Connecticut western news., 1876-06-30

A party of our fishermen went over to Go
 shen last week and camped out three or
 four days. They caught about l5o pounds
 o' nsh While there. NUF CED
 Sheffield.
 Our celebrations are over and we have re.
 turned to the work of everyday life; still
 thoughts of the centennial afford fresh sub-
 Jects for conversation. We saw no report
 or the promenade concert and centennial mop given at the hall last week Monday
 evening 1t was an occasion of great inter
 est to many, but so great was the crowd
 that much moving about was impossible.
 However from our stand point we saw a
 few of the sights of which we make note.
 All the village maids and matrons were
 there, and many of them in the costumes
 ot thelr grandmothers, with powdered hair.
 putfs and caps. The gentlemen did not
 Ike to caricature their much revered ances-
 try' and so appeared in the modest dress of
 common citizens. Talk not of the absur-
 dities of present fashions, if we are to be.
 
 dresses which this centennial year has
 brought forth from the dust covered chests
 which for century gone have reposed in
 our garrets. The costume which was worn on this occasion by Mrs. Frederick Hamlin ot New York attracted more attention than all others. Mrs. H. is the granddaughter ot Gen. John Ashley, and she wore the bri- dal dress of her grandmother, whose mar
 rlage took place l08 years ago. The dress was ot brocade six, so heavy in texture that It seemed to stand alone, of a variety ot colors, but the rose tints predomipatipg. It was cut with square neck, waist point, ed in front, and with watteau back. while the sleeves came only to the elbow and were trimmed with lace. The cut of the dress exposed to admiring gaze fair neck winch was adorned with beautiful neck lace and pendant of diamonds, while beau. tiful bracelets of the same ornamentcd the arms. The costume, odd as it seemed. was highly becoming to the wearer, and this. together with her natural grace and attract. lveness, made her the belle of the evening We noticed among the distinguished guests on this occasion, Hon. Thos. H. Bond and wife of New Haven. Mrs. w. c. Bates of Weslfield was present also, dressed in an old style brocade dress, Martha Washing. ton cap, etc., while she carried about fan. cy work bag of white satin, peculiar in de- slgn, and said to be more than one hundred years old. Her daughter, Miss Fannie Bates, shone among the stars of the even ing, dressed in lemon. colorcd tissue. tbe most conspicuous part of her costume being a high comb Of such huge proportions that we wondered one head could carry il about. This costume was said to have been over 70 years old. One lady appeared overshad owed ny calash of such dimensions that it might have been mistaken for modern gypsy carryall, and we were astonished to find hidden beneath the so year old bonnet the face of Mrs. Leonard. The fac simile | ot Mrs. May Ashley was presented by the appearance of Mrs. G. D. Griffith, who wore handsome black satin dress, former ly worn by her aunt, Mrs. Ashley. Several articles of interest were presented for cxhi. biton, ancient work of the grandmother an old musket of Bunker Hill notoriety the Hillyer coat of arms, embroidered long ago by Mrs. Ashley. Among the many noted guests present at our centennial gath erirgs we note Wm. Root of Ohio. who formerly lived near the old elm. He visit ed the old homestead and drank from the we'll of his fathers. Hon. Judge Day and wife from Canada; Hon. w. G. Bates. wife and daughter of Wesfield, Mass; Hon, Ensign Kellogg of Pittsfield; Hon. J. G. Goodrich and wife of Stockbridge: J. Reid, Jr., of Richmond, Mass, who for. nerly was the successful teacher in Stock bridge; Norman Leonard, Esq, and wife ,f Westfield; Rev. Steven Bush and wife, James Bullard and family of Lee; Lew Warner and wife of New York also many others whose address is not fully known to 'our correspondent. The centennial was treat affair for our Qulet town. and passed o pleasantly that it will eyer finger a bright picture in memorY's hail.. .....W .Wm. Cullen 5ryant was present with Dr. Dewey at the service Sunday morning ast, and the two presented venerable ap, { 'carance.,...,The Sunday school floral fes- ival was held in the M. k. Church on Sun. ay morning. The exercises of the chil. { ren were very interesting, the floral deco ( atons very beautiful and the pastors talk ( the lambs of the flock very profitable I nd entertaining to even the elders of the | hurch Sunday evening Rev. Mr. Ger t 1ond concluded his sermon upon the sub 2 ct of Recognition in Heaven The text hosen was from Matthew, where it speaks | f the transfiguraton, and There appeared nto them Moses and Elias talking with = Inn. The discourse was ably written and is proofs of the belief we'll founded and frustrated. It was sermon full of con- 6 ort, and his closing remarks an exhortati, n n his hearers to so live that every hour Il nall fit us to meet the loved ones who h., ye r, one before. That we should ever keep in c the departed and be charita- le and forbearing 10 the living. The sins our neighbors, which seem SO great 10 ns ometimes, when Death drops over them its a 'road mantle of charity are but human O eaknesscs, and we then forgive and for o' ct, remembering only the goodness. D Would that We might ottener cultivate this larity ere the grave covers over us But hen the misls have rolled away we shall o, ,e the hidden beauties of earth. L.. ~