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| Sig. Sautelle's Circus House on South Main Street/ Homer Avenue |
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| Sig. Sautelle's Circus Wagon |
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| Sig. Sautelle's hotel in Homer, N.Y. |
AN OPEN LETTER TO DERUYTER CITIZENS:
Believing few
residents of the town fully understand my true motives for removing to Homer, I
pen this letter to clearly define my position.
There were many reasons why I
selected DeRuyter as a town in which to make my future residence, prominent among
which was a desire to locate in a pretty country village and make a home, a
home in which the reclining years of my life might be passed in the full enjoyment
of the friendship and esteem of all good citizens and such comforts as I chose to provide. I
came here, bought my property and during the brief time I had before beginning
my last summer’s work I repaired some of the buildings and made not a few noticeable improvements about the premises.
All this cost but a small sum of
the money which would have been expended this and succeeding years in the
betterment of my property and to the consequent increase in the beauty of the town,
or rather, that portion in my immediate neighborhood. How I have operated my
hotel and premises is a matter of record and it is needless for me to assure my
friends I have ever done my utmost to conduct my business in an honorable, honest
way and to remain a gentleman at all times.
It is a historical fact, however,
that every community has certain narrow-minded individuals who imagine in their
egotistical, stubborn ignorance that their way of thinking is the only correct
way, and that the reasoning of every other person is at fault. It is this class
which would erect a high fence around the town, lock the gate and throw the key
away. They know not the words "progress," "success" or "prosperity,” and
DeRuyter has its full quota of these bigoted, self-conceited forms of humanity,
each devoid of gray matter, a thin solution of sap filling their heads.
Here, as
elsewhere, this class, jealous of the success of others, work overtime to prevent
the town in which they exist from becoming what it otherwise would, a thriving,
hustling, prosperous place. Their modus operandi is regulated by the one thought
expressed in their own words as follows: "We have always been failures,
why allow another to succeed?" On these lines they work, their favorite
theme being to decry the trade or profession of their successful neighbor.
Like all fair-minded,
thinking persons, I hold that it matters not what calling a man may follow as a
business or profession, he has but to live within the letter of the law and
conduct himself in an honest, upright, honorable, conscientious manner to become
a worthy and useful citizen to this or any other community. Certainly a man who
thus lives, be he doctor, lawyer, showman, merchant, mechanic or what, can not
be classed as a vagabond, an
outlaw. While it is true one finds black sheep in the show business, likewise
is it true one finds the same black sheep (only in larger numbers) among the set
known as the "goody good" folks.
One need not search, outside my
profession, to find the true gentleman, as well as the real philanthropist. My
wide acquaintance in the show world inclines me to the opinion that therein is to
be found perfect models, whose good and charitable deeds would serve well the
so-called better class to copy. My mother, God bless her, who now rests in
heaven, taught me as a boy upon her knee, that if I could say nothing to
benefit a person, to say nothing. This lesson, brief though it was, I have
always remembered and practiced, and shall continue to do so through life.
Upon the dishonorable and
malicious few I have specified above in a class by themselves, can be placed
the blame of my removal in the near future. In leaving DeRuyter it is with enmity
toward none, but with a kindly feeling for all. I go merely because, after long
and careful consideration, I deem it a duty I owe both my wife and self. During
our residence here we have both found many congenial friends, and it will be
our adieu to them which will cause the one regret we have of leaving a town so
tightly in the clutches of the bodies who flounder today in the same old ruts in which
their forefathers were lost. Hoping none will be offended at my communications,
believe me respectfully,
SIG SAUTELLE
DERUYTER GLEANER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1900.
—Just before going to
press we hear that Sig.
Sautelle's hotel trade with J. C. Hullar of
Homer has fallen through, Mrs. Hullar
positively refusing to come to DeRuyter to
live. Had she read of the
place in the last GLEANER?
—In mentioning the
hotel deal between Sig Sautelle and J. C.
Hullar, last week's Homer
Republican says: "DeRuyter people
will find in Mr. Hullar a gentlemanly,
honorable landlord, who can be
trusted to keep a good and reputable
house, and Homer people will wish
him success in his venture in DeRuyter.
DERUYTER GLEANER, THURSDAY, JANUARY
18, 1900.
—The report that the DeRuyter-Homer hotel trade had fallen through was evidently but a street rumor.
—The report that the DeRuyter-Homer hotel trade had fallen through was evidently but a street rumor.
DERUYTER GLEANER, THURSDAY,
JANUARY 25, 1900.
—The deeds in the
Sautelle and Hullar hotel deal have passed and Sig Sautelle will soon be
proprietor of the leading hotel [David Harum Hotel Tavern] in Cortland's suburb.
Mr. Sautelle retains considerable real estate in our village, having purchased
the vacant corner of the Isaac Samson heirs, and also the Wm. Swind house and
lot adjoining; for the latter he gave $500 Saturday.
Sig Sautelle started
for Cincinnati Monday to attend the sale of W. L Main's great railroad show. He
will doubtless secure many attractions for his noted circus.
DERUYTER GLEANER, Thursday, February 8, 1900.
Sig. Sautelle has concluded to move the winter quarters of his circus from DeRuyter to Homer. He gives as the reason the narrow-mindedness of some of the DeRuyter people. We are afraid he is leaping from the frying pan into the fire —Truxton Enterprise.
NEWS OF THE WEEK PENNED AND CLIPPED
The Tully Times
intimates that the wife of a Fabius
farmer has applied for a divorce because
he has not taken a bath in nine years.
References:
1) See capsule bio on Sig Sautelle:
2) See (9) black and white photos/floor plans of Circus House dated 1964 at Library of Congress.
3) See Historic Structures -- Sig Sautelle's circus training house.
4) Photo of Hotel Windsor, DeRuyter, N.Y.
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