Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-15
As you I1KE IT
Some Stray Leaves from a Reporters
 Note Book.


 was not unnatural, for the figure in the window was immobile as the bronze Greeley stones throw further down Broadway. It was dressed like a legendary Highlander. except that the legs were covered with pink tights "a concession to the W. c. T. U. and the Committee of Fifteen. Across the knees was a big cigar, marked Robert Burns. .'How natural it is!'' said slim youth in blue serge. "They have even put pimples on the neck" Just then the Highiander's nostrils began to twitch. Then one of his gloyed hands sought his pibroch tor skene dhu or whatever may be the Gaelic for mou- ehoir), and he blew his nose with a sound like the bugle of James Fitz james This circumstances establish ed beyond doubt the human character of the figure.
 Unions are ever growing in popular ity among school children Several weeks ago a teacher in one of the pub lie schools was somewhat surprised one morning to see about fifteen of her pupils of the sterner sex walk into school with union buttons on their coats She could not guess their 1n- tentfon. But an hour or two later, when the hour for singing arrived, she was at once made aware of the pur- pose for which the buttons were worn. Not one of the union boys would sing. When recess arrived the members or the union were ordered to remain in their seats, and the teacher told them that they had perfect liberty to wear the union buttons. but she also ln- formed them that if they caused any more trouble as they did during the singing hour that they would be com- pelled to violate the rules of the union by working several hours overtime with the extra compensation of being whipped. There is no need to say that the teacher experienced no more trou- ble during that day or since.
 Mention of Waterbury's first city government and the introduction or the names of the men who made up that body, recalls the old joke regard ing one of it's members, Richard Vel ton. who used to drive the stage coach between here and Meriden. AI the time we have in mind Waterbury had no railroads or other means of com municatfon with the outside world ex7 cept the stage coach, consequently ev- erything of moment from abroad in the way of news was brought into town by the stage. coach drivers. A national election was being held and all the men folks were congregated in Exchange place waiting for Colonel Welton to come in with the latest news regarding the returns. When he hove in sight he shouted with all his might: Hive thousand majority! Five thou sand majority!" All hands cheered and kept it up until they recoliected that | they had forgotten to ask which side had the 5000 majority Then the crowd rushed to Mir Welton and want ed to know which was ahead. The stage coach driver was brimful of naive humor and taking in the situa- ton. informed the exciteu army of citi- zens that he never thought to ask that question himself, adding as he turned away from the swaylng throng: T vow forgot all about that.''
 P liI
 Firamen, Ike roversl of the sea, are choek full of superstitious notions of one kind and another, and while most of them appear nonsensical. still they have such excellent proofs to offer in support of their beliefs 1t is hard to blame them for having faith in them. At the Leavenworth street house it is said that Charles McEyoy has never had a day off but the company was called out once and on some occasions two or three times. The absence of Captain Dodds is said to be a sure sign of fire, too, but the men would not gamble on it because the thing failed to work right once or twice. It is diff ferent with .McEvoy. The men are on fidgets if he happens to be out of the house and scarcely think it worth while taking a seat. Of course these men are never away without the Knowledge of their superiors. and as a. matter of fact they have mighty lit tie time out of the building any way, but all the same when they do get out for a few hours the rest of the fellows know what to expect. The Leaven- worth street fellows also claim to be able to tell when it is going to rain. If Ed Kane sneezes and then turns his back towards the window, any member of the company would put up his last dol lar that it will rain inside of few hours.
 It Is nice thing to be blessed with longevity even though one has constant " DeIOEe ms IulHu IHe -Idcl IHdI SOiue day he will be obliged to pay the com mon debt and join his friends on the other side. Waterbury has a few such men and have often thought what a pleasure 1t must be to them to take a stroll through the city as it appears to day and then compare it with what il looked like when they we're boys. While chatting about these matters with ar old resident the other day the subject drifted onto city officials and the gentle man asked if knew the names of the men who composed Waterbury's first city government. I frankly admitted that could not mention more than one or two of them off hand. On hearing this, my distinguished friend gave me the first city government as follows Mayor, Julius Hotchkiss; clerk, Nelson J. Welton; treasurer, A. S. Chase; al dermen, David B. Hurd, Willard Spen eer, John Kendrick, James c. Scovill counciImen, William Brown. Edward B Cook. Charles B. Merriman. John s Mitchell, Scoyill NJ. Buckingham, Mel son Hall, Corydon $. Sperry, Charle: Benedict. Archibald B. Rice, Edward L. Frisbie, Abram Ives. Elisha Leaven worth, Sherman Hickox, William Lamb, John W. Webster. Martin S. Is