Connecticut western news., 1876-06-23
Freed a Woodchuck We are prepared 1

to believe almost anything we hear this centennial year, but when Dr. Jaqua comes into our office and tells us dog belonging to a nighbor, MT. E. s. Haskins of Hunts vile, chased woodch0ck up tree. the other day, and when the chuck got to dis tance of forty feet from the ground, he turned around and looked defiantly at the dog and said as plainly as woodchuck can say it: 'Now you have me, and now you don't," shall we believe him7 The Doctor is man who speaks the truth, everybody knows, but what shall we say about this story? A woodchuck forty feet up tree Oh, Doctor! of course it IS true, but if any of the surrounding towns can trot out woodchuck that will beat this Huntsville chuck, fetch 'em on.
 The Musical Soiree.-Miss Pettee and her pupils were greeted with a pleasant evening and very large and appreciatiye audience on the occasion of their musical soiree in Academy Hall, Lakeville, Thurs day evening of last week. A pleasant evening we say, but should add, fearfully AOt1 ot 1CuSI SO III LhC Aotls duNi IhC 1dltlC LII fans and frequent whispered ejaculations: 'Oh! how hot;" were the principal features of interest while the audience wait ed for the concert to begin. The stage was very tastefullY trimmed with evcrgreens, flags, and in due observance of the celten- nial year, large pictures of Washington and Lincoln added the proper amount of patri- otism as the central pieces of adornment. Miss Pettee, we are told, superintended this arrangement of the stage, and although nothing elaborate was designed, it's general arrangement cid credit to the artiste.
 The class of pupils came on the stage little later than the advertised time, but none the less welcome for their tardi- ness, and the opening piece by the full chorus was good, but scarcely up to some that were afterward rendered by the whole, or nearly the whole, company but it is always well to give the plainer food at the beginning of the feast, and let the more highly seasoned follow. To speak of every individual solo, duet, quartette, etc., in de- tail, would require more space than our readers will ask, for this most interesting l and delightful musical entertainment, and few of the more prominent must suff1ce,- but we realize when we say this, that to speak particularly and prominently of some and omit others in entertainments of this class is especially hazardous, but in | this instance we are secure from censure, bY the fact that each and every member of this large class of thirteen pupils did them selves credit last Thursday evening, and have no cause to fear their efforts are not appreciated. The solos by the ladies ere particularly fine, and developed an amount of musical power and skill in some cases not known to exist Of course the Misses Glens and Miss Turner are noted singers and it was expected they would sing we'll, but that Miss Minnie Little, Miss Bostwick, Miss Knight, Miss Perkins, and Mss Bar mum were such really good solofsts, may have been fact known to some, but not all. The little girl, Miss Edith Phelps, also did very we'll indeed.
 Lime Rock is exceedingly modest in it's possession of such IT usical talent as was made manifest on this occasion. Miss Bar mum and Miss Perkins certainly possess a power and skill rarely met with. Their great range of voice, clearness and sweet ness of tone astonished the audience. Miss Perkins, in the highest notes (and they were long ways up,) in her Italian ''Ron- do.-StOlto c 6en," scared along in clear ness and purity truly wonderful, maintain. ing in their full volume, to the end of the most prolonged notes. Her voice is of su- perior richness and power; clear, smooth, melodious and altogether delightful, and with study, we venture no careless asser- ton when we say it would be to her a treasure of almost priceless value. Nor can we say much less of Miss Barnum. Oi perhaps not quite the volume and range of voice as Miss Perkins, yet to this remark we should justly add, that perhaps it was the fault of her selection on this occasion, the music of which did not give that oppor' tunity to display her full powers, but he1 voice is truly very charming.
 Of the gentlemen singers it is scarcely necessary to make mention. They did very we'll for men singers @
 Altogether Miss Pettee is to be congratu- lated on her success with her class, and on the evenings entertainment,--bu is this tc be the last is this to be all of Miss Pettee'c superior skill and rare ability for imparting musical instruction that Salisbury is tc have? It should not be, and we hope tc
 be able to announce before very many weeks are past, that another class is formed under her tuition.