If Not a Swindle, What?

The Cortland News, Friday, September 11, 1885.

If Not a Swindle, What?

    Last spring about the time "History of Cortland County" published by Mason & Co., of Syracuse, was being delivered in this vicinity, we heard considerable complaint as to the work and the manner in which a great many subscribers to it had been procured, but at that time paid no attention to the reports as they seemed to start from no particular place, and only took the form of a rumor.

   On Monday of this week an agent for Mason & Co., appeared in town with several of the alleged histories and proceeded to deliver them. He called on Mrs. Lucy Woodruff, on North Main street, and informed her that he had brought the book that she had subscribed for, and, was prepared to receive the subscription price $12. Mrs. Woodruff was completely taken back as she was not aware that she had ever subscribed for the work in question and refused to receive it, or pay for it. There upon, Mr. Agent showed her a contract, signed by herself agreeing to take one of the books, when completed, and she was informed that unless she paid for it, an action would be commenced for the amount. Besides all this the agent used language to her that no gentleman would stoop to utter.

   The contract business being looked into discloses the following facts:—At the time the history was being compiled one of the men working on the concern called on Mrs. Woodruff and told her what he was doing, and as she had been a resident of this county for a long time, engaged her in conversation as to some of the early citizens and events that had transpired during her residence, and after all the data had been elicited from her that could be, this urbane gentleman wanted a recommend from her as to what she thought of the work when completed, or something of that description, and he procured a blank extolling the history (as she supposed) for her to sign which she did. The recommend now turns out to be an agreement to receive and pay for one of the histories.

   We have heard of others in this vicinity being caught in the same manner, but rather than have any trouble in the matter have taken the book, and paid for it, although they could not afford to buy at the price asked for it, and they did not intend to subscribe. If this sort of business is not swindling, pure and simple, we would be pleased to know just what it is called.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Prohibition Town caucus will be held at Good Templars’ Hall, in this village, Saturday, September 12, at 1 p. m.

   A good, lively, energetic boy wanted at this office to learn the printing business. No one afraid to work need apply.

   Considerable fault has been found the past week with some of the street lamps in the north part of the town. About half of them refuse to shed any light whatever.

   Two young men from Ithaca who were laboring under a heavy load of "stub-toe" were taken by Officer Van Hoesen yesterday afternoon and were sent below to sober up by Squire Bierce, after which event occurs they will be brought up and given a chance to add their mite to the town treasury.

South Cortland, September 3, 1885.

   Potatoes are said to be rotting badly in many localities.

   Numbers of young people of this place, and surrounding towns are now busy at the hop fields, earning a little spending money.

   The Cortland NEWS is a welcome guest at our home; it is the newsiest sheet in Cortland county.

   The district schools throughout this section are nearly all supplied with teachers, as follows:—Miss Marchia Calkins in the Parker Dist.; Parker Gilbert in the Calkins Dist.; Zera Nye in the Sweetlove Dist.; Miss Mary Hunt in this place; Miss Betsy Minneah in the Morse Dist.

   Four children belonging to Rev. B. F. Weatherwax are very sick with malarial fever. Dr. Henry attends them.

   Tramps are becoming quite common just now. Get your firearms ready for they are a dangerous lot. If work is as scarce and wages so low as now, we shall all have need to know how to protect ourselves.

   Rev. B. F. Weatherwax lost one of his best dairy cows last Friday by milk fever.

 

PREBLE, September 9, 1885.

   We are informed that the coon which passed through this place a short time ago was caught at Otisco.

   Our village school commenced Monday. Hammil Coon and wife, of Marathon, are the teachers.

 

EAST SCOTT, September 9, 1885.

   Potatoes are rotting. The blight has appeared in every field in this section.

   Miss Flora Smith is failing. Her recovery is doubtful. A council of doctors was held last week.

   Fred Stevens has bought 38 acres of his father's north farm and has commenced building a barn. Jay Taylor is doing the carpenter work.

 

SCOTT, September 8, 1885.

   Quite a large number of our citizens joined the excursionists in their trip to Oswego last week Thursday.

   The hops are being gathered from the poles as fast as the weather will permit. The crop promises to be a good one.

   [The following was published last week but owing to a mistake in this office it was mixed up badly, and by request we re-publish it.—ED, NEWS.]

   The funeral services of Miss Cora E. Shevalier were conducted at her home by her pastor, Rev. H.W. Williams, Sept. 2. She passed away peacefully and with the assurance of a glorious resurrection to her rest in God, Aug. 31. When very young she lay at death's door many weeks with inflammatory rheumatism from which she never fully recovered, it resulting in heart disease. She bore its excruciating pains with a fortitude creditable to riper years. Then she sought and found Christ precious as her personal Savior. She was always bright and cheerful and ready to work wherever needed, even while suffering and expecting any moment the command to rest. To be an idler or an invalid was to her worse than death. Many times has she said during her last illness, "I don't want to live if I can't be useful." She was very devoted to her home and especially to her father, whose health for a number of years has been poor. Always thoughtful of friends, and while suffering intensely would speak of others who were sick saying: "They suffer much more than. I can't wait to get well that I may go and see them." To know her intimately was to love her. As a student and teacher, as a member of church and society she had many friends, a large concourse of whom were present to pay her the last tribute of love. One Sunday-school scholar who could not be present, said, "I shall go to her grave alone and place upon it a bouquet." The floral offerings were many, and beautiful.