Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-28
AS YOU LIKE IT
Some Stray Leaves from a Reporters
 Note Book.

sshill' Christmas Day and it would be difficult to tell which was the more eloquent and edifying. One was de Iivered at St Francis Xaviers church by the Rev Father Broderick of St Ann,s parish and the other by the liq- uor dealers who closed their places of business so early that a man walking the streets would think he had struck a prohibition town.
 
 While the papers are telling of all The honors that have been conferred upon Dr Broderick, who is to accom- pany Archbishop Sbaretti to the Phil ippineS, the As You Like It man de sires to call attention to very impor- tant omission regarding the honors that have been shared by this distin- guished churchman. 1t has always been considered q mark of distinction among the Catholic clergy to be as Signed to duty in Waterbury. and as the Rev Dr Frederick ministered here for time as assistant to the Rev Father Slocum of the Immaculate Con- ception parish, it is nothing more than right that the fact should be made public. He came to Waterbury after the promotion of the late Father Ken nedy to the pastorate of Montville and remained here five or six weeks.
 A young lady in this city might have lost her temper if she had met by chance certain young man, formerly a friend of hers, on the day following Christmas. The cause of the young lady's wrath was a Christmas gift The gift was in the nature of pair of hose, not a pair of new hose, but old hose which belonged to one of the 1ady's gentlemen friends. Wrapped up with the hose was an old box ill which there was a piece of wood and some coal. turnip, a potato. pars- nip, lemon and several other things. The young lady thought that there was handsome present in the box. but her nerves were rudely shocked with the sight that greeted her eyes as she opened the box. She vows that she will have sweet vengeance before many days shall have elapsed.
 
 Anyone who desires the freedom of a friend who may be suffering tenn porary detention in prison should not attempt to enlist the sympathy of Sheriff Durham with the story of the fonly support of his widowed mother" Anything else may go with the sheriff, but this will not. It worked once and the sheriff was deceived. That was when he was young in criminal office and consequently innocent. A few days ago local parties went to the sheriff with recommendation from some officials for the release from jail of a young man who for some years has utterly disregarded Scriptura1 ad- vice. 'shonor thy father and thy mother" The way this young fellow seemed to defy this good advice was like an invitation to shorten his days in the land However, his friends sought the sheriff and pleaded hard with him. They told a story that would melt heart of stone, and final ly they hinted that he was the only support of his widowed mother. Some thing prompted the sheriff to inquire with the result that not. only was the prisoners case greatly injured. but the reputation of his friends and of those in office who indorsed their cause has suffered The sheriff is always remind ed Of his first experience with the story of the widowed mother whenever an appeal is favored with it and it acts like an irritant on him, for it ''fooled' him once, but apparently never will again.
 
 St Stephens day passed off in Wa terbury without public observance of the old time custom of hunting the wren. In some of the countries of the old world this is q favorite pas time with young and old and the busi- ness is indulged in to such an extent that the object of attack appears to be on the alert on that day and se- cretes itself in the most out of the way places imaginable. But once the crowd gets sight of the bird it rarely ever escapes with it's life. Talk about fox hunts. coursing matches and horse racing, but they're not in it with hunting the wren. Imagine q whole neighborhod of boys and girls armed with~all kinds of missiles pursuing a bird not much bigger than your thumb over places of every descrip- tion, in and out of white thorn hedges. across quagmires where none but the most daring would tread. and Keeping it up until the bird is finally killed. and then you will have some idea of the excitement there is in hunting the wren. but of course to. fully realize what It means one would want to take part in the chase and get struck with
 
 who had aimed at the wren, but had made a poor shot and hit one of the pursuers instead. After the bird is captured, it is dressed up in the height of fashion, placed on top of pole and carried from one house to another, the merrymakers singing a song appropri- ate to the occasion The boss of the crowd receives donations varying from penny to a shilling which is convert ed into fund for some social function to the poor. Like many other relics of primeval times its origin is shroud- ed in mystery. though we are told it dates from the time of St Stephen martyr. who was stoned to death. but how the wren came 10 be connected with the murder of that just man and punished for it even to this day does not appear quite clear. though 1t is safe to say that whoever connected it with that dark deed did not do so without well founded suspicion. probably di- rect evidence for all we can tell.