Connecticut western news., 1896-02-20

Misses May and Cami Ia Bell. of Chatham, N. Y have been visiting at J. s. News the past week.
 A very peasant surprise was given young Alberto Roraback on last Thurs day evening by his young friends. -G. L Parsons and Son have been putting on new ceiling and painting the interior of their store the pas' week. The condition of Mir Lyman Duu- niug has somewhat improved during the past week; at least Mir Duuuiug is more qui t or comfortable.
 During Le there will be services at Christ church every Friday event g, begi ming with tomorrow evening, at 7.3O o'clock. The Rev J. H George, Salisbur, will deliver course If ser mons at these services.
 The Millerton Telegram says: The prospects are that horses will be sold for small prices this season hut there has been an advance of Sl0 to S2O per head recently in Chicago and the raisers hope for still better prices when the spri work begins
 A truthful statement There is more joy in printing office over one sinner who pays in advance and abuses the editor on every occasion, than ,;rak, onI ,,,na x,yhr l,orrouy +Ia ,,a,n. r and sing praises without contributing a cent to keep it ont of the poor house. Stonington Mirror.
 The boys started in to serenade Mir and Mrs H nry Parsons at their abode on Water St. Saturday night, but Mir Parsons appeared with the cigars and the bo, left the newly married pair to enjoy the harmony of welded bliss, which would not have been enhanced by the mu, tie of the calithumpians.
 At the meeting of Mir I.G Beckley's daucing school on Tuesday night a number of invited friends of 'he class were present. and a very pleasant party was he d, about eigh y being p eseut. The large all was used for daucing. Rhoades' orc estra furnished music. The class will meet only once during Leut, flat b ing ou the evening of Marc 17th. ...
 The sensational drama of "Monie Christo" wlll be presented in Canaan about May 1st under the management of Frederick Julian and G. Beckley. The talente actor. Mir Horace Lewis, will appear in the title role, and du- plicate of the scenery and stage effects used by James O'Neil will be seen in this production. The play will also I~ppear in the surrounding towns.
 Charles Rodemeyer will celebrate Washington's birthday by seve,ing his connection with the NEWS, and on M ,rch will accept position with the South Norwalk Daily News. For more than SIX ears 'Chrck" has been com- positor on the NEws, and all connected with the paper would feel very sad if they thought his retirement was permanent We do not think he will like Sonth No walk; and we hope he will not. for we shall be glad to have him r. turn at any moment, never heless we sh hlm success in any feld-new or old.
 There arrived at the station this week an interesting old vehicle. I be longs to Capt Newt H. Chittenden and is going to his brother, the Rev Chittenden at Mill River. This antique anticle of transportation is one of the pouderous old carts of the Aztecs and was procured by Capt Chittenden somewhere down in the Arizon. or Mexico country. The whole affair Is hewn out of rough timber and the mas sive old wheels are the most interest ing part, nearly tle whole wheel being made from one piece of tree. T, e body of the cart and all of the rigging is coverei with hurlap and tied on with genui' lali,ts and everythi g about the old relic smells strongly of the Southwest.
 Yesterday, being Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, services were lheld at Christ church and at St Jos. eph's. At the latter church according to the ancient practice, the ashes were blessed and d stributed," that is to say .n present came forward and kneli at the altar railiug and the priest made the sign of the cross in ashes on the forehead of each. saying as he did SC "Rem enlber mau that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return" The object of tl,is ce emony is express ion penitence for sin and to gain spiritua, aid for the proper observance of Lent by appropriating the benefits prayed for in the prayers of the Church by which the ashes are blessed. The ashe. are obtained by burning some of tht
 palms used on Palm Sunday of tn,
 previous year.
 Jeffrey Purcell, aged about 7t
 years, died at the home of his sister
 Mrs Manogue, m Housatonic, Mass. last Sunday night. His funeral Has at tended at Housaionic yesterday ana his remains were brought to Canaan , and laid to rest in the R O. cemetery , Mir Purcell WAS resident of Canaan fo about forty ,ears. His wife died sever al years ago, and shortly afte' ward h. sold his real estate in this village ; made his home with his sister at Housa l tonic. He leaves two brothers, Edwar,