The Newtown bee., 1879-02-18
RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD NEW
 DWN--ITS OLD PHYSICIANS.

has any rccoilectlOnS or was LIT. Benn6t Perry who was born in WoOdbury on tho 18th December. 1755. and died in New town, 26th November, 1921, leaving q large family of sons and daughters, some of whom grew up to marry there, but all of them subsequently moved away, and are, without exception. now deceased. The Doctor was not only held i'll high estimation as physician, but as sur geon, a branch of the profession not so common in those days as in ours. He dressed in the old school style, that is with knee brooches and buckles, and wore cue which whipped from one shoulder to the other with the quick ner- vous movement of the head to which he was subject, causing, sometimes, a laugh on the part of the observer.
 He had strong predjudiee against the fashion of wearing wiskers, and so lar did he carry it, that he invariably shaved his own face far up on his temples-a custom that he transmitted to one of his sons, the Rev. Joseph Perry, an Episco- pal clergyman, who lived and died in New Haven.
 He was a prominent official In the lodge of Free Masons, which held its meetings on the second floor of his house now Dicks HotelJ, but he took littleeor no in- terest in it, or expressed outside of 1t any sentiments on it's merits or demeritS; as secret association we know 1t fell into disrepute after the death of Morgan, whose demise was attributed to violence, instigated by secret party of the order, to prevent some threatened disclosures on his part.
 Dr. Perry's principal cotemporary in the practice of medicine at Newtown was Dr. Judson, the father of Dr. Roe" and my early friend, Dr. George, who died after succeeding fathers practice.
 Dr. J. was regarded as good physician, and he about equally divided the business with his elder associate. There were also two others of the craft, that is pr. Bancraft cor. Brucy') and Dr. Shepard, the father of Dr. Darwin, the first was said to be good in fits, and being an eccentric person, was set down for quack. with how much justice will not undertake to say, but the wags of the village were wont to play practical jokes upon him, and sometimes, believe, they got the worst of it. Neither of these en- joyed so large practice as the other two.
 I come now to one who having lived in OUT own times--his name will be famil- far to most of your readers, 1 mean Dr. Cyrenus Booth, who was "fellow of in- finite mirth, and whose decease was not more deeply deplored out of his own fam ny llhl Uy uiy 5Cil, loA
 .' A merrier man
 Within the limit of becoming mirth,
 never spent an hours talk withal'
 The Doctor studied medicine with Dr. Perry, and before commencing the prac- tice of it, attended long course of med ical lectures, delivered by the celebrated Dr. Hosack, of New York city, who (with Mott Francis and Cheeseman) stood at the head of his profession on this conti- t..R,f !, t,., lx,e-A r.a a.1 Asx.,, given to him to acquire an excellent knowledge of it. leaving nothing more to be added, save experience, and that he certainly did have, while in his prime of youth and manhood-honor in his ad- vanced years, he appears to have gradu- ally retired from the practice. abandon ing the field in which he had for so long d period labored to those who are in pos session of it.
 In all the writer's intercourse with men renowned for their talents, wit and humor, he is unable to recall one who was his equal. With a high pitched voice and rapidity of utterance; he possessed an exuberance of spirits, flow of anec- dote and rcpartee, that could not be sur passed, to this extent would he some times indulge in it, that he would be a little too personal and incur for the moment the ire of some sensitive person present, but like Garrick,
 :" He cast of his friends. huntsman his pack. For he knew when he pleasd he could whistle
 them back"
 and so he could, for there was certain degree of fascination about him, that it was impossible to resist, forgetting these little foiables which he could not restrain for they arose from the impulse of the moment. The last time that the writer saw him was in the summer or autumn of the year preceding his death. and then but for moment only as he was hastening home to keep some appointment, while the writer was on the point of leaving for New York, however. there was just time to say "How are you, Doctor?' and get his response, in his quick, shrill voice, " Most dead, most dead;" and I have since thought that he might have felt so having that heart disease, from which he died, upon him, although have no idea that his reply was intended to convey any meaning that he was not enjoying his ac- customed health.
 As he was q pupil of Dr. Perry's he was our family physician after the old Doc tors death, and was regarded always us one of us, being suffered to stroll ali over the house with that freedom which was accorded to none but it's members only.
 He has now gone to another sphere, but,
 "He was a man. take him for all in all