COMMENCEMENT AT THE NORMAL SCHOOL

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 28, 1895.

COMMENCEMENT AT THE NORMAL SCHOOL.

   The fifty-third term of the Cortland Normal school has closed with a week of celebrations, public exercises and banquets. On Thursday and Friday evening June 20th and 21st occurred the first of the series in the declamation and oratories contests of the two young men's debating clubs. The Normal hall was filled each evening. Mangang's and Daniel's orchestras furnished music. Those who took part in the declamation contest were Holmes T. Case, Harman K. Stoddard, William D. Miller, Carroll P. Miner, Phil H. Hembt, Calvin G. Babcock, Benjamin J. Morrey, and Maurice L. Farrell. Mr. Farrell received the first and Mr. Morey the second prize.

   The oratorical contest was presided over by Clayton R. Lusk who delivered an appropriate opening address upon Young Men's clubs. The contestants were Merton J. Sanford, Wilbur F. Saxton, A. Franklin Ross, Jesse C. Bell and John E. Livermore. The gold and silver medals were awarded to Mr. Bell and Mr. Livermore.

   Both of these contests were excellent in character throughout and the friends of the clubs are satisfied that they are still doing good work and living up to the high standards and the traditions of the elders.

   On Saturday evening the five literary societies of the school gave their annual reception. A large part of the school building had been tastefully decorated and it afforded ample accommodation for the great throng of alumni, students, and their friends that gathered. This reception is unique and certainly one of the pleasantest features of commencement week.

   On Sunday evening the baccalaureate sermon to the graduating class was preached by the Rev. W. H. Pound at the Congregational Church. His text was from John 15.5: "Without me ye can do nothing." The address was earnest and inspiring, well-suited to the occasion that called it forth.

   The class of '94 gathered in Normal hall Monday afternoon and their public exercises were of great interest to all and especially to the many who so well remember the class that left the school one a year ago. The Rev. Henry E. Hubbard presided and delivered the opening address. Mr. Bowen delivered an oration in the graceful, impressive manner so familiar to us a year ago.

   Miss Jessie Barnes read the class histories telling what each member has been doing since graduation. Miss Lula Van Scoy read an original poem. Miss Ann Blackmer appeared with a vision of the class members after an interval of twenty-seven years. The exercises closed with presentation by Mr. Rufus E. Corlew in behalf of the class of a very handsome engraving of Abraham Lincoln to the school. Prof. Banta received the gift in behalf of the local board and the faculty.

   The Alumni meeting Monday evening was an occasion of rare interest. The participators in the evening's exercises, Prof. Frank D. Blodgett, Mr.Vernon P. Squires, Miss Lena V. Lovell, and Dr. David Eugene Smith, all received an enthusiastic welcome which they richly rewarded. Prof. Blodgett as president delivered a very eloquent address upon "Imagination and Patriotism." The poem, "A Dream of Great Teachers," recited by Mr. Squires reproduced the scenes and condition amidst which labored some of the world's best teachers, Socrates, Quintilian Abelard, Arnold, and Agassiz, characterized their life and works and sought to draw inspiration from their deeds. There were in the poem many humorous touches and it was full of genuine sympathy.

   Miss Lovell's recitation of "Squire Hawkins' Story" delighted everybody.

   The great event of the evening was Dr. Smith's address dealing with the educational outlook. It discussed the movements in the educational field to-day giving an insight into their meaning and their objects and causing all to appreciate the elements of hope and promise for the future contained in them. It was full, as all Dr. Smith's utterances are, of enthusiasm for his profession and could not fail to stir up ambition and like enthusiasm in every teacher who heard it.

   Ten o'clock Tuesday morning saw every seat and the most of the standing room in the opera house filled. The commencement exercises of the graduating class were there held and the program as printed below was carried through. The class numbering forty-five, of unusual strength and high average ability, was well represented by eight of its members chosen to deliver orations. All of the orations were strong in thought, well expressed and well delivered. The most of the subjects were of a professional character, which is right.

   It was perhaps natural, considering the present enthusiasm for child study that Miss Titus should be listened to with especial attention. Her oration was worthy of her theme. One of the most thoughtful and interesting of the orations was Miss Banta's. It was of the nature of literary criticism. Shakespeare's fools were brought together and compared and classified and the proposition was established that it takes much wit to play the fool.

   At 11:45 Dr. Cheney introduced, as one of the many who after coming within the influence of Cortland Institutions and Cortland society have gone forth to a life of great eminence and great service, Lieutenant Governor Charles T. Saxton. He, after a few introductory remarks dealing with his memories of life in Cortland and the friendships formed here, addressed the graduating class upon the "Relation of the public schools to American Citizenship." He cited the fact, noted by observing foreigners, that among the American people the average of knowledge is higher and the habit of reading and thinking more generally diffused than in any other country, which fact is explained by the existence of the public school since the early days of the country's history. We draw money from the taxpayers to support the public schools not because education is an aid to individual success but because ignorance is a danger to the state. The ignorant are the tools of unscrupulous ambitions. From the ignorant come our criminals. From the uneducated come the attacks upon our social system by socialism, anarchism and the like. We give the illiterate the ballot and if no harm is done it is because their number is so small as compared with the great body of citizens. But every year there comes to our shores an army more numerous than the hordes of barbarians that overcome the Roman Empire. They are given the right to vote but they are largely ignorant of the first principles of our institutions. The security of the country against them lies in the public school.

   The speaker then discussed the question what, in view of these things, the character of education should be. It should be not exclusively mental, but should involve moral culture. It should deal with practical knowledge, that having intrinsic value rather than with that useful only for discipline. Above all pupils should be taught their civic duties. In conclusion he spoke of the influence of the teacher in the school, of the part teachers have in moulding the character of their pupils. If they can induce their pupils to guide their lives by the chart of right living and the compass of duty, they will be doing more for them than if they fill their minds with all the facts of the universe.

   Dr. Cheney presented to the class their diplomas with a few words of encouragement and exhortation and the exercises were concluded. In the evening occurred the reception and banquet attended by many of the alumni and friends of the school. They all had a pleasant time and after they had dispersed several hours intervened before the first day of vacation dawned.

   Below is printed the commencement program and the toast list at the banquet.

Closing Exercises.

   The closing exercises of the Primary Departments of the Public Schools were held at the Opera House last Thursday afternoon. The stage and boxes were beautifully decorated with lace draperies and bunting of pink and green. Two large palms were placed at each side of the stage with a large portrait of Washington resting at the right.

   The exercises were of an exceptionally high order, reflecting great credit upon both teachers and pupils. Special mention should be made of the drills and recitations presented as they showed much skill in selection as well as rendition.

   The children received the merited applause of a large and appreciative audience and Cortland may well be proud of her public schools as well as the able and efficient teachers.

A Bit of a Misunderstanding.

   Laying sewer pipe on Main-st. has come to a complete standstill, owing to the fact that the Traction Co. refuse to take up their track in order to allow the sewer contractors to dig the ditch and lay the sewer pipe under the same. The franchise of the Traction Co., it is understood, does not require them to be at the expense necessary and they decline to take up their track. They did agree verbally, however. to take up the track between the Cortland House and the Messenger House, as far as their double track runs and they have performed this part of their agreement, but they decline to remove their track farther than they agreed to verbally.

   Mr. Landreth, the engineer in charge of the sewers, was in town last evening and a meeting of the trustees and sewer board was to be held to formulate some plan to remove the difficulty. It looks very much as though the village would have to be at the extra expense in moving the tracks and putting them down again. Meantime, the sewer contractors are laying pipe in West Court-st. and Clayton-ave. and Main-st. is full of heaps of dirt.

Capsized.

   The red lantern on the pile of earth thrown from the sewer in front of the soldier's monument was extinguished Wednesday evening by the high wind. About 10 o'clock S. K. Jones and his wife in driving between the pile and the curb, ran one side of the buggy upon the earth mound. The buggy was overturned and both occupants were thrown out and considerably bruised but not seriously. Mr. Jones was drawn some distance on his face in the mud but hung to the reins till passers-by came to his assistance. The buggy will need a new pair of thills.

The Catholic Festival.

(From the Marathon Independent, June 25.)

   The entertainment and festival to be given for the building fund of St. Stephen's church will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings next. The entertainments will be held at Library hall and followed by supper and festival at Peck's hall.

   The entertainment will consist each evening of a lecture, illustrated with stereopticon views, upon scenes of the Civil War, with appropriate songs, the lectures to be given by the eloquent Father Dougherty of Syracuse. The lecture each evening will be different.

   Among those who are to take part in the concert are Miss Mamie Geary, violinist, a pupil of Madame Camilla Urso. She will give two selections each evening. Miss Julia Allen of Scranton, a gifted young singer who is no stranger to Marathon audiences will assist, also Miss Martin of Oswego and others, all artists.

   The price of tickets has been placed within the reach of all. The admission to the entertainment will be but 25 cents. while a ticket entitling the holder to admission, entertainment, festival and supper will cost but 75 cents.

   The receipts are to be devoted to the erection of a new church edifice, and those who attend will have an enjoyable time, and contribute to a worthy object.

Decided Not to Celebrate.

   Last week we announced that the Cortland County Agricultural Society would celebrate the 4th of July by giving a series of races on the fair grounds in this village. The announcement was a little premature, although at the hour of going to press some of the officers were quite sure that the arrangements for a celebration would be carried out. The officers have finally concluded to abandon the enterprise owing to the fact that so many towns about us are making preparations for a good time and many citizens had made arrangements to spend the day elsewhere and besides, there was hardly time to get up races that would be pleasing to all. A race meeting will however take place a little later in the season when ample time can be had to advertise the same.

Levi Morton.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   ◘ Gov. Morton has appointed William J. Mantanye of Cortland to be one of the state commissioners of prisons. Well?

   ◘ Lord Roseberry and his ministers of England have resigned and the Queen has called upon Lord Salisbury to form a new cabinet. He has accepted.

   ◘ Gov. Morton has pardoned Mary Druse who was serving a life sentence in Auburn prison for complicity in the murder of her father. William Druse, at Herkimer, Dec. 14, 1884. Her mother, Rosalia, was convicted of shooting her husband and was executed.

   ◘ Syracuse people are rejoicing over the fact that Skaneateles water has improved the quality of the beer manufactured in that city. It was a mystery for some time why the citizens of the Salt city were willing to pay almost any price for the water. It is plain enough now.

   ◘ The republican league convention assembled in Cleveland last week with a loud blare of trumpets and the silver delegates declared that the league would adopt a resolution in favor of unlimited free coinage. The gold bug delegates on the other hand insisted that the league would adopt a resolution in favor of sound money. What was the result? The convention passed a resolution relegating the financial question and the tariff question to the Republican National convention of 1896. The leaders did not dare put themselves on record on either of these great national issues. A more pronounced demonstration of political cowardliness has not been exhibited by any party in years. What did the convention do? It simply elected Platt's man, Gen'l. McAlpine, president of the National league and adjourned sine die. The time and money spent could have been put to a more profitable use.

   ◘ The Washington county republicans had a high old time at their county convention last Thursday. The forces of H. G. Burleigh, who is opposed to Platt and Isaac V. Baker, who is understood to be one of Platt's lieutenants, came together and the shock came near annihilating both factions. Three times during its proceedings, the delegates were all engaged in a pitched battle and the sheriff and his deputies had to be called in to quell the riot. As a result many of the delegates are wearing swelled noses and black eyes. The Burleigh party elected the delegates to the state, judicial and senatorial conventions and the Baker men withdrew and held another convention and elected another set of delegates. First blood for Platt's opponents Burleigh claims that the sheriff was acting in Baker's interest while quelling the riot and he announces that he will present charges to Governor Morton for the sheriff's removal.

   ◘ Although Senator Henry J. Coggshall of the Oneida senatorial district has been doing Platt's bidding in the senate for sometime past, that selfish politician is now said to have turned the cold shoulder on him. Last winter Coggshall opposed the so-called New York Reform bills which were killed simply because they were not satisfactory to Platt, and by so doing has incurred the displeasure of the leading republican politicians in Oneida county, who declare that he shall not be renominated. Platt has been assured by these gentlemen that Coggshall cannot be nominated and that if by any possibility he should be, they will defeat him at the polls. Consequently Platt drops his ablest lieutenant and will try and nominate some other candidate who will do his bidding if elected. Coggshall does not propose to be turned down so unceremoniously by either Mr. Platt or his republican enemies in Oneida county and if he fails of the regular nomination he will run as the Labor candidate and many good politicians think he would win. If the Democrats of Oneida county are sharp they will take advantage of the opportunity and elect the next senator from that district.

   ◘ The Malby bill has received the signature of the Governor and is now a law of the state. It is a new civil rights bill and gives colored people the same rights in public places that white people enjoy. Charles W. Anderson, the colored private secretary of State Treasurer Colvin claims to be the author of the bill and he with several other gentleman of color are having a high old time with the restaurant and hotel keepers in New York. They claim the right to sit at the table with white gentleman and ladies in the public restaurants and high class hotels, and as the law is very stringent, proprietors of these palaces are forced to submit or run up against a very bad law and subject themselves to heavy fines and damages. It must be plain that Gov. Morton signed the bill for political effect, with the view of making himself strong with the colored voters. If the Governor should happen to be taking dinner with his family at the Waldorf, and the proprietor should seat a burly negro at his immediate right, who could doubt that his aristocratic nose would be strongly affected and the Waldorf would lose a good customer. The determination which some of the colored people evince to force their presence upon white people, is of itself a proof that they know there are certain bounds to social equality beyond which they have no right to go. No person of refinement and intelligence will seek the society or company of the ignorant, uncultured or slovenly and a law that attempts to force such an association of uncongenial spirits, has no right to be placed on the statute book and is a disgrace to the intelligence of the state. If whites have the bad taste to wish to associate with the blacks, there is perhaps no great harm in allowing them to indulge in their perverted tastes, but when white legislatures undertake to compel such association they are going too far. The hotel men propose to test the constitutionality of the law. No one would pretend to say that Gov. Morton should be forced to sit at table with a white boot-black or chimneysweeper and yet a law compelling him to do so would be just as sensible as the one under consideration.

Elm Street bridge.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Cortland mail carriers have new mail bags.

   Charles B. Rumsey of Homer has secured letters on a patent clutch.

   The salary of the postmaster at Homer has been increased from $1,600 to $1,700.

   The Cortlands downed the Mystics on the fair grounds last Saturday afternoon. Score 15 to 3.

   Mr. Chris Brandenstein has moved his shoe shop from rooms on Orchard-st. to the little store in the Squires block.

   The second game between the Shamrocks of Syracuse and the Cortlands will be played on the fair grounds at 3 P. M. to-morrow.

   The regular meeting of the board of managers of the hospital association will be held at the hospital Monday afternoon, July 1st, at 3 o'clock.

   Mrs. E. F. Cotton has opened a grocery store, first door west of Dan Reilly's meat market on Railroad-st. Mr. C. Cotton will have charge of the same.

   The Cortland baseball club have secured the services of Mr. John Mahoney of St. John's Military school, Manlius, as pitcher. He is a valuable acquisition to the team.

   Mr. George Goddard, proprietor of the Empire House in Tully, will give an independence party at his hotel on Thursday evening, July 4, 1895. Gibbons' full orchestra will furnish music.

   The Groton Bridge Co. has the contract for the iron bridge to be placed over the Tioughnioga river on the Elm-st. extension. The bridge is to be completed by July 10. It will cost $6,000.

   Dr. A. G. Henry has removed from Main-st. to his new office adjoining his residence, 25 Owego-st. Office hours are from 12 A. M. to 2:30 P. M. and from 6 A. M. to 8 P.M. Telephone call No. 91.

   The price of the Rome Daily Sentinel has been cut down to $4 per annum. It is a nine column paper, handsomely printed with a very full and complete telegraphic news. How the proprietors can furnish so much for so little money and have anything left over for themselves is indeed a mystery, but the paper seems to be flourishing like a green bay tree.

   Cornelius Ahern of this place was committed to the Binghamton Asylum last week.

   Mrs. Mary Ann Hulbert of McGrawvllle has been committed to the Binghamton Asylum.

   W. W. Steamer and Hose Co. are to have new uniforms. Bingham & Miller will furnish them.

   Nearly a hundred men are at work on the Traction Co.'s road to McGrawville. The track will be laid on the south side of the highway.

   About three hundred people went to Sylvan Beach Wednesday morning on the excursion gotten up for the benefit of the Homer -ave. church.

   We learn that Mr. F. J. Doubleday, the well known decorator of this village, becomes a member of the firm of D. F. Wallace & Co. on July 1st next.

   A cave-in in the sewer ditch on Clayton-ave. covered up two Italians yesterday morning. Their companions soon dug them out. They were not much hurt but were badly frightened.

   Arrangements have been made with the superintendent of the E. C. & N. railroad for the 8:45 A. M. and the 7 P. M. trains to stop at Deacon J. L. Gillett's grove on the Fourth. Round trip 15 cents. Not conditional by members but let there be a grand rally.

   The indignation meeting held by the Good Government club in Taylor hall last Friday evening was not largely attended. The meeting was addressed by Dr. F. W. Higgins who gave a statement of the present situation of affairs. He was followed by Rev. Dr. L. H Pearce.

   The local board of the State Normal School has let the contract for the erection on the west side of the school building, of a two story brick building for the use of the janitor. Messrs. John M. Harrison, John J. Hannon and James B. Carroll of this village have the contract and work will be commenced at once.

   Our sewers were put to a very successful trial a short time ago. After flushing the sewer at the Wickwire works, a marked block was put in and a man went to the outlet, about two and one-half miles away. In one hour and ten minutes the block appeared. There remain about four miles of sewer to be put in and the contractors say it will all be finished and the streets put back in shape before September first.

   Correspondents and advertisers should bear in mind the fact that the DEMOCRAT will be issued next week on Wednesday afternoon in order to allow its employes to observe the Fourth which comes on Thursday. Matter that is expected to go in next week should reach us by Tuesday afternoon without fail.