Connecticut western news., 1880-03-03

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 evening. This society have well earned rep' utation of giving unparalleled entertainments, and grand social time is anticipated. The young people are working with deal of ar' dor to provide an overpowering temptation by way of a fancy table. This effort apparently meets everyones approval, and will not be { fruitless.
 Rev. H. S. Ball of Ft. Jackson, N. Y. whose communication on sOld.time athletes" appears in another column, promises to send us more of the same sort, The NEWS has published several of Mr. B's. "reminiscences of this vicinity, which proved particularly inter- esting to the old inhabitants, as well as oth- CTS; and further communications will be glad. ly welcomed. And in this connection we would invite any who can furnish reminiscent. tial anecdotes of general interest, in this vi. cinity, to send them to us for publication. The Barnum Richardson Go. are making extensive preparations to "push things" at their iron furnaces in this vicinity. The old upper furnace at East Canaan is being rebuilt, and will be run to it's fullest capacity, and oth- CT improvements to facilitate the business are being made. A line of telegraph wire is be. ing constructed along the South Canaan road to connect the Huntsville furnace with the East Canaan furnaces by telephone, and the line is to be continued to connect the works at Lime Rock, Cornwall Bridge, Ore Hill, Sal- isbury and Sharon.
 One of the "young folks" ofa mischiev- ous turn of mind, created quite stir in the streets the other night by suddenly appearing enveloped in long cloak with hood, goggles on her nose, and saving necessarily on an &C., cordeon. The eccentric individual was pur- sued by some of the boys who had determined to capture the fellows dressed in women's clothes referred to by us few weeks since. One of the pursuers of the accordeon suc- ceeded in capturing the musician, but sudden. ly discovered-not only by the feminine screams-that the minstrel was appropriately costumed. The probability" is that the ser enade will not be repeated.
 Charlie Fuller, having trap set for coons in the mountains west of Dwight Andrus' in Sheffield, was confronted the other day by wild cat that had taken possession of the trap. Charlie thought at first he would procure and cage him alive. Being without gun, he. .se- cured club, and commenced the tanning pro- 'cess. The first few blows the cat lodged, springing at Fuller the length of chain and trap, with glaring eyes, and while the mountain echoed and re-echoed with the cats hideous howls, both became intensely excited as to the victory, it being the critical point between life and death with either. At last 8 well directed blow brought the cat to terms. The cat weighed s2 pounds, and was held by the toes of one hind leg. Fuller being six footer, Tapped the hind legs over his shoulders, while the head and neck dragged on the ground.
 We are indebted to Dr. s.ov;l If sh,av Falls for Santa Barbars.. lCal :, papers of Feb ruary 9th. Tie following are from the Daily efess' Tow it excites the secretion of the sat.vsry glands to read about rat pie, puppy dog patties, strawberries, and ''other delica. cies of the season" in the preposterom winter weather of this latitude:
 CHINESE NEW YEARS. The Celestials rent the midnight air last night with the musical oanghg or gongs and the melodious popping or countless fire crackers and bombs. To- gay sney are all dressed in .1lneir Sunday best, ana an n are exchanging caI,as and the compliments of % Nes Me ssSsOI .s antiquity of this custom saaUos @ M" +o hs ear calling, and the fact that it hoe 1s,s ave originated with the Chinese, w~s A some people to believe that New York
 ..s first settled by the Chinese; but that | theory is at once dissipated by glance at the feet of the denizens of that cityo Among the aristocratic houses thrown open to-day for the reception of New Years callers were the laundries of Ung Hi, Ung Wah, Wah Sing, Sam Sing, An Sing, and other 'tony" ones. Refreshments were served at most of the houses, consisting of tea, sam-shu, candy rat pie, puppy-dog patties and other delicacies ! of the season. Miss Wong ah Kee seemed to be more favored with callers than any other celestial beauty, her door being constantly surrounded by gang of nsuchGch0s, who amused themselves scrambling for unexploded fre-crackers, and in. stealing the burning Jost sticks stuck against the wall. The Josh house was faVorlte place o1 resort, ana many
 of the Arlington guests went there and dit
 fetish before the Great Panjandrum with tht
 little round button on top of his head. Th'
 most noticeable feature of the days festivitie,
 was the fact that every Chinaman had beer cleanly shaven until the top of his head look
 ed like well-varnished ten-pin ball. It wal
 an even bet that any fly attempting to craw
 across Chinaman's head would slip ana
 break 8 leg.
 SHIPPING STRAWBERRIES. Mir. SolomaI
 made his first shipment of strawberries, fo
 the season, by the Ancon, which sailed yes
 terday morning. He expects to ship by every
 steamer for the next two months. His agen
 in San Francisco writes him that his berrie
 arrive in market in much better condition
 than those received by rail from San Jose
 only fifty riies away. AS Santa Barbar,
 berries are the first in market they bring th
 highest prices, and the industry might b'
 made much larger one if market gardener
 of this section would devote the time and at
 tention to it.
 Nm MemOR1@m'
 -o~,lon communication If NoD%1ovv,or,