The Newtown bee., 1902-05-23

be ''considered," yea, ''rubbed in' with all possible emphasis on an Oc- casion like this. It has been my lot to be resident in many different cities and villages in New York, Con- necticut, Ohio and Michigan, but l have never lived in any other place where the rum-trade was so large, in proportion to the population, as in New Milford, nor where it's flourishing was in such strong contrast with the general wealth, intelligence, and high character of the leading class of the citizens. How this state of things can be allowed to exist here is a puzzle to me, thing I utterly fail to under stand. Why is it that Ridgefeld in one direction from us, and Wash ington in another, are crowded with the costly mansions of New York mll lionaires, whose coming and building has quadrupled the value of real estate and given mighty social uplift to those communities? It is not their natural scenery, alone. have lived three years as a pastor in Ridgeteld and love it dearly, and it's scenery and people. I have visited and admired Washington. But with it's noble river view, and its broad plain, trimmed round with mountains, New Milford has finer and more varied natural landscape than either of them, be- sides richer agricultural hinterland than either of them. Why then is High Ridge, Ridgeield: park full of palaces, and Washington Hill another,
 while Prospect Hill, overlooking New
 Milford, with peerless view over will
 lage spires and river and plain and
 mountains, finer than either of them
 as site for broad winding avenue
 two miles long, among scores of pala- tial mansions, has not an improved
 street, nor good dwelling house on
 the whole of it? Why is it that New
 Milford has to be content to be only a
 landing place where the great railway
 trains stop to accommodate the guests
 of our neighbOrs, but very few of whom
 stop with us, unless they have family
 interests to keep them here? No man
 who knows the facts can deny that
 this is so. With all the wealth and
 culture native to New Milford the
 immigration of city wealth does not
 tend hither. Why is this so? 1woulo
 that the answer could strike like z
 thunder clap upon the conscience ant
 common sense of every man and wOm an in this town: Licensed rum in Nev Milford! That is the answe r to the question. Ridgetield ii , a strict No-License town. i. helped to win that battle there, il : time past.
 s NO-LICENsE IS ENFORCED THERE, TOO ' and but short time ago shrew' illicit seller, whose name could give !. and who thought himself safe in hi | because he lived but a few rods iron the town line, was trapped and raided t his "contraband goods'' confiscated a and he heavily fined, with due notic + that it would be a jail term if he trie e it again. And Washington does tn n same thing in like cases.
 Drive rum off Bank street an U you thereby raise the rental value c e the whole street. Drive it out of thi " village, and out of town, and keep D out and in a few years New MilfOr y1 may rival and even surpass Ridgetiel D or Washington or any other town 0 n our acquaintance in this valley. Thes d beautiful "Berkshires of Connect l, cut," Mount Tom, Long Mountain d Candlewood- Mountain, Green Mour j? tain, Falls Mountain, Prospect Hil
 and all the others, may then loo \- down upon an Eden here indeed, an
 the Housatonic, the two Aspetuck
 Still River and Rocky River be lik e the rivers of old that watered the ye 'f unpolluted Paradise of God. Oh fe 'r ''No-license" campaign, driven hon r. to victory, and then thoroughly el d forced, in New Milford!
 7, Dr Taylor then took up the secon n class of lessons taught by this "Day ( )1 Adversity," the moral lessons, mutu; d helpfulness and neighborly sympatn. !. the instability of all earthly home !, and possessions, the necessity of th d sort of fire insurance" that reacht )f beyond this life into the unseen wOrlt Id and the wisdom of securing betimes
 good title to "hre-proof" mansions
 the skies.
 ,a The congregation well filled tn . audience room and some sat in tf 70 lecture room, and apparently near :. every person in the house came fo