The Press., 1893-03-16
LOCAL TOPICS. Penned and Scissored.

A meeting of the Holland county rep resentatives in Hartford has voted to lay 8 one mill tax collectable the first Tues day in January. next. This is larger tax than usual, and made necessary be- cause the county has been running behind expenses for some time past.
 A Reminiscence.
 The following paper was recently read by Miss Hattie E. Gilbert before the Y. F. s. c. E. of Coventry:
 More than fifty-fve years ago 8 young man about twenty seven years of age, a student in the theological seminary then located at East Windsor Hill, since re- moved to Hartford, visited Coventry. He was a member of the class of 1887, the second which was graduated from this in stitute. Although born and brought up in another state, he seemed not stranger here, for here was his ancestral home, himself descendant of one of the early deacons of this church, and now guest in the family of an aunt living here. With heart filled with love to God and his fellow men, he had chosen as his life work mission to the American Indians in the far west, and received such an ap- pointment from the A. B. c. F. M. He was ordained as missionary to the hea- then'' in the autumn of 1887. Naturally the good people of Coventry felt much in- terest in this descendant of the place and his mission, and as he mingled with them their hearts were stirred to make an of fering to help in his work. This was es- pecially true of that band of women la- boring then, as now, under the same name, and commission to gather up the fragments that nothing be lost" In one, at least, of the meetings of this society he is distinctly remembered to have been pres ent by oen, then a little girl of ten years, now one of it's elder members, and aroused much interest in his field. So these Dor cases of old, during the following autumn and winter, months, fashioned many gar ments for the missionary about to take a difficult and hazardous journey, and dress es and aprons for the little unclothed h. dian children among whom he was to h. Dor, and whose little feet he was to ''guide into the paths of peace." Upon the first treasurer's book of the Fragment Society stands this record: "Feb. 23d, 1858, sent to Rev. Cushing Bells" (for he it was who made this visit to Coventry 'the follow ing articles Also sent to the Rocky mountains the following * * *.' The whole apprized at a little over $24, in time when dollars were fewer and years of labor, abundant of perils and |Aseariness and care, having completed eighty three years of life on earth, this servant of Christ, on his birthday, receiv, higher" And we are glad that in the heavenly record of his life the women oi Coventry are associated even in this hum
 ble way.
 The selectmen of the town of VelnoI have settled the suit brought against the town by the Andrew Larsen estate by paying $500. Damages of $5,000 were claimed for the death of Larsen by drown ing in Talcottville mill pond, owing to the highway being unsafe.
 In the death of Theodore M. Gowdy last week, Somers loses another of its prominent citizens. For many years ht was an active politician, having repre- sented the town in the legislature. Ht was quite worker in town affairs, serv
 ing several times as selectman, and hac also held the office of deputy sheriff. H.
 might well be called a successful business farmer. Everything around his farm ane
 premises was kept in No. order. MT
 Gowdy was 62 years of ago, and leaves { widow