The Press., 1886-01-21
STAFFORD SPRINGS, CONN JANUARY a1, 1886
LOCAL TOPICs-PENN,D AND sCIssORED

LOCAL TOPICS-PENN'D AND SCISSORED.
 Just to let people see how really mild and balmy was last weeks weather, we reprint paragraph from The Press of Jan. 30, 1873.
 Last night the mercury dropped be- low any point before reached in this vicin- ity, some thermometers going 40 degrees below zero. At 8 o'clock this morning hanging in the sunshine upon the south side of the building Foster Block, store now occupied by J. M. Leach stood B, having slightly advanced from the lowest point. Tho oldest inhabitant, etc"
 All limitations on mileage tickets have been removed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. The tickets are hereafter good for all time and transferable to anybody. One person may borrow another's ticket and ride on it or several may pool, together and buy one. The book is good when presented no mat ter by whom or when. The only condi- tion is that the tickets shall be in the book and not loose. They are good on the valley road also. This practically re- duces all fares on the consolidated road to two cents mile.
 
 The opening of a room in Stafford Springs for evening or day resort of boys or men, with comfortable stove, seats aud good reading matter at hand, by the w. c. T. U., is another of the quiet good works put on foot in this village wholly at private, and in no way at municipal eS. pense. The work may not be lasting, but the effects will be, even if continued for but few weeks. No one can ever tell the full measure of good accomplished by keeping young person for single even- ing or an hour from place of evil resort, and perhaps creating resolve for higher aim in life, at all events checking the i'm petus in the wrong direction. The main- tenance of this room is not necessarily expensive, and if many will each contrib ute little the burden will be light.
 This is fitting companion work to the Stafford Public Library, established now some ten years, and also self-supporting, save as few people give voluntarily of time and money. When the proper time may come perhaps the town or borough may take this library and make it free, as small yearly outlay could run it, and keep mp it's gradual growth. The time may never come when it will thus be made truly public. Its conductors do not urge it, but would of course be glad to see its good influences thus broadened, should the towns financial condition ever war rant it.
 But the library has the nucleus of a fund, started by the girls library club, in memory of Ella M. Baker, who when liv- ing did SO much for 1t, being secretary of the association from it's formation until her .decease. The fund amounts now to over $10O. Can't some one start boom by gift, and set this fund a-growing? ? Are there no present or former residents of the town who can and will afford to give a lift :? Stafford can not boast of large donations for public purposes as can many neighbOring towns. It has no sol dier's monument nor public ed flee to feel proud of. We cannot wonder that young men who have gone out of Stafford and grown rich elsewhere, have less tender feeling toward their mother town than have the sons of towns that have been more liberal in opportunities for educa- tion, and that these also inquire why some of the rich residents of the town do not themselves set the example of liber- ality.
 There are good signs for the future of the town that more interest is being awakened in its schools. The young men we send abroad hereafter, (though we prefer that all shall stay here. will feel the greater love for the town that gave them opportunities to fairly fit themselves for the battle of life, and gave them at little cost access to one of the best select ed small libraries in the state, fostered Chautauqua and reading circles for their intellectual training, and provided better places than the bar rooms for their leisure hours. It is good to have the community rise above the grovelling estimates of per cents, and realize that it pays to raise men and women, and to make something better than mere money calculators or bar room frequenters of them. The most profitable product of town is intelligent, high-minded men and women, and all should bear hand in nurturing the crop of boys and girls growing into manhood and womanhood.