The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-27
SOUTH BRITAIN
 BRIEFS
BY BILL 0ARRlGus
By BILL GARRIGUs

By BILL GARRIGUS
 Connecticut trapper proves that Nutmegia is still wild ,,, Nathan Eyarts of Southbury genuine con- servationist ,,,, Annual catch ot prime belts varies but little from year to year Men who do things never talk much. They don't have to. When O reporter visited Nath- an Evarts of Southbury, the other day, Nate was as silent as a wood- cn Indian and nobody would have guessed that he had the best string of furs in Western Connec- ticut.
 While most folks arc stlll sleep ing, Nate EvartS Is out along the far-flung traplineS, gathering his harvest. Long after most people are abed, this accomplished woods man Is busy skinning the preda- tory creatures he captured during the day, stretching the belts, pre- pairing for the new dawn. Mates day begins early and extends far into the evening, but he makes it nay and he keeps the varmints down so that game birds and animals can survive and breed.
 peltS are good this year of the wars. A buyer came through the other day and complimented MT Evarts for his fine catch this sea- son. Seldom does one sec more beautiful furs than Nate has caught this year. To date, and the season Is still young, MT. EVarts has carroled mink, 8 coonS, , possums, 2s skunks, ll7 muskrats, and 28 foxes, When one considers that each and every one of these creatures has waXed fat on game birds and Ash, Mates contribution to the preservation of wild life m connecticut Is considerable. If we had more trappers like,him. all Of us could get more fun from our occasional trips Into the wild country. Nathan EvartS is prac- tical conseryationiSt and a modest gentleman farmer on the side, II we had more game protectors of his type, Connecticut sportsmen would have the best hunting in all New England. tHartford papers please copyo
 We've found the man who bor- rows steam shovelS. He's in the funk business and has been mak- ing n collection down in the Squeak street area. Apprehended' this collector faced the unbend- inR dignity of our Honorable liar. oil HlcOck In town court. He VIII be more careful next time.
 Skunk hunters are seldom fragrant after an encounter With woods pussy, and we've otten wondered why. The cure is al. most as bad as the original gas attack, but here it Is, for what It may be worth . When, as, and II (, skunk proves hostile and you are within range, don't bury your clothing or send it to the clean- CTS. Just clip few boughs Of common rcd cedar, light a smudge, ard stand in the smoke until you smell like q properly smoked side of bacon. People who have tried this cure seldom show up With anything worse than slightly swollen eyes.
 Out of the slightly musty past ccmes the tale Of local marriage in which the groom failed to shine as anticipated. After the reading Of the minutes and the ring rites. the groom asked the parson what the usual fee for such services might be. The preacher blushed because he knew that the bride was repOrtedly far removed from the poverty level. and said; "Just pay me what you think she is wOrth." The groom unlimbered . badly worn dime, and the minister s supposed to have returned . new nickle In change.
 There's another tale of the farmer who never heard of birth control. Ills family grew apace and the countryman had to seek additional income to support the many newcomers. He went into swino raising on 0 heavy scale. fassersby snickered when they read the crudely-lettered sign on the sugar maple beside the way. The legend was, Little Pigs For Sale"
 Local merchants report the heaviest Christmas shopping In several years. The postmaster has iaborcd long hours these past weeks and the bulk of mall has been astonishing. Cards to this column arrived from Ketchikan, Long View. Washington; Dallas, Texas; and Orriente, Cuba. News gets around, # it originates In the valley of the Pomperaug.
 How popular local merchant can be was Illustrated Just the other evening when Q local mos torist drove over to Cedar Hollow Filling station with a can Of Henry McCarthy's alcohol and another container of McCarthy'S iinest motor oil, to park under ths neons and service his engine for winter driving. After the lad had changed oil and filled Up with the South Britain anti freeze. he borrowed 6 hydrometer from the filling station proprietor, tested the radiator, and drove on. As the tail-lights oi the visitor faded in the distance. the boss wiped on the hydrometer and re- stored t to its rack. Then Q car drove fin and he hurried ont