New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
CONNECTICUT TOPICS.
TUTIONAL REFORM-MEETING OF
THE AMERICAN MISSION
AIRY BOARD

Hartford Conn., Oct. Il (SpecaD.-The result OF
the election last Monday the most surprising
thing that has happened in the State for many
years. The effort in behalf of the reforms which
were embodied in the three questions before the
peopethe holding of the constitutional convention,
amending the constitution to enlarge the Senate
and plurality rather than majority to govern in
the election of officers of the State-was limited to
a small body of rsformers from each party. and
there comparatively little work done. The
small towns voted against the convention almost
entirely, but the small vote in the city nearly
all the other way. and there sufficient number
to under the anti-reform sentiment The
next question is the choice of delegates which is
due at the November election. special one having
TO be called. The makeup of the convention will
be body half the size of the legislature. so that
it will not be unwieldy. and the indications are
that many of the most prominent men in the
State will have seats in the body. Governor Nc
Lean will undoubtedly be sent from his own town
of Simsbury, ex-Chef Justice Andrews will be
sent from Litchfeld and many other strong men
will be members. In this city there has been no
well defined movement to selection. but 1t IS
likely that ex-Congressman John r. Buck may DE
the The impression prevails that there will
be little done with the constitution except to
rect the basis OF representation. a general over
hauling of the document is not expected. and none
of the strongest advocates of reform insistent
upon serious changes in the fundamental law.
There has been a lively interest in the meet
ing of the American Board of Foreign Missions in
this city during the week, and the audiences have
been immense overfiowing from the theatre into
the largest church in the city and filling it 10
the doors. Many of the members of the board
took occasion visit Pennington, where the
board first thought of and its machinery set
in operation. and the theological seminary has
been a place for the gathering of alumni many of
whom are in the mission field. The closing meet
ing of the board Thursday evening was re-
markable for the raising of 100000 to wipe out the
debt which hung over it. This was done in a little
over an hour and a half and the scene during the
process of getting the pledges was enthusiastic
and remarkable. The expenses of the meeting
were borne wholly by the citizens Of Hartford
through their executive committee. and were ample
for the accommodation of more than seven hun
dred and fifty persons who were here as connected
with the work of the board.
The event of the coming week is to be the
nUal convention of the Connecticut State Teachers
association. which is be held Friday All
the public schools in the State are to be closed,
and 1t is expected that between three thousand
and four thousand teachers will be here TO attend
scattered about the city. different sections or the
educational movement being represented oy @round @
table talks and discussions. The principal meet
ing VIII be held at the Foot Guard ArnlOr mo rsI
Training The meeting being tor one day, dS tneIe
will be no special effort to entertain the guests
Speaking of educational affairs the board OF
school visitors of this city has begun prepara-
uons for the opening of an enlarged evening i
school and for the accommodation of nearly twice twice
as many pupils as have attended past sessions;
The plan includes instruction IN mecnaHlcal
freehand drawing in sewing and cooking as Wen
in the common English branches and in the
teaching OF English TO foreign born people Inc
schools have been for the last few years carried
in close quarters. but the board this year mas
made ARRANGEMENTS for at least double the num-
ber and has prepared a classified course OF study
Applications have been received in large num-
bers in the last few weeks. and the prospects are
that the schools will be prosperous.
The Probate Court has had peculiar will case sS
been supposed left no will. and his estate was in
process Of settlement by law with administrators
and appraisers appointed, when Judge Eamersley'
OF the Supreme Court who had been Mr.. Batter
sons adviser before he went upon the bench,
handed a will made twenty years ago to Judge
Freeman. of the Probate Court Immediately an
other will appeared. made many years later. the
signature to which had been torn on by the teS-
tator. The first will left all MS property to his
wife. who has since died, and the other made some
provisions in a general way for relatives The
later Will being without signature, although the
witnesses still living TO prove that II was
drawn and signed in their presence, was set aslde
and the earlier will was necessarily void because
of the death of Mrs. Patterson The estate Will
be settled according 10 law, as first contem-
plated by the Probate Court The amount or prop
erty involved cannot be far from $lOOoON