Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-22
The Little HEEdshipman


 Some kindly sympathy and sorrow is called forth by the death of little lad who has just ended brief but promising career. His ser vice was that of pleasure; he was clever be- yond his years; he received a full measure of the applause that ambition hopes for only after long-tried and arduous apprenticeship the theatre was his nursery and the mimic shop on which he served @ holiday play ground. Chance or inclination, possibly the signs of precocious intellect, or some connec- ton with the world of amusement in it's count less branches, gave young Benedict Tacsgni the welcome opportunity of joining the Lilli- putian crew on board HI. M. S. Pinafore." He WAS only aged six years and seven months, and scarcely escaped from his mothers arms; | but, possessing a fund of that initiative faculty which is so amusing ln little children, and easily accepting instruction, he was as- signed the part of the ''midshipmite' in the famous comic opera that has only just made way for new and tuneful successor.
 He was evidently born actor, and took to the boards as young ducks take to the water. Catching with wonderful readiness the humor of the situation, and delighted at the fancy of his costume, he so strutted about the deck of his miniature vessel that he soon became the most popular figure in this amusing and orig inal entertainment He had the gift of con- msnd thoroughly implanted in his nature; and when the baby actor, with an exaggerated telescope under his arm, toddled about with
 
 spect of the other children and filling the stage with his bumptious superiority, what wonder indeed that the house roared with laughter, and made much of this delightful little boy2 Such things will happen when cleverness is so marked and precoeity care fully subordinated but there is no rumor that even the appreciation of Royal Princes and Princesses ever turned the lads head. He was true to his adopted calling and fond of his business; indeed, the boys success lay in great measure in that grave and unconscious air which is so truly humorous, and in his art in apparently ignoring the existence of his audience.
 The play ran for it's appointnd time with the little Benedict Tacagni still in the mid shipman's uniform that he had never dis graced, but now comes the cad of the story, and it is truly pathetic. ''The play is done, the curtain drops. Slow falling to the prompter's bell. moment yet the actor stops and looks around to say farewell The ''little Billee" of all this child's play was not destined to be made ''the captain of sew enty- three," or with ripened experience to take regularly and soberly to the service which he had mimicked with so much success. On the very last day of the season the poor little lad fell ill the fever that held him was sharp and rapid, the pain he endured was most bit- ter and acute. In day or two the physician, shaking his head over the boys bed, had sor- rowfully announced that this ''sweet little cherub must go up aloft' to 'watch over the life of poor Jack" Murmuring snatohes of MT. Arthur Sullivan's melodies as he lay toss- ing with pain in his baby's delirium, it was soon apparent that it was nearly all over with the midshipmite. At the last, inspired some- how with the pluck that had never been test ed. and the faithfulness to duty that had en- tered in imagination into his little soul, he gave out in his infantine treble, 'For he Is an Englishman!" '" and then closed his eyes for- ever.
 Rev. MT. Wilson has resigned from the Baptist church at Southington.
 Work will be at once begun upon depot of the Housatonic railroad at Newtown.
 s. W. Loper digcovered last week. in Durham, what appeared to be gigantic fossil frog :; the head of the specimen perfect and ths jaws measured seven inches across.
 The Meriden Agricultural Society has jected the proposition of the society to hold the State fair there next September condition that 0l0 should be given in premiums and $1 GOO to build sheds, and will hold its own fair as usual.
 The Commissioners appointed by Governor An- drews met in AIiddletown, Monday, and selected site for the new hospital addition It south of the present buildings, about 120 feet. They will meet in the same city again on Saturday.