Connecticut western news., 1873-01-03


 occupied by an Irish family, caught fire in some mysterious manner about four o'clock yesterday (Thursday) morning, and was en- tirely consumed, with all it's contents. The family were absent on visit at the time.
 TAs Great Storm.-The country seems literally buried in winter, and more deeply than for many years past snow lying two and three feet deep, and yet almost every day brings its storms of it, constantly ad- ding, adding, adding, till it seems as though we would soon be compelled to tunnel our way through the streets instead of trayer- sing paths or roadways. The storm of last Thursday was the severest the country has seen for years blockading all the rail roads; and pretty generally choking busi- ness everywhere. The Conn. Western com pany carries.off the palm in clearing it's track and keeping it's trains running, which it did and with but slight irregularity. It has been asserted by that class of human 1 ity among us, who always aro wiser than the less favored, that the Conn. Western road was all very well for summer road, but the first snow would fill the deep cuts and choke it clear into the next spring. In contending with storm like that of last week, it appears that management is all that is required to get ahead of it and keep ahead. As soon as it became evident that the storm needed little special attcn- ton, ,RSupt. Yeomans buckled on his buck skin mittens and event for it." Getting out to the front he took tue reins of the entire road in his hands, and when he said haw to a train it haw'ed, and when gee, it geed, and, thus iirking one train this way and another some other, he wheeled them around to the best possible advantage, and almost before anybody knew what was go ing on, his trains rode over the storm, mas ters of the situation, while those of all oth- CT roads foundered about in the drifts for from one to three days. Supt. Yeomans congratulates himself in having under his control troop of men, who, when told to do anything, don't stop to put on a pair of kid gloves and take hold of the job with the tips of their fingers, but lay hold of it as though they expected it would 'come.' The Housatonic road was not as far behind as many others, getting it's trains along with less delay than the average of other roads, but what shall we say of the Po'keepsie 6 Eastern road. Somebody says locomotive started out of Milerton on the day of the storm, and running into small drift; groaned, wheez:d and puffed until there was not life enough left to get up a half grown grunt, and it is supposed it lays dead in the snow yet, as nothing was heard on the road day or two since by party who came from that way.
 Kent Seminary Reception. pupils of Kent Seminary gave reception in the Seminary Hall, Thursday evening, Dec. 18th. The night was pleasant, and the slcighing fine, consequently the audience was quite large. Long before the hour of opening, the hall was crowded with expec- tant friends. The Exhibition consisted of music, vocal and instrumental, tableaux, dialogues, recitations, essays, orations, pantoraimes, sc. Time forbids me to speak of them all, SO I will only mention such parts as pleased me most. The open jag address was given by Hattie Lee. who welcomed us most heartily to share what she called ''humble and plsin," but what to us proved rich treat. Master Charlie Edwards next followed with recitation, which was well done. Not many little boys OF but five years could do better than Charlie Other recitations followed, which were both funny and serious, which told of hours of patient study. The essays were well written and the subjects well chosen. We listened with much attention to Miss Mallory, who proved most conclusively that |" Dress is not the Man." Miss Emily Herrick gave us some polished thoughts from the subject. "Gold lies deep in the Mountain" Miss Lillie Eaton's essay was of more serious character, and treated of "Unseen Battlefelds", which lie hidden from mortal eye, deep in the human hearts. Miss Nellie Vincent gave US some bright thoughts concerning the "Ideal and the real.' Her essay was very practicable and filled with humor and sense. One oration by Duane Hall merits special praise, as his subject, ''Taking Aim, was pleasing and speech was well delivered. The dialogues were managed with skill and the actors all showed considerable talent. ''!The way to keep Secret" was very amusing, as it ex- hibited gossips in their true light. 'Aunt Betsey's Beau" was 8 most interesting play and brought down the house. Aunt Betseys treatment of Squire Hooker ought to be a warning to all old widowers, wto court the young girls in preference to the Aunt Betseys. A Caudle Lecture was given by Miss Vincent, who imagined herself in Mrs. C-s. place, while A. M. Booth pa tiently received the abuse Mr. Caudle so W ell deserved. Miss Vincent proved satis- fsctorily that she could scold as we'll as Gny aoonsan, but no one believing she could be second Mrs. Csudle. The music was pleasing to all, and did credit to the young performers, and their able teacher, Miss K. Geikie. The singing particularly pleased me, for seldom do we hear youth ful voices so well cultivated. The enter tainment closed with pantomime, which represented good aud evil influences. His Satanic Majesty was there as large as life and acted his part as well as any of them. Those who doubt the reality of personal devil, ought 10 behold the one which dwells n Kent, and they would never doubt again. His Influence was destroyed by one of the most bsautif al angels that ever walked on earth. The tatsleaux were very fine, and must have cost much time and trouble to hose who arrangei them. The exhibition was O great success. Prof. Crosby never