week for Dakota, whither she has gone to take up her residence with her daughter. Mrs. Rouselaux has seen many vicissitudes along the path of life. She first married William Corbin, who was clerk for Lee & Frink, Willimantic. Mr. Corbin and his first child were buried in Willimantic and both on the same day. The widow married Levi Gates of Worcester, Mass., and afterwards moved to Kansas in 1854 when that state was a territory. He was killed by Quantrell's band of Missouri border ruffians in 1863. Two years after she married Col. Wm. Y. Roberts of Kansas, an earnest and determined Republican, who served three years in the war of the rebellion. Mr. Roberts died in 1868, leaving her a widow for the third time. In 1871 she married Dr. J. A. Rouselaux of Kansas. A sister of Mrs. R. died last winter in this village. Another sister at the advanced age of 73 years, with her husband 78 years, have bid good by to New England and gone to California to re-establish a former home in that state.
—Radiant chapter, No. 11, O. E. S., will meet in stated assembly this (Friday) evening.
—Miss Effie Kendall has returned home from visits made at Gildersleeve and Portland.
—W. J. Sweeney was the recipient on Monday evening of a French clock, presented by the Young Men's Athletic club.
—Michael Sullivan, a transient person arrested for intoxication, was last Saturday sentenced to the town house for 15 days.
—D. M. Deming, of Hampton, brought to the JOURNAL office a few days ago, a branch from a Concord vine, the clusters of grapes on which weighed 3 pounds.
—Steps have been taken towards establishing a council of the Order of United American Mechanics in this place. The motto of the order is "Honesty, Industry and Sobriety."
—To-morrow (Saturday) the selectmen and town clerk will be in session to examine the qualifications of electors and admit to the electors' oath those who shall be found qualified.
—Season tickets for the fair have been placed on sale at several of the stores about town. The price is $1, and the holder is admitted to the grounds with or without team during the three days of the fair. Our citizens should make liberal purchases of these tickets, and thereby do their share towards sustaining the Fair association.
—Moses Charbonneau has retired from the position of overseer of the spinning room at the Windham mills, and gone to Uncasville to fill a similar position. He carries with him as tokens of the esteem of former associates an easy chair and album. Mr. Charbonneau is succeeded by Charles Chandler, son of the superintendent of the mill.
—Passengers on the limited express trains, which were delayed by a derailed freight engine at Westchester, on the 14th, made a raid for edibles on the village store, the proprietor of which struck a bonanza with the hungry travelers. When the train departed, the storekeeper counted up his cash, and found that he could credit himself $15 over expenses.
—The New London Gun club desires to have four clubs, Norwich, Willimantic, Middletown and New London, shoot for the championship cup instead of the High Rock club of Norwich alone, as each club contributed to the fund by which it was purchased, and suggests that the contest take place at Willimantic on the 30th inst. A code of rules has been drawn up and will be submitted to the clubs named, which shall hereafter govern the contests for the cup. The rules provide that the cup shall be contested for every month from April to October, and the club which shall have won the trophy the greatest number of times shall become the unconditional owner of it at the end of each season.
—When you see John G. Keigwin say to him, "Button! Button! Who's got the button?" A few days ago much to his surprise he received from a Springfield firm a bill for buttons amounting to $10.48, with the appended information that they had been shipped with goods to Bullard & Young. Such proved to be the fact, the package containing a dozen or more gross of buttons coming plainly addressed to John G. Keigwin. That gentleman replied by return mail that he didn't deal in buttons, hadn't given any order for buttons, and had seen no agent for buttons. In reply came a sharp letter, the firm who shipped the buttons not believing any mistake could be made by their agent. Mr. Keigwin freed his mind in a second letter. It was afterward learned that the buttons were intended for John Bowman, the tailor.
—Under the heading of "Village Enterprise" the New London Telegraph says: "The Waterhouse Electric Light company are to have an exhibition at the Willimantic fair. The half-mile track will be lighted with 37 electric lights, and racing continued in the evening. This is the first fair association in the United States to inaugurate the plan of races by electric lights, which they did in 1883, and now intend to repeat the trial on a more extended scale. This shows the enterprise of the good people of our neighboring borough, and if more evidence is needed it will be found in the very complete and creditable annual issued and circulated by the Willimantic board of trade. Then the village has adopted the electric fire alarm system which will be in operation within a week. The cities will have to wake up if they mean to keep a head of this hitherto modest little place."
—The cottage erected for DeWitt C. Hill (Henry A. Larkin, builder) at the corner of Walnut and Prospect streets, is a model one in every respect. Not only is it externally attractive, but the interior finish and arrangement of rooms render it a most inviting and comfortable and compact dwelling house. It has been leased to W. L. Williams, and he ought to consider himself highly fortunate in having secured a domicile so tastefully finished and conveniently adapted for comfort and living purposes. Others who intend building cottages for rental would do well to emulate Mr. Hill's example. Similar dwellings are needed in Willimantic, and there would be no difficulty in renting them at prices sufficient to make the investments profitable ones. Moreover houses like Mr. Hill's add to the general attractiveness of the village and enhance the value of other property in the same locality. It is asserted that a number of railroad men who command good wages would take up their residence here provided they could obtain suitable houses. Additional tenements will also be required upon the completion of the enlargement of the Morrison Machine works, as that company will double their force of employees, and by next spring "rents" will be more in demand than ever. Let those who have building lots take time by the forelock, and begin the work of construction this fall. Whether cottage or tenement houses are put up, the owner should not fail to provide them with modern conveniences, and make them desirable in every respect.
—Senator Colquitt was the guest of Judge Huber Clark Monday night.
—The customary 4 per cent. dividend has been declared by the Willimantic Savings institute.
—Miss May Hall, of Danielsonville, is to sing at the Baptist church in this place next Sunday. She is the leading soprano of the choir of the Congregational church in Danielsonville, and is to visit relatives here.
—Messrs. E. S. Boss, J. M. Hall, Charles Boss, O. H. K. Risley and F. M. Wilson go to the White Mountains to-day, with the Glen House association. The excursionists go through here on the 10:10 a. m. train, and return Monday night.
—A handsome and valuable Alderney cow belonging to Street Superintendent Barstow recently met with a painful death, in a curious manner. On the ground in her pasture were some wild cherry leaves of which she partook, and it caused her demise.
—Last Saturday evening, Robert McGagen employed in the Holland mills, was severely bitten in the arm and leg by a young shepherd dog owned on Prospect street. On Monday evening, the same dog bit another person, but only scratched the skin. Such a vicious dog should be kept chained.
—Rev. C. W. Holden attended the funeral services of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer, which were held on Wednesday. The deceased was the wife of Amos B. Palmer, and was a most estimable woman. She was a native of Hampton, her maiden name having been Freeman. She died on Sunday at the age of 63 years.
—The train from Providence due here at 11:25 a. m., came to a sudden stop yesterday between Canterbury and Versailles, and the passengers who put their heads out the window to ascertain the cause could see nothing of the engine, but heard it whistle about a mile beyond, it having parted from the remainder of the train.
—A quarterly meeting of the directors of the Knights of Columbus was held in New Haven last week, at which E. F. Casey, of San Jose council, was present. According to the reports it was shown that the order was in a very flourishing condition, and was increasing both numerically and financially at a rapid pace. There is now $16,000 in the treasuries of the various councils in the state, and nearly 5,000 members.
—There passed through Willimantic at 7:10 a. m. last Sunday a special train containing several hundred locomotive engineers bound for Boston to attend a convention held for the expounding of the principles of the order and inducing those outside of it to come in. They returned to their respective homes in the evening. Permission to run the special on Sunday was obtained from the railroad commissioners.
—Willimantic was well represented at Norwich fair this week. J. O. Blanchette's Lady Knox was one of the six starters in the 2:50 race, Tuesday, and was 3, 3, 2, the winner being Morea. In the 2:34 race A. B. Green's Belle Jefferson took two straight heats in 2:37 and 2:37, and came in first in third heat, but was set back to third for fouling Fantine. It is asserted that Mr. Green was unfairly treated by the judges. Ned B. won the race, second money going to Fantine. In the 2:45 race on Wednesday Hummer won, and Lady Knox took second money. Alexander L. was the winner in the 2:30 race, and Happy Thought, Jr., the colt race.
—Saturday evening Tubbs' band of Norwich will give a concert in front of the Alert Hose company's house on Bank street, beginning at 7 o'clock, and will render the following programme:
March—Rapid Transit. Swift
Overture Poet and Peasant, Suppe
Piccolo Solo—Oriole Polka, Widdifield James McGuire.
Grand Selection—Erminie, Jacobowski
Gavotte—Enthusiasm, Bernstein
Descriptive Piece—A Hunting Scene, Bucalossi
Polka—Grand Infernal, Bonnisseau
The Weed band will play the following selections in front of Hotel Commercial:
Overture—Enchantress, Dalkey
Cornet Duet—Short and Sweet Short HiTch And SmITH.
Selection—Grand Medley, Bowman
Piccolo Solo—Whistle Polka, Hartman JOsEPH Hick.
"I had $15 in my pocket." Ross
A TIME TO LAUGH
Reproduction of "A Night Off" at the Opera House.
One of the most delightful performances of clean comedy at the Loomer Opera house, last season, was that of "A Night Off," and we are to have it again. If you want to laugh and laugh heartily, witness the presentation of this laughable play on Tuesday evening of next week.
The story is that Prof. Justinian Babbitt has written a tragedy which he desires to have acted, and the opportunity offers on the arrival of Marcus Brutus Snap, a "barn storming" manager and actor, to whom he intrusts his manuscript. The professor's weakness is a secret from his wife, Zantippa, and many complications result from such circumstances as the discovery in the professor's possession of a photograph of a burlesque actress with next to nothing on; and the professor's writing of a postal card full of falsehoods to keep his wife away until after the play is performed. An episode of the piece is that the professor's daughter worries her husband, a doctor, "to tell her of his past escapades," whereas he had none; but to satisfy her he adopts the adventures of another man.
The Portland (Me.) Express says:
The situations and laughable complications and misunderstandings of the play brought down the house a great many times, and kept the audience in a state of wild merriment. The laughable and ingenious manner in which the conspirators succeed in getting their "Night Off" is the crowning feature of the comedy.
STAGE ECHOES.
Barry and Fay kept a large audience in a state of constant titillation on Saturday evening with their new play, "Mulcahey's Big Party," some of the scenes of which are very ludicrous. The Electric Three made a decided hit with their silent drill specialty.
Charles S. Abbe, of South Windham, is one of Maude Banks' support. The New Haven Palladium says he "deserved praise for excellent work in the character of Count Dunios."
Miss Maude Banks is the daughter of Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks, a former governor of Massachusetts, major general in the war of the rebellion, and later a congressman.