The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-14
STAMFORD HEARS PROF. PHELPS TALK
 ON 2 NOTED MEN

public library, to the lecture by Prof. Phelps of Yale upon Jonathan Ed wards and Benjamin Franklin, whom he called two typical Americans, or at least if the two characters could form . typical American. Many amusing things were said about Ed wards and extracts were read from his diary and sermons. His chief charecteristic was that of an ances- person one meets in New Haven is descended from Jonathan Edwards. He would do as an ancestor, four or five generations removed, but ho one would want him for a grandfather. That would be a little too near! Ed wards represented the spiritual and religious side of the colonial men, and Franklin the humane and prac- sticaL Both were Yale men, for Yale gave Franklin the first degree he ever always concerning himself about the other world, and if he preached the doctrine of everlasting punishment it was because he believed it. Frank lin was a genius. the 18th child out of a family of IT. not one other of which showed any remarkable t1aits of character or achieved any success. Prof. Phelps gave an interesting &C., count of the autobiography of Frank /; lins and told how after 100 years had | John Bigelow of New York. in 1888. while in France. discovered and pur- . ihased the original manuscript and published it. Franklin was the great est American who ever trod the west ern continent He was even in ad- day. and it will be generations be- fore we grow up to his ideals. Only those who heard the lecture can un- derstand how brilliant and interest F. -A = IL l. A1@ audience Included Hon. Stiles Judson and wife. Judge F.. J. Curtis and wife, Rev. Dr. Packard and wife. Rev. c. s. Bullock, Rev. Geo. Farrar, Carlos Blakeman, Mrs. Dr. Cogswell, Elliott w. Peck and wife. David Coe and wife, Charles Smith and wife, Mrs- Hodges, Miss Emma F. Allen, MT. Wheeler. Mrs. Benjamin, Miss Grimshaw. Harold De Lacour, and many besides.
 has just been made public by Miss Russell From it one learns that the number of books in the library is 13.791- The number of cards issued to date is 4.5s1. The daily average issue of books has been ss volumes, and the total number issued during the year was 26,e54. Over 500 vol umes have been added during the past year. There are on file in the reading room 65 periodicals. The net
 
 year amounted to $24350. The don orr of subscriptions to periodicals in- clude Frederick c. Beach, the D. M. Read Co, Mrs. Stiles Judson, Dr. Packard. Charles Rowland, Yale pers of Bridgeport. Among the don- ors of books are Edward G. Acheson, F. c. Beach. Edgar s. Bennett, F. A Booth. Vim. I. Bradley, Mrs. w. R. EriEg.. Charles g. Bullock, Mrs; H. P. H. Hodges. Mrs. Stiles Judson. Isidor Straus, and Sally D. Wells. People are asking how much it will cost to place in position the new heating apparatus for the Town hall. who occupy the upper floors have in : vestigated the matter, and the low 1, est bid was $500. It is proposed to ! put the heater in the f1remen's house and run pipes into the Town hall societies which rent rooms from the town will be willing to pay more rent in consideration of the place be- ing heated
 One thing was demonstrated at the recent town meeting. viz, that the time was fully ripe" for more gas lamps. and the fruit fell as soon as MT. Conine shook the tree. The old town is waking up to the possibility which exists of making it beautiful dQlQDCl tO 0AA06CPOiS- olidl4 Ccl u well afford to pay s3,750 a year for gas lamps and least none of the tax payers present said word in objec- ' rfon on Thursday night.
 Next Tuesday evening, at St. Luke's church on Stratford avenue, a com pany of ladies known as the "All Star Actors" will produce an original play called How the Story Crew."
 At the Neighborhood church to- morrow Rev. MT. Bullock will take for his theme. "A New World Force Against Old World Forces" On Mon day he will lecture in New York on .sThe Story of the Hudson"
 At the Methodist church tomorrow morning Rev. George Farrar will take for his theme: "Faith-a Receptive and an Obedient Heart" In the evening his text will be: Lord, that My Eyes Might Be Opened" There is to be special music. The preach CTS meeting will be held Monday evening. and is open to the public.
 Dr. Packard breaches as usual in the morning of tomorrow and at in the afternoon gives another of his sermons on Christ and the Men of Today"
 Mrs H. J. Lewis has purchased the so-called old Lindsey place on Elm street, and s lots of ground in con- nection with it. The house is a fine old structure, but has been closed for a long time. and has had the reputa- tion of being haunted.
 On Tuesday a little birthday party