Connecticut western news., 1911-03-16
OLD DAYS IN. CANAAN Continued from Fourth Page)

humping of Ives & Peirce's mill, run by electricity, and the buzz of the steam saw-mill.
 Change in every direction. In dress, in food, in light and heat, even ill dis eases. No one then ever heard of ner- vous prostration, neuritis, iritis, tonsili- tis, appendicitis, or automobiliousness But they had canker-rash, spotted fever, putrid sore throat. tic douloureux and the rattles. It is mystery how they had their teeth extracted, for it was many years before the travelling dentist appeared with that cunningly devised in- strument of torture known as turnkey, which was not only effectual in twisting out tooth but to all intents and pur- poses twisting off one's head. But the Grandpas and Grandmas had their romances. A story is told of one of the young women of the settlement who was 'very fair to look upon-' One day a stranger came through on horseback jonrneying to the West-the far dis tant West, to a town near what is now Utica. N. Y. He spied this fair damsel sitting in a window, at the old Nathan Watson house, and attracted by her charms drew, up his horse and went in, asking it he could have some oats.
 The girl rejoiced in the name Tryphena. She served the stranger, who hearing her mother call her name, went on his journey. Reaching home, he sent letter back to Canaan, ad- dressed to Miss Tryphena Burrill, mis- taking the name. It reached the town but was unclaimed. Another came, and another; and at last, so unusual was it to have so much unclaimed mail matter that it was decided to open it to see if it was intended for Miss Tryphena Lawrence.
 Further correspondence followed, and the result was that she became the wife of the persevering suitor. Her descend ants are living, and 8 letter from one of her eat-grandchildren came to the Canaan postof1ce short time ago.
 Later on, as new inhabitants began to
 
 centred near the house owned and re- gently occupied by MT. George Adam, where iron works were established and for long time nailrods, so called, were made, and sold to customers who came from far and near to buy them and hammer them into the queer old wrought nails that are found in, some of our oldest houses. Anchors for ships were also made and various other articles and store was opened near the Lewis house, next to MT. Adams, where a great deal of business was done.
 The first meeting house in town stood near the house of Mrs. Dewitt on the sand plain, but it was finally moved on to the hill near Mrs. Thompson's. Here the choir was at one time led by Unole Bill Rockwell. who took as much pride and felt as great responsibility as choir le ,der. when he drew his bow across the big bass yio., as do our organists when they draw the stops on the fine church organ.
 Music was 9 serious matter. and great was the honor to drill the choir in the solemn strain of the Easter Anthem. Sound the Loud TimbreI, Sherburne or Majesty.
 A recent writer speaks of the village choir in allusion to the old meeting house in another town that well describes the choir in old times in Canaan. "The music was led by chorister, who hay ing found the key in which the chant or psalm was to be sung, sounded the note on his wooden pitch-pipe, then those singing the different parts being properly grouped, with a bow to each set of men singers and women singers, he gave to each the desired note for air, counter, bass and tenor; then all sounded their individual notes in unison. and then started the psalm for the congrega- tion to follow. The pitch-pipe remained Tn use till the tuning-f fork was invented, that giving place early in the century to the bass viol in the meeting house.''
 A certain young woman. member of the choir in Canaan ventured to carry an umbrella to meeting one Sunday. It was the first ever seen in the town and as she was going out she heard some one say that he was so ''sorry for poor Nabby Forbes for she brought brand new singin' trumpet to meeting and the poor girl was so bashful she dasn't use it." A curious story has been handed down in connection with the old meeting house. A store in what is now Clayton was robbed of its contents and search was made for the missing goods. Great was the excitement, and after a long time, most of the articles were found under the high pulpit, for there was room enough under the big structure to store away great many things. For several Sundays the minister, Rev. Pitkin Cowles had been preaching over the stolen pro-