RELIANCE, FLAG DAY, A LONG CHASE, MR. AINSWORTH'S LECTURE, STATE GRANGE, AND DEATH OF MRS. BARBER

 

Reliance Crossing Finish Line.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 12, 1903.

AGAIN THE RELIANCE.

For the Third Time New Boat Beats Her Two Rivals.

IN SMOOTH SEA AND LIGHT WIND.

Columbia Suffered by Early Tack and Lost Benefit of Freshened Wind—Reliance Beat Constitution by Half a Mile and Columbia by a Mile—Next Race Monday.

   New York, June 12.—The Reliance demonstrated her superiority in a smooth sea and with a light wind by another victory over the Constitution and Columbia. The Reliance defeated the Constitution by five minutes 52 seconds and the Columbia by 12 minutes 54 seconds. The race was sailed over the America's cup course, 15 miles from Sandy Hook to windward and return, 30 miles around.

   The yachts made a faultless start, crossing the line almost side by side.

   At the start the Columbia gave evidence of the sailing qualities that had made her a cup defender, but she soon began to drop astern and after half an hour's sailing tacked and stood away to the eastward, while the Reliance and Constitution kept on their tack southward.

   In the first seven minutes the Reliance worked out from her position under the lee bow of the Constitution, so that when the latter tacked at 12.21, the Reliance had got the coveted windward berth. The Constitution went about and when the Reliance promptly followed, tacked again only to fall into line with the leader but farther astern than before.

   The wind freshened to seven knots. The Reliance and Constitution could fetch the turn in one long slant, but the Columbia suffered severely by making her early turn. She was three miles off to the eastward of the others and could not fetch better than two miles leeward of the turn.

   Fifteen minutes before the Reliance reached the mark the Columbia came about and headed for the turn. The boats made it in this order, unofficial time: Reliance, 2.24.00; Constitution, 2.29.10; Columbia, 2.35.12.

   The Reliance had beaten the Constitution five minutes 27 seconds and the Columbia 11 minutes 1 second.

   Turning the mark all the boats broke out balloon jib topsails and spinnakers, the Reliance leading the procession to the finish line a mile ahead of the Columbia and half a mile ahead of the Constitution.

   Members of the regatta committee announced last night that there would be no race until Monday.

 

DOG NABBED BY LIONESS.

One of Bostock's Wild Beasts Seizes and Kills a Visitor's Prize Poodle.

   New York, June 12.—J. Chester Hawkes, an Englishman who is stopping at the Atlantic hotel on the Boulevard at Coney Island, took his wife and several others to the Bostock animal show in the Sea Beach Palace. He also took his poodle Napoleon which, according to Mr. Hawkes, had won several prizes in England.

   After the performance was over the party went around to look at the animals in the cages. At last they stopped at the cage of the lioness Victoria. Mr. Hawkes was carrying his poodle, but when he reached the cage he put Napoleon on the ledge near the cage so he could reach around and get his handkerchief.

   The lioness reached out with one of her forepaws, grabbed the poodle, drew it into the cage, seized it in her teeth and then tossed it aside dead.

   Mr. Hawkes was very angry at the show people, and when they told him that the death of the dog was due to his own negligence he declared that he would go to the British consulate and see about things.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Flag Day.

   Flag Day this year will be celebrated on Monday, June 15, as it falls on Sunday. The American Flag association, through Ralph E. Prime, its president, and Theodore Fitch, its secretary, has sent out a circular letter to the press, to the mayors of cities, to the officers and members of American patriotic societies, to school officers and teachers, and to the public generally, urging co-operation "in securing the widest possible recognition of the day."

   The Declaration of Independence has its date July 4, 1776, emblazoned on the history not only of America, but of the world. It was nearly a year later—to wit, on June 14, 1777,—that congress adopted a resolution declaring "that the flag of the thirteen states be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." For more than six years thereafter, the new flag waved over the struggling revolutionary troops—in glorious victory at Saratoga, in defeat on other hard fought fields, in privation and almost despair at Valley Forge before it was recognized by Great Britain as the flag of an independent nation, and entitled to be respected as such by the world.

   Congress on April 4, 1818, in recognition of the fact that the Union had but begun its wonderful growth, devised a plan which at once perpetuates the fame of the "original thirteen" and recognizes new states as they come into the Union, by voting.

   "That from and after the Fourth of July next the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be twenty stars, white in a blue field, and that on the admission of a new state into the Union one star be added to the union of the flag; and such addition take effect on the Fourth of July next succeeding such admission."

   Since that day more than eighty-five years have elapsed. Today, the flag is made up of thirteen stripes and forty-five stars, twenty-five new states having been added to the Union since 1818, and thirty-two since July 4, 1776. In peace for the most part, but in 1812, in 1845, in 1861, and in 1898 in war, that banner has waved, the symbol of the greatest republic the world has ever known, and one which we fondly believe will never perish nor decay. May it ever float as the patriotic poet saw it over the ramparts during the second war with Great Britain, the emblem of freedom, human rights, justice and independence:

   Then conquer we must,

   When our cause it is just,

   And this be our motto, in God is our trust!

   And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave.

   O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

 

A LONG CHASE

After the Parties Who Stole Daniel Kernan's Horse.

ALL BELIEVED TO BE ARRESTED.

Horse Trades and Wagon Trades—Store in Solon Broken Into—Wedding Occurs on the Trip—All the Parties Now in Custody.

   After an adventurous trip through several towns in two counties which had its beginning in stealing a horse, followed by the theft of two wagons, a harness, whip, lantern, blankets, robes, etc., breaking into a store and also including a marriage, the two adventurers Adelbert Green and William Ferris, have been arrested and lodged in the Cortland county jail. The following story is told by the officers who followed up the chase and made the arrest and quite a portion of it is already admitted by the boys.

   At an early hour Wednesday morning, Green who seemed to be the ringleader, and Ferris stole a horse belonging to Daniel Kernan, which together with several others was running loose at the fairgrounds. They now had a horse and one of the boys had a harness, but without a wagon, these were of no use. They, therefore, took one belonging to a man named Steele living on Brown-ave. This one did not seem to satisfy them however, and they traded it off for one belonging to John Griswold, who lives west of Cortland. The transaction, however, was unbeknown to Mr. Griswold.

   They next returned to Cortland. Thinking they might need a lantern while on their travels, they helped themselves to one belonging to Robert H. Beard which was in use at his new building on Church-st.

   They were next heard of at the Waters farm on the McGraw road where they decided to change harnesses and also made up their minds that a whip was necessary, and that as the night air was rather cold, a robe and some blankets would be acceptable.

   They next took the Solon road. On arriving at Solon they made up their minds to have some tobacco, nuts, sweet meats, etc. They, accordingly, broke into a store at that place and help themselves with a liberal hand. They then proceeded to Fabius and so on to Syracuse.

Now a Wedding.

   Here they added one more to their number as young Ferris was tired of single blessedness and took to himself a wife, who later gave her name as Clara Diamond. The three now took to the road again. Ferris and Green must have thought that there is "no place like home," as they now headed for Cortland again.

   On the arrival at Fabius on the return trip it was decided that the horse must be some tired and that it would be desirable to make a trade. Accordingly a bargain was struck with a man named Bush whereby the party secured a fresh horse, a mustang, and continued the homeward journey. When Cuyler was reached Green went in a hotel for a drink and the other two, tired of his company, gave him the slip and came on alone. Green was furious at being deserted and set out to find a rig for himself.

   The report comes from Truxton that seeing a lady near he drew a revolver and leveling at her demanded a horse and wagon. She told him she could not give him what she did not possess and he passed on. Later he made the same demand from a man once more using the pistol as a persuader, but without obtaining satisfaction. Officers were now after him, but he kept them off with his pistol and ran down to the railroad track to Truxton, where he was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Reagan and brought to Cortland and lodged in jail.

   This morning young Ferris was arrested by Sheriff Overton at his home,  at the corner of Main and Madison-sts., and also lodged in jail. The tobacco and nuts were found at the house by the sheriff. Later his wife was arrested by the sheriff and is held as a witness. At the jail she gave her name as Clara Diamond, her age 17 and residence, Syracuse.

   The horse was found this morning on Fitz-ave. and taken to the Cortland House barn.

   Too much credit cannot be given the sheriff and his assistants in running down the young desperadoes.

 

Danforth E. Ainsworth.

MR. AINSWORTH'S LECTURE

Before the Tioughnioga Teachers' Council Tomorrow Afternoon.

   As has already been announced through these columns an address will be given by Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Danforth E. Ainsworth in Normal [School] hall tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, in connection with the meeting of the Tioughnioga Teachers' council.

   Mr. Ainsworth is one of the best speakers in the state and his address will be of more general interest as his theme is a popular rather than a professional one. He will speak upon "The Conquering Nation," and it is needless to state that the address will be interesting and instructive. No admission will be charged and the public is cordially invited to attend.

 

A SPLENDID RAIN.

Two Inches Fall in Less than Twenty-Four Hours.

   A decidedly refreshing rain has fallen. There had been several light sprinkles since the drought was broken last Sunday on its 52nd day, but even then the dust was scarcely laid. But about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon rain began falling and has continued to fall ever since. At 3 o'clock this afternoon the rain fall had reached just two inches. And it has been a gentle rain too all of the time, but a steady rain. This will help thicken up grass and do much toward saving crops.

 

No Cause of Action.

   The case of Ephraim J. Bell vs. James N. Eberly was on trial in county court yesterday when The Standard went to press. The case went to the jury late in the afternoon which after fifteen minutes' deliberation brought in a verdict for the defendant. This permits Mr. Eberly to keep the horse and buggy. The plaintiff is to pay all the costs of the replevin and also of the trial. C. V. Coon for plaintiff. J. & T. E. Courtney for defendant.

 

Mr. Mager Appointed.

   At the Diocesan convention of the Episcopal church at Auburn yesterday G. J. Mager of this city was appointed by Bishop Huntington as a member of the standing committee "On the report of the trustees of the parochial fund." Mr. Mager was also appointed as one of the two delegates from this diocese to the missionary council which will meet in Washington, D. C. Mr. Mager was a delegate to the council in Philadelphia last year.

 

Set Fire to Mattress.

   John Dugan, who was released from jail yesterday after serving a sentence of thirty days was arrested by Officer Baker about 9 o'clock this morning on the charge of public intoxication and was placed in a cell at police headquarters.

   Shortly afterwards smoke was seen issuing from the door of the cell and it was discovered that Dugan had set fire to the mattress. Prompt action on the part of Chief Barnes and Officer Baker prevented a more serious fire and Dugan was placed in an adjoining cell.

 

Conners-McGuire.

   Thomas Conners and Miss Mary McGuire, both of Cortland, were married Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock at St. Mary's church by Rev. J. J. McLoghlin. The bridesmaid was Miss Kittie McGuire and the best man Thomas Hennessy. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride, 90 East Court-st. Mr. and Mrs. Conners left for the south for a wedding trip to parts unannounced. After June 18 they will be at home at 44 Crandall-st.

 

Death of Mrs. Barber.

   Mrs. Elizabeth L. Barber, the widow of the late John S. Barber, died just before 3 o'clock this afternoon. Her age was 83 years and 9 months. The funeral will be held at 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon at Grace Episcopal church.

 

THE STATE GRANGE

To be Held in Cortland on Feb. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

   R. A. Sharp of Lowville and Jacob Saltsman of Fonda, members of the executive committee of the state grange, were in Cortland yesterday to meet N. F. Webb, master of Cortland County Pomona grange, to make arrangements to hold the next meeting of the state grange at the Opera House in this city Feb. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The [telegraph] wires are not working well today and consequently there is no stock report today.

   —The next convention of the New York State Sundayschool association will be held in Auburn in June, 1904.

   —The picnic of the Y. P. S. C. E. of the Presbyterian church which was to have been held tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely on account of the rain.

   —Greenport, L. I., is about to build a $25,000 addition to its high school. Frank J. Squires, formerly of Cortland, is the principal of this school.

   —Sixteen Cortland ladies enjoyed a trip to Solon yesterday in two of Alderman Yager's carryalls to visit the home of Miss Elizabeth Hatheway and to inspect her rare collection of paintings and curios.

   —All the children of the primary department of the Presbyterian Sundayschool who are to take part in the Children's Day exercises Sunday are requested to meet at the church for practice tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.

   —The new display advertisements today are—M. W. Giles, Special prices, page 4; New York Store, June sale of Dry goods, etc., page 4; M. A. Case, Muslin underwear, page 6; G. H. Wiltsie, June sale of underwear, page 6; Opera House, "Railroad Jack" page 5.

 

SUNDAY FILLER: LANGLEY AERODROME

 

A SUDDEN CONVERSION, SUICIDE IN HAWAII, SYLVESTER KEYS, AND THE WELLINGTON GORGE

 

King Peter I.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, June 19, 1903.

A SUDDEN CONVERSION.

Servian Editor Laid Aside Predilection For a Republic

IN ORDER TO SAVE HIS HEAD.

Was Then Made Minister of Justice. Thought That the New Government Will Be a Military Dictatorship and That King Peter Will Be Only a Royal Captive.

   Belgrade, June 17.—The position of King Peter I promises to be little more than that of a royal captive. The real government of the country will be a military dictatorship under the leaders of the revolution, Colonel Maschin and Colonel Mitschitsch. The new king is almost without any adherents, and the ruling spirits of the army, it is thought probable, would just as readily murder him as they did his predecessor, should he oppose their aims.

   At the present moment the whole country is under military rule and although no prefects in the country districts have been removed, each is accompanied by an army officer who attends the prefect wherever he goes. There has been no disorder however.

   Extremely forcible arguments were found necessary to suppress the Radical aspirations for a republic. The foremost advocate of a republican form of government was Ljubomir Schiokovics, editor of the Belgrade Odjek. Finding him impervious to arguments, the conspirators invited him to a dinner at the Officer’s club. His hosts told him that unless he agreed to support King Peter there would be one head less in Belgrade. The editor yielded to the force of this reasoning and accepted the situation. He is now minister of justice in the new government.

   The deliberations of the members of the senate and skupshtina on the question of a republic were materially hastened by the attendance of Colonel Mitschitch. He took no part in the proceedings, but his presence was significant enough to induce the members to accept the army’s choice.

   Premier Avakumovics told the deputies that it was useless to talk of a republic, as neither Russia nor Austria would permit it. He further urged that the proposed new constitution would give King Peter far less power that that enjoyed by the president of the United States.

   In spite of the semi-official statements that the delegations of the national assembly, elected to submit the crown to the newly chosen king, had already started, the delegates are still here. The government declares that the number of its members, 24, would entail too great cost on the country in the way of traveling expenses, but the real reason of the delay in its departure is that the government found some of its members to be adverse to King Peter.

   These members sought the opportunity to become reconciled to him at the expense of the country. Now that the ministry has cut off their traveling expenses their desire to make the journey will be greatly diminished and the delegates will probably consist of a dozen members at most.

   Inquiries in official circles everywhere elicit the assurance that the people are delighted with the action of the government, but conversations heard in public places indicate that the people, especially those living outside the capital, know little and care little about the trend of national politics.

   It is believed that the army will try to make secret terms with the new king by which it will retain the supremacy gained by the tragedy, but whether the king will agree to the conditions is uncertain.

   One of the highest officials of the present government asked a number of foreign journalists what Europe thought of the way in which the Servian revolution was carried out. He was told bluntly that it was considered a brutal act. He thereupon explained that from his point of view the assassinations of the king and queen were an act of mercy, as by utterly destroying the dynasty instead of deporting the sovereigns, the likelihood of a civil war was precluded.

 

Czar Nicholas II.

Czar’s Congratulations.

   Geneva, June 17.—The czar has telegraphed to King Peter as follows: “Learning that the senate and the skupshtina had formally proclaimed you King of Servia I venture to express to your majesty sincere wishes for the prosperity of your country and the hope that God may come to your assistance in the enterprise you have undertaken for the happiness of your people. NICHOLAS.”

 

AMERICAN’S SUICIDE IN HAWAII.

E. R. Newman of Ithaca Kills Himself at Honolulu.

   Honolulu, June 9, via San Francisco, June 16.—Edwin R. Newman, formerly of Ithaca, N. Y., committed suicide on June 5 by shooting himself through the head. Newman first came to the islands in 1887 as druggist on the United States ship Vandalia and settled here as a druggist.

   After two years he returned to Ithaca, but came back here four months ago and brought a stock of drugs. He found that a new law required an examination in pharmacy which he could not pass. He tried to sell his stock of drugs but failed, and it is thought that in a fit of depression he took his life. The very afternoon before he shot himself the other druggists had agreed to buy his stock, but he did not know of it. His remains have been cremated and will be sent to Ithaca. He left a widow and two children.  

 

SYLVESTER KEYS

A Strange Death—Post Mortem Held—Further Examination.

   Sylvester Keyes died at about 2:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at the home of M. B. Austin, 4 East-ave., Cortland, N. Y. His age was about 70 years.

   Mr. Keyes has had a room at this house for some time, engaging it from month to month. Very little is known about his family except that he has a wife and several children living somewhere, but he himself has been a resident of Cortland for several years. Two years ago he drove the horse for Dr. C. D. Ver Nooy for a couple of months and seemed to be a peaceable old man.

   About a week ago Mr. Keys returned from a visit with friends in Marathon and from that time has not been well. He complained of suffering much pain in one shoulder and said it hurt him. One eye was blackened. He offered no explanation, however, as to how these came about. As the days passed his speech became more and more unintelligible and his tongue seemed paralyzed. He was unable to swallow anything except liquids, and even medicine in form of tablets he could not swallow. At times his mind seemed clouded and even the attempts at speaking showed that he was irrational.

   Death came Tuesday and the next morning a post mortem examination was made by Dr. Ver Nooy assisted by Dr. Carpenter at the request of Coroner Dr. Santee. An abscess was found that extended from the base of the brain clear down between the heart and lungs. This would account for the inability to speak and to swallow, and the absorption of pus from this caused blood poisoning which was the cause of death.

   But the cause of the abscess is now the perplexing question. It would seem to have resulted from an injury, a blow perhaps, and the black eye which he had would also indicate a blow. Whether this blow was the result of an accident or of intent is the question that will probably be investigated by the coroner.

   Dr. Ver Nooy says that from his acquaintance with the deceased two years ago he knows that he was one of the class who have no confidence in banks. He has told him that he never deposited any money in a bank, but always carried on his person whatever he possessed. When he died he had about $100 in his clothing.

   The matter is now being investigated.

 

THE WELLINGTON GORGE.

A Beautiful Spot and One Little Known to the Public.

   One of our subscribers calls attention to the fact that one of the most beautiful spots in this county and also one of the least generally known is the gorge or canyon that extends from the Wellington farm house between Cortland and McGraw back up into the hill for 3/4 of a mile. It extends through a deep grove of hemlock trees. Part way up the gorge is a cave large enough for a man to crawl through. In the early days of the settlement of Cortland County a man named Thompson killed a panther there and her young ones, and for that reason it has since been known as the panther’s cave. Fifteen rods below is a spring of exceedingly pure and cold water, and above the cave is a narrow canyon with very high walls upon each side. There are several pretty waterfalls up the canyon. High on the rocks upon one side of the canyon are three large letters. They seem to have been carved in the rock by an expert, but how he reached the place is a query, for the place is higher up than the tallest building in Cortland, and there is nothing near it to give a foothold while performing the work.

   Over forty years ago Artemus Ward and his friend Jack Ryder visited this place, and the former was so much pleased with it that he wrote an interesting item about it for the old Gazette and Banner, a newspaper then published in Cortland, The trolley cars on the McGraw line pass very near the entrance to this gorge.

 

ELECTION OF A KING, FOR A STRONG NAVY, COLUMBIA AND THE PANAMA CANAL, AND GADDING GIRLS

 

King Peter I.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, June 19, 1903.

ELECTION OF A KING.

Servian Parliament Took Up the Matter Today.

DESIRE FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION.

Murdered Premier Resigned A Few Hours Before His Assassination. Differed With the King as to Arrest of Opposition Leaders and Editors. Autopsy on King’s Body.

   Belgrade, June 15.—Politicians and members of the skupschtina have been holding conferences, and while there are rumors of minor differences the election of Prince Karageorgevitch appears absolutely assured.

   The skupschtina and the senate met jointly at 9 o’clock this morning. It is stated that the ministry desired that the skupschtina should immediately proceed to elect the king by acclamation. The members of the senate and the skupschtina, however, would prefer that a new constitution be adopted first.

   The Radical leaders have prepared a platform for the new constitution on the lines of that of 1888. The chief points are: the King shall not be the commander of the army; the civil and military authorities must swear allegiance to the constitution and not to the king; universal suffrage and the abolition of the senate.

Liberal Constitution Approved.

   The constitution of 1888 is of a very liberal character and its adoption was approved at a conference held Sunday of the ministers and many deputies.

   The provisional government has received reports from all parts of the country stating that order prevails.

   Congratulatory addresses have been received by the ministry from a large number of country districts expressing in the warmest terms thanks for its patriotic action at such a critical moment and hoping that it will carry matters to a successful ending.

   The foreign ministry has also received satisfactory dispatches from London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome, all saying that the governments there have not the slightest intention of intervening in Servia’s internal affairs and expressing the hope that peace and order in the political situation will soon be restored.

   It is now known that the murdered Premier Markovics resigned his portfolio only a few hours before his assassination. His action was the result over a difference of opinion with King Alexander concerning the meeting of the skupschtina.

   The king, fearing disturbances, proposed to the premier that the leading members and the editors of the opposition parties should be arrested before the opening session of parliament, and later tried on the charge of lese majeste, or disturbing public order.

   M. Markovics did not oppose the arrest of these men, but objected to the after procedure and therefore resigned. On returning home he told his wife that he brought good news; that he had resigned his post.

   Many people visited the cemeteries and the royal vault Sunday afternoon and persons were heard saying that what had happened was good and necessary for the nation.

   Twenty graves were dug by the troops immediately after the assassinations but only the bodies of two officers and that of General Petrovics were buried therein. At his widow’s request the remains of the general were afterwards removed by night to his family vault. The bodies of Premier General Markovics and his son-in-law Captain Milkovics were buried in their own graves. The widow of the later was accouched of a son almost at the moment her husband was murdered.

Queen Lived In Deadly Fear.

   It seems that Queen Draga in an audience with the foreign minister a few weeks ago said she lived in deadly fear not knowing what day or night might bring forth. She knew, she added, that she was hated by the people and that King Alexander was also detested by his subjects, and she was convinced that the country would prove too strong for both of them.

   Various reports are in circulation regarding the value of the queen’s estate. It has been said to amount to $2,200,000, chiefly invested in her sister’s name in Switzerland and Belgium. A commission is now engaged in making an inventory of the property of the royal couple and it is thought probable that the total private estate of both will be found not to exceed half the sum mentioned.

   The autopsy on the king’s body showed that he had a skull of extraordinary thickness of 11 millimeters, whereas the skulls of the strongest men usually measure only six millimeters. The brain was found to be in a catarrhal state and the liver unusually large and surrounded by fat, indicating that the king was an excessive eater and drinker.

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

FOR A STRONG NAVY.

Purport of President’s Speech at University of Virginia.

   Charlottesville, Va., June 17.—President Roosevelt wound up his tour of the continent in a visit to the University of Virginia. It was alumni day and the occasion was made memorable by the presence of the president and many men distinguished in public life, some of them graduates of the university. The reception accorded the president was a particularly warm one.

   The president when he arrived was escorted direct to the university grounds and in the famous rotunda building, standing near the statue of Thomas Jefferson, the father of the university, he held a reception. Thence he was escorted to the public hall where he delivered his principal address. Later at a luncheon in the gymnasium he responded to the toast: ‘The United States.”

   Others who replied to toasts were Senator J. W. Daniel, “Virginia;” W. R. Meredith, Richmond, “Our Alma Mater;” Ambassador McCormack, our representative in Russia, “The Louisiana Purchase;” Henry P. Pritchard, president of the Boston School of Technology, “Our Sister Institutions,” and Thomas Nelson Page, “The President.”

   At the conclusion of the luncheon the president and Mrs. Roosevelt mounted horses and rode out to Monticello, the home of Jefferson, where they and others were entertained and at 7 o’clock the special train left for Washington.

   In replying to the toast “The United States” Mr. Roosevelt said in part:

   “I want to say just one word to you in reference to our foreign relations. I want the United States to conduct itself in foreign affairs as you of Virginia believe a private gentleman should conduct himself among his fellows. I ask that we handle ourselves with a view never to wrong the weak and never to submit to injury from the strong. Another thing, a gentleman does not boast, bluster, bully; he does not insult others. I do not wish us ever as a nation to take a position from which we have to retreat. Do not let us assume any position unless we are prepared to say that we have got to keep it.”

   The president then made a strong plea in favor of a powerful navy, in this connection saying:

   I ask that there be no halt in the building up and keeping up of the navy. Not because I wish war—I most earnestly wish and will strive for peace—but because such a navy is the surest guaranty of peace and if, which Heaven forbid, war should come, the guaranty furthermore that the war shall end leaving undimmed the record upon which is written the feats of Americans in arms. I ask you for your assistance in continuing to build up the navy.”

   Continuing the president said:

   “I hope and believe that we shall not as a nation in our time ever have to go to war, and the surest way to invite war is to be opulent, aggressive and unarmed. Now we are opulent and aggressive. Let us avoid being unarmed. Let us so conduct our governmental affairs that it shall never be said that we made a threat which we were unable to back up. Do not make threats at all, but if it becomes necessary to say what in a certain contingency we are going to do, say it and then do it.”

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Columbia and the Panama Canal.

   The opposition on the part of Columbia to the ratification of the Hay-Herran treaty for the construction of the Panama canal seems to have taken a new form. It is not reported from Bogota that the anti-ratification party will claim that the French canal company had no rights and consequently nothing to sell to the united States.

   When the original concession to the French company expired in 1898 it was renewed by President Saclamente for seven years for a consideration of $1,000,000. It is now claimed that this bargain was never ratified by the Columbian congress, and hence there was no sale, although the money was paid and the goods delivered. An emergency clause of the constitution gives the president the right in time of war to do what he deems best for the general welfare. Columbia was at that time at peace with all foreign nations, though a revolution was in full blast within her own borders.

   Even if it should be held that this latter condition was a state of war and that the president was thus acting within his legal rights, it is further urged by the anti-ratification party that, according to the constitution, all emergency acts of the president must be ratified at the next session of congress. There has been no session since the renewal of the French concession, and this is taken as another ground for asserting that the French title is not valid and that all French rights and property revert to the Columbian government under the terms of the original concession.

   Apparently certain Columbians think they see a chance for the government to pocket the $40,000,000 which this country agreed to pay for the French franchise instead of the smaller sum agreed upon in the pending treaty. According to the terms of the extension, the canal must be completed in 1905. Failing that, Columbia would succeed to the French company’s rights and privileges and be at liberty to dispose of them as she saw fit.

   To a country whose normal condition is bankruptcy this sort of argument appeals with much force, and it remains to be seen whether it will be effective in preventing the ratification of the Hay-Herran agreement.

   It is well, however, that Uncle Sam has two strings to his isthmian canal bow. If the negotiations with Columbia fall through, the deal can be made for the Nicaragua route, as that country would welcome rather than obstruct the construction of the waterway through its territory.

 

William Allen White.

GADDING GIRLS.

What William Allen White of Kansas Thinks on this Subject.

   People who have noticed the congregation of young girls and boys who frequent Cortland’s streets in the evening will read with interest how William Allen White, editor of the Emporia Gazette, Kan., handles this subject out West:

   “The mothers of this town have had a lesson—but it doesn’t seem to have done them any good. There are just as many girls gadding around town after school now, getting their mail from private boxes in the postoffice as there were ten days ago. Two years ago The Gazette went after the mothers of Emporia for neglecting their daughters, and the result was that half a dozen private mail boxes were discontinued and a lot of little girls that were in the habit of gadding too much were kept in for a time.

   “These girls are now developing into fine young women, but another crop of gadding girls has come on and The Gazette hopes no one’s modesty will be shocked by saying that these little hussies ought to be spanked good and red. They are between 14 and 17 years old and are just so everlastingly boy-struck that they can’t sit still. If their mothers knew the type of boys and men—young human pups—these girls are running with their mothers would throw fits.

   “But their mothers know nothing of the situation. They think their little girls are so sweet and pure that nothing can harm them. The truth is that these children are made of the same kind of mud that we all are made of and they are just as liable to temptation as older people and a thousand times less experienced. And their mothers let them gad Commercial-st. after school and flirt with all kinds of men, and then their mothers wonder how the devil got them and think the girls must ‘take after’ their fathers.

   “There are just two things that will keep girls straight at ‘that age;’ one is plain clothes and the other is home duties. The girls who make fools of themselves in Emporia are invariably overdressed. They were duds that women of 30 should hesitate about wearing.

   “A little girl with too many and too costly clothes on her back gets self-conscious and vain and loves admiration—and you grown-up women know the next step. A simple pure-hearted girl who has a place in a home and home duties has her heart there and no boy can steal it. Only when maturity comes and a real man comes and a real affair of her heart comes, will such a girl leave home, and then only after heartaches and heartrending. But a girl whose place in the home is at the table and in bed won’t love that home.

   “Work makes things sacred. The child whose home memories are not hallowed by work, who is not needed and does not feel the need, will not love home. And if she doesn’t love the home of her girlhood she will love no other. She will go anywhere for anything. Home will mean nothing to such a woman, and if she is respectable she will only lack the opportunity to be a bad woman, and is good only through circumstances or by the necessity of an ugly face.  She will curse any man she marries. The mothers of this town who are responsible for the girls who gad Commercial-st. should stop and think what they are doing. These girls are no longer children. They are at the impressionable age. Where will you have their impression come from—from the riff-raff of the street or from home? It is for the mothers of this town to settle the question.”