Connecticut western news., 1900-12-06
FILINGS.

CVor since tnls event tOOk piace tuerc has been light in this world and not only dld God see that the light was good, but man also constantly is guid ed by it, as we'll as appreciates it very highly. That this is not simply 8 wild assertion, but an established fact, is proven beyond all doubt by the tremen- dous strides which have been made since Adams day, by adding to the natural light of the sun, artificial light, turning even the darkest night into sl- most broad daylight.
 We say we believe in evolution, and if 80, we certainly can see its steady progress. perhaps as much so as in any thing else, in the development of arti- fcial light. First of all, mans good judgment convinced him of the practi- cal peed of more and better light and then set his brains and hands to work In order to produce it. The present century, more than all others combined, has crowned his efforts most lavishly, as we have it in the electric light-the pride of modern inventions.
 The utility, not only of good light, but the very best light obtainable, IS SO transparent and far reaching that eve the blind are it's ardent advocates; while to the seeing, no matter what their calling in life may be, 1t is one Of the highest of all treasures. It Is to them money and safety and comfort and luxury. Because of this, and not be- cause it has become fad" of the few, the electric light has become so univers- al-lie hting up not only civilization and Christendom, but barbarism and heathenism as we'll. Not only are our larger citiss illuminated by electricity, but little villages and rural settlements not few. As to the Improvements this modern light is, in every way you want to take it, even as to cost, would be a mere waste of time to define in this article, since we'll nigh every body who raads and is only moderately informed, knows this.
 If now, the above statements are cor rect, and from what we know, they are, why in the name of good housekeeping should beautiful, refined and cultured and in almost every other respect 8 model little town like ours, step over into the twentieth century, seeing electric lights almost every where else. but none in the land of Canaan? Just why this should be SO, am sure we do not know.
 However. in order to prove that we are non partisan in this matter. it is only fair to state that we are neither 8 stock kholder nor contemplative stock holder in any projected electric light plant. But still less are we inclined from any sense of affection to help add to the dividends of the Standard Oil Com pany. Our pure and simple motive in spring our pen is. for the general good of Canaan, over against the already toe large bank account of John D. Rooke- feller.
 There is only one possible plea in favor of our present lighting system, even on the most charitable basis, that is, it's chespness. But is this really g fact? Let us look at it for a moment Not always that which costs the least money is the cheapest. You can buy meat for 10 cents a pound and also foi 20 cents pound. But as a general thing the meat that costs you 20 cents is after all .he cheapest. Let me fur ther illustrate by little story: An In dian preacher being asked how much pay he received for his preaching re piled: Fifty dollars a year. "That ii poor pay" said his friend, to which the Indian replied: ':It is poor preach too. No doubt his congregation though they had cheap preaching, but evident ly paid we'll for all they got. An arti ole is cheap in proportion as we are il need of 1t and the amount of service il renders. and not in proportion to the price of it. Suppose a man should offer to sell me a horse for SlOO, telline nae it was worth $50. Suppose I buy it but have no earthly use for it, simply feed 1t, would that be cheap horse fol me? Or suppose I really was in neei of a horse. but that this partlcula horse, perhaps good enough io some re spects, was no good at all for the pur pose needed horse-would you cal it cheap horse for me? Of course i is hardly worth while to take this ar gument any further. We admit tha our lights do not cost great deal; bu we most emphatically declare, that in stead of being cheap, they are awfull, dear, i. @. dear after the foregoing definition.
 Norfolk has an electric light plant and there are telephone poles up iron here to Norfolk. What flinders. there fore, to have Norfolk supply East Ga naan and Canaan with electricity t light our towns? If the light wa brought here, not only would ou streets be illuminated, but our publi buildings. stores, the churches, the R R. station and no doubt in the cours of time, as always is the case, 8 goodl number of private residences as well And if even it would cost little nor money, it certainly would be cheaper since an intimately superior light. ] the people would use the electric ligh for one month. we doubt very muc whether they would not deem ou present light dear enough without an cost, and at any rate, hardly would b willing to pay for them even 8 sma amount. Why not have our selectmer the business men of the town and a
 who may be interested in so worthy
 project, sometime between now and tn
 close of this wonderful nineteenth cer
 tury, to meet together, discuss tn
 question, ard perohance, be able t
 formulate plans to light up our prett
 little town by electricity as in ever sense it deserves to be lit up.
 Light, as you know, Is symbolic ( all those nobler virtues which are typ cal of the highest manhood and woman
 hood and which we all have learned { prize SO highly; while darkness usual
 stands for just the very opposite. Fo peace and quiteness, for high socis
 moral and religious tone. our tow
 needs to take second place to non other. And if this was possible undt the present system of light, whi might we not achieve under the electri
 system. Therefore in all earnestnes be it declared: "Let there be light"
 BRIsTOL.
 5 A reception xas rendered to NJ and Mrs Willard E. Goodwin by tn
 First Oongl. church of Bristol on Tue