The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-08-25

Old Home observance grows out OF
now to the needs of our oldImother
town, or rather to this center Of the
town and the adjacent country side
1T is safe to say that Huntington s
children who have tarried here at
home, under the old roof, have yet to
| discover gold mines or strike fortune
making Oil wells in the fields where
their fathers Sowed and reaped. While
ready always, l believe, to do their
part, weakened numerically by con-
slant removals and by the breaking. up
OF entire families of substantial means.
we are unable, single-handed and
alone, to achieve much in way of ma
terlal progress and betterment. What
boon to Huntington that graceful
memorial drinking fountain which
stands at the entrance to the village,
we remember to-day with apprecia-
tion and gratitude the generous giyer
Our churches, too, have been held in
remembrance in many ways by those
who cherish old time associations with
Huntington. Touching matters of
deeper Importance we are privileged
to bear witness to the fact that our
educational interests in the village
and outlying districts are beginning to
receive in something like due measure
deserved attention. Rural consoljda-
tlon,-a system elsewhere proved emf
CnnnnCSf in
now standing trial with u.s. Thus far
beneficial results under this system
may be admitted beyond question, and
we look forward in the near future |
through the painstaking, just, judic-
louS course now maintained by orr
town school board, to conditions of
still larger progress and improvement,
But what greater present need than
that of library and reading room here
in the Center? True the town has it's
handsome, well:appointed Plumb libra
~ 10 which we are privileged to turn,
out this is in Shelton, three and a half
miles away. A small lending branch
from this library in our village school
house while proving a large benefit
serves after all to emphasize our need
u something more and stimulate our :
nope for thu future. A letter adj
dressed some time since by the pastors
u Huntington to man of vast wealth
whose name is associated with the
nunlficent founding Of libraries in
various cities and towns, stating our
situation and apparent needs, has thus
far proved unavailing. The venture to
look for substantial sympathy from
'uch quarter may be regarded as
Zoo bold aspiration. Yet holding in
view the great good that would newt
ably result from the placing here of a
modest library any honorable, reason
able effort to compass the desired end
can hardly be condemned. 1t is an
idle fancy that possibly the voice from
this second Old Home observance.
"our village hath sore need of a libra
ry," may fall not in vain upon some
listening ear. Perhaps that ear is al
ready strained to hear. In any case
we need not fear the cynical rejoinder,
'Old Home observance!
What boots it thee to show
the rusted buckle
That did tie the garter
OF thy greatest grandSireS knee?"
For hearts, true hearts, grow strange
ly warm in remembering the past, the
old home, the old home days: and one
possessed Of both the will and the abil-
ity for genero deeds can estimate
the value of benefaction of this ma
ture. He can know, too, in his in
most consciousness the import of Abou
Ben Adhem's answer to the Recording
Angel, "Wrlte me as one who loves
his felIow-men."