The Press., 1891-12-31


 Sunday.
 The eve of Christmas day, when the mail arrived, the post office was crowded and fifty or more persons were waiting out of doors.
 MANSFIELD.
 Professor c. D. Wood, vice director and chemist at the Storrs experiment sta tion, expects to sail for Germany on Sat urday, January g, for . five months vaea- tion,Y during which time he will visit the principal German stations.
 (Correspondence.)
 Bad weather greatly interfered with anticipated enjoyment of the little ones at their Christmas tree gatherings Thurs day evening. At Spring Hill the fruit of a well-loaded tree was gathered Friday evening at the church, old and young be- ing made glad with the fruit clipped from it's branches. At the house of Pitt Bar rows, Esq, family Christmas tree placed in the sitting-room was tastefully adorned with ornamental and useful things, each member of the family being remembered with valuable presents. Each year the family are in the habit of enjoy ing Christmas eve in like manner, and the beauty of the tree when in full dress for the occasion would be difficult to ex- eel.
 It has been said that "one may as well be out of the world as out of fashion," However that may be many in town are in fashion, so far as the grip is concerned. MT. Levi Hall is dangerously sick with grip and heart trouble. Several deaths in town have occurred within short time, the grim messenger being no re- spector of person, calling on old and young alike, and will continue to call un- til the last loved one is gone. Mrs. Mary Topliff died Monday morning at her home near the center. Twins were born to her, one living, the other with the mother, are beyond the sorrows of earthly life.
 Column after column has been writ ten about barn burning and other crimes committed in Mansfield within the last few years, reporters coming from Boston, Hartford, Willimantic and other places, and no two statements agree as to the cause of different fires, or give any clue to the perpetrators of the crimes of which they write. The exaggerated statements made and published as truth leads one to believe they brought their ''inspiration" with them, as it could hardly be found in Mansfield. That a number of barns and other buildings have been burned in town within the last five years is true, and that the better class of then ~ s.ss = :. = surod is also true, but all the losses aS4aa together would not atna,s,aa.. s,issss U : small block in village dEoity. That some fires are incendiary, and some the result of carelessness, is also undoubtedly true, out 8 fire once under headway are trifing compared with city or village. The in- suranee loss by fire in Mansfield for the last fifteen years has probably not ex-, ceeded $15,0OO If insurance agents would be more careful in taking risks the con- panies for whom they are doing business would be quite as we'll off. We know an agent to take a risk of $1 800, at his own valuation, on some ordinary farm build ings, the owner having purchased the farm buildings and all for $1, 100. The loss of a few cheap buildings by fire in Mansfield has furnished plenty of food for sensational writers, and they are ever ready to insinuate who are guilty of the crimes. They should remember that there are more Jesse James than one, and that they do not all belong to one family. The authorities should make an effort to find the perpetrators of these crimes, and have the severest penalty of the law visited upon them.