New Britain herald., 1916-11-04

and then with a string wound around the barrel cause it to revolve vio- lently on a ball the operator held IL closely against the window glass. Inc most approved form of tick-tack however, was the one made with rubber washer a screw and a long piece of string. The screw was stuck through the washer and tho string, 1 with knots in it. tied to the screw By wetting the washer and forcing it agalnSt window pane suction made it stay. Then the mere act of draw ing the knotted string between the finger nails would produce a starting sound. This form of tick-tack proved more popular because it offered a better chance of escape for the opera tor as he could stand at some dis tance from the house. Other popular Halloween pranks in the old days were to steal front gates from prop 1 erty encircled with fences, to platter ! the front of the house occupied by on unpopular citizen with rotten to- 1 .atoes and to hurl cabbage stumps 1 at the owner when he eXpOStulated. 1 Tn earlier days another popular prank | was to tip over OuthouSeS. The prac- 1 tice of sticking a tack in door bell l push button, causing the bell to ring l continuously, is still in vogue as is ] the time honored custom of wearing masks, dressing in grotesque gar
 ments or impersonating a girl or boy ! if the party was of the opposite sex. i These were the pranks of the out door youngsters. The more polite chil- dren, then as now, contented them selves with parlor games sucha as aucking for apples, telling ghost l stories, etc.
 With all the rallies, Wilson and Mar shall clubs, Hughes Alliances, etc., that are featuring this campaign, the lresent year does not present any ] where near as many exciting or stirring times as did the presidential
 campaigns of twenty or thirty years ago. Particularly in New Britain Is
 this true. Even as far back as in
 the early eighties campaigns were
 made brilliant spectacles in this city
 and in those days the late George M. I-anders, grandfather of the present
 candidate for state senator, was the
 leader of the democratic forces even
 as his grandson is today. At that
 time MT. Landers, one of the founders
 of the great Landers, Frary & Clark
 factory, was fondly known as Paddy
 Landers and had the absolute confi-
 dence of his followers. At one time
 when he was a candidate on the dem
 ocratic ticket the Landers Ecort 8
 marching club, was organized. This
 Escort included the younger members
 of the party and they were bedeckee
 in fitting uniforms They drilled re-
 ligiously in marching tactics and ever
 competed with similar clubs about thu
 state. At one time in particular the!
 went to New Haven where they haC a competitive drill and made a spec tacular march up Chapel street twenty-four abreast. The Landers Escort won the prize Many of tn older male residents of today can SC
 in themselves the participants Of tha
 memorable parade.
 Still fresh ir the minds of our re
 publican politicians is the practica
 joke played on them by prom1nen
 democrat four years ago when h.
 rsurped an auto, previously hired fo
 republican usage, and used it to carr.
 democratic voters to the polls. Botl
 parties will probably keep prett
 close watch on their cars this year.
 The pavement on Elm street an Chestnut street railroad crossings l now excellent. Repairs on the Mai street crossing are now in order. Al , 1 in favor signif5 so in the usual man ner. Aye!