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CONNECTICUT'S BUSINESS

OUTLOOK.

Contemplated and Neglected Legislation Further Restrain

Business Enterprise.

THE IMPORTANT REPORTS

The State Prison and the Sav~ ings Banks in a Satisfac­

tory Condition.

GOVERNOR COFFIN RETIRES.

fi Veteran Democratic Newspaper Calls for a Partisan

Reconciliation.

T> HE new year opens in C o n n e c t 1 cut with slightly i m p r o v e d business conditions and a partial recovery of general confidence, but with no such out­look for spring trade as seemed a month ago to Justify quite ex­

traordinary preparations. Business men, both manufacturers and

merchants, feel that there is more to en­courage them than there was, and admit that the removal of the special cause of irrita­tion, the cheap money threat, has presented a marked advantage, but they do not discuss the actual situation without interrupting their views upon that subject with sugges­tive shakings of the head, as if they feared something which they cannot put their fin­gers on.

The Christmas trade, which was on the whole profitable, was nevertheless confined to the special features of the holiday season. If the people of Connecticut did not forget to indulge themselves in the pleasantries and amenities of Christmastide, neither did they permit themselves to make their purchases as indiscriminately and liberally as on for­mer occasions. As one merchant put it, "Our customers bought closer than usual, and could not be tempted to look beyond the nov­elties."

Yet the fact Is, and there are none to deny it, that business prospects are improved. Collections are a bit livelier, savings banks deposits are larger and the money market is easier. These are certainly favorable prom­ises, and in a very large measure furnish a justification for the prediction, made before the election in November, that if sound money did not receive the unqualified in­dorsement of the country a period of terrible (list.ess would follow. That a radical im­provement has not followed—aside from the philosophical undesirability of it—is due to a variety of conditions, which shrewd Con­necticut business men thoroughly well under­stand and are adjusting themselves to.

Chief among these obstacles to a speedy and general return of business activity Is t*>̂ fact that this State is no better fitted by temperament than any other State in the I'nion to throw off the fever and physical fatigue of months of business depression and financial distress at a moment's notice. There is a period of convalescence to go through with, during which the Serves re­cover their tension, the body takes on flesh and the mind restores Us vitality.

It has been a lesson which the people of Connecticut have been learning during the last three years, and it has made them more than ever conservative. Their day dream of a horn of plenty has been Drought to the test of actual realities, and they have learned at least a chapter or two from the school­room experience, so to speak, of the older European countries. They will continue to exhibit their natural enterprise and sagacity, but no longer with the bumptious idea in mind that God Almighty has especially re­served for this country a prosperity which unwise legislation and reckless political lead­ership does not affect.

They have discovered in their local as well as in their State and national affairs that there is a rule of legislative economy to obey which unruly legislative enterprise conflicts with and renders inoperative. The increase of expense in their various forms of govern­ment, which has not been accompanied by a corresponding Increase of either revenue or prosperity, has made Connecticut contem­plative, and temporarily discouraged business investments and considerably reduced the list of "the necessaries of life."

In a word, the quick and intelligent people of this State, wage earners as well as wage payers, have been taught a severe but a wholesome lesson in economy, and until they have thoroughly adjusted themselves to their new standard of everyday life they will not entirely recover from or escape the other ir­ritating sources of uneasiness which have come up since Congress met.

The manufacturers of Connecticut, for ex­ample, are not pleased at the now certain overhauling of the tariff laws. The Wilson law never had a dozen honest friends in the entire State, and if to-day a vote could be taken among these manufacturers, with the poison of partisan prejudice entirely elimi­nated from their expression of opinion, the great mass of them would deplore the sud­den abandonment by Congress of needed cur­rency legislation and the equally sudden re­vival of what threatens to be the virtual re-enactment of the McKlnley law.

The truth Is tnat Connecticut la largely weaned from its mistaken coaviction that a tariff for protection is either necessary or desirable for its Industrie*. I do not mean to intimate that a reaction has taken place as yet in favor of the other extreme, but I do mean to state that from frequent and varied talks with large manufacturers I am justified in asserting that they want to be left alone to do something for their own salvation and

to make the best possible u ie of the prosper­ity at hand.

In the past twelve years tariff tinkering has cost Connecticut, in one form and an­other, millions of dollars, and the present fear of it has disheartened men and re­stricted business confidence. If the producers of this State knew what this new tariff bill was to be, or that It would be left alone after it became a law, or that the entire matter had been referred to a commission of experts not dependent upon party politics' for their employment, and, hence, for the character of their report, JL very large obstacle In the pathway of returning prosperity would be removed.

There is in every county in the State abundant evidence of nervousness on the part of Connecticut manufacturers a t the prospect of a new and uncertain tariff law.

Nor is the prospect of a delay in currency legislation, in order that the old farce of quizzing European nations upon the subject of "international bimetallism" may be re­peated, without its evil effect. I t is realized that it is a sop to disaffected Western Con­gressmen, and that in the meantime the meaning of the word "coin" in our national contracts remains undefined by law, in dis­cordance with the popular verdict of last November.

The announcement made by Senator Wol-cott, of Colorado, that he has seen the Presi­dent elect, and that he is heartily In favor of the proposed movement, has sent a chill down the backs of the producers of the State and made a peep here into the future more uncertain than ever.

It may seem absurd that such an under­taking should scare capital and undermine labor, but the fact is, capital is timid and labor is dependent upon it.

There was no reason for the stock market to fall disastrously because a few members of the United States Senate went to war with Spain, and under ordinary circumstances the coun­try would have smiled at them, but with our affairs disturbed and uncertainty pending, business men everywhere, as here in Con­necticut, accepted the circumstance as one additional drop in the bucket of irritation.

I speak of these various reasons for the failure of Connecticut to illustrate, as be­comes its manufacturing dignity, the benefi­cent effects of the recent election, because they are in the mouths of thoughtful students of events and are freely spoken of among business men, who are being fearfully fined that agitators may agitate in and out of Con­gress.

There is no State in the Union better pre­pared by the variety of its industries, the conservatism of its business men and the sol­vency of its banks than Connecticut; nor has any State weathered the gale of the past three years more successfully. It ought to be among the first to recover Its business equilibrium.

The fact is that Connecticut is a type of the American victim of unsettled financial con­ditions. Interference with the natural laws of trade is harassing its life. Ignorance of what the substitute artificial laws are to be is holding it prostrate agalnat its will and in the face of improved business conditions. If relief cornea soon the spring trade will be good. If it is long delayed the promised re­turn of good times will be postponed until fall. This, in brief, is the Dusinftss situation in Connecticut, known to men who are a part of it, but unknown to Congress.

I m p o r t a n t S t a t e R e p o r t s . The interesting and important reports from

State officers for the week are those of the Warden of the State Prison, at Wethers-field, and of the Bank Commissioners. In keeping with that spoken of last week in the HERALD—the Comptroller's—there Is notice­able the same free and easy style of writ­ing which has of late years become char­acteristic of detached officials.

1 he Warden of the prison presents a very clear and comprehensive statement of the year's achievements at that Institution, and makes recommendations for the improve­ment of it which, if they are approved by the General Assembly, will further improve Connecticut's prison policy and bring it one step nearer the more advanced policies of the great States of New York and Massachu­setts.

Speaking In a general way, the report shows that the management of the prison has been efficient, and that the utmost econ­omy consistent with the health and welfare of the Institution has been practised. The health of its inmates has been good, the dis­cipline has been Improved, and the causes for correction and punishment considerably reduced; all of which speaks volumes for the attention and devotion of its management.

The most important recommendation made is that urging the adoption of the indeter­minate sentence and parole system. These reforms in the State criminal policy have been long under consideration by the man­agement of the prison, and have from time to time been discussed favorably by the State press. The operation of them In other States has been closely watched, and their advantages thoroughly discussed. There re­mains no doubt that their enforcement in Connecticut would aid materially In the ex­periment of testing modern "scientific" prison principles and of determining how far this State can safely depart from Its almost uniform policy.

A glance at the past administration of the Institution shows that the same conservative, if not sceptical, spirit has restrained them from giving countenance to prison policies of government which have not been fully in­dicated in practice. This deliberation has un­questionably, upon the surface, made It ap­pear that Connecticut was slow and grounded in its prejudices, but a similar study of the administration of prisons elsewhere, which have been foremost in trying the experiments recommended by prison theorists, shows that this State has saved thousands of dollars to the taxpayers, and held itself in readiness to take quick advantage of what was really practical and beneficial. The Warden's recom­mendation, therefore, which is strongly in­dorsed by the board of directors, that the indeterminate sentence and parole system be adopted, will doubtless carry with it its own favorable comment to the Legislature.

Two other important recommendations are those for the establishment of an electric lighting plant and the erection of an insane ward for insane convicts. The first of these Is demanded by economy and by the health of the institution. The use of kerosene in the main block of cells seriously disturbs the at­mosphere and prevents desired ventilation.

An insane ward is positively necessary. It Is not right that the Middletown Asylum should be required to care for Insane con­victs, for whose safety and restraint It is not equipped. It would forever dispose of the long controversy between the trustees of the two State institutions, and put an end to the feigning of insanity by criminals, if, as is repeatedly charged, that means of ac­celerating escape is more or less successfully indulged in.

In this connection it may be explained that the amendments which were made last week to the prison rules by the board of directors, and to which the State press has devoted more space than w a s warranted, have for some time been under contemplation, and were not hurried by the discharge of offi­

cials, a s intimated. There to reason t * be­lieve that thegr would not have been acted upon a t a special meeting bad It not been for the expiration, thto week, ©* the term* of office ef a majority of the director*, who were appointed by Governor Coffin to fill vacancies caused by death and resignation.

S t a t e B a n k s . The report of the State Bank Commission­

ers is eminently satisfactory. It has been a severe year or two for the savings banks. Many of their depositors have, for reasons of timidity, withdrawn their money and stored it away in safe deposit vaults and in other secret pieces of hiding; while others, who would ordinarily have intrusted their sav» ings to the banks, have secreted them in places which they regarded with greater con­fidence.

The encouraging fact is, however, that in spite of these obstacles to success, the showing for the year i s satisfactory. N o t only have the banks in the larger towns, where labor is employed in the greatest num­bers, increased their deposits over the* pre­vious fiscal year, but the smaller rural banks show a corresponding increase.

The Increase In assets over 1895 is more than $7,000,000. Tbe deposits show but a few hundred dollars short of 1150.000,000. There are over 866,000 depositors, the great major­ity of them having less than tt.000 on de­posit. The dividends paid amounted to $6,681,-710, and nearly $6,400,000 more w a s deposited than withdrawn. The lowest per cent paid was three, and the highest five, a fine show­ing for banking busipess sagacity. The Com-missioners.dlscourage paying more than four per cent, upon the ground that general busi­ness and the scarcity of legal investments do not warrant it.

The announcement made by the Commis­sioners that it Is not lawful for savings banks to Invest in street improvement bonds makes one regret that they did not go one step further, and warn all banks that the General Assembly would be advised to for­bid the investment of savings banks deposits in the stock of national banks.

A large amount of the money of these State banks is invested in national bank stock, which certainly violates the spirit of the restrictive law thrown about savings bank investments and makes such moneys subject to the ups and downs of trade. Street pavement bonds now come under the name of precarious investments, but before they would be defaulted by a Connecticut town the condition of local national banks would be approximately prostrate.

Had the sudden contraction of the money market a year and a half ago not been fore­seen by Connecticut bank managers, who fortified their institutions against a financial cloudburst, and had a storm come, the blow would have swept many savings banks from their otherwise secure moorings. This should now be legislated against.

«* G o v e r n o r Coffin's A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

The change in the personnel of the State government will take place on Wednesday of this week, smoothly and gracefully, and Lieutenant Governor Cooke will for two years write his name without#the modifying prefix. Governor Coffin will be added to the long list of living ex-Governors, who will then number seven.

It is neither possible nor just to Criticise the value of an administration a t its close. Its Influence and its policy continue to be felt for a long time. Still, enough is known of the Coffin regime to warrant a more or less gen­eral statement, and there are some things to be said which plainly ought to be said. And it ought further to be asserted as a proposi­tion that no especially brilliant record can be expected from a term of office which is limited to two years. Most of that t ime is required to familiarize the incumbent with his authority and his power for good. With but one or two quite remarkable exceptions, the most beneficial executive results have come from a second term.

But as for Governor Coffin, his administra­tion has been a creditable one. It has been essentially a business administration, notice­able for its prudence and conservatism. H e has been very careful upon all occasions to maintain the dignity of the office and to con­serve the best interests of the State a s he understood them. He has been thoroughly conscientious, and whatever mistakes in judgment he has made have been due to a failure to quickly rise to a situation whose conditions were somewhat unfamiliar.

Governor Coffin early In his administration lost the support of the practical politicians of his party. This w a s due, In the main, to their failure to manage him. It was pbvious from the first that he intended to occupy Mac-gregor's »lace at the head of the table. The offices were distributed by him as he saw fit, which constitutes a terrific violation of the law from the point of view of the political boss. There Is this, however, to be said from the point of view of the public:—his ap­pointees, on the whole, have been well fitted for their duties.

Comparisons are always odious, and need not now be indulged in. It is sufficient that there have been no serious criticisms to offer upon the Coffin administration, and that i t will retire from office with the respect of the community.

DEMANDS ON THE POOR FUND

M»

Metideft Now Compelled to Aid More Needy Families

Than Ever Before.

DESERTED BY THE MEN.

Husbands and Fathers Have Dis~ appeared and Selectmen

Cannot Trace Them.

GOLLUSION IS SUSPECTED.

W* Buraham. The party w a s chaperoned 2 £ ^ f - ^ J 1** C h a r l e e E B u t t a T r h e ride was to FKchvtils, aad en returning to Nor-S.c .h . TOP?r waa served a t the house of Mrs. wui ia in C. Lanman. The Misses Richards. Miss Annie Brewer, Miss Webb, Miss Helen Gilbert, Mr. Albert Reynolds. Mr. Willis Aus-u , \ . M r . J. Marbury Reynolds and Mr. Regi­nald Reynolds were of the-party.

DRAWING ROOM VAUDEVILLE. Mrs. Dunscomb's Guests Were Enter.

talned with a Variety Performance and Then They All Had Sapper.

d>3

[BY TELEGRAIH TO THB HERALD.]

MERIDEN, Conn., Jan. 2, 1897. HIS town has had to spend more money for the outside poor this winter than ever before. The in­dustrial depression has worked a curious change in the condition of af­fairs among the poor, and those who study the various phases of the

change have found interesting things to think about.

There are nearly 400 families, representing about 1,200 persons, who are receiving aid from the town. This is between four and five per cent of the total population of the place. In a large number of cases the bus-band has disappeared and left the family to shift for itself, and, after struggling along for a time on the mere pittance some mem­ber of the family has been earning, the deserted wife has been compelled to seek town aid. In this way the Selectmen have discovered that a very large number of de­serted women are now receiving the meagre aid doled out each week by the town.

T H E * HAVE BEEN 8HBEWD. In deserting their families the husbands

and fathers have shown cleverness in thus throwing upon the town the burden of their families' support. In every case the where­abouts of the missing man Is undlscoverable. H e has come to the city and lived here any­where from eighteen months to two years, gaining a residence beyond all question and working around wherever he could get a day's work. Then, when work became short and there was nothing to do, he pulled up stakes and departed.

It looks In many cases as if there were collusion between man and wife. He under­stands that If the Selectmen can discover him his family will be sent to the town in which he lives, and he will be compelled lo support his wife and children, or else he will be re­quired to send ihis wages here, and these will be used for the benefit of the family.

The Selectmen would prefer in nearly every case to forward the family, but the deserting husbands are "cute" enough to prevent that. The wife prefers to stay here and get from the town w h a t she can. while the hu3band will help cut the sum by sending secretly to his wife his earnings.

Thus the woman and her family gain sym­pathy, and yet are actually defrauding the town.

CANNOT FIND FRAt'D. While there are suspicions that there 8 re

many of these cases here, it is almost Impos­sible to discover them. The women continue to appeal for aid for themselves and chil­dren and tell the Selectmen the same old story. Investigation finds the homes of these women cheerless, with no sign of comfort, and there is nothing for the Selectmen to do except take care of these families. Whenever one is caught defrauding the town all town aid Is cut off.

The appropriation in 1896 for outside poor was 113,000. The Selectmen expended 513,577 during the year, and this year asked for $16,000. This appropriation has been voted.

This Increase in the appropriation has set the taxpayer Inquiring Into the methods which prevail in distributing alms among the poor. They find the Selectmen have been doing the beet that could be done under the circumstances. What is needed is a new almshouse wherein can be accommodated half a hundred of the outside poor. The present almshouse is filled to overflowing, and only "transients" are sent there. If the- i town had a larger building, in which many of\ f the outside poor who apply for aid could be placed, it is thought the falling off would be very heavy.

The present almshouse was once a bowling aliey. It is not large enough to accommodate many persons, and there are only sixteen acres of land surrounding it. The town wants two large buildings situated on a farm com­prising at least 100 acres.

Then every old woman who applies for aid will be sent over the hills unless her friends who are able come forward and take care of her. f

FESTIVITIES I N NORWICH.

Xutes a n d C o m m e n t s , The venerable Hartford Times, whose edi­

tor has been aptly named the Bishop of Con­necticut Journalism, has made a strong plea for the reconciliation of the two wings of the democratic party in Connecticut. It state* tersely and clearly the evils of the silver heresy, and shows wherein prosperity from that source is impossible. It then speaks of the great work there is ahead of a united party, compared to which in importance the demands of the Chicago Convention are as nothing. The Times would have these issues dropped as If they never had existed and "let democrats come together, make their nomi­nations and elect men who represent true constitutional principles and conservative ad­ministration." N o one who knows the elder or the younger Burr can doubt the sincerity or the correctness of tnls appeal. I t la genu­ine and It is Just. The divided democracy can never serve the public to good advan­tage, for it can never be anything but a wrangling minority, playing constantly into the hands of "the enemy." With the Chi­cago platform abandoned and the rival party organization given up, there would remain no cause for rupture. In its place would come an enthusiastic army, fighting for what It would ultimately win—a triumphant suc­cess.

A Middletown dominie has given the world a new reason for resigning his charge and setting out to make his fortune elsewhere. His resignation w»s a surprise to his flock, who were attached to him and revelled in his eloquent preaching and pastoral considera­tion. It came as an incident to a soul stir­ring sermon on the law of ohange. The local prints declare that he Is one of the most elo­quent pulpit orators in the city. But this quite unusual talent seems not to have filled the pews, or at least kept the church to which he was attached from drifting upon the rocks of financial distress.

He brooded long and secretly upon the situation, and Anally concluded that an un­married man would be better fitted to pull the institution through the hard times. H e frankly told his congregation so. and retired to make w a y for a young bachelor, who m a y be content, when he Is found, to be fervent and eloquent at a small figure. The name of this remarkable and truly distinguished example of pious self-sacrifice is the Rev. E. J. Chaffee, and the church Is the leading Unlversallst church of the city. Evidently the day of wooden nutmegs in Connecticut is past. TRUMBULL.

Society Assembled at Many Gay Enter­tainments in the City.

(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. 1

NORWICH, Conn., Jan. 2, 1897.—Many young folks attended an informal dance given by Mrs. A. C. Tyler, at the Elm. in Pequot ave­nue, New London, for Miss Tyler and Miss Sallie Tyler, on Thursday evening. Those in­vited from Norwich were Miss Polly Learned, Mr. Walter M. Buckingham, Mr. William A. Buckingham, Jr.; Mr. J. Marbury Reynolds Mr. Reginald Reynolds and Mr. Archa W. Colt.

Miss Emily Paddock, of New York, Is the guest of her brother, Dr. Louis S. Paddock, of Washington street.

The Rev. Richard H. Nelson left town on Tuesday for Philadelphia. Mr. Nelson has received a flattering call to St. Peter's Church, that city.

The second of the Wednesday evening as­semblies was given at the Norwich Club house this week.

Mr. Walter T. Camp, who has been visit­ing in town, left for Portland, Me., on Mon­day.

Mr. Plimpton is the guest of Mr. Tyler Olcott, of Church street.

The Wednesday Afternoon Literary Club met this week with Miss Huntington, of Broadway.

Mr. ana Mrs. Alfred L. Aiken, of Boston, and Mrs. Benjamin Bacon, of New Haven, spent New Year's Day in town, the guests of General and Mrs. William A. Aiken, of Wash­ington street.

Mr. and Mrs. Wlnslow T. Williams and son, of Yantic, Conn., are visiting relatives in New York.

Miss Burnnam, of Lincoln avenue, is visit­ing in Hartford, where she is the guest of Mrs. David Lanman,

The Misses Osgood, of Franklin street, en­tertained the Duplicate Whist Club on Friday evening.

The third holiday dance was given at th-> Norwich Club on Thursday evening. Th^re is only on» more in the series, and that will not be given until Easter Monday, April 19.-Those present on Thursday were the Misses , Osgood, the Misses Buckingham, the Misses Brewer, the Misses Burnham, the Misses Richards, the Misses f l o w s , Mr. and Mrs. David Wells, Mr. and Mrs. O. Greene. Mr. and Mrs. Millar Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Osgood, Miss Pray, Miss Webb. Miss Reynolds, Miss Johnson, Miss Trumbull, Miss Caru there. Miss Hubbard, Miss Livermore, Miss Mitchell, Messrs. Al­bert Marbury and Reginald Reynolds, Mr. Walter Buckingham, Mr. Peck, Mr. Porter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Bard, Mr. Lester, Mr. Par­ker. Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Reckard, Mr. Dowe, Mr. Olcott, Mr. Blackstone and Mr. Austin.

The Ebeneser Huntington Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution held Its second meeting on Wednesday afternoon at the house of Mrs. H. H. Gallup. The meet­ing was presided over by Miss Carrie E. Rogers, president. Questions upon United Statee history were asked, and Edward Ely received a prise *»T the best answers, which w s s a pearl handled penholder. A dainty re­fection was served.

Miss Grace E, Palmer, of Montviiie, Conn., was the guest on Thursday of Mrs. William A. Buckingham. She attended the holiday dance at the Norwich Club, dancing the co­tillon with Mr. Walter M. Buckingham.

A few of the younger set enjoyed a sleigh

(BT TELEGRAPH TO THB HERALD.) N E W HAVBN, Conn., Jan. 2, 1S97.—Mra God­

frey Dunscomb entertained, at her home on Prospect Hill, on Friday night, with a draw­ing room vaudeville. The house w a s In its holiday dress of holly and wreaths. About seventy-five guests gathered In the drawing room to see the vaudeville performance. Sup­per was served after the performance.

Mr. John D. Jackson, Mr. Elliott Sumner and Mr. Wilbur F. Day, Jr., acted a s ushers. The guests were Professor Marsh, the Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Bispham, Dr. and Mrs. George Douglass, Mr. and Mrs. William W. Farnam, Professor and Mrs. D. Cady Eaton, Miss Eaton, Mr. George Eaton, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Whitney, Mr. and Mra. J. B. Sargent, Mr. B. Farnam, Miss Farnam, Miss Kate Trow-and Mrs, Henry L Hotchklss, Mrs. George bridge, Miss Nanple Trowbridge, Admiral Bunce, Mrs. Bunce and Miss Bunce, Pro­fessor and Mrs. Salsbury, Professor Theodore Woolsey, Miss Edith Woolsey, Dr. and Mrs. Bishop, Dr. and Mrs. Daggett , Mr. Thornton Hunt, Mrs. Huntington Denton. Miss May Denton, Mr. and Mrs. James Mason Hoppin, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. James M. B. Dwight, M ,.-;s Mary Qulncy, Mr. Graham Sumner, Judge and Mrs. Townsend, Professor and Mrs. Franklin B. Dexter, Miss Van Winkle. Miss May Bishop the Misses Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sargent, Professor and Mrs. John F. Weir, Miss Edith Weir, Mr. and Mrs. Rus­sell Sargent, the Rev. and Mrs. G. Brinley Morgan, the Rev. Mr. Yardley, Mr. •Jreorge Seymour, Miss Rebecca Beach and Mr. Rod-raond V. Beach.

An informal subscription dance at the Lawn Club on Thursday night was chap­eroned by Mrs. Samuel Fisher and Mrs. Jo­seph Sargent. Mr. Edward G. Buckland led the cotillon. The promoters of the dance were Mr. John Thompson, Mr. Walter Lounsbury, Mr. M. Gavin, Mr. John Hall. Mr. Henry Townsend and the Messrs. Hal-bert.

Their guests were Miss Susie Wright, Miss Edith Williams, the Misses Whittlesey, the Misses Whitney, Miss Alice Porter and Miss May Denton.

Among the N e w Year dinner parties was one by Captain and Mrs. Charles Town-shend.

THE THIRD ASSEMBLY. The third of the season's assemblies is an­

nounced for January IB. Miss Julia Pauline Leavess gave a small

tea on Monday at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Seaver, No. 25 Lynwood street, for Miss Sarah Truax. Mrs. Charles W. Vishno sang to the piano accompaniment of Dr. Vishno. The guests were Mrs. Joseph B. Sheldon, Mrs. John H. Piatt. Mrs. George Lewis, Mrs. Samuel Bronson, Mrs. Charles P. Thompson, Mrs. A. Maxey Hlller, Mrs. Herbert A. Smith, Mr. Kebabian, Mrs. John Howarth, Mrs. C. W. Ives, Mrs. Edward R. Atwater, Miss Agnes Hall, Miss Mary Boyd and Mrs. George Lewis.

AT THE LAWN C U B . Dr. and Mrs. John P. C. Coster were host

and hostess at the Lawn Club on Monday night for a jollv Christmas Darty. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sargvent, Professor and Mrs. William Beebe, Miss Helen Hall, Professor Wright and children. Professor and Mrs. E . S. Dana, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bennett, Professor and Mrs. William Mlxter, Miss Susie Wright, Mrs. Charles Hastings, Mrs. Thomas Hooker, Dr. and Mrs. Newman Smythe, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce F<enn, Profes­sor and Mrs. Dexter and Mr. and Mrs. Ell Whitney.

Cards have been Issued for a tea on Jan­uary 6 by Mrs. Sherman Foote, of Howe street, for Mrs. Lyman.

There was a pretty wedding in Davenport Church on Wednesday at high noon. The bridegroom was Mr. Heman Ely, of Elyrla, Ohio. The bride was Miss Anna Burt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John I. Burt. Mr. Ely, Yale, '94, had as his best man a class, mate, Mr. F. M. Laude, of New York, and as his ushers Mr. R. W. Bartram, Yale '95, of Newark; Mr. Edward Savage, of New Haven, a Junior at Cornell; Dr. Fred Sperry and Mr. A. W. Sperry, of New Haven.

Miss Bertha Slas. of Boston, a classmate of the bride at a Northfleld seminary, was maid of honor. The ceremony was per­formed by the Rev. Mr. Meserve, pastor of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Ely, the bride-

froom's parents, gave a dinner party on uesday night at the New Haven House for

the bridal party and Miss Roberts, of Hart­ford; Miss Anna Peterson, Miss May Stan-nard and Missy Savage.

PRETTY HOME WEDDINO. Mr, Burton Jesse Hendrlek, Yale '95,

nephew of former Mayor Hendrlek, and Miss Bertha Jane Ives", daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart B. Ives, of Fair Haven Heights, were married at half-past five o'clock on Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. D. M. James, of the Fair Haven Congregational Church. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents, which w a s beautifully decorated.

The bride, who is a eradicate of Mount Holyoke College and of the Anderson Gym­nasium, of which she afterward became Vice president, was attended by her sister, Miss Sue Ives, as maid of honor. The brides­maids were Miss Leila M. Ives, another sis­ter; Miss Anna Butler, of Highland Falls, N. Y., a classmate and roommate of the bride at Mount Holyoke, and Miss Carrie B. Hendrlek, sister of the bridegroom. Mr. Hendrick's best man was Mr. Henry F. Punderson, of New Haven, and his ushers were Mr. Raymond S. White, of N e w York, Yale '95; Mr. Roger S. Baldwin, of the Law School: Mr. Louis D. Tracy. Yale '94, of Bos­ton, and Mr. James W. Hemingway, of New Haven.

The bridal gown was of white embroidered mousseline de sole, over satin, and a veil of

BURDENED BY *** *

SECRET ORDERS Norwich Suffering fi£tn-:thc Lame Number of Societies Which Have Lodged There.

WEIGHT UPON POOR MEN.

Feathers and Promises Tempt Those Who Gan 111 Afford It

to Become Members.

PROMISE IN A RAILROAD.

. with s door opening from the corner of the house,

tulle was caught to the hair with a brooch of so that teams could drive close up and tb«

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I NORWICH, Conn., Jan. X-VKft.

H E R E is n o . doftht that some secret s o ­cieties, p a r tieularly the older "ones,*" are distinct forces f o f good in eiyery -oom-m unity by reason of their moral teachings and benevolent work. The Odd Fellows are especially to be com­mended for the practi­

cal way they look after their 111 and needy, and others may equally well lay claim to similar good works, but the many are found­ed on pinchbeck benevolence, racial or relig­ious prejudices, gold brick insurance or some vague illuslonary promise of fraternal as­sistance.

To such an extent have these .worse than useless organisations grown in Norwich that they have become a positive burden, "©raw­ing their membership largely from men with only moderate Incomes—Industrial workers and clerks—they extract many a hard earned dollar, giving substantially nothing In re­turn. The evil lies In the numerous member­ships held by the same Individual in these different orders, the dues and assessments of which aggregate a sum illy spared, and re­sulting frequently in a sacrifice of home com­forts.

When slack work or an enforced period of idleness compels retrenchment the secret so­ciety is the last thing to go, for It is a verit­able trap, easy to get Into, but hard to get out from. A grocer doing a large business in a mill section of the town where there has been a long shut down, who has been com­pelled thereby to carry dozens of families, has been repeatedly solicited to advance money to customers to keep up their lodge dues, while at the same time he found that some of them were ordering uniforms—with an abundance of feathers—to wear OH parade occasions.

THEIR AMBITION. This latter phase In a measure Indicates

why they exist—a longing by men to emerge from the eminently fitting obscurity for which nature and an unappreciative public intended them. This weakness is not con­fined to any class. It is universal, aad seems to increase in intensity as the ability to gratify it decreases. These "jlners" are

fenerally a well Intentloned lot. not very eep and easily led or duped, and usually

there is found among them one or two cheap politicians, or perhaps a "shyster" lawyer, looking for followings or whatever there may be in it to their advantage.

There has been a general complaint for a year or more among the social organizations of standing of the difficulty in the collection of dues and the large number of resigna­tions, and it is well understood that even the Masons find their beautiful temple a rather expensive luxury, and tbe old time crowded cavern where the "Cinnamon Bear of Java" quenches his thirst with beer now gives forth an unusually hollow sound. .

Small wonder Is^lt then that some of the weaker orders are having hard lines, but they continue in a sort of starved cat condi­tion, and, worst of all, are threatened wftb new ones.

NORWICH WILL GAIN TRADE. , The announced purpose of the New England Railroad to consider ways and means for the extension of the railway on the east bank of the Thames River to the Groton station, on the Consolidated road, has finally convinced the many, if not all, sceptics that the road will be built this year. This extension has been long desired by Norwich, not only foi the fact that it opens up competition with the New London Northern road—a thing most devoutly wished for—but It also prom­ises to make connection with Mystic, Ston-ington and Westerly easier and quicker, and renders possible the realization of the dream of a through car to and from New York.

The summer travel between Norwich and the shore east of New London is consider­able, and the route that best accommodate* the public will get the business. It will af­fect the summer steamboat travel without a doubt, especially that to Watch Hill, by way of the trolley Hoe from Westerly. It Ji likely to result also in the establishment of s 'bus line from the Groton Station to Eastern Point, which would give the large Norwich colony there almost continuous transporta­tion to their cottage doors.

On the other hand, it Is sure to bring- busi­ness to this city from the east shore towns, as trade naturally seeks the largest market when express and freight facilities are T»H an equal basis. This insures a steady local traffic the year round,

Norwich was the market for three towns In the days of the turnpike and stage coach, and the best preserved toll house in th« county is on the Centre Groton road. It stands at an angle to the highway.

pink and white pearls, the bridegroom's gift.

Mr. and Mrs. Hendrlek will be at home after February 1 at No. 165 Livingstone street.

MERRYMAKING IN HARTFORD. Yuletide Gayeties Which Kept Society

Dancing When It Was Not Attend­ing Other Entertainments.

ride on Monday evening, whlcn was planned [ An informal reception followed.

1ST TELEGRAPH TO THB HERALD. 1 HABTFOBD, Conn., Jan. 2, 1897.—A dance was

given on Monday evening in City Mission Hall by several Yale men in town. Mrs. Frank L. Howard. Mrs. Charles E. Gross, Mrs. Joseph H. Twltchell and Mrs. Henry Bryant were the patronesses.

There were present Miss Brown, Miss Gala-oar, Miss Holcombe. Miss Skinner, Miss Cur­tis, Miss Allen. Miss Marie Corwin, Miss Edith Corwin, Miss Harmony Twichell, Miss Bunce, Miss Hart, Miss Elisabeth Curtis, Miss Burnell, Miss Ingraham, Miss Lillian Cone, Miss Seyms. Miss Frlsble, Miss Bryant, Miss Wood, Miss Post, Miss Westcott , Miss Spencer, Miss Garvan and the Misses Sam­son, and Messrs. Terry, Oarvan Davis, Park-hurst, Cady, E. Taylor, C. Northern, Sey­mour, Luce, Kimball, Goodman, Redneld, Morcom. Lyman, Chapman, Sage, Spencer and Howard.

The Misses Very gave a tea at four o'clock on Monday afternoon. The table decorations were in red.

The book party given by the Prospect Ca­sino Club at the Casino on New Year's Eve was a Jolly affair.

Members of Der Vereln meet on Monday evening in the Unity Han parlors for their usual Christmas jollification. Music and readings appropriate to the occasion pre­ceded the supper, which was decidedly Ger­man, After supper Professor M. Cook resd a letter from Mrs. Gilbert F. Hentlein, who is in Germany, describing the various Christ­mas preparations which were then being made in Berlin. The evening wound up wi th toasts.

Professor Lewis B. Paton, of the Hartford Theological Seminary, and Miss Servia Da­vison, daughter of Mrs. C. B. Davison, and sister of Mrs. Charles B. Smith, were mar­ried at Mrs. Smith's home, in Forrest street. on Wednesday evening by tbe Rev. Joseph H. Twichell. The bridesmaids were Miss Thayer, of Westfleld, Mass.. and Miss Paton, the bridegroom's sister, of East Orange, N. J. The house was prettily decorated with palms. Miss Ethel Paton and Masters Charles and James Miller, of Westfleld, Mass., preceded the bridal party to the hall where the cere­mony was performed. The bridesmaids wore yellow brocade, trimmed with yellow chiffon, and carried yellow rosea The bride wore white satin, with pearls and point lace, the tulle veil "being held In place by diamonds.

keeper collect his toll with the least Incon­venience' and exposure.

Mr. Elwell, the resident agent of the New England road, is an old Consolidated road man, with a high reputation for engineering ability in railway construction. He Is weE known also as a hustler, a'jjd if the exten­sion is really to be made it will be an all around object lesson, with a large sized moral, for the New London Northern m a d .

GIFTS FOB. THE ALGONQTJTNS-

Christmas Presents to Club Member! from Their Fellows.

[BT TELEGRAPH TO THB HERALD.] BRIDGEPORT. Conn., Jan. 2, 1897.-The Christ.

mas celebration of the Algonquin Club Is s feature of club life in Bridgeport. Tbe mem­ber with a hobby knows It will be exploited at that time, and he has to fortify hlmsell for the ordeal. The Algonquins' Christina* celebration came last Wednesday evening and it required five Santa Clauses to dis­tribute the presents from the huge tre« which stood in the club house parlor. They were not the typical Santa Clauses. They represented a negro, Irishman, Dutchman, farmer, and an old woman.

Then followed a season of joy, snd the member who escaped without being Sub­jected to ridicule did so by staying at home.

Mayor Frank E. Clark owns property in North Bridgeport, and to davelop It thers has been a movement to open a street hi swamp land and thicket. The Mayor w s s reminded of this by a wooden wheelbarrow upon which was inscribed, "To be used in th« excavation of Thorme street."

Frank Miller recently posed as the prtsanet In a mock trial. To him there wag given a fine rooster similar to that which he w a s ac­cused of stealing from the Rev. E. G. Fuller-ton. John M. Hawley is a politician, whe has not succeeded in landing in a snug berth because of party enemies, and a knife fell tc him with which he is to "do some weeding next Spring." Phllo Skidmore. of the. Polic* Board, wants an appropriation for ten new

ftolicemen. He got four or five stuffed po-Icemen. life slse. prepared to go on duty. Frank M. Wilson, after receiving his pres­

ent, was puzzled, A sealed envelope for hire contained the question. "What is the plura. of a tailor's goose?" "Fred" Parrott hasn't much hair, but he will use a bottle of halt restorer given to him by his club mates .

Mr. Lyon, superintendent of the Berkshire division, received a train of tin cars and s locomotive, and Jesse Cornwall, of thi Bridgeport Silk Company, opened a packagt containing a piece of cotton which bore th« inscription. "Best silk."

Dr. C. C. Godfrey had a book of ins true tions telling him " n o w to become s doetot without the aid of medicine." Archibald McNeil and Colonel W. H. Stevenson art said not to be the boat of friend*. M r - l l b -Nell received a letter purporting to be from the Colonel, offering him $500 If he would no4 run for Mayor in the spring.

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Thomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069

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