Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-28
As YOU LIKE IT
Some Stray Leaves From Reporters
 Note Book.

Note Book. The skating season is now on and Judging by the number that have al. ready tried their hand at the business the amusement is just as popular as ever. It is pity the danger to life and limb is so great on the ice, for it is healthy exercise, one which the Jold as we'll as the young enjoy. We hear great deal from time to time about building inspectors, sidewalk inspectors, sewer and street inspectors and so on, but not word about an tn- spector of ice ponds where human lives are lost every year. Let us have Rn inspector of ponds whose duty it will be to ascertain whether or not the ice is strong enough at all points for skating purposes before crowds of peo- ole are allowed to collect upon 1t.
 
 It is good for some Waterbury church going people that we have no Billy the Kid'' for collector, if the following story be true. A certain parson out in the west not long ago went to camp called Rico, borrowed he dance hall over the saloon for his service, rounded up his boys" and the hall was filed After the sermon came the collection--a very important feature The preacher ran his eye over his audience, and seeing a certain gambler known as Billy the Kid, Billy" he said "take up the collec- tion.'' Very much honored, Billy took his big sombrero hat, and with an important and dignifed air, as was fit- ting for the occasion, he made his way to the front and held his hat for a young man on the foremost chair to donate" The young miner dropped in n quarter Billy looked at it; then putting his hand under his coat tails ( drew his revolver and said, with the ] utmost gravity, Young man, take that back; this here's dollar show" Then, with his hat and revolver, moving around the hall. he got as many dollars as there were people.
 
 Raggagemaster Cyrus Thompson and his assistants are now comfort ably located in spacious quarters in the north end of the building at the Naugatuck station, the same place so long occupied by the Adams Express Co. At the other place on the end of the platform the help have scarce ly had room to turn around and at times had to back out of the office when they got in. It is surprising what an influence this had over MT , Thompson who has been at the busi- ness for many years. He became so accustomed to walking backwards that it came just as natural to him as the regulation way and now he finds it very hard to break himself off the habit. He can walk as fast one way as the other and says that were it not for the fact that it looks odd and subjects one to more or less criticism he would prefer to make most of his rounds with his face in a position so that he would run no risk of pumping It against anything. Some people may say that 8 man cannot make much headway while going backwards but those who think so want to see "Cy' Thompson run from one place to another without bothering to execute q right about face movement on his return trips,
 The movement inaugurated some time ago to observe the semi-centen~ try of Waterbury as city turned out to be dismal failure for the time be- ing, but it is thought that it will be taken J9 again and pushed to q suc- cessful Completion. Many think that the pubic was not in the right mood 2 to take part in celebration of that kind this year and state that the com mittee was wise in letting the matter stand until next season when, it is hoped steps will be taken not only to observe the half century milestone reached by Waterbury, but also to es- tablish a permanent industrial exh bit where the people may call from time to time and see specimens of the diff eerent articles manufactured in Wa serhury. How many know what is being made in the factories of this town? Very few, indeed. so that a building containing specimens of our various manufactures would be quite an educational institution and would be visited by large numbers of peo pie almost every day in the week. The city ought to have such building, not only for the sake of its own citizens but for outsiders as well. It is safe to say that every person who would call here from out of town would be shown through the industrial building before leaving and in this way Wa terbury would receive some desirable notoriety. The institutions should bt established in time to be used in 1904 then if the celebration take. place, the visitors can be shown what progress Waterbury has made in the manufacturing line dur ing the past fifty years without going into the shops.