Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-26

set at naught the edict of the bureesses.
Can anything be imagined more oyerwhel-
mingly awfull The mere recording of the
fact causes the historian to turn sallov and
his pen to shake with fear. He, a puny
man. His will an individual will. And
on the other side the concentrated majesty
and authority of the Litchfield house of
burgessesl The possibility of such a
| thing had never been dreamed of since the
cradling of history. Even to meet a bur
gees with irreverent glance or gesture had
hitherto been instantly followed with
stocks and pillory. If the earth had
yawned and the wretch had been sval-
lowed only the faintest justice would have
been consummated. To give all the de-
tails of the narrowing deed would unnerve
the most appathetic writer and peril the
peace of mind of the most phlegmstic
reader. To those who have loved and rev.
cred Litchfield from the period of milk 1t
would seem as if Litchfeld might better
have been obliterated than have survived
the insult, for the crime was not only de-
liberstely planned but victoriously con-
summated. The wretch dared to appeal to
the courts of the state, and the courts to
their lasting infamy have sustained him in
his wicked audscity. Let the ages cry
aloud. Let Lill and valley weep. Let the
friends of Litchfeld, that was, put on the
blackest and thickest of ssckcluth and pile
their heads with the largest and the most
thoroughly inoinersted ashes; for the glory
of Litohfeld is forever departed. Her
sceptre has been wrested. Lamentations
deep and strong fill her borders, while her
enemies are sneering and exulting with
fendish glse. What will be done cannot
be predicated. Ancient Litchfield, repre-
sented by the burgesses and their adher-
ents, is still dumb and sghast at the blow,
and none dares as yet to proffer advice or
sympathy. All the while the new edifce
on " eat street is rearing its horrid wooden
front, and its owner and builder is wreath
ing himself with sardonic smiles and vi
brating himself with satanic chuckles.
To add still more to ancient Litchfield's
misery, another of her SONS has lifted his
hand against her by introducing the ways
and manners of bsrbarians. The offender
this time is a member of the innermost
circle, who can point with pride to the
tombs of grandfathers and great-great-
grandfsthers in Litchfield's most ancient
cemetery. This rssh and impetuous youth,
filled with notions acquired in the lost city
of New York, or in the deprayed regions
of Lenox and Ridgefeld, has not only pre-
sumed to advance the idea of a club at
Litchfield with the avowed purpose of at
tracing and pleasing millionsires, but has
pers, has secured cash well up in the thou
sands and proposes at once putting the en-
terprise on a firm legal and financial foot
ing. Nothing more pitisble under the sun
than the present appearance of Q Litch-
field burgess. In his face, his gait and his
habiliments are evidenced the undoing of
the work of centuries. With his prophet
ic eye he sees himself obliged to wear
gloves and plug hat to meeting" TO don
a claw-hammer coat for dinner, to hobnob
with threading millionaires and to whisper
soft nothings to their wives and daughters.
Rather let me die" he exclaims in his sg-
ony, and in his present state of mind he
probably would rather expire, or let some
other fellow expire, than take his perch on
the gilded chariot OF the new and rejuvi- |
mated Litchfeld. That an entirely new |
form of government must be devised |
seems inevitable, for il the will of bur
CESS be no longer sacred. and if a burgess |
must hereafter conform to outside rules
and regulations, of what advantage the |
positioni Who will take the object There |
is even some talk of changing the name |
Litchfield to Prattville or McNeill Hollow. |
AS may well be imagined with the heart |
of Litchfield throbhing with these strange |
events, there has been and still is more life /
and go in the old town than the Oldest in |
habitsnts can remember. The hotels have |
been full; all the cottages have been rent |
ed There have been hosts of pretty girls
about and hosts of beaux about them.
There has been more ice cream and soda
water sold than at any time since the in
trod-ction of these articles. All the bug
gy horses are tired out. All the lawn ten
mis- shoes and all the dancing slippers are
worn out. Building enterprise has re-
vived. The magnificent gift of the Mae |
cenas of Litchfield to the fire department |
is complete and the fire lsddies are re-
joicing in their new home. The United |
States hotel has doubled it's entertaining !
capacity, another palatial residence is 60 |
ing up on North street, while about Litch- !
fields great work of art screen of large !
lesved plants has been grown to conceal
from Litch6eld's spinsters the nudity of |
the statues right leg. Litch6eld has had
but one sffiiction and that of short dura-
ton. When it's leader was missed from
his daily graceful rounds there was inqui-
~. When 1t was learned that he was
stretched on a couch of pain there were
deep, silent sympAthi-s aud loudly eI-
pressed anxieties. When il was further
learned that the sffiiction was either gout
or rheumatism society instantly divided
itself into the gout party and the rheu-
matte party. There has been no gout
in Litchfield since the time of George
Washington" said the rheumstics. "Our
leader could not possibly have such a
vulgar and common thing as rheuma-
tism," replied the gcutests. The medi-
cal man was non-cCmmittal, as he did
dosing in both parties. The victim him
self was a strong goutist. For his own
sake as well as for Litchield's sake he
upheld the govt side of the argument
stoutly, and by the heroism with which
he bore the agony he added strength to
the argument; for there could be no point
to heroics in rheumatism.
Most fortunately the attack was light
one. Once more the sleek, well fed grsys
are gently ambling, cooking their ears as
the favored belle laughs merrily at the
witty jest or pithy point of her gay cav
alters converse. PERIANDER.