Litchfield enquirer., 1871-08-17

afternoon preaching service, and let the Sabbath school service take it's place.
 H. T. From the New York Observer.
 IRENEUS LETTERS.
 UNDER THE TREES.
 LITCHFIELD HILL: MEN OF THE REvoLU- TIoN: THE WOMEN: DISTINGUISHED MA TIvEs.
 L1rcHF1ELD, CONN, July 1871.
 Literally under the trees We have pitched our tent for 2 season on Litchfield Hill, eleven hundred feet above the level of the sea, where the weather is so cool that an overcoat is needed for riding with com fort by day and blankets are luxury at night. It is goodly old town. It was finished long time ago, and it is a real pleasure to see something that is done. Any house built in the present century is modern. It was a fine old place before the Revolution, and even then renowned for great,good men, and beautiful. good women.
 And better still, it has deserved and re- tained it's reputation to the present day.
 The town stands on wide plateau over- looking landscape of remarkable variety, extent and beauty. Lakes, forestA mead. ows, even hilLs lie below; and these hills are clothed with farms and often crowned with mansions, the abode of citzens from distant cities who have learned where cool retreats may be found. One broad street. so broad as to make it beautiful park more than mile in length, is lined and shaded with magnificent elms, and behind them stand elegant residences surrounded with court yards and gardens filled with shrubbery, fruit and flowers, Midway on this long avenue is the venerable church, = with history as we'll as a steeple,-the Court House and jail, the hotels and print ing offices, and few stores and shops to supply the wants of the people. But the place is almost wholly taken up with the atDaen of sefiaesi, eeRisens, quiet iahahi- tant; professional men, literary, many of theni having hereditary interests here, or by marriage have come into relations with the place; so that community is formed the like of which is to be fonnd frequently in old countries, but rarely in one so new, changing and progressive as our own.
 It is almost 8 pity to say that a railroad is nearly completed and will soon bring this now secluded spot within four hours by rail of New York. At present we have to come by the New Haven and then the Naugatuck Road, and by four miles of up- hill staging we complete the journey. When the railroad comes to our door, if old things are not done away. great many things will be new, and none the better for noisier and gayer town. and not nearly so fo kho kaia pie. who love, of all things, to be still. But frost you will see the cars in New York with L1roHF1EnD on them, and then you may know that the days of our rest are ended and life on the Hill is begun.
 Happy is that place." said MT. Wood ruff to me the other day, "whose history is not interesting" "a place that has held on the even tenor of it's way. through suc- cessive generations with no stirring events to disturb it's equanimity and make mate- rial for the historian. But that happiness cannot be enjoyed by Litchfeld, for she has name and place in the annals of the country that is more to be envied than 8 reputation for quiet repose Before the Revolution, she was in sympathy with Boston, asserting the rights of men, and sent contributions of money to help her sister to bear the rigors of blockade.
 Oliver Wolcott was twenty five years old when he came to Litchfield, and here the remainder of his life was spent when he was not in the public service. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1904, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. At home he was on the Committee of Safety, and never asleep in the time of peril. His father was Governor of Connecticut; so was he, and so was his son; his sister married 8 Gov ernor, and had son who became Governor (Griswold); so that her father, brother, husband, son and nephew were all Cover nors of the State of Connecticut. His son, Oliver Wolcott. 2d, was Secretary of the Treasury under Washington. and the friend of the Father of his Country, oi Adams and Hamilton, and such as they. The women of the family were as justly renowned for their virtues, intelligence and beauty, as the men for learning and wis dom. It is of one of them that the incl. dent is related: when she was shining at Washington, the British Ambassador re- marked to Gen. Tracy, of Connecticut, "Your .countrvwomen would be admired even at St. James," To which Gen. T., re. piled, 'sWhy. sir. she is admired even on Lltchffeid Hlllr s-s ag
 You have heard much of the famous lead and gilt statue of George III, which in ITO was set up in Bowling Green at the foot of Broadway; but in 1776, when q change had come over the spirit of the peo pie, it was thrown down and its subseqnen, history was lost sight of. But through the agency of Gov. Wolcott it was sent to Litch. field. and here the fair and brave women oj the period with their own hands converted 1t into bullets, made cartridges by tens ol thousands. and, in the expressive language of the day, his melted majesty was return. ed to his soldiers. - The hero of Ticonderoga, Ethan Alien, was born here, and his fame is part of hi country's pride. He became a citizen oJ Vermont, and that State claims him as hell own. Vermont was almost child of Con necticut, and more of Litchfield than an, other part of the State, and mother anG child have no jealousy. Ethan Allen ven away from Connecticut. and also from the faith of her sons He wrote against Chris tianity. His wife was Christian. Theil