EMPEROR ON KEARSARGE, PRESIDENT WILL ACT, CAUSE OF FLOODS, LOST SEA LION, VERNON PHELPS, AND TROLLEY TO ITHACA

 

USS Kearsarge (BB-5).

Rear Admiral Charles Cotton.

Emperor Wilhelm II.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 26, 1903.

EMPEROR ON FLAGSHIP.

Interested In Double Turrets of the Kearsarge.

PLEASED WITH CONNING TOWER.

Referred to Captain Hemphill's Service on the Monitor—Talked Familiarly With Some of the Blue Jackets and Enjoyed the Luxury of a Rocking Chair.

   Kiel, June 26.—Emperor William entered one of the double turrets of Admiral Cotton's flagship and scrutinized the mechanism. Lieutenant Mustin of the Kearsarge showed his majesty the speed and smoothness with which the turret could be turned. In calling the attention of one of the members of his suite to Captain Hemphill's service on the Monitor when she first went into action, and to other fierce contests of the civil war, the emperor added: "Those men are God's, to us."

   His majesty also said the conning tower was the roomiest he had ever been in.

   While the emperor was inspecting the men's quarters he conversed with several of the blue jackets and jokingly asked one old hand how long he had been in the service. The sailor replied:

   "Twenty-four years."

   "That is long enough to be an admiral" said the emperor.

   The party went to the admiral's cabin and the emperor, seeing a large rocking chair, exclaimed:

   "What is this for?"

   "For emperors," replied. Admiral Cotton.

   "Then I will take it," said Emperor William.

   Some bottles of champagne were then opened.

   After a quarter of an hour's general talk the emperor left the battleship and Admiral Cotton assembled the entire ship's company aft and thanked them for the condition of the ship, saying that the emperor was very much pleased. He concluded:

   "We are here by order of the president. It is our duty to do all in our power to preserve the feeling of friendship and cordiality between the United States and Germany.

   "Three cheers for his majesty, the emperor."

   The 700 officers and men of the Kearsarge thereupon gave three hearty cheers for Emperor William.

   The emperor received Ambassador Tower on the imperial yacht Hohenzollern immediately after returning from his inspection of the American flagship. His majesty expressed to the ambassador his gratification over his experiences on the Kearsarge.

   "Captain Hemphill knows his business," said Emperor William. "He is a captain who understands his ship. He does not have to ask other people before answering questions."

   The emperor gave a dinner last night on the Hohenzollern to Admiral Cotton, the American captains, Ambassador Tower, United States Naval Attache Potts and all the other members of the United States embassy staff, Prince Henry of Prussia, the German admirals and the other members of the imperial party and Chancellor Von Buelow.

   The presence of the American squadron at Kiel and the consequent functions has quite taken the interest out of the yacht races, which began with competitions among small raters.

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

PRESIDENT WILL ACT.

Will Forward Petition of Jews to the Czar.

DELICATE PIECE OF DIPLOMACY

Inasmuch as Russian Government Has Announced That it Will Not Receive Foreign Representations in Regard to Kishineff Outbreak—May Cause Diplomatic Rupture.

   Washington, June 26.—The call of the Russian ambassador upon Secretary Hay was shorter than usual, but it developed officially the fact that the government of the United States intended to forward the Jewish petition to the czar if it is possible to do so.

   At the White House conference on the 15th inst. the Jews had made the point that the czar was kept from knowledge of the truth as to the condition of the Jews in his empire by the bureaucrats who hedged him about on all sides, and they were sure that if the president would only once assist them in laying their case before the czar himself, he would at once adopt measures to alleviate their condition.

   The president at that hearing promised to do what he could. It was at once perceived that to do what was asked, involved the danger of a short reply, and a disposition developed to regard the full publicity which had been given to the White House conference as sufficient to meet the needs of the case, for it was assumed that the czar could not fail to see some of the newspaper comments and reports upon this subject.

   The Jews, however, were not satisfied with this passive attitude and the president decided to adopt the bold course of sending the petition direct to the czar through the United States embassy at St. Petersburg.

   Officially it is expected that this will be received, but privately it may be stated that there have been no lack of intimations from informed sources that the czar will never be permitted to see the petition, as the Russian prime minister will not receive it for transmission. In fact it is realized that the Russian position is still correctly described in the statement telegraphed from Washington on June 9th, from which this extract is taken:

   "Nor will it be possible for Russia to receive any representations regarding the Kishineff incident from a foreign power. The Russian government takes the same position as that long held by the American government, namely that it refrains from interference in the internal affairs of another power and must insist on similar treatment for itself."

   If there is to be a refusal on the part of the Russian government to receive the Jewish petition, then upon Mr. Riddle, the United States charge of embassy at St. Petersburg, will fall the mortification, for Ambassador McCormick has not yet returned to his post from his hasty visit to Chicago and it is entirely possible that what happens at St. Petersburg when Mr. Riddle undertakes his disagreeable task may delay the ambassador's return to St. Petersburg indefinitely. Of course in such case, Count Cassini, who is sailing a week from yesterday for Russia, might make a correspondingly long stay at home.

   Upon the departure of Count Cassini, Theodore Hansen, the first secretary of the embassy, will act as charge de affaires. He will remain here until the latter part of July, when the embassy will be temporarily established at Bar Harbor, Maine. Count Cassini's summer plans contemplated a return to the United States in September.

 

John P. Brown.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Cause of Floods.

   In a paper of especially timely interest John P. Brown, secretary of the International Society of Arboriculture, predicts that this country is now entering upon a period of disastrous floods, which will become greater and greater until the newspapers will contain items of two or three lines in length such as now come from China, "It is estimated that 1,000,000 lives were lost iu the recent overflow of the Yellow river." The cause of the floods in China, he says, is precisely the cause whose effect is now being seen in this country—the destruction of the forests. The soil of China is unproductive because of its treeless condition, and he contends that Americans have destroyed more timber in sixty years than the Chinese have in 3,000. We are now, he asserts, destroying 25,000 acres of forest daily, or something over 9,000,000 acres annually, and we are planting 5,000,000 trees each year. In other words, for every tree we are planting we are denuding over two acres of their trees, and the time is not far distant when this country will be as treeless as China and as unproductive, according to Mr. Brown, as the deserts of Arizona.

   To the objection that the recent floods in Kansas and South Carolina were not caused by the lack of trees, but by cloudbursts, Mr. Brown replies that it is a well established fact that these cloudbursts are caused by electrical disturbances, and electrical disturbances, in turn, are caused largely by the absence of trees in large bodies. While it is impossible to tell to what extent this is true, it is certain that the influence of forests is very great upon atmospheric conditions. Rains are more regular in sections covered by trees than elsewhere, and the floods are not so severe. The rainfall is more gradual and extends over a greater time.

   Mr. Brown calls attention to another and even more serious result of the destruction of the wooded area of the country. This is the gradual erosion of the soil, as we are told that the rains having washed the productive soil into the river, the fields will become sterile where they are now exceedingly fertile. The less fertile become the fields, of course, the smaller the population they will support. The vast volume of silt which annually flows down such great rivers as the Mississippi and Missouri represents the ruin of thousands of acres of land up stream which has lost its anchorage because of the denudation of the hillsides and the slopes. Acres upon acres of productive soil are being emptied into the gulf of Mexico with a regularity which in the end, says Mr. Brown, must bring poverty upon the agricultural classes up stream, and with the poverty of the agricultural will come the poverty of all other classes.

   After making due allowance for the overzeal of the specialist it must be admitted that the dangers which Mr. Brown predicts are not altogether imaginary. They are more real and threatening than most people realize. The remedy, of course, is to restore the forests, but the planting of 5,000,000 trees annually while above 9,000,000 acres are at the same time being denuded will not do it. There ought to be a tree planted for every one felled by the woodman's ax.

 

THE LOST SEA LION.

Search Made for it—Believed to be Well on Toward the Sea.

   The Binghamton Republican this morning said:

   Nelson Pike, the keeper of the animals in the Cortland [trout] park of Jack Boone, from which the sea lion escaped a few days ago, is in the city, anxiously waiting for news from his wayward pet.

   The lion passed through this city shortly after 7 o'clock on Monday morning, and passed the Casino about 9 o'clock. Mr. Pike learned that he passed Owego some time during Monday night. The people in that village, living near the river, were alarmed during the night by a strange bellowing or barking, evidently made by some animal, but unlike anything they had ever heard. It was not until they learned the next morning of the escaped sea lion, floating down the river that they were able to explain the noise.

   The animal was evidently lonely and bellowing for his mate, while passing through Tioga's county seat.

   Shortly after daylight on Tuesday morning people at Nichols saw the lion swimming down the river past that place.

   Mr. Pike has not been able to learn of the lion being seen below Nichols. He telegraphed to Waverly and Wilkes-Barre, requesting people in those places to be on the watch for the strange creature..

   Mr. Pike says that if he could only get track of the lion, so that he could be on the river bank as the animal passed any place, he could easily call the lion out of the water to him. He says that the animal is as tame as a kitten, and if any of the people who see him only knew what to do they would have no difficulty in catching him, and there is no danger in handling him.

   Mr. Pike thinks that the lion must be well towards Wilkes-Barre by this time. He thinks the animal will keep traveling down the stream most of the time, except perhaps that he may stop occasionally an hour or two at a time in some eddy to catch fish. According to the nature of these animals he will seek to get to salt water; and instinct will tell him that to do that all that is necessary is to follow the river downward.

   A liberal reward is offered to any one who will capture the lion. If any one hears of the runaway, Mr. Pike would be glad to receive word at the Columbia hotel, Binghamton, N. Y.

 

NORMAL CLASS DAY.

Exercises Full of Interest to the Graduating Class.

   In the presence of a crowd that taxed the seating capacity of Normal hall to its utmost, the class day exercises of the class of 1903 were held yesterday afternoon. The rostrum was tastefully decorated with the class colors, palms, ferns and daisies.

   Those taking part in the exercises of the day were seated on the rostrum. The class inarched in and occupied seats reserved for them in the two middle sections. They presented a pretty appearance as they came in, the girls in white, and all wearing their class colors of green and white.

   Music was furnished by the Normal orchestra and the Normal Mandolin and Guitar club.

   The class president, Brainard H. Woodward, was absent taking the Yale entrance examinations at Albany and the president for the day was Robert I. Carpenter who delivered the president's address. He said that this was essentially a day of the class; that after a period of hard work covering several years they had come to the end. As they looked back on the difficulties and hardships they had overcome, the blue haze of time seemed to have softened them and the pleasant times appeared to stand out more clearly. They have had the benefits of hard work without being denied the happiness and pleasure of school life and school environment. The class will soon rank as graduates of a noble institution of learning, and upon those that graduate from year to year depends the rank and standing of that institution.

   Miss Winifred Sexton's poem was one of the best ever given at a class day and was attentively listened to.

   The class historian was Miss Mary E. Hand. She said that the class did not spring into existence at once, some of its members had been here two, some three, and others four years and that it was in senior year that they really became a class in name and spirit. The class will never totally disappear as they have "Hills" and "Rocks" that never pass away. If the class feels "bumpy" Dr. Chaney is to blame as, at the first class meeting, he told them what a splendid class they were.

   Miss Florence Hubbard's solo seemed especially pleasing to the audience.

   The orator of the day was Edgar F. Down, who took as his subject "The Spirit of the Times." He spoke of patriotism, and said that it is being taught in the public schools much more than ever before. It is right that it should be, as it is not easy to tell when our country may reach a crisis. Slavery was the cause of one awful crisis. The antagonism between capital and labor is a menace to our government. They are allied and dependent, the one upon the other. People must be taught that they are dependent upon another, and the schools must do this. Such men as Morgan, Carnegie and Rockefeller should not be held before the people as the great men, but men like Lincoln, Grant, McKinley and President Roosevelt. He urged the graduates to go into their profession determined to work for their fellow men, homes, and country.

   Miss Maude A. Howes was class prophet and the prophecy was full of interest, especially to those who knew the members of the class.

   Miss Belle Hayden's recitation was excellent, and showed the speaker to be possessed of considerable talent along this line.

   J. Earl Griffiths read the will. He said the class left to the Normal a Sexton who would at times relieve Mr. Seeber from ringing the bell; a Butler who would always be found at the door; a gentle Steed, which is more easily led than driven however; a Crook with which Dr. Cheney can keep his flock together and under control; and finally a heavy Bond as a guarantee that the class was in good faith.

   Miss Newkirk's violin solo was well rendered.

   Miss Louise Burt as presentator [sic] for the class presented the Normal with a statue of the Winged Mercury mounted on a pedestal. The gift was accepted by Prof. Cornish in an especially pleasing manner, after which he spoke to the class for a few minutes giving them some good thoughts and advice to carry with them into the active life of their chosen profession.

 

DEATH OF VERNON PHELPS.

Boat Thought to Have Been Upset by a Stump.

   Some further particulars have been received concerning the drowning of Vernon Phelps, formerly of McGraw, in Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks on June 18, which has already been noted in our dispatch columns. It is supposed that the boat in which he was crossing the lake struck a submerged stump, which caused it to upset, as the body was found near such a stump.

   The funeral was held at the home of his brother, Herbert Phelps, and was conducted by Rev. Charles Atwood. He based his remarks upon the beatitude,

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He said this was particularly applicable to the deceased, for he was indeed a pure hearted boy. The choir sang "It is well with my Soul." The burial was at Cranberry Lake.

 

TROLLEY TO ITHACA.

Incorporation Papers Filed With Secretary of State.

NOW CAPITALIIZED AT $200,000.

List of Directors for the First Year—To Connect With the Ithaca Trolley Railroad at the Steel Arch Bridge Over Fall Creek and to Extend to a Point on Tompkins-st. in this City.

   The Ithaca and Cortland Traction company yesterday filed papers of incorporation with Secretary of State O'Brien at Albany. The capital stock of the company is $200,000. The company is to build, maintain and operate an electric railroad from University-ave., Ithaca, where the steel arch bridge crossed Fall creek in Ithaca, to a point on Tompkins-st., in Cortland. These places will be the termini of the road. The road will be twenty miles in length.

   The directors for the first year are: Howard L. Chandler, Philadelphia, Pa., Curtis J. Harrington, New York, Ogden Armstrong, Philadelphia, Pa., Francis S. Howell, of Philadelphia, Pa., James D. Staley, of Philadelphia, Pa., George F. Archer of Camden, N. J., E. H. Chandler of Atlantic City, N. J., and C. Taylor Leland of Philadelphia, Pa.

   The road will connect with the Ithaca Street Railroad at University-ave., in Ithaca, and doubtless an arrangement will be made at this end of the line to connect with the tracks of the Cortland County Traction Co.

   Some weeks ago The Standard forecasted the building of this road. One of the directors mentioned is the proprietor of the proposed new $100,000 hotel at Dryden and be was quoted as saying that he would form a company to build a road from his hotel both to Cortland and Ithaca. Such a railroad will be a great thing for the people along the line as well as for those at the termini.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Regular conclave of Cortland Commandery No 50, Knights Templar, this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —A regular meeting of the Plumber's union will be held tonight. The semi-annual election of officers will occur.

   —There will be a regular meeting of the H. C. Hall circle, No. 439, P. H. C. this evening in the John L. Lewis lodge rooms.

   —The Home Telephone Co. today opened its long distance line to Oswego and all intermediate points.

   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M. will make Homer lodge, No. 352, a visit Monday evening, at which time the third degree will be conferred. A special car will leave from front of Masonic hall, Cortland, at 7:30 o'clock, returning after the ceremonies.

   —More subscription money received today without a mark of any kind upon the coin card to indicate the sender or to whom to credit it. The tender will probably read this, and remember the failure to put on his name. Will he kindly notify us and also state the amount forwarded so that we may surely indentify the writer with the transaction.

 

Sunday Filler: The Biltmore Estate

 

POST OFFICE AFFAIRS, PETER SMITH DEAD, GET A GUN, PREVALENCE OF CORRUPTION, FRATERNITY RECEPTION, MAIL CLERK DARBY, AND TALKING MACHINE

 

Edmund Hope Driggs.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, June 25, 1903.

POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS.

Four Indictments Against Ex-Congressman Driggs.

HE RESERVED RIGHT TO PLEAD.

Had Previously Admitted He Received a Salary From the Brandt Dent Company For Helping to Introduce Their Automatic Cashier Machines in the Department.

   New York, June 25.—Former Congressman Driggs was indicted by the federal grand jury in Brooklyn. He appeared before Judge Thomas and gave bail. The indictment grew out of the investigation into postoffice affairs made by the grand jury.

   Four indictments were found, all practically alike. Each charges that Driggs between July 20 and 24, 1900, unlawfully agreed to receive and did receive a $500 check from the Brandt Dent company for procuring a contract from the United States government for making and delivering 250 automatic cashiers for the postoffice department.

   To the first two indictments Mr. Driggs pleaded not guilty, reserving the right to plead later to the others, which contain 16 counts each, after his lawyer had read them. Mr. Driggs refused absolutely to comment on his indictment. He has previously admitted, however, receiving a salary of $12,500 from the Brandt Dent company for introducing its machines, but claimed that the work he did for the company was done before he was sworn in as congressman, but after his election, and declaring that he had done nothing to which the government could object.

   The indictments were found under sections 171 and 172 of the revised statutes of the United States, which provide for the punishment of any person "receiving emolument while in the employ of the government."

   Mr. Driggs was before the grand jury before the indictment was found.

 

George White.

PETER SMITH DEAD.

Boy Who Was Shot During the Wilmington Lynching Died Yesterday.

   Wilmington, Del., June 25.—Arthur Corwell was released on $5,000 bail last night. He will be given a further hearing today. Bail was promptly furnished.

   Coroner McCormick had two sessions in the inquest on the remains of White.

   When the inquest began the remains of White could not be found and after a long search they were found wrapped in paper on an ice chest. White weighed about 200 lbs., but only five pounds of flesh and bone was left of him after the lynchers had concluded their work.

   The first session adjourned for lack of witnesses. Later the coroner again summoned the jury, which after some testimony brought in the following verdict:

   "Resolved, That George White came to his death by being burned in a field by a party or parties unknown to this jury."

   What the next step of the authorities will be is not known. The belief is growing that no one will ever be punished for the work of the mob.

   Peter Smith, the boy who was shot while the mob was in the workhouse on Monday night, died Wednesday afternoon. The boy was an Italian. Who shot him, no one seems to know. The jail officials think he was shot by some one in the crowd.

 

GO AND GET A GUN.

Negro Preacher's Advice to His Race on the Subject of Lynchings.

   Chicago, June 25.—Tbe Rev. C. H. Thomas, pastor of a negro church in Belleville, Ill., evoked tumults of applause last night at a meeting held in Quinn chapel to denounce the recent burning of David B. Wyatt by a Belleville mob. The preacher said:

   "My Master said 'If there is no sword here sell your coat and get one.' If lynching and burning do not cease I say to every black man, sell your coat and get a gun." He then denounced Gov. Yates for failing to interfere.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Prevalence of Corruption.

   It is gratifying to note that retribution has overtaken or is likely to overtake many of the corruptionists and criminals in public service, particularly to the municipal governments of some of the larger cities of the country, though it is feared that the lessen has not yet been so stern and complete as to wholly deter other evilly disposed and gain seeking men from attempting to intercept money belonging to municipalities and filch financial spoils from general revenues. The temptation will exist as long as the people are confiding and unconcerned, and the criminal practices are not likely to cease until the temptation is removed.

   In the past great fortunes have been founded on flagrant infraction of the law. Some highly respected families in the United States have derived their standing from wealth procured in iniquity by unrespected forbears. Some large and potent corporations owe their existence and their influence to the sins of unscrupulous promoters and faithless public servants. What share of the vast fortunes, immense capital stocks, large profits and squandered money rightfully belongs to the public could not even be estimated, but it is certain that if public officials had invariably regarded public interests the bonded indebtedness of many a city would be less than it is and the tax rate would be lower.

   The bribe giver, seeking a valuable franchise, is probably spurred by inordinate love of riches and by the easy prospect of amassing wealth at little effort. The bribe taker is usually poor, and the opportunity to get a few thousand dollars is often a temptation that he cannot resist, as a small fortune insures him independence. So the bribe giving and the bribe taking go on until thoughtful men are beginning almost to believe that "every man has his price."

   It is perhaps too much to hope that all public servants will be brought to the point of absolute honesty and honor this side the millennium, but recent revelations emphasize the necessity of a higher public standard of civic righteousness and more rigid and drastic enforcement of the punitive laws against corruption and dishonesty in public office.

 

THE FRATERNITY RECEPTION.

Many Alumni and Friends of the Normal School Were Present.

   One of the most enjoyable events of the Normal commencement took place at the Normal last evening when the six fraternities gave their thirteenth annual reception to their alumni a unite in making the occasion one of the most pleasant experiences of Normal life and no pains or expense is spared in the execution of plans.

   The principal's office, the reception room, corridors, and the six fraternity rooms were thrown open and all were handsomely decorated. A general committee is appointed from the clubs to decorate the office, reception room and corridors. Each club decorates its own rooms and each vies with the other in having the rooms present a pleasing appearance. It is safe to say that they never appeared to better advantage than they did last evening. The decorations were of a more simple character than is often the case, it being the aim to avoid over decoration.

   The Philomathean room was made very attractive by the use of daisy chains.

   In the Alpha Delta room ferns predominated.

   The Agonians and Clionians made little or no attempt at decorating, their newly appointed rooms speaking for themselves. The new fire place in the Agonian room showed to advantage, giving the room a cheerful, homelike appearance.

   The decorations in the boys' club rooms were simple and well adapted to the surroundings.

   The work of the general committee was shown on the lower floor. The decorations here consisted of palms, ferns, banners, screens, etc, which were arranged with artistic effect.

   The guests on their arrival were welcomed by a reception committee consisting of Prof. Booth, Miss Bishop, Miss Goodhue, and the presidents of the girls' clubs. An informal reception committee met the guests in each of the clubrooms. Light refreshments were served in each of the fraternity rooms.

   The Normal orchestra and the Normal Mandolin and Guitar club furnished music throughout the evening. The attendance was large, between three and four hundred being present, and the reception was one of the most enjoyable ever held. The committee in charge was untiring in its efforts to make the reception a success and that it was a great success is to a great extent due to their efforts.

 

MAIL CLERK DARBY

Struck by a Swinging Door on a Passing Train.

   C. C. Darby met with a painful accident Tuesday evening which is confining him to the house for the present. Mr. Darby was the mail clerk on the North bound Lackawanna train which leaves Cortland at 4:32. The train makes but few stops between Binghamton and Syracuse, the mail pouches being caught at way stations by the crane provided for that purpose. The train usually passes a freight train on another track just before reaching Chenango Forks. Tuesday, Mr. Darby opened the door so as to be ready to throw off the pouch for Chenango Forks just as the train was passing the freight. As he looked out to see how far they were from the station, he noticed that the door of a refrigerator car stood open. The door of a refrigerator car is so thick that it will not slide like doors on ordinary freight cars, but opens outward. He jerked his head back, but not in time to avoid being struck by the swinging door. A hood with a thick glass front is worn at these times by the clerks to keep cinders out of their eyes. Mr. Darby had one on and the glass front was broken and a piece of the glass struck him on the nose, cutting him severely. The angular artery was severed, and the wound bled profusely. Mr. Darby stuck to his post and threw off and caught the pouches at every station except one.

   When Homer, N. Y., was reached, Mr. Blaney, a mail clerk residing there, took Mr. Darby's place in response to a telegram, and sorted mail, which Mr. Darby was unable to do, as his glasses were broken. Mr. Blaney worked very rapidly and had the mail all sorted before Syracuse was reached. Mr. Darby remained on the train, threw off, caught and opened pouches, etc. On arriving at Oswego he went to a physician and had the wound dressed. The physician found it impossible to probe for glass, as the cut bled so profusely. Mr. Darby states that the wound is doing well and that he does not anticipate much trouble from it, but thinks it strange that he should be the only one out of the four clerks on this division of the Lackawanna to meet with accidents.

 

Admitted to the Bar.

   Clarence E. Pitts, formerly of Cheningo, Cortland county, for the past three years a student with D. P. Morehouse, Oswego's leading attorney, has just passed with honor the examination for admission to the bar, and will be sworn in as an attorney and counselor of the supreme court at Rochester, July 7. Mr. Pitts is well known at Cuyler, Truxton, etc., as he resided at Cuyler and Cheningo six years and taught school in Taylor and Cheningo. He has a large practice already at Oswego, and is fitting up a suite of offices at 8 Grant block, Oswego, which he will at once take possession of.

 

Death of Charles A. Edgcomb.

   Charles A. Edgcomb died at 3:15 yesterday afternoon at his home, 17 Hubbard-st., after an illness of but a few days. For a number of years he had been a great sufferer from rheumatism, but last Saturday he was attacked with what seemed to be nervous prostration, and from that time forward the decline was rapid.

   Deceased was the oldest son of Isaac A. and Clarissa W. Edgcomb, and was born in Groton, N. Y., May 9, 1829. Fifteen years later he moved with his parents to the newly purchased farm west of Homer village and there lived till about 1860, when they moved into the village itself.

   Twenty years ago he bought a farm in Spafford which continued to be his home till last fall when he came to Cortland to reside. In his younger days he was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools. For many years he was a member of the M. E. church of Homer, but had recently sent for his letter to unite with the Congregational church in this city. The letter, however, had for lack of opportunity, not yet been acted upon.

   Mr. Edgcomb is survived by his wife and son Ray and three brothers, Isaac, Martin, and George W. Edgcomb of this city. The funeral will be held at the house tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, and will be conducted by Rev. James Rain, pastor of the Congregational church.

 

Has a Talking Machine.

   Judge Edward B. Thomas of the United States circuit court, Eastern district of New York, who is the president of the Cortland County society of New York City, heard the story told by Judge Eggleston at the annual reunion of the society last April, and seems to have laid claim to it and adapted it, for according to the Brooklyn Eagle he claims to have a friend who is the worst henpecked man he ever knew. On a recent occasion an agent for a phonograph company dropped into the friend's office and inquired if he had a talking machine at home. "Yep," was the reply. "And may I ask of what company you bought it?" persisted the agent. "Didn't buy it; married it."

 

BREVITIES.

   —McDermott's orchestra goes to Tully tonight to furnish music for a dancing party, and tomorrow night has an engagement at Truxton.

   —There were four weddings at St. Patrick's church in Binghamton yesterday arranged on a schedule of fifteen minutes apart, the retiring wedding party meeting the next candidates as they were entering the church.

   —The new display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Boys' clothing, page 8; G. H. Wiltsie, Clearance sale, page 5; Opera House, "Dilger-Cornell Co.," page 5; M. A. Case, Sale of corsets, page 6; First National Bank, bank accounts, page 5.