The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-04-22
LitchfieId County News.
WATERFOWL.
THE CITIZENS CLUB BANQUET.

about 46 participated. The tables wer.
adorned with beautiful flowers of many
kinds, which had been furnished by Miss
l.. Evans, member Of the club. Al
early as o'clock members began te
MAKE their appearance, but the banquet
did not commence until O'Clock. A
number of outside guess from Wood.
bury were present. Horace D. Taft, the
president Of the club, acted as toast-nas-
ter. After grace had been said by the
Kew II. N. Cunningham, all entered
heartily in the good work before them.
But, if the tables had been decorated
with choice flowers, they were also COW
cred with the most delicious and palat-
able viands that che most critical epicure
could wish for. Mr. Taft's French cook
had done wonders, and never did eat
aoles disappear faster than they did here.
After the inner tyrant had been amply
pacifed, Vice-President Ell. B. Bage
arose, and announced in short speech
that President Taft would be the toast
master of the evening, and that he
would make the opening address. Mr.
Iart then gave short and comprehensive
history of the Citizens' club, and that
Mr. Cunningham was its prime mover,
and advocaCor OF forming it, and that he
was also the first who introduced the
subject of banquet. He referred to the
times, and said it was rather unfortunate
TO hold banquet of the club at this time.
especially as the people were all taken
up with the absorbing question of the
hour, war" and when the cannon were
about expected by many to belch forth
their thunders. All Of US have been ain.
cerely for peace, but now all of us feel
as If war was coming with determinr-
ton, and that, what we have seen, theae
many months past, we were determined
to see no longer. While our congress-
men screamed for war have often felt
ashamed for them, but when Spanish
treachery blew up the noble ship, Maine.
with It's gallant defenders, l took an
other step. We know how to fight, we
are not afraid of it, and, althoughiwe are
but young nation, we have patriotism,
and are a powerful people. The Citi- |
zens' club ia patriotic club, not only in |
local affairs, but in general. The need |
of Citizens club which could exert it's
influence for improvement we were sadly !
in need Of. Mr. Taft, in closing his re-
marks, spoke feelingly of Watertown's
grand old citizen, the Hon Leman w. |
Cutler, who had promised to be here to-
NIGHT an1 uhn ho1 Fol- ~
ago that he (Mr Cutler) would be as
able to be about by that time, as Mr.
TAFT himself. But he was sorry to saw
that during the past two DAYS, Mr. Cutler
had been very feeble and could not
attend. 1t was moved by a rising vote
unanimously that the president of the
Citizens club 'be directed to convey to
the bon Leman w. Cutler an expression
of the great regret of the club at his in
ability TO be with US tonight, and to as
sure him of our respect and esteem, and |
to give him our best wishes for his good
health" Rev Il. N. Cunningham,
speaking on the subject of Our Hopes
for the Citizens Club" said that it
might take time before the club could do
all that was hoped for it. 1t would be-
gin to do its legitimate work when it
was composed solely of unselfsh citi-
zens, who had the public welfare in view.
and not private gain. Meanwhile public
spirit could be Influenced by making
such Improvement as lighting their front |
dooryards, and making respectable side
walks. The deliberations of the club |
should go out into the town, and leave a
good and edifying effect upon the good |
of its inhabitants. He said |
further that he had the honor of chris
tenipg this club, and If the time comes
for its funeral, l may be the one to
preach its own funeral sermon" But
Judging from the way the club had tax.
en- to the eatables on the table tonight |
he though that that time was far distant. |
The next speaker was A. N. WooIaon, I
whose subject was "Manufacturing." |
Mr. Woolson gave carefully prepared |
statement Of the many different manu-
factoring enterprises that had started |
up in our town, and said many of them |
had suceunbed for the want of little |
capital. Some of the largest concerns |
In the state had their origin in Water
town, but the narrow policy which was |
then and is still practiced in our town |
induced those people to go elsewhere. |
Senator B. Fl. Nation followed with |
"Our State Of Connecticut" and gave
very clear outline from the very beginn-
ing of its existence gradually down to
the present time, which was not merely
interesting, but also instructive to all.
Jerome Woodruff replied to the Farm.
ing Interest of Our Town" He took
the ground that the best occupation in
the world was farming, and that no
occupation was as independent and
healthful as that of farm. Farming
was differently conducted now from
what it had been many years ago. Some
of the greatest men that the world had
produced were farmers, and farming
produced the essential parts of life. He
quoted statistics giving the amount of
grain raised at present compared with
that In the past, and mentioned partic-
ularly the effect that machinery had on
farming. He also said that town
having modern improvements would be
benefit to the farmer directly. as it