Connecticut western news., 1876-01-07

pAASo VII NAo'SA oACot III lilaI village, ana will remove thence and occupy it as his residence the coming spring. g......Mr. R. c. Taft, who recently purchased the Thurs ton store in that place, will use it for a storehouse. He will erect some horse l sheds immediately in it's rear, for the ac- commodation of his customers who visit his store on the other side of the railroad, MT. Taft is one of the most enterprisin 2 men in Southern Berkshire. He is inter- ested in large house in New York city, anc is consequently able to purchase goods for his store in Ashley Falls at the lowest possible prices, fact which his customers are appreciating by their generous patron age. Mr. T. gives still further evidence of his well directed enterprise and wisdom in the management of his business, by adyer- Using in THE NEWS. He has contracted with us for half column space for the full Centennial year of 1876, and our read CTS will have the satisfaction of knowing at all times the inducements MT. Taft will surely offer, and which will certainly be worth their attentive consideration. Read his new advertisement this week and see how he starts of.....The singing school commenced last week with MT. Briggs of East Canaan for teacher. The amount ot money raised appears to be ample for the work, and it is hoped the whole number of the young people of the village will become proficient in the art, and grow up indeed a musical people. ''Let the people praise Thee, oh God" but first let them attend the singing school and learn how to do it in a manner acceptable to Him, who is the very essence of perfection. Singing schools, reading rooms, lyceums, libraries, with the free school system, are the grand sustain ing hope of our country. Let them be en- couraged, maintained and defended, if need | be.
 Centennial.-The Centennial year was ushered in at 12 o'clock last Friday night by the ringing of bells by the wide awakes O of this place. The bells in Lakeville sounded forth the approach of the new year some moments before it's ar rival, and some little time before the breeze I of patriotism arrived here, but it came and 1t wasn't very long time before everybody in town was aware of it. The advent of the Centennial year was generally observed throughout the country. In New York city the exercises were especially interest ing. We quote the New York Tribune, its account of it:
 The chimes of the great parish church of the Episcopalians of New York began to sound at II. 30 p. m., and the sweet rhythm rolled unchallenged and unriyaled through the silence of the night. But when it wanted only ten minutes to midnight, there commenced wild confusion of sounds, which not only confounded chaos, but ab- solutely drowned the sweet melody of the chiffies. Fog whistles and steam whistles began to screech from the river, and from the post-ofTice. bells began to jangle from every direction, cannon were fired, and rockets discharged in front of No. Broad way, the old Kennedy mansion, where General Putnam had hls headquarters, and where the statue of George III was pulled down from it's pedestal The noise was indescribable. Suddenly there was lull, and then hush, ,and the last quarter sound ed from TrinitY's tall tower. Then the iron note of Time rang out upon the night, but before the clang was repeated seven times the uproar commenced again and was supplemented by spontaneous bust of cheering that came from the multitudes. The chimes commenced again with the Old Hundredth' famous psalm tune, and hundreds sang it sotto U0ce. And now many of the carriages began to move away, but many still remained. The thousand how ever, stuck fast. and it was only when the notes of Home, Sweet Home floated from the tower that the immense :hrongs began to melt away slowly. Even then the streets were crowded, and many of the stores open, and it was hard 50 realize that the | hour was past midnight and that the Gen. tennial year had begun.
 Mrs farley in Kent-It was my good fortune to be set down in Kent cn New Years eve, just in time to witness the ex- hibition given by the members of the Vil- lage Improvement Society As like to be the first to tell the news, I make haste to anticipate Friend 'Sol,' who might not like to tell the whole truth in this report. The entertainment opened with piano duet | by Misses Julia o. Hopson and o. Fuller. Anyone who knows the musical abilities of these ladies need not be told that we en joYed treat in listening. Miss Hopson is pursuing course of study In Vassar Col lege, and her vacation days passed in Kent add much to the pleasure of her many friends hereabouts. MT. Barclay, the pres. ident of this association, made a short speech, showing up the object for which they are working. which is the founding of a public library. Surely every true citizen will extend helping hand to so worthy 8 cause, for Kent has long needed some stim. ulus to mind culture, and nothing tends more to mind improvement than the use o1 good libraries. Mrs. Bailey, better knowr as Mrs. Jarley then appeared upon the stage with seven rare wax figures as large as life tviz: Chinese Giant, Welch Dwarf, Live Yankee, Ophelia, Time, Vampire and Mrs
 Winslow, who invented the soothing syrup If Mother Winslow gave such liberal doses as Mrs. JarleY's figure prescribed we won- der the market supplied the demand Olc Father Time, though robed in white, looked
 strangely familiar, and we at last decided
 that he lived near the mills; he seemed
 very active, though he claims the venerabl
 age of 1875 years. We discovered beneatl
 the disguise of the Live Yankee the famou Elder Snitfles, and that he was true flesI