The Newtown bee., 1879-06-10
SEwTowN. TU EsDAY. JUNE 10
ns.olisetions of ola Nswtewn.
THE STAGE COACH.

THE STAGE COACH.
 Those of your readers who are only familiar with the present easy mode of getting to Bridgeport by means of the railroad. can hardly realize" the diff florence being so great as it Is In the say Ing of time and eSpcnse, over the old fashioned stage coach which, a half cen. tury ago. connected the two towns; yet that was regarded then as the perfection oftravcling. Prior to that period, how ever. there vas absolutely no means of reaching the salt water except it was by private conveyance. The mail even be- ing carried on the back of Il horse ridden by ''Oid Porter" who on his journeys to and fro, executed all the little errands and communications which the inhabitants at both ends of his route entrusted him with: hence he often appeared, as he passed up the street on slow dog trot, completely hedged in by load of all sorts of things which he had picked up In his shopping operations at Bridgeport for the use of the people in this town. Why, fla boy wished to purchase u pair of skates. the services Of this patient and reliable old mall carrier were put Into requisltion, and this little commission was executed before the next week pass ed away, with promptness and fidelity that Adams Express Company have nev- CT surpassed. But when MT. Lovejoy es- abolished his line of stage coaches from Bridgeport to New Milford, poor Porter's occupation. like that of the black Othel- los. was gone, and what became of him afterwards I never learned, but 1t Is prob able that he did not long survive the h. novation. ' "~.' .''. "a
 The coaches in their daily trips be- tween N. M. and B.. usually arrived from both places about noon. meeting at Czar Kselers tavern (which stood near the xite of the Miss Glover present residence on East street) where dinner was prompt ly served up and fresh horses provided for the remainder of the joumeys i,,
 One of the drivers. who rejoiced In the name of Garry. was very popular vita tho boys, never refusing to let then, iuOuhL kuo Do& Nibt WHtH udu a seat to spare. and to ride us far as they pleased. He drove sleek spanking four inl hand team of mottled grays. which were always highly fed and carefully groomed with his own hands. His col league (Bill Smith) was more "tother." as the English say. being of cross. grouty disposition, strongly contrasting with that of the genial ''Garrys:" his career. poor fellow. was brief one, as 1t ended by suicide through disnppoint- ment In some strange love affair while in MT. Loveioy's service. It was a cheer ing sight though for the street folks when these stage coaches were rattling through it. loaded down as they sometimes were, outside and In, with passengers with any amount of luggage piled up under the great leather boot covering, in the rear |; Garry then ,cas n. his glory and with an occasional blast from his horn the whole town was apprized of his approach or de- parture. The street then was the great thoroughfare for vehicles of all kinds plying between the uppertowns and Bridgeport. hence 1t had the appearance oi H'- animated and busy life which to q great extent a~rarted after the Housa- ionic Railroad was built. ts, the com piotion of that work gave n quietns. not only to the stage lina but to the Turn pike Company Itself. the stock of which gradually became comparatively worth iass. so poor Porter. fhe lived to see it, had his full measure of revenge. Fur thsr than this. there were many students In the town In the law sclsool of Judge Chapman. and the other schools of Gov. Dutton and Jud e Blackman, where they were fitting themselves for college many of these were sons of wealthy Southern pianters. "i-- h shair palmy ante bellum days were supplied very n~,-,,iv with money. which they circulated bro..a cast with an unsparing hand, so that all classes were. to more or less extent, ben efitted by their presence among them.
 Such. Mir. Editor. are my recollections of old Newtown in it's jolly days, and as l now look pack to them through this long vista of years. realize feeling of sad ness In the thought that they will return no more. and can truly say with Gold smith. in his Deserted Village:
 -Rsm.mbranco wakes with all her busy train
 svalis al my breast. and turns the past to pain''
 c.