The Press., 1888-06-14
LOCAL TOPICs-PENN,D AND sCISsORED.
STAFFORD TOPICS.

STAFFORD TOPICS.
 Again the High school ''commence- ment" has passed, with evidence in attend ance and interest that the people, not of Stafford Springs alone, but of the entire town, appreciate the awakening which has given the borough educational opportuni- ties more befitting its reputation as will lage, and also given to the town, by the hberality of the local committee, all the privileges of high school free to any boy l or girl of Stafford, and not only this, but at a very small cost gives the same privi- lege to children of towns on our borders. l The attendance last Friday at the Congre- gational church was larger than at any, save the first graduation day in 1886. There were five graduates, each of whom read an essay. Ernest K. Taft on the ''Study of Chemistry" indicated his favorite line of study, and that he had intelligent ideas and theories of his subtle topic. Minnie F. Netf read thoughtful paper on "Typi- cal Women of our Nation," showing that her knowledge of American history was not confined to that got from the text books, also that she was reader as well as think CT. W. D. Heald's topic was "Our Gov ernment, " and many of the auditors com mented on its clearness. He followed the course of government through the colonial and confederate periods, showing how the republic felt its way along from being a confederation of small nations, with all the weaknesses coming from jealousy of each other into the being of mighty nation of united states. Mary A. Howard read 8 paper on "Arbor Day, " it's origin its growth into almost national observance, and Its benefits. James B. Comins was the vale dictorian, and closed an interesting paper on '"The Teachings of Geology" by ex- pressing the sentiments of the class to the school, teachers, officers and to the friends of education in the town. Singing..by the school, which indicated good degree of culture in this branch, interspersed the ex- ercises. After the award of diplomas by School Visitor Hawley, and addresses by other school visitors present, the gathering adjourned, many availing of the invitation to visit the school house and examine the specimens of work by the several drawing l classes.
 It would seem that the people of Staf- ford Springs would eventually become too wise to let every hawker who comes here go away with plethoric purse, but all the same they will. No matter what the arti- cle crowd, and generally composed of nearly the same individuals, are on hand passing out dimes for trash. Patent medi- cines are offered, warranted to cure, and there are people who will take the word of a stranger for it and buy, yes, and next
 night come around and testify to great
 benefits, some of them will, thus helping to humbug others. A man has an ache, buys bottle ofsomething, applies it, and
 next morning feels better. He forgets that , his ache is intermittent and that it gen. f erally feels better when it takes rest A
 few years ago hundreds of dollars were talk
 en out of the town by band of vendors, 1. who travelled with troupe of Indians, and h sold their remedies as Indian compounds.
 It was wonderful, the results of those mix \ lures, combined with modicum of imag g inative faith. Yet it would be hard to sell
 today bottle of "Sagwa" to one of those
 enthusiastic patients. Notion vendors come q to town and straightway like moths to 6 candle come hocking these bargain hunt CTS, who spread glowing stories of the prizes ,, they get for day or two-then are silent
 RecentlyEsome buyers of "rare bargain" II - lace found that they had purchased from S stocks of refuse goods, picked up as jot
 lots in our own stores. A vender of cor n sets made many buyers happy until they
 found that the same goods were kept al : our own stores, and sold at lower price ', than that paid by the over-shrewd ones l. A vendor of photographic albums solo
 ''rare goods" on installments. One of hi |, customers by visiting store found tho E, duplicate goods sold at such price tha
 she purchased, and returned her install l. ment purchase to the vender, sacrificing
 her first payment on the same, and saved Q money at that. These are facts. Whel Q you are offered goods livery cheap" by y fakirs, be sure that those of the same qual ity you think our merchants ask you . higher price for are really of the same qual = lily. It will pay to patronize reliable anC n responsible home merchants, who can't af 'r ford to make regulations of being shysters a as can these neighboring vendors.
 It would very interesting to the grad
 uates of the high school to organ;z, al i alumni association, and the citizens of tn, y town should see where it is for their inter 2 est to encourage this. It will be one more d tie of attachment between the town an( n the students who scatter about the world
 and some, we trust many of whom, vii - become prosperous and credit to Staf ;, ford. Heretofore such ties have not beel O strong in respect to cause on the part O. n those going out to feel grateful for wha l. their native town has given them in tho n way of opportunities for education. Int r material for an association Is not yet mum erous, but every year gives little increase
 and that on hand should be secured while
 it is yet with us.
 s Mrs. Clarissa P. Collins died May 20 at Sidney, O., after sickness of abou } four hours. The Sidney Journal says:
 ssMrs. Collins was born at Stafford
 Conn.,, March Il, 1902. September 10 h 1921, she married Dr. Il. A. Hamilton
 who died December 23, 1889. She lived {
 widow until April IS, 1853, when she wal
 married to Col. Collins at Somers, Conn.
 where her body was taken for burial. She
 survived her latter husband about A years
 and for the last IS years has lived with hel
 daughter in Sidney. Her three surviving
 children are Dr. H. A. Hamilton of Per 1 n and r,fE Tn