The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-15
SOUTH BRITAIN BRIEFS
By BILL GARRIGUS

AleXuAucr MeSeHeV, VusoiuH poultry farmer believes in pioneer- ing, Alex owns . place on hilltop overlooking the Pomper- aug river. The Russian Village Is Just over the way, and Groves orchard with tho automatic deer scarer is adjoining, It's as lone- ly a spot as you'll find in many Q day, yet It's beautiful at this time of year This Russian pioneer Is raising broilers, run ming his own show, and trying to tame wild hilltop meadows gone rough these many years.
 Mesenev has . story, and a good one. When he was just . kid, he signed on with the French For. eign Legion for Q hitch, gave that up and came to hls active service career with the Russian imperial army. When the Russians went haywire, Alex stayed on to fight for the White Russians and served through . long campaign without wound,
 Some of these social flxers and salvatlonists might learn lot from an afternoon with Alex Mesenev. He has seen Commit nism as 1t failed to work for his people. He believes that dreams are fine but that hard reality Is safer to tie to. In these days of Fifth Columns and loose thought, it's Q pleasure to talk to 6 man like this Russian pioneer who has brought his experience to Yan- kee hilltop where he can work out his livelihood unassisted and without subsidy. When you get low and think America Is slipping, take Q few hours of and visit with Alexander Mesenev, who travelled halfway around the world before he made his pitch In Yam keeland,
 Have you ever watched sugar naples as they start to leaf out? There's . fun to the bloom and the prettlcst shade of green out doors. From a distance, outlined against darker, duller colOring. . sugar maple with growing pains looks like ghostly lady newly gowned and awaiting callers. When the first tiny leaves appear on sugar naples, bullheads are usually biting, perch are running, and cells are exploring the mud.
 Old pastures and newly plowed lands are frosted with powdered limestone these days, Under the soil conservation program, the government gives farmers what is practically free lime and the most conservative Yankee Is right there when the car arrives to take his handout. Lime Sweetens the soil, brings in clover. makes for better grazing and cleaner crops. Con- necticut limestone is the best in America, yet almost all of our own quarries are idle and we are importing lime from other states. Isn't 1t about time we took stock of our own resources? One of these days. we may find that we will be forced to go back to the older ways and use the materials at our door.
 Business is improving since German troops moved into the Low Countries. Henry Mccarthy sold a lawn mower the other day and his display of garden tools Is wideopen invitation to start making a crop.
 Hawley's Bridge isn't the only bridge in town to have a tablet to the selectmen. The bridge at the mouth of the Shepaug like wise bears a label:
 "l934
 James l.. Fleming
 William Lautenschlager
 J. Edward Coer
 Selectmen."
 This bridge is dashed to trees on the river bank, 1t needs paint. and there's a fairly good trout hole be- meath 1t. It's a friendly sort of bridge that invites travel. Nearby, during the Indian troubles, hum-