The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-06-12

TeaCueu Tile eAJTeuie Oiu aye VI % years
and 10 months and his death was caused
by senility. Mr. Holmes was the last of
the old stage drivers who once ran stage
coaches from New Haven to New York,
carrying passengers, mail and express
matter. He has for the last quarter of
century lived quietly in Stratford. His
wife died nearly a score of years ago and
four sons and three daughters survive:
John B., Benjamin, DR. Albert, George,
Samantha (Mrs Atwood), Priscilla, Lu-
cy Mrs Osborne of Oxford.) The funer-
al occurred Tuesday at Christ church,
Rev Mr. Pardee officiating.
Not few from Stratford take advan-
tage of the horse cars to ride to Bridge
port and attend church.
w. II. Smith has obtained a permit to
build frame house ON Frank street,
Bridgeport and Carpenter S. w. Hubbell
is at work there.
Fritz Emmet's yacht, which usually
goes into commission in May, still lies at
the dock here.
Through the efforts of the neighbors
on Main and Broad streets, the triangu-
lar plot at the corner has been beautified,
a landscape gardener having been en-
ployed to lay out the grounds, set foliage
plants and make it a spot of beauty; the
only down town park. 1t has been sug-
gested that it be called Folsom park.
The social club has had its billiard ia
BILE newly covered, the balls turned and
the entire outfit put in good order. Fred
erick Hawkes. of Bridgeport, a we'll
known billiard player, has done the work.
l.. b. Beers has been suffering with a
ore hand.
Ice cream festival at the Congregation
al lecture room, this week Friday even
ing.
Mrs A. +. Merrill was surprised by
visit from a number of her former East
End pupils, Saturday.
Prof F. Il. Russell of St Margaret's,
Waterbury, an elocutionist of wide fame,
was engaged to give readings at the
Town hall, Thursday evening of this
week, for the benefit of the local chapter
of the Brotherhood of st Andrew.
1t is said that Principal w. NJ. Peck
will enter Yale law school in the Fall.
New officers of the veterans associa-
ton:
Dickinson; secretary, L. II. Russell; treasurer,
G. Ii. Span; executive committee, j. f.
Thomas, Charles F. Roberts, w. B. WilcoXson,
E. Osborn, j. Lubbell.
There are Is members in the class of
'91 at the graded school, which will be
graduated June 80, with appropriate ex-
ercises.
OF the 1000 people who come to STRAIT
ford on Sunday, May 80, the first Sunday
on which horse cars ran through from
Bridgeport, probably nine-tenths left the
cars at the flag pole to stroll about the
streets and fields. Nearly all sought
some such slight rejection as soda water
and were disappointed to find that the
drug store of j. w. Collins was open on
ly on the customary Sunday hours, 8 to
10 80, 5 80 to Z. Emory Judson's bak-
cry, however, was open until noon and
good trade was carried on. j. w. Du-
four opened his store and found, quite to
his surprise, that the crowd surged in.
They bought all the pies, cakes and tenn
perance drinks and nearly all the candy
he had. In high feather, he told of the
days profits and made preparation for
huge crowd, last Sunday. Emory judi
son had also announced his intention of
keeping the store open all day. During
the week, however, slight unpleasant
ness occurred between Mr. Dufour and
Constable Stage and the latter, with 9TH
ers who prefer not to give their names
for publication, made complaints to the
authorities that the store keepers were
preparing to violate the ancient, yet all
the more honorable statute against the
Dissertation of the Sabbath by engaging
in secular pursuits. Thursday night, act
ing upon this information, Grand Juror
Fairchild notified Mr. Dufour that he
would have to shut up on Sunday or suf-
fer the consequences. Saturday night,
Emory Judson and Mr. Collins received
the same warning. These stores were
accordingly closed, Mr. Dufour's, as his
placard said, "Willingly." Mr. Collins
remained at his house all day, to provide
medicine in case of necessity. He open
ed up at shutdown, but sold only drugs
and medicines. There are two strong
streams of public opinion in regard to
this matter. Hardly a man of the better
class advocates keeping groceries, mar
kets and all stores open Sundays, but
many question the propriety of the pres
emit mode of procedure. The stores are
to have been closed by order
of committee of the citizens; yet no
public meeting has been held to appoint
such committee. Opposition has always
been made to Sunday business here and,
in general, only the drug store, markets,
barber shop and news stand have been
open, on stated hours alone. The influx
of city visitors by horse car has had to
do with the present movement. But the
Sunday law, which is applicable to every
form of mercantile transaction, especially
defines the Sabbath as extending from
shutdown Saturday to shutdown Sunday.
While neither public sentiment nor the
courts would for moment sustain so
rigid an Interpretation of the law as to
close all stores promptly at shutdown on
Saturday, there is no warrant for closing
hem Sunday night and the Stratfordites
talk of opening and running with full
force as soon as the sun is set. Though