A Look Back, June 21

200 Years Ago

■R. Colton is constantly manufacturing and intends keeping on hand a handsome assortment of looking glasses, of the newest and most fashionable patterns, both gilt and mahogany frames, and as cheap as can be purchased elsewhere. Persons who are in want of looking glasses are invited to call at the new brick building, sign of the looking glass, a few rods north of the courthouse.

■Jason Janes of Easthampton informs the public that he had procured new cards for his machine and put the whole in good order and is now ready to receive wool, which will be well carded, and for cash down, at a very low price.

100 Years Ago

■The smuggling of Chinese “picture brides” into this country, a little-known industry which has assumed enormous proportions on several of our far-flung frontiers, is the subject of a particularly vivid and dramatic picture which will be the photoplay feature for the Sunday concert tomorrow at the Calvin Theatre. “Speed Wild” is the title of this production.

■The Gazette, as well as many other Northampton firms and families, is indebted to the Norwood Ice Co., for excellent service during this hot weather. This morning we found ourselves without ice for the water cooler and sent in an order. The ice was on the Gazette’s doorstep in less than five minutes. That’s what we call service!

50 Years Ago

■A report on faculty salaries released recently indicates that all five colleges in Hampshire County rank in about the top 20 percent nationally in faculty pay. The University of Massachusetts in Amherst pays the highest average salary among the five area colleges.

■A children’s mental health project, called the Comprehensive Children’s Center, began providing day treatment for emotionally disturbed adolescents within the past month in a Northampton State Hospital house off Chapel Street. State-owned buildings formerly belonging to the Northampton School for Girls, which had been badly vandalized, are awaiting repair. When this work is done, the program will be moved there.