The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-11
FAIRFIELD
Falling Off in Business On the Freeman
 Farm-A Study of Germany = Gift to the Church Elementary Education

As an indication of the quiet busi- ness situation since New Years, it may be mentioned that the receipts at the local depot for December were some $6,000 and that it is thought for this month they will hardly reach $1,OOO This is not owing wholly to local con- ditions but to the general let up in giv- ing orders throughout the country, and to the fact that all manufacturing and commercial plants are taking an inventory of stock. A reaction is al- ways expected after the furious holi- day trade. At the local drug store the proprietor says he has no kick com- ing; that he has done better business the past year than ever before, and is doing very we'll just now. When the ice cream season opens, then business will boom again.
 There is no intention of giving a banquet at the Hollywood Inn, so far as anyone connected with that estab- lishment knows, and if there is pool tournament, it has not yet material ized. If one. comes along, as MT. Churchouse says, why there will be one. But mo arrangements have been made to that end.
 MT. DalHng has the contract for the cellar of the house which MT. Peter son is to build and MT. F'orsythe will do the carpenterwork.
 It is announced that the Assessors of the town will finish their work some day this week.
 Next Friday evening the Fire Com- pany arrangement committee will hold a meeting to prepare the program for the dance which is to be given at Per- rvs hall on the 18th inst.
 MT. s. E. Church, of Seymour, is building a large tank, 30 feet above the ground, for MT. Freeman of Green field Hill, into which water will be pumped by a large windmill from the new artesian well which has hecently been sunk. MT. Freeman will have hydrants placed about his estate, with view to the lowering of insurance rates, as well as for protection. He is engaged in raising blooded horses and high grade poultry.
 While MT. Fred Smith, the we'll known mail carrier, is laid up with sickness MT. George Lawson is act ing as his substitute.
 The ladies of the UnQuoWa club are having a delightful time this afternoon studying and discussing Germany. They remind one of the ladies of Edin- burgh, Scotland, who were attending a course of lesctures upon the Constitu- tlon of the United States, during a re- cent visit of an American to that city, All of this is so much better than bridge whist, which teaches nothing and ends in getting bureau scarf, or a pair of cheap sleeve buttons or a plated fork. But there is no account ing for tastes.
 MT. Shuttle has been busy for some days decorating the interior of the Home Made Bakery.
 Rev. Frank $. Child, has received from Sanford Saltus, of New York, $400 for the Congregational church; S1OO for the Historical Society and $100 for the Memorial library.
 Postmaster Picket paid a. visit to Postmaster Bristol in Stratford a day or two ago.
 MT. Wyrtzen's grocery store is now heated by steam, the radiator which was in the dentists office having been brought down for the purpose.
 A matter which deeply concerns those who have charge of the schools of this town, as well as other towns, is the waste in the elementary schools. Mr. Wheatley is alive to the progress of thought in this direction and agrees with Dr. Andrew s. Draper, the Com missioner of Education in the State of New York, that our elementary schools train for no industrial employ ments. They lead to nothing but the secondary school, which in turn leads to the college, the university, and the professional school, and so very exclu- sively to professional and managing occupations. One who goes out of the school system before the end or at the end of the elementary course is not only unprepared for any vocation which will open to him, but too com monly he is without that intellectual training which should make him eager for opportunity and incite him to the utmost effort to do just as we'll as he can whatever may open to him. He goes without respect for the manual industries, where he might find work if he could do it. He is without the simple preparation necessary to defin- ite work in an office or in store. He is neither clear about his English, nor certain about his figures. Parents of-