G. A. R. CAMP-FIRE IN HOMER, N. Y.

The Cortland News, Friday, February 15, 1884.

G. A. R. Camp-Fire in Homer.

   When Post Grover, Grand Army of the Republic, of Cortland, accepted the invitation of Post Willoughby Babcock, of Homer, to attend their camp-fire on Thursday evening, Feb. 7, they expected, of course, to have a royal good time, as veterans usually do, but not the splendid entertainment which was given them. About twenty-five members availed themselves of the kind invitation, and were received at the [Keator] opera house with cheers by the members of Post Willoughby and the large number of friends who had already gathered there, and who, by their kindly welcome and hearty greeting, immediately made our boys feel at home. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags, with pictures of generals, of battle scenes and others appropriate to the occasion, with stacks of arms, of swords and the miniature cannon on the stage, and the three long tables at the east end of the hall were so heavily loaded with the edibles craved by human appetite, even to the pork-and-beans, which on this occasion were not "seasoned with Virginia mud," and so invitingly arranged that they seemed to greet the veterans with a hearty welcome and invite them to sit around and relieve them of their burdens. The invitation was gladly accepted by about ….[line of newsprint missing—CC editor.]

   Following the feast came the address of welcome by Capt. J. C. Atwater, which Commander J. R. Birdlebough, of Post Grover, responded, and ended his remarks by saying: "Speech-making is the one thing in which I am like Gen. Grant," which brought down the house.

   Then Capt. Atwater, as toast-master, announced the first toast to be "The Visiting Comrades," which was responded to by Prof. E. J. Peck, who said that he felt it an honor to address such men. In speaking of them, his own services, he said, were so small that it would not be considered out of the way for him to use eulogistic terms. The bond of union, which forms the real bond of sympathy between soldiers, is shown by their willingness to aid unfortunate comrades. His remarks were well received.

   In responding to the toast “The Citizen- Soldier," Rev. Mr. Wilcox said that to be a soldier was a grand, glorious thing; but to return from war and become an honored, useful "citizen-soldier,'' was grander, more glorious, and to become which any man might be proud.

   Rev. M. S. Leet responded to the toast, "The Fallen Comrades” to whom he paid a glowing tribute.

   The toast, "Our Wives and Mothers," which was to have been responded to by Rev. W. A. Robinson, was, owing to the lateness of the hour, omitted, much to the regret of every one.

   Following this came the presentation of a programme which, to be appreciated, should be seen and heard. It was opened with a well-executed selection by Mr. John Bates and Miss Allie Bates. Mr. W. O. Parsons sang a character Dutch song, and as an encore very successfully recited that pathetic piece, "Somebody's Mudder," after which Miss Lydia Babcock and Mr. W. O. Montgomery in good voices sang a duet.

   Then came the "Squad, Jr.," in "The Mclntyres." As an encore they sang and acted "Miss Brady's Pianay Fortay." To say that the "Squad" was well received would but feebly express it—they were greeted with unbounded enthusiasm and applause. In fact, the audience could hardly control themselves as they laughed and cheered, while the tears chased each other down their cheeks. The "Mc's, Jr." were led by Capt. Harry Bates, aged 12, son of John Bates, and he was supported by Per Lee Coon, aged 11, son of Alex Coon; Hallie Bates, aged 6, son of Newton A. Bates; Carl Bates, aged 5, son of Chas. Bates, and Frank Blashfield, aged 5, son of H. W. Blashfield, and all grand children of Alex Bates. In marshaling his forces and leading them forth to achievement, Capt. Harry exhibited tactics worthy an older head, and all showed themselves apt imitators of that apt teacher, Parsons.

    Mr. Fred Williams appeared in a character song called "The Dutch Weaver," which was inimitably given and was encored by the audience, after which Mrs. Capewell sang a solo. Her voice is wonderful for its sweetness, richness and depth of tone, and in controlling it she showed much cultivation.

   Following, Messrs. W. O. Parsons and W. O. Montgomery sang the character song "Mr. and Mrs. Malone," which was received with applause, and an encore was the result.

   The programme was then brought to a close by the "Squad, Jr.," in "The Charleston Blues." Again was the audience convulsed, and, of course, an encore was demanded. They are simply irresistible, and Parsons should be proud of being the "Pa" of such an elegant, bold lot of little "Mc's." The accompaniments by Mr. John Bates and Miss Allie Bates were features of the evening, Miss Allie showing herself to possess natural musical talents of the highest order, which, with proper cultivation, will place her in the foremost rank of instrumentalists. Mr. Alex. Bates, the committee on entertainment, showed good judgment in his selection of participants in the evening's exercises.

   Both Posts were then formed in line and marched to the G. A. R. rooms in the Bank building, where cigars were produced, and songs sung and stories told until the small, and not the smallest either, hours of the morning, when Grover Post returned to Cortland, feeling that they had been richly entertained, or, to use their own language, "We never had a better time anywhere, and so complete were the arrangements, so hard did they try to make everything pleasant for us, and so successful were they in accomplishing this end, that Post Willoughby Babcock has placed us under such deep obligations to them that our only regret is that we know not how we are ever to be able to pay the debt."

Frank Hiscock

The Ablest Republicans.

Correspondence N. Y. Times, Washington, Feb. 8, 1884.

   The two ablest men on the Republican side of the House of Representatives are Tom Reed, of Maine, and Frank Hiscock, of New York. They both entered public life at an early age, and they are still young men. Reed is in his forty-fifth year, and Hiscock is not yet fifty years old. They are both lawyers of more than ordinary ability and great promise. They began their careers in Congress at the same time, both being elected to the Forty-fifth Congress. They have steadily risen in the estimation of their fellow-members.

   Hiscock resembles Reed neither in appearance nor intellectual qualities. He possesses a different order of mind. Hiscock is a square-built, well-proportioned man. His head is square, angular, and is firmly set on a column-like neck which rises gracefully from his well-turned shoulders. His luxuriant growth of black hair, well sprinkled with silver, is neatly trimmed, and harmonizes with his well kept full beard. His face wears a quiet, rather sad look, but the eyes are bright and the whole expression is very pleasing and attractive. It is a kindly looking face, and inspires confidence.

   There is not a bit of vanity in Frank Hiscock's composition, and, therefore, it will do no harm to tell the truth—he is one of the handsomest men in the House of Representatives. He is always cool and level-headed, and never loses his equanimity. I never saw him display any temper in committee discussions or lose his head in debate. He is a careful, methodical lawyer, and if I had occasion to need advice in an important case I would go with implicit confidence to Hiscock, well knowing that I would be safe in his hands.

   He is not a brilliant advocate, or a sharp, rattling cross-examiner like Reed, but he handles a witness with great skill, and if there are weak points in his armor he will find them out. He studies every point in a case and makes his attack or defense scientifically. He is a most dangerous antagonist in court. There is a judicial fairness and a mental equipoise that can not fail to impress both court and jury.

   As a legislator he is conscientious, laborious and fair-minded.  He has a clean record. He is not great in debate, and is rather a prosy speaker at all times; but he is a logical reasoner, and makes a clean-cut, forcible statement.

   As a politician Hiscock is philosophical. He studies politics as he does a law case. His information is always exact. He never forms opinions until he has canvassed the whole situation. It will be urged as against this view of Hiscock's judgment in politics that he made an egregious mistake in supporting Greeley in 1872. But that was a mistake of the heart and not of the head. He is not a bitter partisan. He belongs to a higher order of statesmen, and is a man of sentiment and feeling. I have rarely found his judgment at fault when canvassing with him the political situation in his State. His judgment of men is most admirable. As a committee man he is without a superior. He brings the clearest judgment to the consideration of every subject in preliminary investigations, and is not satisfied with a superficial inquiry. In this respect he is a model legislator. 
   [Congressman Hiscock represented Cortland County and Onondaga County from 1877 to 1887—CC editor]

Frank Hiscock: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Hiscock