The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-29
JUDD BIDS HIS
 NATIVE TOWN TO
 BE UP AND DOING
Stratford's Board of Trade Makes Merry at First Eat and
 TalkfeSt
Speakers Point Out What is Needed to Make Stratford
 Ideal Home Town of Future
Special to The Farmer.l

Stratford, March 29-Covers were laid last evening for 13O men who partook of the first annual banquet Of the Stratford Board of Trade. The tables were ornamented with pots of primros- es and other flowers, and 8 very tempting menu was served by the Ladies' Aid society of the Congrega- tiona1 church. The ladies all dressed in white. waited upon the tables. The President of the Board, Elliott w. Peck, presided and after the meal had been eaten, he congratulated all upon the fine singing which took place dur ing the dinner, and said he presumed it was because the ladies belonged to the Congregational church. Mrs Ed- n1und Judson presided at the piano. A number of old familiar and patriotic songs were sung during the evening. In the course of his remarks MT. Peck said he had lived in Bridgeport for a while but he regretted the fact. There was a time when he used to play golf, but he gave it up as it was too great a strain upon his Christianity. However he knew a gentleman in that city who could play vigorously for long while and appear to swear dread fully without saying word. He took pleasure in Introducing Albert E. La- very.
 Mir. Lavery said he had attended few dinners but never one where wa enthusiasm as tonight. He thought there must be something in the atmos- phere' of Stratford. He had been op- posed to annexation, but tonight had been converted and was in favor of the annexation of Bridgeport to Strat- ford. The town sent a bunch of boos- ters to the legislative hearing at urtF nf hn oa was protected by a man from Strat- ford. The annexationists from Bridge port were dismayed The result made him think of a story told of two Swedes who had been walking on the railroad At the coroner's investiga- tion the survivor was asked some ques- tionS as a witness. He said that he was walking with Olsen, when train came along. Later he saw Olsen's hat, and then his arm, and then leg. and finally his head. My God,' he exclaimed, 'sI thought something must way the annexationists felt after the conference at Hartford. The Board of Trade in this town has started in with vigor; it is an important adjunct for the advancement of the interests of the town, and can work wonders. Worcester, and when there is meet ing of the city government they are on hand and suggest what should be done. A Board of Trade often has a good effect upon town officials, and keeps them on the level Not that anything of the kind is needed for the officials of Stratford.
 The next speaker was Hon. Arden L. Judd. He recalled what Prof. Phelps said last winter about old age being the happiest part of a mans life and said he agreed with MT. 1,a1rn IJa nn1 11or1,f Iii ay,f in support of the proposition was without flaw. He said his days were pass ing happily and then he contrasted the Stratford of his boyhood with the Stratford' of today. The old is now but memory and we now have new generation. There were some good baseball teams in those early days, and when the boys went over to