Evening star., 1929-06-30
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

A silent quarrel between two neigh
bors of a small New England town SO
years ago evoked the
Hot Weather following amusing edi-
torial In The Star OF
Diversion. June "a, 1879:
"It Is refreshing In these degenerate
days, when general interest," centeIs AZ
snch trivial affairs as the performances
of rival pedestrians in far-away Lonoon
and kindred topics, to note tnat tnere -
one village that rises superior 70 ule
uuerilities of the time and turns lts aI-
tention to subjects worthier OF its con-
sideration. The happy hamlet N CUES
tion is situated in the thrifty state OF
S.onnecticllt. where, at this delicious
season, II contemporary history IS 10 oe
relied on, the nutritious white pine
hams are leisurely ripening under azure
skies and the honest artisan fasnlonS the
deceptive wooden nutmeg for European
CONSUMPTION. while the Summer vino
sighs softly through the trees snading
the factory where fair and comely maid
ems put up in neat cans the famous
shoepeg oats. Undoubtedly It Is q pas
torai scene which the sylvan Vlliage of of
Ansonia presents in these rare Gays Oh
T,ne Rut we should have spoken IN
the mast tense, for Ansonia is pastoral
no n1ore-she is agitated to the core.
.sThe gigantic subject which abSorpS
her mind takes the form of an investi-
CATION now progressing before q commit
tee representing the First Congrega-
tional Church. The question at issue
is a grave one and no lesser perSonages
than q Mr.. Bartlett, treasurer OF the
savings bank, and more undisCingulSn-
ed Mr.. Durand are the active principals.
1t seems that Mr.. Bartlett had cherry
tree which overhung the properly OF
Mr.. Durand. The latter was the PROUD
possessor of q grapevine which ne
claimed was shielded from the sun by
Mr.. Bartlett's tree. Mr.. Durand penned
a formal letter calling Mr.. Bartlett's at
tention to the revolving outrage, but the
recipient ignored the complaining mis-
sive. When Mr.. Durand decided that
his grapevine had languiShed in the
shade quite long enough, he arose In
his might and performed surgical
operation with saw upon the of1enolng
tree, whereat Mr.. Bartlett demonstrated
that whatever lack Of taste he might
endowed him with fine appreciation OF
placards. He arranged the amputated
limbs on the fence and surmounted
them with wooden signs bearing the
legends. "A Neighborly Act and the
Golden Rule Illustrated
"At this juncture Ansonia formed IN
procession, and, passing by on the other
side, read the freshly painted signs with
a relish such as only those who nave
nothing at stake can enjoy. From being
interested Ansonia became excited wnen
the pastor was inducted into the i'm
brogiio and the local press concentrated
its Herculean mind on the subject.
When the committee of church members
was appointed to pass upon the merits
of the case the community performed
gyrations of delight, and at this mo-
ment, flguratively speaking. all Ansonla
is turning mental handsprings.
1.-The outcome of this interesting diff
ficulty may be bloodshed, though We
trust not. At all events, there will be
fewer white pine hams, wooden nutmegs
and shoepeg oats this season from that
section of New Haven County, but this
slight inconvenience can well be borne,
in view Of the Importance OF the issue
should be done to the distinguished
principals to the contest"