Litchfield enquirer., 1880-01-08

80 :" 50
 Orders by mail filled promptly on receipt of cash (postage at 3 cents per doeen included.)
 Washington.
 The past week has been one of unusual &C., tivity in the social circles of Judea Cor circ1s We should have said, for Judea boasts of only O,se social circle, and that encloses, without distinction in wealth, rank or standing, any and all who aspire to. and are trying to reach, responsibility fact due in great measure doubtless, to the influence of the Friday night receptions at the ''Gunnery.")
 On Monday night the members of The Ly- ceum discussed our Republican form of Gov ernment pro and con, to a large and interested audience.
 On Tuesday night, Rev. J. B. Thrall deliv- cred very interesting and pleasing lecture in the Hall, entitled By land and sea" descrip- tive of his travels in Europe.
 On Wednesday evening (New YearsO night by order of the Church furnishing society,
 
 costume at the house of s. l.. Brinsmade, where they spent the evening in practically illustrat- in ''The Old Ladys" Melodies ''Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater'' illustrated how extremely un- pleasant it is in these times to live with higL toned modern wife in pumpkin shell, ''Sim. pie Simon went fishing" Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard" &c, &c, and Little Jack Homer sat in the corner," until twelve o'clock chlmed in the new born year of 1880.
 On Thursday evening, the friends, neighbors, relatives, and numberless surviving patients, of Doctor Orlando Brown, united in giving him genuine old fashioned surprise party. Only a few hours notice had been given to any, yet at seven o'clock (the appointed hour of meet ing) quite formidable number had gathered at Mrs. Mitchelps The line of march was quietly formed, and the Doctors castle storm ed. Our common law says ,"every mans house is his castle, y and he is justified in de- lending it against invasion" We went in numbers prepared to take the Doctors castle by force if necessary. We didn't know but his long experience in the army would make him ''hard customer to handle" We were ali armed to the teeth. Mir. B. Far rand had an ambulance and transpor wagon In attendance to care for the wounded. AS we approached the stronghold some of the bravest of the fair sex might have been seen in the very front ranks laden with supplies and amunltlon. Some had hard doughnuts (to be used in case the supply of round shot and canister became exhausted.) Others bore great loaves of the deadly fruit cake. &c., &c The outer gates of the castle were found ajar. The sleepy sentry were quickly overpowered, the doors burst in, and the victory won with out single shot. It is needless to say that the Doctor and family were overwhelmingly surprised and taken completely off their guard, the Doctor had not even his sword buckled on, and like judicious General he made an unconditional surrender of himself, family, castle, munitions aud effects, and we, like magnanimous vlctors, after taking necessary precautions, allowed the vanquished ones the entire freedom of the castle. The evening was spent in hilarity and riotous proceedings
 
 banner of the Skull and crossbones" was hauled down and the white flag of 'peace good will, /" run up in it's stead. All munitions of war were laid aside. The doughnuts after being soaked in delicious coffee, hadn't half the warlike look they had before, and the deadly fruit cake was distributed in quanti- ties, not calculated to kill, but only to add a fresh bloom" to the medical practice. Every thing passed of tremendously and ''all went merry as marriage bell" Never before were cGptor and capti0e known to so thoroughly en- jog a gictory together. As the midnight hour approached, the revelry ceased and our forces gradually withdrew, expressing the wish that the Doctor might ever enjoy all his surprises and defeats as we'll as he seemed to this one
 Friday night, the ladies gave Leap Year Ball in the Hall. It was a perfect success. Quite number were present from New Pres ton, Bridgewater and Roxbury, and every thing passed off properly and in order We have been given the mitten" lots of times in the course of our checkered carer, and at times have been possessed of feeling that some would liken unto retaliation, but when our flair one" came for us that evening, we remembered the Golden Rule and promptly said ''Yes." It is so nice to have your lady drive around for you, hitch, and blanket the horse, settle little minor ''incidentals" like ice cream, lemonades the fiddler's bill, &c.,, &c., that we wonder how a sensible body of men like our Connecticut legislators can assemble year after year and make no provision to have leap year come oftener than one year in four.
 Many other incidents less frivolous and quite worthy of note have happened within our borders the past week, but we generously leave them to your regular correspondent, "S." For instance, we had one or two births in town during the week, but from the random shots fired lately, we conclude that your printers deEir and IS" have some special arrangement whereby (without regard to facts) the names of parties to such a transaction are determined by a turn of the wheel or ''shake of the dice" Now. MT. Editor, imagine if you can, your "Devil" and our IS" sitting up by the light of tallow dip till twelve or one o'clock at night, throwing dice to determine the parentage of our infant Judeans. It seems almost incred-