4 WEEKLY - N’ORWALK- GAZETTE. 3 cts. N onwaucfl’GAzn’m-z. “Truth above all things.” . SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 21. 1891. The Old Church Bell. The old bell in the Congregational Church tower. recently displaced by the larger and more sonorous one given by Miss Julia Lockwood, is to be melted down and its substance wrought. into tea bells. This poetical idea, which does credit alike to the mind and heart of the ever consid— erate Dr. Noble, with whom it originated, will do much to soften the hearts of those who in the decline of life feel a sense of loss in parting with this historical link between the present and the past. At many a hearthstone the redeemed spirit of the belfry will thus daily strike the earin the third octave above the familiar pealing or solemn tolling of the dear old bell. The incident seems somehow to recall from childhood the fantastic but delightful poem of Father Prout, on the “Shari-ion Bells,” beginning: “With deep affection and recollection I often think of those Shaiidon bells. Where Sounds so Wild would In days of childhood . . Fling ’round my cradle their magic spells. On this I ponderphere’er I wander, And thus grows louder. sweet Cork. of thee; With thy bells of Shandon That sound so grand on ~ . _ _ The pleasant waters of the river Dee." The first church was begun in 1659, and seems to have been built by days’ work of the inhabitants, called thereunto by persons “chosen and appointed by the towns to call th .-:n forthe.” For forty years after ward, as before, the worshipers were sum- moned by the drum beat, there came the I first bell. Tradition says it was brought from Spain. “Hall’s Norwalk,” and the town records, coutain curious references, to-wit: Feb. 3, 1703. “The town voted that the Bell should be fetcht from Ralph Kceler’s and forthwith hung up in the meeting house for to be wrung.r there for the probation of the good ~ ness of the Bell. _ At the same meeting the town made choysc of Ralph chler and James Stewart to have the bell in the meeting house, and 3 to doc all that. is necessary respecting the hanging the 53le bell, and 111150 to put a new tongue into the hell if it shall in their judgments soc need it.” Dec. 1704. “William Lees (lid engage with and unto the came to beat the Drum or ring the Bell, and that on all public occasions. And to sweep the meeting house decently; and the tow'nc engag s to allow and pay unto sal'd Lees the next were the sum of one pound, ten shillinns.” This first bell seems to have answered the purpose for nearly a. hundred years, or at least until the burning of Norwalk. The records show that a new bell was talked of as early as 1795, out it was probably not until about 1804 that the bell now under discussion was procured. The inscription on it reads: “ -New Haven, 1301.” The societies’ records on the subject are transci ibed in the quaint language and form of the originals, by the kindness of Mr. George B. St.John, in whose possession they are: At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Society, Dec. 14, 1795, Deacon Nathan- iel Benedict Chosen Moderator. At the. same Meeting Jonah Knight, Uriah Ray- mond, Stephen uanford and John llanford were appointed to Endeavor to get Sub- scriptions for a new Bell that will weigh at 800. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Society, Dec. 12, 1796, Doct. Belts Chosen Moderator. At the same Meeting Mr. Thomas Benedict was Desired and Ap- pointed to take the former subscriptions for. a Bell, and get what Addition made to them that he Can. At the same Meeting the Society Committee are directed to warn a Heeling of this Society in Order to lay a. Tax to get a New Bell if Necessary and for any Other Business. _ At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the' first Society, April 17, 1797, Doct. Betts Chosen Moderator of said Meeting. At the same Meeting William Lockwood was Desired and Appointed to En uire at. New York what he Can purchase a ell for that wrll weigh 800 or 1,000 wt., and Engage the refusal of it until he Can make report to the Society. Hayner Fitch was appointed to get further subscriptions for a Bell. ’l‘his' Meeting is Adjourned to the Second Monday of May next at 4 O’CIOck. Met according to adjournment. Doct. Betta present. At the same Meeting Messrs. William Lockwood, Jonathan Knight and Thaddeus Belts were Appointed to get the Subscriptions (.‘om— pleated for the purchase of a new bell, and when compleated to purchase the same. .lonat Taylorc and Thomas Benedict, in Addition to the foregoing, to get Subscrip- tions for the Bell. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Society in Norwalk, Dec. 8, 1800, Dot-t. Thaddeus Belts Chosen Moderator. At the same Meeting Doct. Jonathan Knight and Capt. William Betts were appointed to Ascertain as near as they Can the Cost of painting the Meeting HouSe and procuring a new Bell. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Society, June 17, 1801, Job Bartram, Esq., Chosen Moderator. At; the same Meeting the Inhabitants grant a Tax of One Cent. on a Dollar towards purchasing a New Bell for the Meeting House of about Eight llundred Wt. and to take the Old Bell and what is in the Church of England for the Mettle Lent towards paying for the same. The Society Committee to procure the Bell. At a Society Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Society in Norwalk, on Monday the 10th day of Dec, 1804, Thaddeus Betts Moderator. Jonathan Knight, Clerk, .P. 'I‘. Voted thatthe Committee of the Society be directed to Collect the remains of the Bell rlax as soon as may conveniently done. There is much floating rumor about the stufl.’ of which the bell is composed, the only thing tolerably clear being that it con- tains, among other things, the metal of the; old bell.~ Whether the latter ever did duty' after the burning of Norwalk, I do not‘ know. .""1 he impression prevails that when this lell was cast. the members of tlie Society contributed silver coin and spoons to im- prove the] tone. Mr. Isaac H. Hall, of the. Metropolitan Museum of Art, son of Dr. Edwin Hall, the compilerof the ancient historical records of the town, in a recent letter on the sulject to Miss Elizabeth W. Brown, writes: ’ “I used to hear the people say, in my boyhood, that the founders at New Haven had to make several trials before the bell was accepted by the Society; but the story of the silver dollars, silver spoons, or other mate- rial thrown into the metal, bears'every mark of the highest improbability. * * * The story must be the purest fable—one of those stories that smart raconteurs everywhere invent in order to embellish their local history.” 4 Still the tradition lives, and is supported by the probabilities. The repeated recast- ings would suggest it to the people of the time, the imagery of language gives the reality of fact to such an expression as “silver tones," and would quite possibly lead the devout and the imaginative alike to cast their sheckles into the New Haven Smelter's cauldron. Mrs. Stanley, Mrs. C C. Belts, Eli K. Street, Charles Olmstead and others in middle life vouch for the currency of the saying in their earliest recollection. Wil— liam chkwood, the father of the late Deacon William S. Lockwood, is said to have put sixty silver dollars into the bell. As Mr. Hall also remarks in the letter al- ready refereed to, a chemical analysis ofa bit of the bell would readily show whether silver were present, even if in the minutest :quantity, and the suggestion ought to be i followed. The veneration in which the bell is held is scarcely—capable of exaggeration. Its history is that of the church and of the ltown. Whether or not its substance is as tradition has it, the idolatrous esteem in which it is held is grounded in that tradi- ltion, and resembles that of the Hebrew i women for the golden calf (Exodus xxxii), iin part, no doubt, because their ear-rings and bangles were in it. i The reckless utterance that the bell sounded like a steamboat bell is probably 3 traceable to a profane source. l Mr. Hall makes still another suggestion ! to be considered : I “I cart nothing for a little bell cast from ‘ the old one,” he writes, “ but should care for a photograph, a copy of the inscription, and a piece of the bell itself, of from one- eighth to half a pound, not melted, and would gladly pay a dollar for those.” Young ladies of the church will make a house to house canvas of the town for orders for the “memory bells,” and will possibly not decline those for photographs and bits of the old bell. ‘ S. _.., <O>- --~~-«~——— Jlo re ll’m'lroml (1' ossip. The Bridgeport Standard of last even- ing says: “The officials of the Housa- tonic system are very reticent as to their future movements. but those on the inside say that-an important rail- road move will be made during the coming year, and that the capture of the Shepaug road is only the beginning of an elaborate programme that has a1~ ready been arranged. ~It is said that surveyors are now at work upon plans to extend the Shepaug road to Spring- field. and the owners of the Housatonic system will use every effort to have this carried out. It is also hinted that the recent. purchase of wharf property at the foot- of Wall street by Colonel Stev- enson was with the idea that the com- pany will soon be obliged to double- t-rack their system to this city. It is said that the business of the road is in- creasing so rapidly that a boat- line to New York will enable the road to carry freight to the metropolis at reasonable rates. The latter part of the pro- gramme. it is admitted. is not likely to be carried out for some time. although it is true that the business of the road was never greater than at the. present time. __,-___ ._..._,____ _ ... The Tennis Club building 1s coming on space, and if the committee meets with the continued encouragement it has already received. it will not be many weeks before there will be a neat little house erected. It will probably then be the plan to have Saturday evening hops during the season, and we expect to see a decided scramble for admission to membership in this grow- ing Club. There are now over sixty members, when it was started with seven. This is a. very rapid growth, and the officers have every reason to be proud of their organization. 1st if desired, Small House wit-11 barn, sheds. lienneries for 400 fowl. gardens. fruit, cistern and borough. water. Apply to 0. L. WILSON. GAZETTE Building. 6t42p T0 RENT. within the borough. from March LAM CHOWDER.—-W._E. Copmxsas pre- pared to supply: families With his Cele- brated Clam Chowder at 20 cents per quart and 1'5 cents per gallon. All orders received at restaurant delivered at reSidences Without; extra charge. Frank H. Baxter, PHARMACIST, 8 Main Street, South Norwulk. Must Be Sold. FARM of 35 Acres, all Meadow and Pasture and. Dwelling House. nine rooms, about 20 years old. Large barn and cow .house nearly new. Five hundred peach trees in full bearing. Ap les, grapes and small fruits 111 abundance. ituated two miles from Norwalk Bridge. on the mainroad to New Canaan, on high ground. Fine VleW of Long Island Sound. Piiice :4qu Must be1 sold to settle; an estate. «‘or 'urt ier )articu ars en mm o - I E. wILso No. 3 GAZETTE Biiildinpr. Norw’alk. Ct. Concord Division, No.2, SONS 0F TEMPERANCE, INSTITUTED_MARCH 1ST. 1844, meets EVERY MONDAY EVENING, at Sons of Temperance Hall. GAZETTE Building. , quarterly dues, 25 cents for ladies. 50 cents for gent. emeu. Hall thoroughly renovated. new and spacious ante rooms. new carpets and new furniture. 1w400 tl’40 03. Initiation. $1.00: , New York, February 29d, i891. In appealing to public confi-i dcncc we would lay special em- phasis-upon the fact that we rely rather upon the sincerity of our promises and the quali- ty of our goods than upon “catchy” advertising for our success. We never make state- ments in print that we are not prepared to “back Up” with facts in the store, and people are fast learning that the ex- pression “only an advertise- ment” does not apply to our announcements. We are old fashioned in only one thing, namely, a rigid adherence to downright honest methods of dealing. It is only by this plan we can hope for permanent success. What are you to expect from dealers who continually pratc about their ability to sell goods twenty or twenty-five per cent. below all others, 0' what do you care whether this or that house has the most square feet of sales- room, or the largest stock? What you want to know is that when you are buying clothes for yourSclf or b0y,if an article is represented as “all wool” or “fast color” it is just that thing and nothing else. Does any other New York clothier give a written guarantee warranting goods and prices by agreeing to refund money for goods rc- turncd, or make restitution for losses on garments that have not worn satisfactorily? Most of them pretend to stand by their verbal guaran- tees; one or two do so; others squirm axd twist out of it by insisting upon your acceptance of different goods, perhaps just What you don’t want; while many refuse flatlyto part with money once in hand. Here is one house always ready to honor its guarantee at sight. Can you do better than to see how it works? Free deliveries to all points within one liuii dred miles 01 New York city. ROGERS, PEET 81 CO. ’l'llitlfi 112 Prince. Bl’n )A “WA 1' < Vurren, .-a 1‘1 'it it“. Sid St. Wm. Sheldon,’ Stole, Brick and Sewer Contractor. Curbing. Flagging and House Connections. 1:125 Lock Box 36, Norwalk. $500 REWARD. llEWAltD of Five Hundred ”Dollars will . be paid by the Selectmen of the Town of Norwalk for the arrest and conviction of the party or parties setting any of the recent incendiary fires in said town. or any such that may occur hereafter. 40 SAMUEL DASKAM. l Selectmen of NELSON J. CRAW. ‘ the Town OSCAR W. ltAYMONDJ of Norwalk. Dated at Norw‘alk. February 16th. 1891. The NEW FURNITURE STORE. Theodore Coleman, FQRNITUBE, children’s carriages, Picture Frames And everything pertaining to the 1- urmture Bustiiess. 202 AND 204 WASHINGTON S'l‘., SOUTH NORWALK. 311140 Commissioners’ Notice. The Subscribers appointed by the Court of Probate for the District of Norwalk. Commis- sioners to receive, examine, and decide upon the claims of the creditors of the estate of J Antics L. AMBLER. of Norwalk, in said District. an insolvent- debtor, hereby give notice that we will attend to the duties 0‘ our said appomtment at the office of .Edwar M. Lock- wood, in Norwalk. in said District, on the 24th dayct March, 1891. and on t 6 24th day of April, 1891, at 10 o'clock. forenoon. of each of saiddays. _ , Said Court has limited and allowed three months from the date hereof for the exhibi- tion to us of claims againstsald estate. Dateiisplt Norwalk, the 24th day of January. .. .l .- CHABLES OLMSTEAD. ‘t_ Commis- EDWARD M. LOCKWOODJ sioners. [ESTABLISHED 40 YEARS. FUR CAPES, SEAL GARMENTS. New copyrighted novelties, combining ele- gance of style and excellence of quality with moderate prices. Send for ' Illustrated Catalogue. HENRY SIEDE, 14 West 14th Street, New York City. "INK 0 4t?) \ HE CHO ICEST OST ECONOMICALl 1,000 Loads of Thoroughly Bolted Horse Manun, For Sale by RAYMOND BROS, ' SOUTH NOR“’ALK, CONN. A CARD. BS. GEORGE W. BRADLEY, (daughter of the late William R. Nash). desires PUPILS IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. For terms apply to or address 193 Main Street. ltd ELECTRIC B T tGLAR~——————— BELLS. ————ALARMS. ‘Annunciators,Automatic Gas Lighting and Electric Wiring in all its branches and satis- faction guaranteed. Doon BELLS. $4.00 Ur Sawles may be seen at A, STOMMELL’S. or , . H. SMITH A: CO.’S or address t115 CHARLES RILEY. Norwalk. 1)ETER L: GUIGUE, Florist and Nursery- man, yuion Avenue. north of Union Cemetery. Norwalk. Conn. Dealer in Green House and Hot House and Bedding and Vege~ table Plants .Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubbery. ’Vines. Cut Flowers. always on hand. and all sorts of designs in flowers ar- ranged to order. 33-7’Gradiiig and refilling cemetery pluts promptly attended to. TEW 1011K. NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD RAILROAD. ——NEw YORK Dummy.— 7'l'm'ua (Pal)? South Nor-walk (is-Journos: For. New YonK.—Acconimodation trains at 9 35:11. m.. 1.06. 2.51.. 3.51. 5.07. 5.50. 6.44. 8.11. 10.23 p.111. Express trains at 5.26. 5.46. 6.21) (local), 6.55(local),7’.23(local). 7.55 (local), 8.26 (local), 8.30 (local), 9.03 (local). 10.11, 11.37 (local) :1. m.. 12.45. 2.22). 4.20. 5.20. 6.20. p. 111.1.02 a. For Wash- ington via Harlem River 1.02 a. in. (daily). SUNDAYs.—Acconnnodat-ion 9.15 a. 111.. 6.14. (local express). 7.23, 9.28 p. in. Express 5.26 and 5.16 a. in. Fort Nisw HAVEN AND THE EAST.—-ACCOI)11DO- dation trains at 6.10. 7.38. 8 50and 10.42 a. m.. 1.42. 3.41, (to Bridgeport). 4.25. 5.15, 6.23. 7.23. 8.11, 9.41 and 11.03 p. 111. Express trains at 9.16 a. m..12.09.1.07. 2.07. 3.06. 5.08.(Naugatuck Ex- press) 7.15 p. in. (Springfield Local). 12.25 a. in. (Boston Express). 1.13 a. 111. (Boston Express). SUXDArs.——Accommodation 7.38. 9.12 a. in., and 6.48 p m. Express 12.25 and 1.13 a. m. LUCIU.‘ TUTTLE. Gen. Manager. C. T. HEMPSTEAD. Gen. Pass. Agt. annual BANKING c0. OF MIDDLETOWN, CONN. Chartered in 1812.,Uuder the Banking Laws of Connecticut. Cash Capital, $600,000. Surplus, $25000. Six percent. Investment Bonds at par and accrued interest. At the last session of the legislature these bonds were made a- legal iii- vestnient for funds held by executors. admin- istrators and trustees. R. B. anurunn, Agt., Room 2, MASONIG BUILDING, NORWALK. llltllBtl States Hotel EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PLAN. FULTON, WATER AND PEARL H's“ NEW You}; HBO. P. llEIBLlNG, Prior. ltcfurnislicd, new elevator and all modern improvements. American plan 32 per day and upwards, ac- cording to location'sot rooms. European plan, single rooms. 75c and $1.50. Double rooms, $1.50 to $3 per day. Special terms by the week. New York elevated railroad depot in hotel. Five minutes walk to New Haven. Hartford is: pridgerort, Clyde & Mallory Steamship lines y S ‘ Clll SAL ° _OF_ * NEXT WEEK —AT— POWDER. ON EARTH. Each package SAVENA contains a1 USEFUL .PRESENT 0R OFFERS FOR V - . '4‘UABLE PR‘EMM‘S sou: BY ALL' cnocsns. Mina Sixpence is Better than a Slow Shil‘ling..7 \ This "is the principle upon which we do business, and in order to fully convmce the people of Norwalk and vicinity of the truth of this assertion we will this week inaugurate a great allenge Sale! Weennnot in this limited space quote prices to the extent that we would Wish as our reductions are general throughout our store, and in- clude every article, even the recent large arrivals of NEW SPRING, GOODS. We Will simply say that the prices named below are only a sample of the genuine bargains that you will find ,in all departments of our large and well stocked store. and we defy our would-be competitors to give better prices on their shopworn, bankrupt stock than we are ofl'er- ing to the public, for fresh, new, clean goods which have been in our store less than a week. Come in and we will prove to your satisfaction that we. mean business, and are ready at all times to meet any and all competition for whatever cause or reason'named. OUR Stock is Mute. but Our 1 Prioes are Eloquent. 2'2 yards Heavy. .yard wide. Un bleached Muslin for $1 .00. 2'2 yards Good Quality Bleached Muslin for $1.00. Lonsdale Cambric, worth 11 ce..ts. at only 73: Cents Per Yard. Lining Cambric, worth 6 cents per yard, at only 3; Cents. Fruit of Loom Muslin reduced to 62 Cents Per Yard. Extra Heavy bleached Muslin at only Z Cents Per Yard. Indigo Prints, Newest Spring Patterns, 5; Cents Per Yard. Prints. 64x64, guaranteed colors, at 4 Cents Per Yard. fast Good Quality Prints. large assort- ment, 2 Cents Per Yard. Handsome Sliirting Prints, 64x64, at only > 1 Cents Per Yard. Mourning Prints. Spring Patterns, at only 4.}. Cents. l Apron. Ginghams, best assortment in town. 32 Cents Per Yard. Large Plaid Dress Ginghams. good quality, 52 Cents Per Yard. Yard-wide Wool Beiges. worth 25 cents. are now 12; Cents. Stu-ah Silk, all 16 Cents Per Yard. colors, reduced to 40-inch Henriettas, all colors, at 19 Cents Per Yard. Best Quality, All-Wool Henrietta, usually sold at 62%- cents, are now only 45 Cents Per Yard. Yard wide, All Wool reduced to 29 Cents Per Yard. Black and Colored Mohair, worth 45 cents, at 24 cents per yard. Henriettaa 40 inch Vigcreux Suitings, exact reproductions of the $1.50 dress goads, at only 12; cents per yard. Stamped Linen Tidies. new designs, only 4 cents each. Twill Toilet Crash. good quality. at 3% cents per Yard. These Goods areal] New and are not, the Accumulation of . 20 Years" Left-Overs. N. B.--Prices on these goods may yet be lower. 5 THE POPULAR. Boston Dry 6001133013. turner Main and Wall 813., (Nomalk. Y, was
Norwalk Chronicler