Connecticut western news., 1878-03-28

The oldest inhabitant cannot tell when the winter commenced or when it left off. The following record shows those winters that have approxlmated nearest to the present winter: In l843-4. 1882 8, 1829-3O, 1908 9, l79l-2, 1776-7, l72l 2 and 169S-9-all Of which were very mild. There have been only three winter days, and the mercury has indicated below zero only three times. The heaviest snow storm occurred Jan. 3l, the snow falling six inches deep On level. Such a winter will not probably occur again in Hartford for generation, ,-Hart- ford Post.
 Village Improvement Meeting. At a meeting of the association for village im- provement some days since, the old board of officers was reelected. The reports of the officers were very satisfactory, showing the condition of the association, the work it has accomplished the past year, etc., to be all that could be desired. The streets have been well lighted, new sidewalks have been made and old ones repaired. A vote of thanks was rendered to MT. Presi- dent John B. Reed, for his very efficient management of the affairs of the Associa- tion during the past year. The Village Improvement Association IS one of the vi- tai institutions of our place and 1t Is very gratifying to know it is being so efficiently managed, and is in such a healthful condi- ton.
 Amateur Telephones. The boys in this village having literally, telephone lon the brane," utilized what little Information one of them had obtained from a party in Win sted, by constructing pair of ''telephones' as follows: They took tin tubes and stretched over one end of them dried skin or parchment, somewhat after the manner of drum head, and passing a string through the centre of these heads, tied knots in the ends of the string, and stretch ing it across from the barber shop in Cum mings block to Camps drug store, carried on vast amount of conversation during aIl Monday afternoon. The experiment is cSr- tainly an interesting one, ,and one we are in formed can be utilized for short distances. up to perhaps half mile, and possibly can be made of permanent value.
 Superior Court in North Canaan. A bill has recently passed the legislature, em towering the Superior Court at Litchfeld to adjourn to our village for the trial of civil cases. The courts will be held in the large room under the Town hall, now occu- pied by MT. s. c. Beckley for his store. The Wnsted and New Milford papers have had pretty lively tussle for some time past on the question of the courts, court houses and jails of our county, acting man. festy upon the hypothesis that whomsoev- CT made the most noise would get the most game. We have heretofore said not a word about the matter. for we learned some years ago that the quieter we kept, the sooner we got good square shot at the ducks. We don't know as our people want the jail here amongst us, but when we do, we probably shall not make much noise about it, but-well-s shall get it as matter of course.
 LakevilIe Conference year will close at Lakevile with reception and so- ciable at the half-old.haf.new parsonage on Friday evening of this week from 2 to 10 o'clock. It is probable that great crowd will be present, as there will be a very unusual feature in the programme, the result of which may be read in next weeks NEws.....A number went forward for prayers in the M. k. church last Sabbath evening. Eight joined the church on pro- bation. Next Sabbath will close the Conc ference year. At the morning service the Sacrament will be administered and num- Der received into full membership. A re port of the condition of the church will be given by the pastor. In the evening at 6. 30 service will be held in the interest of the Sabbath school, consisting of review of the quarterly lessons and a missionary concert. The officers of the church have unanimously requested the N. Y. Confer ence to return their pastor for the third year, but it is not yet decided whether he will return or not.
 Gerrit Smiths Loan-The following IS an extract from Rev. O. B. Froth- ingham's Life of Gerrit Smith ;"
 The journal of August 10th, 1887, con- tains the modest entry :-"I this week re- celved letter from my friend and my fathers friend, John Jacob Astor, in which he consents to loan me, for long period, the large sum of money which l had ap- piled for to him. This money will enable me to rid myself of pecuniary embarrass- ments. and to extend important assistance to others. and especially to extend indulg = ence to those who owe me. It relieves my mind of great burden of anxiety. My pecuniary endorsements, growing out of my liabilities for -, have, out of my Iia- bilities for and advances to -, and often, for hours together, filled me with painful concern" The sum requested was in all, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The application, in general terms. was made by letter. The letter was answered by an invitation to dinner. As the two sat at meat, the host was full of reminis- cences of former years, when he went in search of skins with his guests father, now little more thsh three months deceased. There was no talk of business till the cloth was removed and the two were by them selves. Then the visitor opened his tale of distress. It was short, but heavy,. It was season of panic. The banks . had suspended specie payments, and could af- ford only feeble and precarious relief. Business was at a stapdstll real estate had fallen to 8 nominal value; land was unpro- ductive. The legal adviser and brother-in-