New Britain herald., 1915-05-20

discuss these questions and, what is more, we have practically an mex haustible supply of talent, so that whatever befalls there shall never he dearth of eloquence in this favored village as long as the Mems Lyceum continues to have it's being.
 The session that has Just come to close has been an eminently suc- csssfuI one. Our debates and our lectures have been interesting and profitable and our social events even- ings of unalloyed pleasure. We fixed the blame for the great European war now raging: we settled that great labor problem of compulsory arbitra- tion and another evening was given over to a discussion of woman suffrage, much to my personal dis comfiture, being pitted as I was in oebate against one of our most eloquent speakers Then we called on Uncle Sam to give us a one cent letter postage. He has not yet needed to our request but I am sure he will do so as soon as he disposes of some pressing matters of an international character now demanding his atten- tion. And one of the last and most interesting meetings of the whole sea son was when we sailed around the world on an old fashioned dipper ship. You who attended that interest ing lecture will, no doubt, recall that We went through the seven plaques Of Egypt on the eventfui voyage but in the end all was we'll and we went home happy. Speaking for myself, I will say that I am proud to be a mem her of the Lyceum and I count it as one of the best things I ever did when l became a member. In the, language of good old Rip Van Winarle: May it live long and prosper
 Commissioner Chandler.
 Compensation Commissioner George E. Chandler was introduced by the tcastmaster with the Following words:
 'One' of our wisest American states men said that the least governed are the best governed and there are those even today who see in those immortal words at last a semblance of truth. But, alas, poor old Jefferson, were he alive today he would be promptly ruled out of order and told to go way back and sit down. We have with us this evening a gentleman who is going to tell us something about the trend, of modern legislation. He is we'll qualified to do so. For years he was q maker of laws himself, and now lis responsible public trust entails upon him the enforcement of one of the most important acts ever adopted Ly the Connecticut legislature. The I.yceum has been extremely fortunate in getting this, gentleman to come here and address Us this evening, and ] deem it an honor to introduce to you Compensation Commissioners George s. Chandler.
 It Cunt Bc Done
 Commissioner Chandler commenced his address by relating several pleas ing anecdotes. He said that the idea of legislating .thesworld into a heaven is 8 snare and delusion, as it can't be done. There is Q marked con- trast between a dreamer and prac- ticer. The world is full of dreamers who believe in d magical shortcut to make this world as peaceful as heaven by the legislation of laws.
 Laws are not created by legisla- tors but by the custom of the peo- pie. Any people, he said, who inn agine that they can serve humanity better by getting new statutes in- stead Of going out into the world and preaching their doctrines are prac- ticing the wrong philosophy. These. people sometimes do more harm than good
 Many blunders are made by the legislators. Among the foolish laws which are at present most widely dis cussed are the old age pension which would give those who have been un-