THAT REPUBLICAN MEETING IN VIRGIL

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 13, 1888.

That Republican Meeting in Virgil.

   It has been the custom of the band to give a free concert in this village each Saturday evening, and the consequence is there is generally a large crowd of citizens gathered here on the last evening of the week in anticipation of the entertainment, as it is really a good treat to listen to as good music as the boys make. There is no band of the same age and training that can beat the Virgil band. On last Saturday evening the crowd was increased to quite an extent by visitors from Cortland and Marathon, who came in response to invitations to assist in raising a basswood pole to be dedicated to the [Republican] principles set forth in the Chicago Platform.

   After much parleying and many directions from as many bosses, the pole was placed in position and a large Harrison and Morton banner was raised nearly one-half the length of the pole when the thing refused to go any farther, and like a balky horse, all methods of force or persuasion failed to get the thing to the top of the pole.

   It was then 8:45 o'clock and the self constituted chairman of the meeting mounted a large dry goods box in the middle of the highway and announced to the audience that the leaders of the project had consented that he might run that meeting, and as he wished to so conduct it that the entire proceedings of the campaign might be countenanced by the Creator and sustainer of the entire universe, he proposed to open the campaign with prayer.

   Therefore he would invite the Rev. Mr. Purrington, who happened to be in the crowd to offer prayer. The Elder being a strong prohibitionist was in a queer predicament, but as muddy water will eventually run itself clear, so the Elder by taking a little time made an eloquent appeal to the Almighty to so direct whoever might be selected as the ruling officers of the nation that their administration of the government might be of the greatest good to the greatest number, but had no especial blessings to ask for the Republican party, thereby showing himself fully equal to the emergency so suddenly cast upon him.

   But his failure to eulogize the G. O. P. was as a wet blanket cast upon the leaders of the entertainment.

   After more music by the band the aforementioned chairman, and triplicate newspaper correspondent, again mounted the dry goods box and announced to the company that they had the grandest display of talent to address the meeting that Virgil had ever listened to, and he would like their entire attention.

   He then introduced Mr. R. T. Peck, of Cortland, who spoke for ten minutes upon the question of free trade as advocated by the Democratic party, the wide spread desolation and destruction to the American people that the present administration had brought already, and the much greater destitution, degradation and debauchery that must inevitably follow in case of Democratic success this fall. If a man had one sheep he would lose all his property and if he had more than one he must surely be in the poor house.

   After Mr. Peck had finished Mr. James H. Tripp, of Marathon, was the next to compete for oratorical honors and he would have been quite successful if the boy had held the torch so that he could have seen his [manuscript] better, but he got through in about the same time as the other fellow.

   Then came more music from the band and the boys did so well that it brought the first encore from the audience, which by this time had become considerably diminished as there was a sort of cane entertainment on another part of the ground that was drawing the crowd. After the band had ceased to play the self-constituted chairman again mounted his box and announced as the next speaker Mr. Enos Mellon, the candidate for and undoubtedly the next member of assembly from Cortland county.

   Enos simply rehearsed some of the many jollifications that he used to attend in the fatherland when they had anything encouraging from the United States, looking to the prospect of their becoming Free Traders. He then made a graceful bow and disappeared in the shadow of the basswood.

   Mr. B. T. Wright was introduced to the audience when, to the surprise of the people, he repeated what had already been said by his predecessor, and as he was a more fluent talker and it disagreed with him to speak in the open air and several other things, he got through in about one-half of the time taken by Mr. Tripp, but by his argument it would be hard to ascertain whether he was a pension agent or whether he is mad because Grover Cleveland will not sign a bill making Wright a government pauper.

   The triplicate correspondent then announced to the audience that the next speaker would be a gentleman brought up in Virgil, who was fully entitled to, and received the respect of the entire community and that he earnestly hoped, that the audience would remain and listen to, and that man was Judge Lewis Bouton.

   Lew mounted the box and while he was waiting for the words to come, it was whispered in the audience that his speech was a going to be like Tim Green's in the Assembly when he didn't say a word. But they were disappointed, for when Lew got ready to talk he talked. He said, ladies and gentlemen, great minds always run in the same channel, and as the gentlemen before me have discussed the tariff question so eloquently and as that is about all that I have to talk about, I think it better not to detain you any longer.

   Other speakers were put upon the box, but as the same argument was used by all it proved conclusively that Lew was right about words of the same capacity running in the same channel. But when ex-school commissioner Tuttle was led up he gave them 'bloody shirt' right from the shoulder for a few minutes, but he soon fell into the channel before mentioned and was soon lost in the shadows of the aforesaid pole with all his predecessors.

   By this time the band constituted the audience and the triplicate correspondent had carried and lugged the meeting till he was very slow in mounting the box. But when he succeeded in balancing himself, he said that he thanked the audience for their kind attention, that there would be three or four more meetings through the campaign, and that the meeting would now stand adjourned until three nights after election, when they would again meet on this ground to celebrate the election of Harrison and Morton.

   As a good time for the boys with their best girls, the meeting was as good as needed. As a political entertainment it was a grand [fizzle] as in all the argument about and against cheaper clothing, and cheaper sugar for the people. Not one word was said in favor of the free whiskey clause in the Chicago platform.

   But long before the meeting closed the young people were enjoying a Saturday evening dance in the ball room, which took the audience so that aside front the speakers and music there were not enough Republicans left for a corporal’s guard. From an eyewitness, VENDIX. [pen name]

The New Fire Alarm System.

   The work of putting in the Union Electric Fire Alarm system has been completed and a test of its workings made last Monday afternoon. While there is as yet some friction, on the whole the test was satisfactory, and as soon as some minor details can be wrought out, it will probably do all that is claimed for it by the makers.

   One serious defect at present is that the striker now employed is not heavy enough to bring out the full tone of the bell, and a heavier one, having a striking power of 1500 pounds, will be substituted for it. When this is in place and the system in smooth working order, we shall have better protection against fires than ever before, and better than most villages of the same size in New York State.

The New Hose Cart.

   The hose cart ordered by the Witch Steamer and Hose company arrived last Tuesday, and was inspected that evening by a large number of firemen, all of whom were enthusiastic in its praise. It was built by Rumsey & Co., of Seneca Falls, and is constructed after the latest and most approved models. The frame work is of solid steel, and the remainder of the best iron. The wheels are of the bicycle pattern and are five and one-half feet in diameter. A crowbar and heavy axe are with the machine. The cart is painted in red and gilt, and weighs 420 pounds. The cost at the shops was $125.

Election of Officers.

   At a meeting of the stockholders of the Cortland and Homer Horse Railroad Company held last Thursday evening, the following officers and directors were elected for the ensuing year:

   President—C. H. Garrison.

   Vice-President—E. A. Fish.

   Secretary and Treasurer—S. E. Welch.

   Directors—R. T. Peck, E. A. Fish, Eben Mudge, R. H. Duell, M. H. McGraw, G. J. Mager, C. P. Thompson, E. S. Welch, C. P. Walrad, Frank Pierce and William N. Brockway.

HERE AND THERE.

   Fisher's orchestra of eight pieces has been re-engaged for the coming season at the Opera House.

   The firm of Kingsbury & Daniels, dry goods merchants, of Homer, has been dissolved. Mr. Daniels retires.

   Mr. N. Jay Peck has exchanged his house and lot on Port Watson street for Mr. H. Seymour's steam mill, on the same street and will take possession August 1st.

   The members of St. Mary's Sunday school held a picnic at the Floral Trout Park, last Wednesday, which they most heartily enjoyed. The array of white dresses, as the little ladies marched in double rank down Main street, was almost dazzling and made a very pretty appearance.

   A week ago last Friday, the apparatus for heating water for baths, used at Glen Haven, gave out. A New York firm was telegraphed to on Saturday morning, for a new apparatus, which arrived the same day and was placed in the sanitarium ready for work by Sunday night.—Moravia Register.

   The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western has adopted the Gold system of car heating and the Gold coupling with the improved automatic trap. The road has ordered its passenger cars equipped as rapidly as possible in preparation for next winter, in compliance with the New York law, which went into effect in November, 1888.

   Miss Emma Nason, of Blodgett's Mills, one of the most prominent members of the W. C. T. U. in this county, has written a letter to the organization in which she deplores the action of the Union in allying themselves with any political party, and intimating that unless the action be rescinded, she will sever her connection with the organization. And thus far no one has remarked, "Whoa, Emma!"