Connecticut western news., 1921-08-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
The Old Chair Meeting


 l have been requested many times and so urgently to write up the re- cent Old Chair meeting held at my home that I have finally consented to do it, especially since the latest request came from a shut-in like myself--the beloved, for many years principal of our high school. l was told not to cut it too short, by the Editor, nor to "be too modest" by one of the representative town peo- pie. There is nothing special to write about except the few things that will cover the ground emitting as much as possible the superfiuous details.
 The meeting was not, properly speaking, a Farm Bureau affair only a few Farm Bureau members being present. There was a large attend ance of Canaan women and few strangers. This is the way the meet ing came about.
 ~ A long time invalid, wanted to invite to her home a number of her townspeople, friends and neighbors, and at the same time do som ething for the Farm Bureau to which her family are members. So laying the matter before certain officers of that organization it was planned that Miss E. s. Moss, demonstration agent, on certain date would give a talk on old chairs, especially the rush bottomed kind. It seemed to interest many women, at once and the. porch---except that part occu- pied by, the honey bees---was, on Wednesday afternoon; July 27th filled with guests who sat in. old chairs of all ages anywhere between forty to over a hundred years old. T will: not give the. periods lest 7some to full stop. I am not we'll up on period furniture of any, kind. <SI should like to have been strong enough to have given bit of history about several of the ancient chairs especially the one that. was occupied fat nightgby the ghost of an old man that appeared in an old ball room, where the chair was stored. The house was not inhabited but old furniture was stored in Y, the, ball room. There fiber seat chairs, siat, rush bottomed, wood seats and the lever where present cane seat chairs were filled with histories of long ago.
 Miss Moss told us how best ;G to restore such old chairs to things of beauty, and her, suggestions were practical and yet of such art value that if followed out would makel of these old chairs things of rare. beabty in any house |to say nothing oft.the sentiment and charm their presenca would call up.. Why do we put SRch chairs away in oa1r .,~attics? "~= Why don't we adopt Miss Moss. sugges- tion< and have ehairs megtiRgs whare ,esefybody chair arf, ,--or wofi1an, -,-~and pnderrthe deraonstrator' sS afsle direction every woman could laArn how to reseat one of her arfeieht chairs?
 One townswoman has shown bya 3 most successful meeting that this love of old furniture. holds within it 9 mysterious longing to connect the living present with long gone past that somehow will at last all come back again and join us in beautiful and wonderful future.
 was told not to be too modest. Very well, here comes the bouquet. l am gratifed to know from many sources that the Old Chair Meeting was looked upon as something in teresting, and much appreciated departure from the endless sameness of social routine. It is certainly very gratifying to know that the Old Chair meeting created much interest, was a successful meeting and probably the first one in many years for which there has been an urgent request for a write up. It IS an honor that is very highly ap- preciated by
 The Writer.