Litchfield enquirer., 1868-10-22
HOW LITCHFIELD STRIKES THE
 SON OF A NATIVE!

We extract the following letter from tn, Brooklyn Daiiy Union. It is supposed t. have been written by grandson of pr Beecher son of a native of the place, wh was among Us few weeks since Gu readers will hardly subscribe to al the writers views, but they are certainl, instructive:
 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
 SEPT. 30th, 1868. DEAR UNIoN.-It is not often. I flatte1 myself, that you arc the recipient of cores pondence from such little old aristocratic country village as this of Litchfield. 1t is little, as reference to the census will at once show. It is old, every one knows. II l is aristocratic, certainly in it's own estima tion, and where IS there better judge Of itself than itself? Ones first impressions of place are most lasting, although they may not be most correct. Your correspon- dent IS confident this first experience of the place will ever be vividly pictured on mem ory's page as far as he is concerned
 Think of riding. on the top of rude country stage, four miles, up hill, on a wet black Saturday night--the distressful jour- ney occupying every miserable minute be- tween nine and eleven o'clock. Such was my experience in ascending from the sta tion to the village-and that was not an end of troubles for the night-for after re- tiring and getting snugly enconsed in bed, with pleasing anticipations of rest after la- Dor, your correspondent was kept awake and tormented for tho space of two hours hn al of 4,,4o ! ban 10. manipulated and otherwise cxercis- ed, by nocturnal darkies of the neignbor- hood, with the inspiring accompaniment of clog dance. What q welcome to the home of ones ancestors, thought I! Shades of our grandmothers, and thou, spirit of New England Theology! what arc we com ing to when the good old town of Litch- field indnlges uponssSunday morning in the music of the trifiing flute, the ungodly tid- dle the lmptous banjo, with an accompa- nying clog dance!
 While this remarkable musical entertain ment lasted your correspondent alternate ly laughed and swore (the latter to himself) and longed for the privilege of old college days, of shouting from the window in sten- torian voice, ''Dry up."
 Next morning, on taking walk, the first sign that struck my eye, after leaving the hotel, was "Billiard Rooms"
 Here perhaps another appeal to ancestral institutions might be in order.
 THE vILhAGE-Irs INHABITANTS AND HOUSES
 So much for first impressions of I.itch field. Now, after two or three weeks OK Raete "fecesss.ifny prcuiire E,ruuty 'wtir quainted with men and things here, l pro- pose giving you few of my opinions, and . little of description and gossip concern ing the place. Iitchfeld village lies on hill, surround ed by hills. Upon every side the country is beautifully diversified, and towards the southwest at a distance of two miles, nes- ties a lovely lake amid the surrounding hills, loyelier in fact than in name, the latter be- ing "Bantam."
 Litchfield has four principal streets, nam ed after the cardinal points of the compass, which diverge from the central square. Of these, North and South Streets are most magnificent The majority of wealthy and aristocratic people live on them. The elms are graceful and stately; the houses, many of them old, have all fat and sleek ap- pearance, which betokens good living and comfortable circumstances. It is noticea- ble that these streets correspond in politics with their names, for while North street is nearly all Republican, South Street is al- most entirely Democratic. Upon the lat ter dwell the Seymours, the Judge and his son, two families, and three families of Woodruffs- Democrats by descent Col onel Belden, a good soldier Tn the late war, and husband of Brooklyn lady, also ad- ded to the Democratic ranks, unfortunate jly, and we must think, inconsistently. Not so, however, old MT. Harney, brother of the military Phil, who is by birth and ed ucation Southern Democrat and "peace'' , man. He is a character-a full-blooded rebel among us-but au old man, and with al perfect gentleman.
 With solemn earnestness he told me oi outrages committed by the Union troops ill St. Louis, the murder of innocent wo men and children, and more fully acknowl edged his inability to look at things in the :. same light as Northerners.
 Poor old man his sincerity is unques tionable, but his difficulties irremediable
 One marked exception disturbs the DO , litical character of South street: the Hon John H. Hubbard, M. C. from this dis trict, name too we'll known to need fur.
 Upon North street kepupllc:.nism pre valis, and boasts of names that stood high III town and county counsels: Dr. Buel MT. Colt, and Mir. NTcNeill, Sheriff Bots - ford, Colonel Vessels, and others, are the s shining lights among them.
 The largest amount of property proba bly dwells on North street; and the wealth lest person in town, Miss Lucretia Dem ing. The heiress and representative o several fortunes, she would probably rank among the millionaires of the country, but as an old, sensible, and kind-hearted lady she makes no display whatever. And now like the old minister who preached about dependence, faith, and little moro about repentance, would fain turn back again to South street, and speak of certain Mrs C. who takes boarders, and of certain charming young ladies whereabouts, but l fear the topic would possess little of public interest, therefore I desist
 PUBLIC SPIRIT
 Litchfield is place of very little public spirit. The great majority of the people are old and slow-going. Mind your own iaffairs and let the public interests alone seems to be the prevailing sentiment here For years past there has been talk of q railroad from Litchtield to the Housatonic and six several times has the route been surveyed and then the project has inyaria- ply stopped. A few days ago the seventh cI1rvavinp ayna5itio.n Uapf ont. cad # ,o