Republican farmer., 1919-11-07
BEDDING
Special to The TTmes.)


 to an edict from Agent Samuel A. Gardner of the State Humane society that six of the eight Williams children be provided by their father with homes affording better care and con- fort than they are now receiving, the alternative being such provision on the part of the State, Complaint and information to MT, Gardner from some source unknown to Afr, Williams caused the agent to recently visit the Williams house for investigation. The conditions he found as regards tidi- ness and cleanliness impelled him to the issuance of the order mentioned, ten days being fixed as the time limit for compliance. MT. Williams at that time promised to obey the mandate. but soon changed his attitude al- though following the agents depar- tufe, a general cleaning of the house was effected. MT, Gardner left the matter in the hands of D, R. Warner, the soCiety's local agent, with tnstruc- dons to report to him at the end of the ten day period. This came last Thursday and MT. Warner then found that all the children were still at home. On being asked his intentions in respect to the order regarding them Williams replied in very forcible lam guage that he didn't intend to allow Gardner or anyone else to break up his family, He had consulted Judge Davis of Danbury as to his rights in the matter and was assured by the attorney that any one attempting to force the proposed disruption would be foiled in the attempt and made laughing stock besides This reply was promptly communicated to MT. Gardner by the local agent.
 Two years ago Mir. Williams lost his wife by death and since then the eld- est daughter, now fifteen years old. has been the family housekeeper. The next oldest is a boy of thirteen and the third girl, who carries milk to Bethel and attends the High school there. The youngest, @ girl of two, has been cared for from infancy by her sister housekeeper, and is norm ally developed and healthy. Soon after the death of Mrs. Williams. well to do relatives Of the family made offers to take into their homes several of the younger children, but all these propositions the father re- jected The neighbors, who were sympathetic and helpful in the earlier difficulties of the unfortunate situa- ton, felt and still feel that he did not show the best judgment in such refusal. but in a way they could not help admiring the pluck and inde- pendence evinced in his inslstence upon maintaining the unity of the household when q different course would have Hghtened his labors and responsibilities. The same indomit- able "carry on'' spirit seems to have taken possession of the children who. in the increasing measure of their strength, have worked well and faith fully at the household and farm tasks and accepted, cheerfully and unco1n- platningIy such discomfOrts and de- prfvations as their lot imposed. It has been q hard struggle with great disadvantages, but the most trying stages of it passed before the authori- ties saw fit to interfere. On Tues day Mir. Warner received a letter from Agent Gardner, saying that he would return here in a few days to take further action in the case. which probably means a petition to the Probate Court asking for the com mitment of the six children to the County Home or perhaps arrange ments for their transfer to satisfac- tory homes with private families.
 The class presented to Bishop Brewster for confirmation at Christ Episcopal church last Sunday morn ing numbered fifteen and is said to be the largest in the history of that venerable parish. Those composing it were Roderick Luttgen, Edna A. Baldwin, Robert Read, Raymond PIatt, Stephen Sanford, Jessie Davies, Lucia Day, Alta Bassett, Holland BeaI, Jaspar Durdette, Leon Prince, James Dayton. Margaret Beck, M. Grace Farrar and Theodore Farrar. A congregation which entirely filled the chuI attended the services and an augmented choir gave a fine rem dt ion of the music. Bishop Brewster devoted his sermon largely to con- siGeration of the social forces which are now working in the world and finding expression in unrest of vari- ous forms He said that the era of individualism which began about 400 years ago with the Reformation had practically gone by and given sue cession to 2 steadily growing social istic tendency. This movement had two diverse types of manifestation, the materialistic, political Socialism of Marx and the spiritual socialism born of Christianity. The latter had as it's distinctive quality the spirit of unselfshness and in the dominance of it's application against the forces of greed and destructiveness lay the hope of the worlds future.
 The town school committee at it's monthly meeting last Saturday, ac- cepted the resignation of E. J. Eel ~A4''4- ~---N. elected A. G. Barnett to fill the va cancy. MT Fellows retired because he is not to continue his residence here during the winter. The com rnfttee voted to place the Center school in the class of model schools which means that it will he conduct eA so as to conform to special stand ards established by the State Board of Education. and in consideration for so doing receive an increased al- lowance from the state towards its support.
 Donations of books for the public library to be opened at the former Ridge store about the first of next month have been made by the Hogg- son, Stetson, Driggs and Litchfield families and some others. The Dan- bury library is to honor acquisitions on behalf of the new library for books and it is expected that like arrangements will be made with the Bethel and Mark Twain libraries Plans for giving help to the project were discussed at the meeting of the Parish Aid society yesterday after