Connecticut western news., 1877-08-24
Great Bafrineron. season for o,nn

 A delightful picnic was held on the grounds of MT. Laird, at Christian Hill, on Wedres- day the 8th; the fifteenth time that the el- der ones of the M. E. society have given to their Sabbath School an entertainment at this grand pine grove.....A Bazaar held this week by the ladies of St. James church was literally patronized.. The attractions of Ct. Burlington bring together many vis- itors to enjoy it's recreative resorts. And, as ever, there moves closely along with all our material joys, the messenger commis stoned to withdraw one and another from participation in earthly scenes. A hasty illness falling on Mrs. Goodsel,a a highly esti- mable lady of this place, terminated fatally. Rev. MT. Scudder attended the funeral ser vice which was beautiful tribute of fer vent Christian sympathy with an afflicted family. We also mourn the death of a delicate young lady from consumption. 0. M. s.
 Strike on Housatonlc Railroad.-A strike of mammoth proportions occurred
 
 on Friday last. Nearly all the conductors, engineers, station agents, baggage masters, trackmen and their families, numbering about twelve hundred, struck directly for ''Parlor Rock,"a beautiful grove a few miles north of Bridgeport, where they en- Joyed one of the grandest picnics that have been participated in anywhere in this re | zion this season. The railroad company ran extra trains from Pittsfield and Bridge port to accommodate the strikers, and seemed to enjoy the fun as we'll as their ! employees. The train from the north left Pittsfeld at 6:3o in the morning, and when it reached Parlor Rock about noon it con- sisted of fourteen cars, filled to their ut most capacity, Master Mechanic Morris and his brigade from Amesville filing five cars The train from Bridgeport, co insisting of several cars, arrived earlier in the day. It would be impossible to find more pictur- esque spot in the Housatonic Valley for a fete of this, kind than Parlor Rock, tte grounds consisting of four or five acres. covered with magnificent grove, are situ- ate about six miles north of Bridgeport and and two rods east of the railroad compa- ny's track. The company own the grounds and have fitted them up at great expense, and it is indeed very attractive and delightful spot.
 The rock from which the place takes It's name is great natural Curiosity. The fo,- lowing named officials of the road were present: D. s. Draper, Vice-President; N. M. Brown, Asst. Supt.; c. K. Averill, Treas; H. c. Cogswell, General Freight | Agent; John 8. Lane. Supervisor; Chauncy R. Morris. Master Mechanic;.. John Bart lett, Inspector of Bridges. The first on the programme after the arrival of the Pitts field train was an address of welcome by N. M. Brown, Asst. Superintendent. Col s. E. Sumner then came forward and apol- ogized for not having music for dancing earlier ID the day. MT. $. also announced that something of the sort would soon be in attendance, when the Hon. Robert Little of Salisbury would take charge of the danc- ing-and I'll stop right here and say that l never saw a more accomplished or graceful ''dancing master" before. A letter was read by Col. Sumner from the Hon. Geo. w. Peet of Canaan, a director and attorney for the company, which was something as follows: His pre ssing business prevented him from being present to enjoy with his associates the festivities of the day, and as- ! suring them of his friendship and respect for his brother employees of the old Housa- tonic Railroad; employees who are honest. true and faithful; body of men whom any man would delight to honor. s. B. Sum- ner's poem was received with greet ap- plause and was very appropriate for the oc- casion, as will appear further along. The next thing n order after the poem was the clam bake. which was prepared by Mir. J.. L.. Beebe of Bridgeport, on the rocRs near by. About twenty-five bushels of clans, a wagon load of green corn and innumerable delicacies were disposed of in short order. After dinner came the dancing, croquet playing, etc., until four, p. m., swhen the | train started homeward with the excursion | ists all jolly and happy. Everybody seemed to be pleased with everything, and | themselves. and we venture to say that this | was one of the most enjoyable festivities of | the kind that has occurred between Pitts field and Bridgeport in many day. The Lee Cornet Band furnished good music to | and from aud at the grounds The Rail- road company provided everything free, Wltn the eXceptlOn or the TeIresnmenCS, which were furnished Tn part by the en- ployes and in part by Vice President Dra- per. Great credit is due to the HOusatonic railroad company for their generosity in affording their employees an opportunity to participate in a free entertainment of this character. And we believe that some of the other railroad companies of thls coun- try, that have suffered so severely from railroad strikes of late. would do we'll to initiate the Housatonlc company in treating their employees Gas expressed in the letter of the Hon. Geo. w. Peet as ''honest, true and faithful men, whom any man would delight to honor."
 POEM
 BY COL. 8. B. SUMNER.
 belong to this railroad if mem'ry don't
 fail,
 It is thirty five years since first rode its