Surprise
Supper to Honor Judge A. P. Smith.
Wednesday evening a goodly number of the
people, in response to an invitation from our genial, popular, highly
"esteemed" citizen, Mr. D. J. Sperry, assembled at the Arnold Hotel
and took their seats at tables loaded with tastefully arranged, appetizing
viands. Shortly after, the gentleman, in whose honor the citizens had gathered
and this preparation had been made, Hon. A. P. Smith, was ushered into the room
amid cheers, clapping of hands, and shouts of welcome, and placed at the head
of the principal table.
Generous
attention having been bestowed upon the creature comforts provided by mine host
Arnold, Dorr C. Smith, Esq., addressing Mr. Sperry, gave as a toast the good
health and long life of the guest of the evening, Judge Smith. The toast was
drank with a gusto, and Mr. Sperry, after leading off with some happy remarks,
was followed by Judge Smith, who told how he had been captured through
stratagem and inveigled into the hotel by some friends, and when he entered the
room and saw the object of the meeting, he confessed to the weakness of tears.
He alluded to the history of the past nineteen years, or since he had entered
upon official life, and to the unjustifiable [political] assaults which had been
made upon him, and while he loved his friends, he believed in fighting his enemies,
and wouldn't give much for a man who wouldn't do both; and whenever attacks
were made upon local institutions, or industries, he should, in the future as
he had in the past, defend to the best of his ability and with all his might.
Referring
to the present occasion, and to his near retirement from the judicial bench, he
never felt happier than at that moment, as he looked upon the gathering of
members of the Bar, embracing, as it did, Democrats as well as Republicans, as
not only a manifestation of good-will, but as an indorsement of his official
acts, and while he loved fun, yet then his heart was too full of emotion for
his lips to utter else than expression of deepest gratitude. The Judge was
frequently interrupted by cheers of approval, and when he closed the enthusiasm
seemed to be endless.
Toast-master
Sperry took position where he could survey the field and marshal his forces,
and in a combination of words that showed a more than thorough acquaintance
with the English language, called up one by one his reinforcements, in each
instance drawing upon his unparalleled resources for ideas expressive of each
speaker's business or proclivities, and each time adding to the jollity that
prevailed. The patriarch of the village was indeed in his element.
Judge
Duell spoke in warm terms of Judge Smith's ability as a judicial officer, his
fairness, his love of justice, his unprejudiced administration of the law as he
understood it, showing, as he did by his decisions, no distinction between
persons; and he thought that "well done, good and faithful servant,"
would be echoed by all.
J. E.
Eggleslon was sure that Judge Smith's decisions were in all cases given in
accordance with his love of justice, but when adverse to him he didn't feel as much
like praising the Court as he did like doing the other thing.
Mr.
John Courtney told how in his earlier days he had sought the acquaintance of
Judge Smith through curiosity engendered by a glowing description of the Judge
from a brother lawyer, and how willing he had always found the Judge to advise
and assist the younger members of the profession.
Dr. Hoose was not a member of the bar—his was
the profession of teaching, but he believed Judge Smith to possess a broad
humanity that could take in and feel for the trials and troubles of other professions
than his own. He thought the Judge stood on the right kind of a platform—sacrifice
for his friends but bravely fight his enemies. He knew nothing of the Judge's
war record; he might prefer to be in the quartermaster's department looking for
lint than taking part in the battle, and to come around after that was over.
Doubtless the Judge, when he saw a cannon ball coming toward him, would walk a
considerable distance rather than meet it. But when it came to the battles of peace,
battles that required manhood, pluck, ability, he knew the judge to be a splendid
fighter.
H. C.
Miner, Esq., of Madison county, had been transacting business in Cortland, and
remained over night for the purpose of being present and testifying his regard
for the Judge, whom he had known for twenty-eight years. He had counseled with
the Judge, fought him, and acknowledged the wisdom of his decisions, even
though sometimes adverse to his cause. But he admired him for his abilities and
liked him for the uniform courtesy which had ever marked Judge Smith's
treatment of him. On account of this, he felt more at home in the courts of
this county than in any other before which he practiced.
Major
Sager was called upon some years ago to pay, as he believed, an unjust indebtedness
of twenty-five dollars, and on consulting with Judge Smith, was informed that
it would cost about a hundred dollars to defend. He paid the twenty-five
dollars, and thinks he saved seventy-five through the Judge's advice, which was
evidently given through friendship, as it was entirely unprofessional.
J. E.
Winslow, Esq., was born in the same town that Judge Smith was, and though a
prophet may sometimes be without honor in his own country, yet when the Judge's
decision was quoted in their cases it generally upset the argument. Judge
Smith's decisions, when given adverse to him, were always marked with such
fairness and courtesy that it was a question whether victory or defeat gave the
most pleasure.
R. Bruce
Smith, H. L. Gleason, Fred Hatch, Jas. Dougherty, C.B. Hitchcock, F. E. Glover,
J. W. Strowbridge, W. F. Burdick, Geo. L. Warren and B. R. Carpenter talked in
a similar strain, some of them narrating incidents corroborating the sentiments
expressed, or as Thos. E. Courtney said, in the language of the distinguished
toast-master, they "acquiesced."
D. Eugene
Smith was, naturally, proud of the honors bestowed upon his father. Henry E.
Dickinson, a law student, couldn't speak of the pleasure of Judge Smith's
adverse decisions, as in all his "extensive practice" the Judge had
never decided against him, and the Judge's second birth into the law profession
would take place several months before his (D.'s) first.
H.M.
Kellogg closed his remarks with the toast, "The little star, may he long continue
to twinkle." Prof. Sornberger, in his "cathography" (as the toast-master
termed it) of the Smith family, said one of the first known of the tribe made
the "ring " by which Noah's ark was fastened to Mt. Ararat, and that
in some churches it was a question which received the most attention, God or
the Smiths.
Several
complimentary allusions were made by different ones to Judge Smith's able,
gentlemanly, fair-minded successor, S. S. Knox, Esq., and we presume that Judge
Knox's ears "burned" all the evening.
The
"biggest gun" was reserved to "explode" at the last, the
jovial Sperry said, as he called upon the editor of THE NEWS. We shan't print
what THE NEWS man said, but we venture the opinion that no one present will
ever call on him to make a public speech.
Besides
those mentioned, a number of other citizens were present, among them being
Messrs. E. C. Carley, G.J. Mager, J. M. Smith, I. W. Brown, H. S. Bliss.
The
time being about 11 o'clock, Judge Smith in a few earnest words expressed his
thanks for the many good things said about him, and the party broke up,
unanimously of the opinion that this was the jolliest, best-conducted, and in
all respects the most-enjoyable occasion of the kind they had ever attended;
the credit of which belongs solely to the ubiquitous, learned, good-natured
Sperry, whose years we hope will yet be many.
 |
| Henrietta Vinton Davis |
CORTLAND AND VICINITY.
On
Tuesday of last week the telephone wire was run into this village, and on
Tuesday night conversation was held between this village and Binghamton.—
Marathon Independent.
What the people want is sleighing; not the rainy, disagreeable weather so
far prevalent this winter.
The
ladies of the Library Association desire to express thanks to the citizens of
Cortland for their generous assistance during their Art Loan Exhibit.
B. A.
Benedict, H. L. Bronson, J. T. Courtney, Jerome Squires, Judge Smith, J. W.
Suggett and Riley Champlin attended Special Term at Ithaca this week.
Joseph Cook lectures in Norwich on the 19th and in Binghamton on the 20th,
and therefore cannot fail to make connections so as to be in Cortland for his
lecture here on the 21st.
It is
reported that the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira road will run their through passenger
trains to Utica by the West Shore road as soon as the necessary arrangements can
be made.
Maybury & Maycumber represent the best, strongest and most reliable
fire insurance companies in the world. "Jumbo" is the proper name for
the two M.'s, as well as the companies.
An
exchange says school trustees must look out this year. The school year will end
July 4, 1884, and twenty-eight weeks of school must be held in districts to
entitle them to public money.
A new
car has been placed on the Binghamton & Syracuse railroad. It was built at
Oswego, and though it will be run as a regular passenger car, it is finished in
nearly as fine style as a palace car.
Prof.
E. G. Launtman, of Cortland, will succeed Prot E. F. Lawrence in the Union
public school. He comes well recommended by Prof. Hoose, of the Cortland
Normal.— Union, Broome Co., Cor. Bing. Rep.
The new clock for the Squires building
[clocktower] does not strike the hours, and has only one dial, and that faces
north. So that people who live south of the building will have to come up
directly in front of it in order to obtain any benefit from the clock.
The
winter term of the Union School began last week with Miss Genevieve Lantman, of
Cortland, as preceptress, in place of Miss Kinney, resigned. There is a larger
attendance of foreign students than last term, and fully as many as a year ago.—Marathon Independent.
On the evening of the 7th inst., at an
entertainment in Binghamton, Miss Grace Hitchcock, a lady well-known to our
people, took part, and the Republican says she "greatly pleased the
audience by her excellent rendition of several songs. Her voice, a soprano, is sweet
in quality and has evidently been carefully cultivated."
The
editor of the fancy grocery department [advertisements] of THE NEWS tells a
very inviting story to our readers this week, and if any one of them has a
doubt that all the good things enumerated in L. D. Garrison & Co’s
advertisement are not to be had at their store, we advise him to call there,
and find for himself that "the half has not been told."
Please remember the Christmas entertainment in Taylor Hall next Monday evening,
Dec. 17, entitled "The Twin Sisters," an operetta, by the young
people and Sunday school of the Baptist church, under the direction of Mrs. Crandall,
assisted by Webster's Orchestra, Tickets at Brown & Maybury's and Kirkland
Bros.' Children under 12 years, 15 cents; adults, 25 cents.
Mr.
J. S. Barber has bought of D. E. Kinney the property formerly owned by Mr.
Daniel Bradford, and is putting in new furniture.
The
Board of Supervisors began their adjourned session Wednesday. Yesterday morning
they visited the Normal school. They expect to close their labors to-day. [Two
hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, each day of attendance—CC
editor.]
We
take pleasure in giving public expression to the prevailing opinion in the North
school district of the village that the teachers, the Misses Myers, are doing
excellent work and meeting with flattering success.
Mr.
Edwin A. Bullock, of Rochester, has been chosen General Secretary of the Y. M.
C. A., of Cortland, and Tuesday evening a reception was given him at the rooms
of the Association. We look confidently to a change for the better in the
affairs of the Y. M. C. A.
Mr. Clarence
Strowbridge will on the first of January become a partner of Delos Sanders in
the watch and jewelry business, thus forming the old firm of Sanders & Co.,
as it was previous to the sale to Mr. Capron. As we said last week, their rooms
will be over the National Bank of Cortland, which they will prepare for
business as soon as vacated by S. S. Knox, Esq.
There
is rejoicing in the house of Jennings. The ever jovial countenance of Emmet F.,
since Dec. 8, has beamed more brightly than ever, and the smiles that now light
up his visage add the beauty that comes from internal peace—an inward
satisfaction with earthly matters—a sort of all-is-well feeling. But wait,
friend Emmet, until that eleven-pound boy acquires control of his fists and
eyes and lungs and legs, and then--
Probably
no more beautiful goods for holiday purposes can be found in this vicinity than
those at the Central Drug Store of Brown & Maybury in the Schermerhom
block. And not only such articles especially for such use, but the various
goods kept by them in their handsome store are first-class. In an advertisement
elsewhere they invite our readers to call upon them, and we know that an
acceptance of the invitation will profit the visitor.
Mr.
L. D. Kinne, formerly of the Caroline Sentinel, published at Bowling Green,
Virginia, was in town the past week, visiting friends. Mr. Kinne has had an exciting
experience in trying to publish a paper in a Southern community, and bears the
marks of several bullets and a crippled arm as evidence of the warmth of his
reception.—Syr. Sunday Times. In all probability Mr. Kinne, like
all other sensible Kinnes, is a Republican. They don't disturb Democratic
editors down there.
The
editors of both of the Whitehall, N. Y., papers, the Times and the Chronicle,
have agreed that they will henceforth refuse to publish gratis any
"cards of thanks," "resolutions of respect," or notices of
church fairs, donations, festivals, excursions, etc. They very justly quote the
scripture in support of their resolution, saying "the laborer is worthy of
his hire." If other newspaper men would take and maintain a similar stand
there would be less promises to pay floating about the country signed by
newspaper publishers.—Albany Press.
Barnum and his partners have at last succeeded
in obtaining a white elephant, but it cost them about $200,000. For years this
has been the great showman's ambition. There is no breed of white elephants.
They are albinos, freaks of nature, and are rarely born. When one is found in
Siam a great feast-day is appointed, the King, priests and people joining in
the solemn ceremonies. The animal is invested with the trappings of royalty and
housed in the sacred elephant palace. The animal was shipped at Rangoon on the 8th
and will visit Paris and London, but will not cross the Atlantic until June.
The
great comedy entertainments by the Orris Hose Company will be given at Taylor
Hall next Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and the programme embraces: "Mrs.
Brady's Piano Fortay," by the Company; character song, by W. O. Parsons,
with full orchestra accompaniment; by request, "The Mc-Intyre Squad,"
by the Company; comedy of Toodles;" selections from popular songs by a
male quartette ; "The Charleston Blues," by negro characters dressed
in full army uniform, with guns, etc. The boys will be assisted by ladies, with
Mr. W. O. Parsons as conductor and manager. This will doubtless be the great
local entertainment of the season, and crowded houses will greet the Company.
A very
pleasant and enjoyable affair took place at the residence of Judge Smith last
Monday evening. The Episcopals are noted for their sociability at their
gatherings. On this occasion a new interest was added by the presence of Miss
Henrietta Vinton Davis, the elocutionist from Washington, D. C. It was arranged
that she should read two or three pieces; but this only gave the people a
desire for more, and they kept on inviting until she had read five pieces. The
"Saving of St. Michaels" was beautifully rendered. Then "The
J'iners" and "Romeo and Juliet," and then the conversion of the
colored girl from an Episcopalian to a "deep-water Baptist" fairly carried the crowd away. They
would not consent to leave until "The Dance at Flat Creek Bottom" had
been rendered, when everybody left with a feeling of pleasure that they had met
and heard the "beautiful Octoroon."
Dr.
Arthur H. Brown, son of our townsman, Mr. Wm. W. Brown, goes this week to the
city of Auburn, N. Y., where he will locate permanently for the practice of his
profession. Dr. Brown graduated with honor from the Cortland Normal School in
1874—his oration winning the highest encomiums for merit. For six years he
studied medicine at Michigan University and the college connected with the Long
Island Hospital in Brooklyn. For eighteen months he was resident physician and
surgeon at the hospital and for a year its superintendent. This we should say speaks
emphatically in favor of his zeal and ability, as well as his praiseworthy ambition,
and we feel confident that we shall hear he is constantly reaching for the
higher rounds of the ladder of fame. We cordially recommend Dr. Brown to the
people of Auburn, because we know that he is trustworthy and merits a generous
reception, the fullest confidence and the best patronage.
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