New Britain herald., 1917-10-07
Tom Topics

more surprising to the public than
similar action in another department
several months ago when an employe,
who had served with SUFFICIENT ef1icien-
cy to retain the same position for near
ly ten years, was asked to resign. The
fact that this position, q $500 job, was
Immediately filled by a relative Of a
high official might be, assumed as go
ing hand in hand with the reported
stories that the present health board
agitation is due to jealousy and de-
sire to put in friends.
Compare New Britains Thursday
quota to the National Army with that
of Hartford. New Britain sent eos
men while the Capital City sent but
176, explaining that due to a delay In
certifying selection and to the large
number of colored men enrolled the
number had to be cut down. 1t does
look as though there might be the
proverbial colored man in the wood
pile. Also, Meriden sent only 43 men.
Middletown dozen and Willimantlo
50. It does appear as though the
Hardware City has been getting 1t
rubbed in right along.
The State Council of Defense has
asked that the names of local men IN
the service be posted on their bulletin
board in Central park. 1t would take
a larger board than that to contain
the names OF the hundreds of New
Britain men who have rallied to the
colors. Fair estimates show that full
ly 1900 local boys from 16 to 50 are
in various branches of the service.
~
roll of honor to be hung in City
hall, but their names must be first Sc
cured. The Herald is trying hard to
Ing in the name of any soldier. sailor
or marine that you know who has not
already been registered.
Warm rooms will be luxury this
Winter at the rate coal sells for In New
Britain at present. The public has a
right to feel dissatisfied with the prices
asked in view of those asked In small
Ter towns about the state.
Thomas w. O'Connor, trustee Of the
old s. W. Ryder homestead In Plain
Vile, once a we'll known hosiery In
tho old halcyon days of horse racing
at the famous Ryder's trotting park
there, in going over the house found
a number of old and interesting docu-
ments giving a glimpse into the years
OF long ago. The Oldest paper found
yellow with age, is regimental or
der dated at Hartford on October 6,
1918, just 80 years ago today. It is
an order to tho Second Regiment
Light Artillery and Is signed by Adju-
vi ind
all members Of the first and second
regiments of light artillery that the
uniform, which each man had to fur
nish himself, must consist of a jack
leather cap, ornamented with a white
feather in front and trimmed with
yellow cord and band. A plain blue
coat, half long, single breasted. blue
pantaloons trimmed with gilt cord on
the outside seam. a white vest and
yellow sword belt are also ordered.
Other articles OF raiment are speci-
fed as just as odd in contrast to the
business like uniform Of the soldier
of 1917 Another interesting old pa
per is the commission as captain OF
the eleventh company of the second
regiment Of light artillery granted to
Alvin Squire by Oliver Wolcott, COM
handkerchief of the state, on April
81, 1919. Still another old document
is q statement sent to Alvin Squire,
constable and tax collector OF Bark
hamsted by State Treasurer isaac
Spencer on June 10, 1921, advising
him to collect a tax of one cent on
the dollar.The collector is informed
in this notice that if he collects his
taxes within twenty days after they
are due he will be allowed 3k per
cent. for salary; otherwise he gets
nothing.
OF especial interest to New Britain
people, however, is an old menu card
from the Humphrey House, issued on
the occasion of the opening ball OF
the seventy-seventh anniversary Of
the battle of Bunker Hill on June II,
1852. In the old days when New
Britain was but little country ham,
let, the Humphrey House, located on
the site of the Park hotel. was it's
principal hostelry and it was here that
all the gala events Of the early years
OF the town took place. The bill Of
fare at this banquet held sixty five
years ago contained such edibles as
boiled salmon and trout, ham garnish.
meats tongues garnish, chickens with
oyster sauce, turkey with oyster
sauce, leg. of mutton with caper
sauce, and leg of lamb. For side
dishes the diners could select from
chicken pies, pigs feet spiced, baked
macaroni, fried oysters, oyster pies,
stewed oysters, oyster patties and es-
calloped oysters. The more substan-
tial part of the menu consisted of sir
loin beef, turkeys with cranberry
sauce, pigs, spareribs of pork, chick
ems, goose with cranberry sauce, leg
of mutton with currant jelly and leg
Of lamb, while as vegetables the pa
iron could select potatoes, turnips,
peas and picked beets. 1t was the
pastry and dessert. however, that Of
fered the widest variety, for included
fol1owinp diaheS. Snonpe