Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-03
CORRESPONDENCE.

Some Experiences i'm Massachusetts-
 Holyoke's Remarkable Growth.
 NEW HAVEN, Dec. 31, 1879. To the Editor af the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 I am at homs after many a long journey and the close of the year finds me happy and contented. Within the past six months the business interests of the country at large have greatly revived, and my letters of prediction written months ago have all come true. The future prospect for business never was better than to-day, and new year begins under the most favorable auspices. Never was a more "Merry Christmas spent in our land than the one just passed. Never were more presents given or received, or more money spent in its celebration. Never before SO many homes made happy by the liberality of kind Provi- dence, and we begin 8 Happy New Year" in reality.
 During the past few days I have not been far from home, but I must give you brief account of short trip into Massachusetts last week. Leaving New Haven on the lightning express in the afternoon, I was soon in North ampton, where dozens of teams from the country were hitched in front of the various stores of that good old town, and the families of the neighboring farms were laying in sup ply of flood and raiment' for the winter It was cold day-the coldest yet this season. and sleighing was never better. The snow was not deep, but hard and smooth, and the air bright and clear, and fairly 'biting" cold. After finishing my business there, took 8 train for Holyoke, which town is fast becom- ing one of the most wealthy and important in the State and as passed through one of its principal streets at o'clock p. m., the dozens of long mills were lighted in every window, presenting lively sight. Persons who have not visited that plfce in several years can scarcely imagine how it has grown of late. It has one of the finest hotels and court houses to be found in any part of the country, besides many splendid large business blocks of recent and modern con- struction which rival those in the largest cities of our land. Its water privileges are almost without equal in any part of the world. They are furnished by dam ming up the Con- necticut river few miles above, and throw ing all the required water into two canals, several hundred feet wide, furnishing water power enough to seemingly drive all the ma chinery of the world.
 Staying in Holyoke short time came to Springfield and at once took the train to Westfeid, which of late has gained Q reputa- tion for ''wind and flood" disasters. They are building bridge there now, that they hope will withstand any clement and it is said that when they wished to demolish the old one (which was not destroyed by the last in- undation) they could not get it down until they set it on fire, and as the new one is to be built of solid iron it will be likely to stand T was about to say forever.
 By the way, speaking of Westfield, I must tell you story of one of the merchants of that place, who vouches for it's truth. He is the son of the party of the first dry goods merchant for about fifty years) was awakened some little time ago in the night by noise of some one breaking into his store, and he quietly arose, went to the window, lifted it up, thrust his head out and said to the party of the second part engaged below: My friend, if you are a rob Der, you just wait there 8 moment and will get my gun and shoot you, will" and then lowered the window and returned to his bed and slept until morning. The would-be rob Der departed at once without even bidding him 'tgood night, and never again returned. Now, how is that for an encounter with burglar?" After my visit of an hour at West field, I took the cars again that same evening and rode up the Canal railroad as far as East hampton, and had finished my business there Git being then nearly 10 o'clock), and was going to the famous Mansion House. to spend the night, when heard ''music in the air." It was beautiful and clear, and the moon never shone brighter upon the snow, and the thought flashes upon me at once ia sleighing party! And sure enough, it was regular nightingale load, and they were singing as merrily as only those can who are on ride of that kind. They were bound for the very hotel where I was to pass the night. was only minute in advance of them on arriving at the door, and could not help watching them as they came in by couples, with faces red with excitement and the keen air, but seemingly as happy as it was possible for mortals to be. It wss large party-there were several dozens of them-and they made themselves very much at home by their own actions, and by the acts of the kindly landlord, Mir. Hill, the owner and proprietor of the house. Being tired retired at once to steam-heated room, and several times during the night did I half awake to hear the jolly sleighing party enjoy the merriment of ''good time" When I think of them wonder who can say that there is not enjoyment in New England winter The next morning at the breakfast table heard the party complimented and highly spoken of, and learned also that ths thermom- eter had reached point of 1Oo below zero the day before at that place. M. 0. s.