New Britain herald. [microfilm reel], October 23, 1925, Page 10, Image 10

About New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
10
NEW BRITAIN lTXTLT HERAED FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1D23.
"Diamond Dick," Hero of West, Once
Made Maidens of New Britain Sigh
As Dr. Tanner, He Had Office Here, and Made All the
Gay Young Blades Jealous
There are many New Britain I
men who have fonl memories of
days In their adolescent youth when
Imagination sullied forth to conquer
unknown acas or else carried the
dreamer out Into the wild and
wooly went whore dauntless settlors
repulsed the morrllowi lavage; hard
riding cowboys tamed their hndUng
broncos and spent their leisure In
pursuing tha ruMlew where glow
ing tales were born of tha riders of
the Pony Kxpress battling agalnfct
bands of outlaws and where tlio six
shooter, handle notehed, reigned su
preme. But no tales of the West carried
ro much glamor, no books of heroes
were more widely read than those
of "Diamond I'lek," whose deeds of
bravery and valor Inspired count
less legions of youngsters, leaders
of the "dime novels" and spurred
their Imaginations to thoughts of
life of reckless abandon.
Keeently, the original character
arom d whom the tales of tho West
were written, tho one and only
"Diamond Dink," has been found
after SO years away from the light
of the public eye. He Is livlne In
Norfolk. Nebraska, and is Dr. Rich
ard Tanner, pnrvryor of medicines
which will cure any and all ailments.
"Diamond Dick"
As He Was and As He Is Today
There are comparatively few
people In New Hrltaln, however,
who remember or ver knew that
"Diamond Dick" once graced tho
Hardware City with his pi-CMence.
Huch is tho case.
"Piamond Dick" the hero of
countless tales of the pony express,
"Diamond Dick," tho hero of count
less legions of small boys, was once
a resident of this city and the
tale of his slay Is recounted today
by those who wero In their youth
at the time and respectfully ad
mired the dashing westerner with J
ids locks of lmlr and his sparkling
collection of diamonds.
"Diamond Dlek," or Dr. Ulchard
Tanner as he was eu-n then known,
was In New Drltatn about 4." years
ago. Ho opened an office in
llunna's block on Main street and
set himself up as a yonder of
patent medicines, good for any and
all Ilia, llle trado was not so boun
tiful, but nevertheless, his coterlo of
admirers Included all the women
folk of the then small town and
caused many of the young swains of
tho day, driven by the green-eyed
mnn.ster, to Imitate his ways and
d ress.
He received his nickname because
of the brilliant display of sparkling
stones with which he adorned him
self. His fingers were covered with
rings containing diamonds and his
fancy vest was studded with tho
precious gems. In the words of
one of the damsels who accorded
him worship In those days: "Ho
was covered with diamonds and so
was called 'Diamond Dick.' "
Before coming to New Britain,
"Diamond Dick," it Is said, was a
daring rider of the pony express in
the far west. His duties consisted
of riding the wild trails of the
western states with valuable cargo
on a trusty pony and faithful six
shooter ever "ready" to combat the
bold and bad bandits who were on
tho lookout for a chance to stugu a
holdup.
Krom his tender years, "Diamond
Dick" had known Mie feel of a horn
saddle, and tho pull of a hair trig
ger. Almost from infancy ho was
taught to ride and shoot. Ho was
a dashing, handsome boy wiyi a
fearless mien and a ready longue
and what could 111 him moro than
(he Job of riding the pony express.
Tales he told traveling along the
mountainous trails with a package
of gold or a sheaf of bills; of an
ambush by "Dead Eye Hed" and
his gand; of a perilous ride through
a hall of bullets until safety was
reached.
cw Britain's l'lrt Snick
Knt In New Britain, his greatest
problem wus to handle the adulation
which tho romantic maidens of tho
town accorded him In as diplo
matic a manner as possible. In the
words of one of the girls who re
members vividly "Diamond . Dick"
during his stay In New Britnln,
Ml tho girls were rrazy about him.
He wore his hair down over his
shoulders, groomed It always slick
and fine and Its natural permanent
wave added a dash of tho cavalier to
his looks that attracted the maidens
like a magnet. His hatr was .let
black and he wore a goatee and a
curly moustache."
Evidently "Diamond Dick", was
the Beau Brummel of tho day, ac
cording to the local woman's story.
"As to clothes, he was one of the
best dressed men I have ever seen
In New Britain. He wore a cut
away coat with wide white lapels
and a white vest. Always he had
on a white shirt, collar and necktie.
His trousers were the last word in
tailoring for tho day and his shoes
were of the finest leather and shlned
to perfection.
"But, I think," she continued,
"that it was his large, wide brimmed
hat, that gave him his courtly look.
He certainly was a handsome man."
He used to stand on the street
corners and when some shy damtel
would pass by, ho would sweep off
his hat, circle It almost to the
ground and with a bow copied after
the knights of old, would extend
the greetings of the evening, Many
a maiden lost her heart to "Dia
mond Dick,"
But tho romance and glamor of
"Diamond Dick" nttiacted not alono
the damsels of the times. Tho men
liked his looks and tried to Imitate
him,
No long after he had arrived In
New Britain, other largo hats ap
peared on tho streets and closely
cropped malo locks were allowed to
grow, Wherever he went, "Dia
mond Dick" was not. alono but al
ways had a gathering of swaggering
youths about him.
Ho could not have been more
than 25 years old when ho was In
this city and at tho ago when the
tales of heroism In the west took
ready root. Tho length of his stay
In (his city has not been dellnltoly
fixed, but when ho left. It Is known
that although there were many
broken hearts, he took no New
Britain girl as Mrs. Richard Tan
ner with him.
"Diamond Dick's" picture ap
peared In the ' "Herald" recently
with the announcement that he had
been discovered after 30 years In
tho Nebraska town. People in thin
city who remembered hltn, knew
him Immediately fvom his picture
and thus this talo Is unfolded.
II
Sessions Today at Hartford,
New HaYfiu, Norwich
New Haven, Oct. 23 tP The 70th
yearly fall meeting of the Connecti
cut Ktate Teachers association aro
being held today at Bridgeport, New
Haven. Hartford and Norwich. At
Bridgeport and Hartford general
meetings are being held during the
morning with section meetings diir
li g the afternoon. At Norwich and
New Haven the program Is reversed,
the section meetings being scheduled
for the morning and general meet
ings for the afternoon.
Virtually the same program Is be
ing carried out at each of the gen
eral meetings which open with
music. At New Haven ond Bridge
port, high school orchestras furnish
this part of the program. Iteport
of the annual meeting of the nation
al education association at Indiana
polls follow 8.
Tho address at Bridgeport and
New Haven la being given by Alfred
E. Stearns, principal of Phillips
Academy, and over Massachusetts
his subject being: "The Soul of Edit,
cation." Frederick C. Kerry, presi
dent of Hamilton college, Clinton, N.
Y Is lo speak on "The Changing
Ideals of American Education" at
Hartford nnd Norwich.
The section rneotlngs are divided
Into the high school section elemen
tary school section and rural school
section. Various courses in the
separate sections are discussed be
fore groups of teachers specializing
In the respective subjects.
The annual report of tho corres
ponding secretary shows that hero
are 8,981 members of the associa
tion. Of this number 8.097 are
women and 8S7 men. The total
membership for 1 923-21 was 8,611
showing a gain this year over last
of 340. During 1923-21 there were
8.94S public school teachers In Con
necticut, the report says. This year
dues paid amounted to $1,935.50 as
against $1,720.50 last year.
Unhurt as Human Fly,
Injured in Short Fall
New Haven, Oct. 28 W) After 1$
years of climbing church steeples,
high chimneys and tall buildings
without "-tllng scratched, Charles
11 Baltimore Girls
Report Clothes Slashed
Baltimore, Md Oct. 23 P He
ports by 11 young woemn that their
clothing had been slashed while
riding on crowded street cars caused
police today to begin a search for
the perpetrator of the alleged at
tacks. All of the victims reported that
the gashes were about seven inchep
in length am sharply edged, al
though In only cine or two Instances
had their skin been pierced. Plain
clothes men have been stationed on
a. number of cars and tho United
Railways company today offered a
$500 reward for apprehension of the
slasher.
MEN! COME TO THIS SALE
SNOW and COLD ON THE WAY
BUY YOUR SUITS AND
J. D. DONAHUE
Voice Culture
Volet tc-Mcil TuomIh ami Irldiiv,
frm 2 p. m. to I p. ni.
RS. 125J-13. fctmllo BI.V3.
Mme. Louis De Feo
((ilacia (.;ill;i)
Intri-naHunnllr Known OptTii
sincer
Has Reopened Her Studio
for Beginners anrl Advance;!
Vocalists
5-pr.UAU7.iM; is roAnir.t,
anp RunNsmrniMi
1 t lTV H.UIMQl 1.
Watorlv llu'ldin.'
721 Main Street. Hartford
I hone 2-ISKSH
MISS LA IRA T. FARREM.
Vocal Technique and
Vocal Development
."! Walnut Street
I'h.me IMH-2
Quick Credit
You will be astonished at the
promptness of our service. In
most cases our patrons receive
their money within 24 hours
fter making application.
We Lead Up To
To EE&e ers
Friendly srrice mnd fair fexsns. Cn'cj
lawful intcict charged.
CiB. write ar "ph
Beneficial Lean Scdciy
J Wot Main M nr. V nnlilnsl'in V.
RiMim mi. riunr i ail
'
HERE
TOMORROW!
Heavy Ulsters and
Overcoats Tailored
for comfort as well
as style.
Finest Woolens and
Other Choice Fabrics
Made in Avide boxed
in shoulder styles, or
with raplan shoulders
Double breasted, wide
roll lapels and warm
collar low pockets.
1
Greatest Values
Largest Assortment
Lowest Prices
All the Style and
Comfort You Want
at Prices You Can
World Renters At
W. Scott, employed by th F. J. Pa
hlll Company her u a steeplejack,
fell from a root 20 feet high In
Westrock avenue yesterday end was
Injured. He was taken to the New
Haven hospital where It was found
he was suffering from a broken arm
and a fractured rib.
Bin Ash isles uvlng high
Dublin, Oct, it Uft The cost ol
living figure Hn the Free State li
officially reported as 88 per cent
higher than In 10M, The figure for
Great Britain and Northern Ire
land Is 73 per cent higher.
and then they
changed to Blackstone
From the hands of the Indian?
Havana's best
filler crop in years
in your 1925
They had lighted eight matches. But the
matches had made more smoke than the
cigars. Said the gentleman in brown,
"That cigar might just as well have come
out of the hands of the wooden Indian
that stood in front of the old time cigar
store." Then they changed to Blackstone.
Now they get cigars that draw freely
from the first touch of the match. That
burn evenly from start to finish. That
give the mild fragrance of 100 Havana
filler always. Nearly half of all Black
stones are bought 5 or 10 at a time in
handy Pocket Packages foil-wrapped
and factory-fresh.
Blackstone was a fine cigar 52 years
ago. It was even finer 10 years ago. It is
at its very finest in this year of 1925 1
WAITT BOND
blackstone
CIGAR.
Exclusive
Distributors
For
The House of Fashionable Millinery
ilkS)ulorh'ar
Exclusive
Distributors
For
LA ROSE
HATS
,M I LLJNE RYjCO. J
177 MAIN STREET
TRIMMED HATS
Radiant and Rich
3
FROM OUR FACTORY
396 MAIN STREET
AX X TV A
Hats of Satin, Satin
combined with Velvet,
and hats of Gold and
Silver.
Many of these Hats are
trimmed with metalic.
Just the hat that you
will wear with your fur
coat.
FELTS AND VELOURS CHILDREN'S HATS
$195 - $L95t0$3.95
Manv of these were much more. Felts, Velours and Velvets in all
These hats can be had in all colors the desirable shapes and colors f or
and in numerous styles. school and dress.
WE ARE EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORS IN NEW BRITAIN FOR
GOTHAM GOLD STRIFE STOCKINGS
Silk Gold Stripes with cotton tops $1.83 pair
Sheer Silk Gold Stripes" vith cotton tops $1.85 pair
Sheer Silk GoldStripes, silk tops $2.23 pair
Chiffon Gold Stripes, silk tops $1.93 pair
Heavy Silk Gold Stripes at $2.25 pair
Outsize in regular or sheer silk at $2.00 pair
i