The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1916-03-01

3.
Eddy Burdick, Edgar Kidder, James
! Taylor and George Wilson. The floral
offerings were abundant and beautiful.
Mr.. Dimock was fine man., a. faith.
full friend, kind neighbor and devoted
to his family. ALI his life he had
been favorite with old and young,
was highly respected and was spoke en-
kindly of by everybody. He was "a
life long democrat and had held
various town offices-selectman, board
of relief and other offices. Mr. Dimock
was twice married; his first wife was
Annie Robbins of Westford by whom
he had one daughter, Harriet. The
second wife was Esther Brown, who
survives him. The celebration OF
their golden wedding Septemb Der.
1914 was notable social event. Be.
sides his wife he is survived by his
Oldest daughter, Mrs. A. s. Pierce o1
Providence, r.. l., and by his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Annie Dimock Houchans,
and only son, Joseph Addison, and
four grandchildren, Misses Edna,
Florence, Inez and Dorothy Pierce.
Many will be interested in the fol.
lowing paper of Mr.. Oosrgove, written
for the first social of the Athletic
@ lub, that on account of the weather
was not largely attended: .".'One of
the things usually lacking in a rural
community is sufficient social inter.
course. In some countries this is
overcome by not living on the farms,
but in villages; the farmers going to
the outlying farms to work during the
day and returning to their homes in
the village at night. This brought
all the people together so that it was
easy to have musical performances,
singing societies, dramatic perform.
ances, dances, athletic games, etc.
Thus the desire for social life, which
is inherent in every normal human
being, had chance for exercise and
the isolation of farm life, as we have
it in this country, was unknown. In
America two things have worked
against, this dwelling together for
better social intercourse. First, the
Independence of the American charac-
ter. A genuine American likes TO
"paddle his own canoe,'' and feels
perfectly competent to do it. This
independence has been greatly fostered
by the pioneer life of new country,
where man was obliged to depend
solely upon himself and his own
family for all that he had. Land
was held in larger amounts, only q
small part of it cultivated; the dis.
tance apart requiring too much loss Of
time for them to get together fre-
quently. So the isolation of farm life
has hitherto been one Of it's greatest
drawbacks But q great change is
taking place; the trolley Car and the
automobile have far. more than cut
distances in half. Social enjoyments,
lectures, concerts, theatres, not for
getting the movies are now within
the reach of thousands of farmers: to
whose predecessors such things were
and the gain is great. It
is moral and spiritual gain, for it
brings man into more sympathetic
relations with his fellows; reveals to
him often times his own crankiness in
a light in which he had never viewed
it before, rubs off the corners and
makes all human relations more pleas. |
ureable. Someone said sound mind |
in sound body is the summit of hu-
man attainment, and the movement
started by these young men here to.
night to have means for physical exer.
Use certainly tends to develop the
sound body as we'll as furnishing the
for social enjoyment.
Therefore I congratulate the young |
men who are starting this movement
N this community, and assure them
If my Willingness to help and of my
entire sympathy in their undertaking.
GEO. A. COSGROVE.