The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-09-02

were formerly necessary in the proscu-
ton of his business. This transporting
was done by horses and heavy wagons,
starting at all hours of day and night
for the long drive OF % miles to New
Haven. Mr. Hurlbut says he carried in
one week So heavy hogs, or about %, 900
pounds OF pork to market. The business
is now insignificant as the farmers are
generally engaged in producing milk for
the New York market-and the railroad
has taken the freighting bushes from the
teams. There can be no dispute how
ever, but tn It the material prosperity of
Washington farmers was largely a re-
suit of these commission men.
The residence of E. K. Rossiter of
New YORK., is one of the finest of its
claSs. From its broad verandah you can
see the ripping Shepaug winding like
silver thread around the base
OF Steep Rock whose dragged cliffs rise
five hundred feet above it, and the
smoky train creeps out OF the tunnel
across the river, and a hundred other
varying scenes shift as the eye turns
upon them. The Van Ingen mansion,
the Brownie Cottage and Mrs Gibson's
are all OF them fine, with elegant, well.
kept grounds, and there are many others
| like them. The summer home for poor
! shop-girls of the city is another institu-
tion, built and maintained by Mrs Var
lngen; it is seen as one comes on the
train, way up on the brow of one OF the
hflle, and is occupied in the summer by
oVer-worked and tired girl-clerks of the
stores OF New York. They come here
for short vacation, at nominal charge
for board, and can have restful time
Probably the most important institu-
ton of the present day in Washington is
that celebrated school, 1.-THE Gunnery.'
Its founder, Frederick W. Gum, has
been gathered to his fathers, and sleeps
in the cemetery behind the church. A
visitor once asked Mr. Gum what he was
going to do with all those boys rompina
about the grounds.
''MAKE MEN OF THEM HE REPLIED:
| that was his single thought and aim, and
| Is now the purpose of the present teach.
ers. DR. Holland, who for many years
made Judea his summer home, in his
| story of ''Arthur Bonnicastle,'' graph.
cally depicts the Gunnery under the
title of the "Bird's Nest.'' son the
whole, 1.-THE Birds Nest" would have
been good name for iJ if a man by an.
| other name had presided over it. It had
it's individual and characteristic beauty.
because it had been shaped to a special
purpose; but it seemed to have been
brought together, at different times, and
from wide distances. There was cen.
trail old house, and hexagonal addition
and tower, and long piazza that tied
everythingt together. It certainly look
ed grand, among the humber houses OF
the village, though I presume profes-
! sienal architect would not have taken the
highest pleasure in it. Mr. Bird was a
tall, handsome, strongly-built man, q
little past middle-life, with a certain full.
ness Of habit that comes OF q good health
and happy temperament. His eye was
blue, his forehead high, and his whole
face bright and beaming with good ma
ture. His companion was woman
above the medium size, with eyes the
same color as his own, into whose plain
" parted hair the frost had crept, and
upon whose honest face and geodly fig.
ure hung that ineffable grace which we
call s'motherly.''
"Self-direction and se1f-goYernment,
these were the most important of all
the lessons learned In the Birds Nest,
Our school was q little community
brought together for common objects
the pursuit of useful learning, the acqui-
sition OF courteous manners, and the prac-
tiee Of those duties which related to good
citizenship. The only laws OF the school
were those which were planted In the
conscience, reason and sense OF propriety
of the pupils. The boys were made TO
feel that the school was their own, and
that they were responsible for It's good
order. Mr. Bird was only the biggest
and best boy. and the accepted president
OF the establishment
The school is now conducted by John
g. Brinsmade. IA. M, who liz assisted BY
an able corps OF Instructors. Mr. Brins-
msde married the only daughter Of Mr.
and Mrs Gum, and has been connected
with the school nearly thirty years.