The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-30
NEW CANAAN LETTER
Sketch of Visit to Charming Uu State
 Town.

the soft purr of falling rain upon the thirsty earth? Thus it sounds and the cool misty air is caressing upon the necks. and unfettered limbs of little children, but to one without rubbers and fifty miles from home the rain hath a damp and dubious sound.
 Thus the dag without. on the last one of my stay at grandfather's place, but thoughts of returning home bring cheer and the mind is full of pleasant pie lures which will make our yearly visit bright memory in 1905.
 As our party climbs the steep stair way leading from the little square en- trance hall to the upper rooms, host of vanished faces greet us, and dear, quiet hands are outstretched in well come, but to one alone comes this com forting consciousness of the silent pleasure in our return to ''The' House of Rest" The little companion of my journey telts fastidious nose at the dust and darkness of the long closed rooms in which an open fire and much burning of Joss-sticks soon create more comfortable atmosphere, though three days of down pour from the copi- ous clouds make life for us something of moist struggle. Sunshine comes at last, just in time to favor the sale for Grace House in the Fields" which was planned before we left New Haven, and of which a fore warning had appeared in the village paper.
 A dear little maiden in antique array, Will open a sale on some fine August day, Where bonbons and balls the children | -s may find, < .. /. ..... ... And things that will please the more serious mind.
 To the waifs of the city she'd fain give a treat, Xxi Help one little child to escape from its htat, s...' So this fair she has planned and hopes for your aid, .-.....:. # Invites your inspection of the things she has made. #.ss &
 At the appointed date grandpa's front yard was gay with red decora- tions, tables attractive and two little l attendants who dispensed fancy arti- I cles, ice. cream. candy, peanuts and lemon soda to a fiuctuating crowd, in which the small boys of the village were ubiquitous both in patrons and admiring loiterers perched along the fence. When guests from out of town I favored us the circuit of the hills was made, Brushy Ridge, Haynes Ridge, I Smiths Ridge, Ponus street, each with 1 their distinctive charm in scenry and beautiful country homes. returning by the "Frogtown Road" :" which gave us opportunity of stopping at Grace House, and in the hands of gentle Miss Beard, placing the modest sum result ant from the efforts of the little maid en in antique array" f. E A small tea party was achieved in 1 the little west room on one evening of our stay, when one of St. Louis fairest l women honored us with her company. For her entertainment grandmother $ gold and white china was set out upon a fine old hornespun linen cloth, though iced tea and the usual modern dainties seemed rather ineongruous in the old- fashioned cut glass tumblers and on 1 the quaint plates. Then there was the box of old daguerreotypes, a serious collection of family faces, great Uncle William in curly wig and high cut l lowered waistcoat, back to Madame Moves, Silliman, Dickinson, whose sec ond matrimonial alliance brought her into Revolutionary fame as life conn., panion the famous old veteran, Gen eral Gold Selleck Sillifnan of Fairfield, Conn. Her face Is surmounted by a cap of towering dimensions. The fam fly tradition is this, that her indomita- ble will refused to lower this crest even when her body yielded to the necessity of a physicians attendance, his first comment being, I should recommend, Madame, a draught to bring down that high cap" It is quite probable that the old lady may have swallowed his medicine, but there is small reason to
 believe she followed his suggestion as to her costume. The M. D. diploma of one of her grandsone bears date of 1924 with the signature of the then president of Yale college Jeremiah Day, and another generation down the fam fly line we find a bed cover of white,
 elaborated quilted and design followed
 with candle wick knots, which repeat
 ed washings the last hundred years
 have somewhat marred it's beauty, yet
 still retain an attractive appearance.
 Upon the tea table a real tallow dip''
 stood tall and unlighted in it's iron standard, white dress. of old Sheffield
 plate gave the subdued light of the
 modern wax; to carry the object lesson
 a step farther, the ten molds were
 brought by which means the house.
 keeper of a later decade supplied her
 family with candles.
 2 All this fitted like tiny thread of
 family traditions through the even- ing's chat and pleasure, our visitor giv-
 ing vivid and fascinating glimpses ot
 the great and magnificent city and
 country where the early story of her
 French family has been merged into
 the history of the state.
 l. And thus in the quaint surroundings
 of "The House of Rest" this little ac-
 cidentaI gathering, includes two stran-
 gers, each seeking in the little town o1 New Canaan lull and relief from
 their busy lives, while little maid
 with eager eyes watches and listens as