New Britain herald., 1927-11-26
THE OBSER VER- Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

tention from passers-by on the street was the riveting job. The ac- curacy with which the gentleman with the tongs bearing a white hot rivet, threw said rivet two or three stories into the air and into buck ct held by a gentleman up on the framework never ceased to draw murmurs from the almost perpetual audience.
 Sometimes the man up on the framework had to lean far out in order that the rivet might lana sn the pail and other times the rivet missed its destination. but the per- formance always drew applause, The sight of men clinging to slender steel girders high up in the air is one that always commands attention. It is one of the few jobs that brings forth the question How do they do it?" Even the wiseacres in the street have no suggestions to offer and the man who could do a better job along the same line has not been found.
 Sometimes the men ride to the heights on the huge hook at the end of the derrick's cables. Often a man can be seen clinging to girders which are being carried up to the top of the building. Sometimes one of the men can be seen crawling across a girder which appears to have no foothold whatever. But each and every task. and all of them are risky, is met with that same air of unconcern.
 Such work calls for nerves of the same quality as the material with which the men are working: Steel.
 Persons whose life current has directed them into channels of law violation are frequently pictured as being different from the rest of the race. Home folks who, through in- clination, observe the ecclesiastic and secular laws are apt to regard their more unfortunate neighbors as unregenerate and lost forever, a species of animal separate from the better type of mankind. But not so the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This vast organiza- ton. founded and perpetuated in the spirit of brotherly love, realizes that to err is human but that error does not necessarily result from vicious ness.
 The spirit of Elkdom Is brought home forcefully as the Christmas season draws near. Right now among the members of New Britain lodge there is in progress the col lection of the Christmas fund, a large part of which will be spent in an effort to tighten the sorrows of those who have violated the laws Of man and who have been put in COZ rective or penal institutions for their misdeeds. Inmates of detention cen- ters will soon have carried to them messages of good cheer from the world whose privileges they have forfeited.
 A few years ago several members of New Britain lodge of Elks con- ceived the idea of sending Christ mas packages to wayward boys and girls in homes maintained by or ap- proved by the state. Many of these young people had been forgotten by relatives and friends; to them 1b>- cember 25 was only another date on the calendar. Their happiness knew no bounds when they discovered that someone. somewhere, has thought of them on the Day of Days among Christians. The movement spread to other institutions so that today hundreds who are cut off from society by the courts are re- membered every year, receiving a box containing good things to eat. Elks lodges in other cities have adopted the policy established by New Britain lodge and will send next month parcels to boys and girls, men and women, whose drab days are spent in confinement.
 Perhaps after all the interpreta- ton of B. P. O. F.. which someone applied to the order-Best People on Earth-is we'll deserved.
 Congratulations to the New Brit ain fire department on the success of it's annual ball, which was held Wednesday night at T. A. B. hall.
 Until two years ago the depart ment conducted it's ball on New Years Eve at the state armory on Arch street. Attendance was fall ing off as the observance of New Years Eve with house parties or gatherings at hotels and restaurants became more general. So the fire men decided to pick a different night and location. They selected Thanksgiving Eve and T. A. B. hall and the public has responded gen. erously.
 The attendance this year was be- yond expectations and large sum was realized for the pension and re-
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