The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-06
BEDDING;
Special to The Times.)

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 com 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 MT. 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- ture, 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 instruc- lions 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 1an- guage that he didn't intend to allow
 
 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 MT. 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 a girl, who carries milk to Bethel and attends the High school there. The youngest, a 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- 1ected 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 way they could nol help admiring the pluck and inde
 
 upon maintaining, the unity of the household when a different course would have frightened 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, cheerful1y and uncom- plainingly such discomforts and de- privations as their lot imposed. It has been a hard struggle with great disadvantages, but the most trying stages of it passed before the authori ties saw fit to interfere. On Tues day Mr. 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 con- 1nitment 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 Platt, Stephen Sanford, Jessie Davies, Lucia Day, Alta Bassett, Holland Bea1, Jaspar Burdette, Leon Prince, James Dayton, Margaret Beck, M. Grace Farrar and Theodore Farrar. A congregation which entirely filled the church attended the services and an augmented choir gave a fine rem J-I, T,a,- devoted his sermon largely to a con- sideration 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 individua1ism which began about 400 years ago with the Refo rmation had practically gone by and given sue- cession to a steadily growing social istic tendency. This movement had two diverse types of manifestation, the naterialistic, political Socialism or Marx and the spiritual socialism born of Christianity The latter had : as it's distinctive quality the spirit of unsefshness and in the dominance of its application against the forces or greed and destructiveness lay the hope of the worlds future.
 The town school committee at its
  cepted the resignation of F. J. Fe7- lows as a mem Der and chairman and elected A. G. Barnett 70 fill the va 3 cancy MT fellows retired because he is not to continue his residence here during the winter. The cona- raittee voted to place the Center school in the class of model schools which means that it will be conduct ed 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- 1owance- from the state towards it's suprort-
 Donations of books for the public library to be opened at the former E.dge store about the first of next north have been made by the Hogg- son, Stetson, Drfggs and LItchfeId families and some others. The Dam 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