Connecticut western news., 1871-11-10
Josh Billings at South Canaan.
Greut Enthusinsm y!gy


 Rnnqueting and Festivitics!!!
 Feast of Reoson and Flow of Soul! ' Scenes and Incidents! # Taken by our special artist on the spot.
 South Canaan, Nov. 2d, 1871. x
 EDITOR CONN. WESTERN NEws.-At your request hasten to lay before your readers an account of an event which has stirred our city to it's profoundest depths. refer to the lecture of the celebrated poet, Josh Billings, which occurred at the Tabernacle last evening For several days this event has engrossed the attention of our entire populace. At the corners of the streets i; in the hotels; on change in the street cars; wherever our citizens congregated, the prevailing topic of conversation was the coming lecture. At meeting of the unanimously resolved to extend to the expected guest the freedom of the city, and spirited debate ensued upon the propriety of presenting him also with gold snuff box, but after the question had been thoroughly cussed aud discussed, it was finally resolved to substitute yellow dog, as being more useful if not so ornamental. Meanwhile public meeting of the citizens had been held in the Park, at which con- mittee of 70 was appointed to take the grand banquet in charge. This committee at once engaged the services oftwo capable Chefs de cusine, one from Cafe Phalon, Salisbury, and the other from Delmonicos. Time being thus taken by the forc-lock, everything was in readiness when the event ful day dawned. The public buildings were all gaily decorated with Bags and streaners, as was also the shipping iu Hol- lenbeck river, and the Notifications oH the s'Cobble." At an early hour in the after noon, delegations began to pour in from the surrounding cities and villages: Canaan North Canaan Canaan Junction Canaan Hollow; East Canaan; West Canaan Can aan Mountain: Canaan-on-the-H -Housatonic :; Canaan -on-t the Hollenbeck and Happy land-of Canaan all being represented as were also Mcekertown; Dogtown Konk- a-pot; Sugar Hill and Lower City. At the appointed hour the city authorities and invited guests. proceeded to the draw bridge on the Hollenbeck, where the orator of the evening was met and welcomed to the metropolis in neat speech by Alderman L. J. Bradley; who presented him at the same time with chaste, highly finished and neatly embossed yaller dog, which was received by the poet with evident emo- tion. :. The procession then returned to town in the following order. The Mayor and Common Scoundres; Six ore teams in single file; Josh on mule towing his dog; music, (Jews-harp solo.) The Press i; fNEws.) Committee from Goshen on snow shoes; Citizens and invited guests. On returning to the city, the immense caval- cade filed into the Tabernacle at fifty cents a head, and the feast of reason and flow of Billings commenced. For full report of his inimitable lecture. your req Ilers are referred to his ''old Farmers Alma max" for lS7O-7l and 72. where it may be found complete. Near the close of the lecture, n telegram was received by the associated press and at once forwarded to the Mayor, conveying the information that the side wheel steamer, ,"WonOnscopomoc," " Knight, commander, was then beating up towards Yellow Dock against wind and tide, with full load of passengers for the lee, ture. This intelligence proved correc: and the noble craft soon came to anchor, and the passengers who were from the village of Lakevlle. disembarked. On learning that they were too late for the lecture, they repaired to the banquet headed by the band (boy with Jews-harp,) playing Haste to the banquet" from the cantata of Esther. At that banquet your correspondent assis, ted, but his pen is not equal to the task of describing it. Imagine every viand that could tempt the appetite, prepared for the table in style that could be excelled by few and equalled by none, with attentive walters anticipating the wants of the guests; i; imagine all this and you can see that the gay and festive scene closed all too quickly In conclusion, it only remains to say that the most perfect order was maintained throughout the proceedings of this proud day for South Canaan. The Police de- partment was out in full force, but hap oily no arrests were required. We are also happy to state that the "Wononscopomoc" made her return trip in safety, though head winds were experienced during some of the passage. ..... Mot.