Cortland Politics and Entertainments in 1884

 

 

 

The Cortland News, Friday, November 28, 1884.

Rink Items.

   Saturday evening last Prof. W. A. Hoagland and James Burdick had a race at the Pioneer Rink.  The conditions were, Hoagland to walk square heel and toe two miles while Burdick skated three. Although private scores showed that Burdick won the race by more than one lap, the official score showed that he was about four feet behind at the finish and the race was given to Hoagland time twelve minutes and nineteen seconds. James Burdick,

   Frank Reid and Burt Maybury immediately challenged Hoagland for a race Monday evening, one to skate a mile and then the second to take his place for another mile when the third one would skate a mile while Hoagland walked two. Chas. Hale in behalf of Hoagland accepted the challenge and the race came off on Monday evening and resulted in a victory for Hoagland in thirteen minutes, fourteen and one-half seconds.

   The Polo game at the Mammoth on Tuesday evening resulted in a victory for the town boys.

   The pig race at the Pioneer [Orchard Street rink] Wednesday night called out a large audience, and created much sport. The young porker was finally captured by Ernest Meads.

  

Grand Carnival.

   A grand carnival and fancy dress party on skates, one of the finest entertainments of the season will be given at the Pioneer rink next Tuesday evening, Dec. 4. All gentlemen will be required to dress in costume and ladies in costume or evening dress, until 9 o'clock, at which time the grand march will take place.

   Mrs. S. R. Torkinton, of Rochester, will be at the Dexter House the day of the carnival with an elegant line of costumes for ladies and gentlemen. Prizes will be given as follows:

   To the lady wearing the finest costume—a sealskin cap.

   To the lady wearing the most original costume—a fine napkin ring.

   Gentlemen same prizes as the ladies.

   Skating until 12 o'clock. Admission same as usual.

 

A Society Dramatic Event.

   At Taylor Opera House on Monday night next the celebrated William Stafford and Evalyn Foster Company will appear in Shakespeare's grand play "The Merchant of Venice," followed by the charming comedy, "A Happy Pair." Both the stars are artists of acknowledged ability, whose impersonations of leading roles in legitimate plays have met with the most gratifying results. Popular [prices] will prevail and an exceptionally good performance may be looked for. The following notes are submitted:

   SHYLOCK.—"In action, facial expression, and stage business Mr. Stafford was a good Shylock. To those who listened to his readings, that feature of his work was excellent, nay, even exquisite. The impression made in Shylock was doubly strengthened in the delicious little comedy, ‘A Happy Pair,’ which was given as an after-piece, and in which Mr. Stafford gave a bit of high comedy work such as is rarely seen nowadays."

—Detroit Free Press, Dec, 21st, 1883.

   PORTIA.—"Miss Foster, as Portia, was excellent, and as Mrs. Honeyton, in comedy of 'A Happy Pair,' scored an unquestionable success."

— Syracuse Herald, November 2nd, 1883.

   PORTIA.—"Miss Foster was an unexceptionable Portia. She has a strong, full, melodious voice. The acting of Mr. Stafford and Miss Foster was perfect, and left no room for criticism."

—Detroit Times, Dec. 21st, 1883.

 

Truxton.

Correspondence of THE NEWS, November 25.

   About 50 Republicans witnessed the Democratic jublification on Friday evening last.

   James Crandall has opened a fine assortment of clothing; he is receiving a large patronage.

   We learn that we are to be favored with another blacksmith shop in our village, more particulars hereafter.

   A large amount of poultry has been shipped to the New York market from this town with enough held back for Cleveland's inauguration, eh.

   Who threw that snow-bail that hit the gentleman while making his speech [sic] at the Democrats jublification [sic] on Friday evening last? Whoever it was did an ungentlemanly act whether it came from a Republican or Democratic hand.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   "The Merchant of Venice" and the charming comedy "A Happy Pair" at Taylor Opera House, Monday night.

   Emerald Hose Co. No 4 will give a grand masquerade ball at Taylor Opera House; Friday evening, Dec.12.

   A horse belonging to Geo. Lansing, of the center market took it in its head to run away last Monday, and went at a lively pace up Main street, but was stopped in front of the Garrison block without damage to either horse or wagon.

   Edward Parker, an employe [sic] of the Hitchcock Mf'g Co., residing at 136 Clinton Ave., met with a painful accident yesterday morning. While shoveling shavings into the furnace of the boiler a blast of flame shot out of the door, completely enveloping his head, and burning his face and one hand to a blister.

   E. M. Santee, the photographer, has recently invented a tank tor washing prints that is constantly filling and emptying itself with water, it is so arranged that when the water readies a certain height in the tank, a siphen [sic] commences to empty it and the water runs out faster than in, until it is entirely empty, when it stops and commences to fill again.

   Some unprincipled persons last Saturday night hung an effigy on the cable that but recently supported the Blaine and Logan banner, but as there was nothing to show who the aforesaid, effigy was meant to represent, it is impossible to say whether it was St. John or Blaine, although it is generally believed that somebody desired to show their depreciation of the late Prohibition candidate.

 

EDITORIAL NOTES.

   We would suggest that the Board of Supervisors hereafter give no notice beforehand as to the time of their visit to the County Alms House, but rather do as the State Board of Charities do, drop in at any time without any notice. It is not the "company day" that the condition of these unfortunates should be judged by, but the common, every-day mode of life. Another thing, there are grave charges about the management of the Alms House, that should at least be investigated. We do not say there is anything wrong there, but at any rate for the benefit of the management, an investigation would do no harm, and might result in a vast amount of good.

The Cortland News, December 5, 1884.

A Trial of Speed.

   A fine entertainment was afforded those who happened to be lucky enough to attend the Pioneer rink on Thanksgiving afternoon, and although a little late in the day for such news, it is too good to keep.

   John Courtney, Jr., J. D. McCarthy, Thos. F. Grady and the Indian Doctor were a little jealous (?) of each other's ability to skate, and asked permission to have the floor to themselves and have it out. Mr. Hibbard accordingly rung the others off the floor and announced a race of four times around the rink by the above named persons.

The Race.

   They all got off (their feet) in a bunch, but soon Grady came to the fore, with Mac a good second, while John and Doc broke up badly on the first corner, but soon came down to business and went up the back stretch in grand style, but the corners again bothered them, and some time was lost before recovering their equilibrium.

   In the meantime, Tom and Mac had broken all to pieces at the first corner of the second lap and things looked as it Doc or John would get the pole, but in drawing up to second place John again broke up (or down) and cast a shoe, after which he bolted the track, while Doc again came to the floor amid the cheers of the audience, and if he didn't skate he managed to creep or roll until he had made the second lap when he was taken from the track in a bruised and sore condition.

   Meanwhile, Mac and Tom were going neck and neck, (when they didn't go down) but both breaking up badly, until the home stretch when Tom gradually fell away from his opponent and came in a winner by three lengths. Time 19:56. [Four times around the rink?--CC ed.]

   Later. The patients are all doing well, and with the exceptions of several black and blue spots on different parts of their anatomy, have nothing to complain of.