UNDER THE CORNERSTONE OF HOMER ACADEMY AND DEATH OF CARRIE MAY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 23, 1893.

TOWN REPORTS.

HOMER.

   Last Sunday evening Rev. E. C. Olney preached a sermon before the graduating class of '93. His text was "Without me ye can do nothing." The board of education, faculty, graduating class and academic department attended the meeting in a body.

   The contents of the box which was placed under the corner stone of the new academy building was as follows:—

   Pioneer History of Cortland Co., Albany, New York and Cortland county papers of recent date. Photographs of the present board of education, board of instructors, Tempest Hose Co. No. 8, clergymen, physicians, officers and trustees of 1868. Catalogues of academy from 1888 to 1892. Copies of Cortland Co. Republican, published in Homer, issues of June 4, 1868; May 19, 1868; April 25, 1887. Homer Republican, issues of Jan. 19, 1893; Jan. 26, 1893 and June 15, 1893. Cortland County Observer published at Homer Aug. 27, 1829. Cortland Co. Standard May 19, 1868. Cortland Daily Standard. issues of Jan. 18, 1893 and June 15, 1893. CORTLAND DEMOCRAT, 1868. Gazette and Banner, 1868. Copy of scheme exhibition, Sept. 29, 1819. Catalogue of Homer Academy library 1891. Copy of the Philologian Gazette. Memoir of Abel Frank Kinney. Business directory and history of Cortland County from 1868 to 1869. Sermon at jubilee meeting in 1866, at the semi-centennial anniversary of the Cortland County Bible Society by Rev. J. C. Holbrook. D. D. Twenty-eighth annual report of the superintendent of public instruction. Cortland County Jubilee book of 1846. Forty-ninth anniversary of Cortland County, June 18, 1868. Statement of building fund of the academy building 1868. Photographs of the old Presbyterian church, the trustees and teachers of the Cortland academy and of Mr. E. C. Reed who was secretary of the trustees from 1825 to 1870.

   These articles were placed in the same oblong iron box that went through the academy fire and kept its contents from being harmed. After the box had been placed in position the masons covered it with mortar and then the same old cornerstone, only hewn in different shape, was put in place amid cheers and shouts from the large assemblage. After the corner stone was laid Rev. D. D. Forward delivered a short address. The audience then went near the platform which had been erected in front of the new building, where the ceremonies were to take place. It was opened by the quartette consisting of Kelsey Fowler, Fred Ford, William Foster and R. J. McElheny, who sang Nearer My God to Thee. Dr. Edward Hitchcock then delivered a very interesting historical address, after which Rev. Samuel R. Calthrop, D. D., minister of the Unitarian Congregational church of Syracuse, delivered an address; his subject was The American Idea. After he had finished the quartette sang "Oh, My America" and the exercises were closed with benediction by Rev. E. C. Olney. The laying of the corner stone of the new academy will always be remembered by all who attended.

   Merton Brown and his brother Jay have returned from Meriden N. H. where they have been attending school. They both graduated this year and enter Dartmouth college in the fall with the class of '97.

   Mr. G. W. Ripley, manager of the Grace Eldridge Concert company has returned home.

TAYLOR.

   Kittie Welsh has a new organ bought of Mahan.

   Eugene Maine has been on the sick list for a few days.

   Leander Brown and wife visited friends in Cuyler, Saturday.

   Mr. Brown Gilbert is sojourning in Gilbertsville for a while.

   Geo. N. Skinner is looking over the World's Fair at Chicago.

   Mrs. Will Edward is visiting her daughter in Syracuse for a while.

   Mrs. Will Potter, of Pitcher, visited her parents the first of the week.

   W. P. Henry and wife, of McGrawville, visited at H. Faints, Tuesday.

   Jacob Garner and wife, of South Cuyler, visited their son, Frank, Sunday.

   Elmer J. Hull and wife of Cedarvale, called upon relatives here last week.

   Mrs. Elias Fisk and Mrs. Miner Wales with their brother were in Wlllet, Sunday.

   Ira Merchant and family, of Cuyler Hill, were the guests of Julius Halbert, a few days since.

   Addison Bush was unfortunate enough Friday to cut a deep gash in his foot with an axe.

   Mrs. Mattie LeRoy and children of Cortland are spending a short time with her parents.

   John Lidell and wife, of Georgetown, spent a few days with her parents in this place last week.

   Charles Potter and Miss Shaw were married last Wednesday evening, so says Charles himself.

   B. L. Watson and wife, of Freetown, and Mrs. Willis Kettle, of Cortland, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Jordan, Tuesday.

   Several from this place attended the funeral of Orin Barber at the residence of his son, Albert Barber, Thursday. He died the 18th, aged about 75 years.

   Monday, the 11th, the citizens of this usually quiet burgh were startled from their reverie by the cry of fire. It did not take long to discover that the residence of Levi Neal was on fire. The people went valiantly to work and with the help of others summoned from Pitcher and Cincinnatus succeeded in removing most of the household furniture of all kinds; but were too late to save the house, that being entirely consumed. The house, while not one of the best, was a substantial structure and was one of the best locations in town. Mr. and Mrs. Neal had lived in this house for many years and to have it destroyed by fire is a hard blow to them not only in a pecuniary but in other ways as well. There was no insurance we understand. They will occupy the Rockwell house for the present.

   CALUMET. [pen name of local correspondent.]

HARFORD MILLS.

   "To be lovely is to be loved." This was never more beautifully demonstrated than in the life and death of Mrs. James Kells nee Carrie May who passed to the unseen city on Monday, 12 Inst. "My Beloved has gone down into his garden to gather lilies," was whispered among the angels, and surely no lily more stainless was ever transplanted to the gardens celestial. Only eighteen summers had silvered the dewdrops in the chalice of the rosebuds that had bloomed around her pathway.

   One year ago last March she gave her hand in marriage to James Kells. For more than a year her friends have feared that the insidious destroyer, consumption, was folding her in, the unnatural brilliancy of the eye, the rose spot upon the cheek, the constant decline of strength told too surely the story of her early doom. Through all the weary waiting she never once lost hope or cheer, always saying, "Oh, I am better," whenever asked how she was feeling. Wishing to cast no gloom over the hearts that loved her, she bravely faced death's river, smiling the smile of hope and patience as her feet dipped in the surging tide.

   Crushed and broken her parents watched the beautiful eyes of their only child closing in their last sleep as their hushed hearts fell a breath from the wing of the angel on whose breast her tired head was pillowed, surely nothing that love could do had they left undone Even furnishing her house with their very best, for Carrie, like all young wifes [sic] was anxious to keep house, even this last wish was gratified though too frail to attend home keeping, kind hands were provided and her little cottage was fitted up with all the tasteful and comfortable belongings so dear to a woman's heart.

   Her funeral was held on Wednesday, Rev. Mr. Mitchell, of Richford, officiating. No handsomer display of flowers was ever seen within the church than on this occasion, all who knew her gentle loving heart wishing to lay some sweet floral token of love above its voiceless silence. Six young ladies, pall bearers, dropped into her tomb a beautiful bouquet of choicest blooms literally loaded with floral pieces, a fan of orchids from Winnie Sexton, and a horseshoe of lilies-of-the-valley from Ray Sexton, while various beautiful and tasteful designs exhaled their sweetness, breathing the silent sympathy so grateful to every mourner's heart.

    Among the relatives of Mrs. May we noted Mr. Lucian Maybury and wife of Solon, Mrs. Jane Stevens of McGrawville; those of Mr. May, Fred Sweetlove and wife, Howard Reed and wife, Mrs. Dewitt Rose, Mr. Shelden Curtis of Cortland, also the Misses Gerrard and brother from Cortland, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Gardner, Mrs. Geo. Pear, Mrs. Randolph Price, Miss Etta Oaks, Mrs. Miner Oaks, Mr. Sylvester Oaks, Mr. and Mrs. Mortie Elster, Mrs. H. H. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Gee, Mrs. Lee Saltsman of Virgil, Miss Stewart and Miss Hattie Lang of Dryden, and Harry Thompson of Syracuse, also a large circle of the relatives of the young husband, all of whom had learned to love the beautiful bride he had given them as a daughter, a sister, a near friend.

   Beautiful Carrie, peaceful sleeper, only love could resign thee to thy flower strewn grave; what mother looking upon thy tranquil repose when death had kissed down the eyelids and folded the lips to a sacred suggestiveness, and say which is best, the hushing of the glad song; the slipping of the shining feet into the lily-starred meadows of Paradise; before a single shadow darkened; the exchanging of the ivory keys that thrilled to sweetest melody beneath the skillful touch of trained fingers for the golden strings of the harps celestial, or living to tread the thorn strewn path of womanhood with heart and hope beaten upon the hard anvil of torturing doubt and distrust, while every added blow rings out the requiem of trust and faith in humanity, awakening the doleful echoes that shadow life, ringing ever the discord of that saddest of all words, misunderstood.

   Mrs. O. F. SEXTON.

   [We copy articles as they were printed, past rules of grammar included--CC editor.]