THOSE EDUCATED HORSES

Cortland Democrat advertisement, April 15, 1887.

Cortland Opera House (Cortland House at right) on Groton Avenue.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 22, 1887.

Those Educated Horses.

   Prof. D. M. Bristol, with his troupe of twenty-two educated horses, ponies and mules has come and gone, but they have left an impression on all who witnessed their marvelous performances. The Opera House was well filled on Monday evening, on Tuesday evening every seat was filled and many stood up, and a large audience was present at the Wednesday evening performance.

   There were no two animals of like disposition and they were of all colors and sizes. The mule Denver is a wonderful animal and seems to possess almost human intelligence. The Mustang pony, Mattie, although apparently a crabbed, touchy little thing is very smart and the way she solved problems in mathematics would put to shame many of the small scholars in our public schools. The blond pony, John Sanborn, swings himself with as much ease as a full grown man, and Lottie trots or paces at the word of command. Eagle balances Mattie and her mate on a teeter board at an elevation of five feet from the stage with as much precision as a human being would exhibit.

   One of the most difficult feats performed is the feat of imitating a rocking horse which is done by a bright looking mustang called Hornet, who also jumps the rope as perfectly as the most accomplished school girl.

   Taken altogether Prof. Bristol's exhibition cannot be excelled by any. It seems almost impossible to train animals so perfectly. Each seemed to be anxious to do what he was told and none exhibited any fear. The professors' method of training animals is undoubtedly by the kindest treatment.

   The company left for Binghamton Thursday morning where they appear for the remainder of the week.

Public Reading Room.

   DEAR MR. EDITOR:— The ladies of the W. C. T. C. desire through your paper to thank the public whose generous donations have enabled them to secure the building at the corner of Main and Railroad streets formerly known as Townley's saloon. This has been re-fitted and re-furnished and will be ready for use early in May. The object of the rooms is to open to the public a place where those desiring to consult the dailies, weeklies and periodicals shall find welcome; to provide lunch when desired, and also to furnish a home like place of resort for the young men who are strangers among us.

   All the furnishings of the place will be free excepting the lunch—hot coffee and sandwiches, for which a nominal price will be charged. A public reception will be held at the opening, the date of which will be duly announced.

   COM.

Court of Appeals Decision.

   Three or four years since, one Fred Gaylord was severely injured by the cars at the Port Watson street crossing in this village. He was in the employ of one Stafford, a farmer residing in the town of Cincinnatus, and was riding with Stafford to this place. The team, a rather spirited one and afraid of the cars was being driven by Stafford who sat on a spring board near the forward wheels, while Gaylord sat astride the same board near the hind wheels,

   Stafford noticed two engines near the S. & B. depot, but did not see the 10 A. M. passenger train coming from the south until his horses were on the track. The cowcatcher struck one of the hind wheels breaking the axletree short off and throwing Gaylord so high in the air, that witnesses who saw the occurrence, say that the entire train passed under him before he struck the ground some distance up the track.

   The train backed up and he was taken to the office of Dr. Bolles, near the depot, where his injuries were attended to. His shoulder was badly injured and his face and head were badly bruised.

   Gaylord sued the S. B. & N. Y. Railroad Company for damages and the case was tried at the January Circuit in 1885, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff for $2,250. The railroad company moved for a new trial at General Term which was denied, and the defendant then appealed to the Court of Appeals. The latter court handed down its decision on Tuesday, whereby they affirm the judgment of the court below. Duell &, Benedict, of this place, appeared for the plaintiff, and Jenny, Brown, Marshall & Ruger, of Syracuse, for the railroad company.

HERE AND THERE.

   Col. Frank Place has taken offices in the Wickwire block.

   Salisbury's Troubadours in the Opera House next Tuesday evening.

   The Oswego Blade, daily and weekly, has given up the ghost for lack of patronage.

   Messrs. Gillett & Barrows have secured the contract for carrying the mails from the depot to the post-office in this place.

   The Young Men's Social Assembly hold their last social for this season in Taylor Opera House, this evening. You can dance from 8:30 to 12:30.

   On Wednesday morning, while at work with a shaping machine in the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company's shops, Dell White lost two fingers from his left hand.

   A kerosene lamp in the store of T. L. Corwin & Son, of Marathon, fell to the floor last Tuesday evening, and the oil spread over the floor and the room was quickly in a blaze. Hand grenades were thrown in the fire and other means used to put out the flames before much damage was done. The hand grenades were not considered a success.

   The Binghamton Sunday Dispatch put in an appearance last Sunday. It is edited by E. E. Burlingame. Although the paper is queer looking thing, it is brim full of good reading. Sensational articles find no place in its columns and in this respect it will be found to be a decided improvement over many of its competitors. We wish the Dispatch and its able editor success.

   James Sterling and Ida Sterling, not unknown to fame in this section, were arrested at a disorderly house in Binghamton, last Sunday night, and taken before the Recorder, who discharged the former and sentenced the latter to pay a fine of $50 or go up for thirty days. Besides the above, the officers arrested two other white women, two Chinamen, two white men and one colored man, all of whom seemed to be dwelling together in harmony.

   Nearly two years since one Dorr Mack, residing in this place, left his wife and family in destitute circumstances, and eloped with another woman. Not long afterwards he was arrested for non-support of his family and spent 100 days in jail. He is now said to be living with the other woman in Rochester. Recently the employees of the Cortland Wagon Company presented Mrs. Mack with a purse of forty dollars, and members of the Congregational church and other friends gave her a handsome sewing machine.

   Saturday evening Sheriff Van Hoesen found James Hollenbeck in a barn on Pendleton St., owned by William R. Randall, of this village. James had prepared himself with meat and drink in the shape of a bottle of whiskey, and was intending to have a grand old time all by himself. The entrance of the sheriff, however, put an end to his pleasant dreams and he was cruelly torn from his companion and lodged in jail. On Monday morning Justice Squires adjudged that he should pay eleven dollars into the exchequer of the county, for the poor, or spend ten days in durance. Owing to the unhealthy state of the money market, he was compelled to take the days. We have been usable to learn the fate of the bottle or its contents.

Grace Church.

   The Easter offerings in Grace church amounted to $180. On Easter Monday, after morning prayer, the following Wardens and Vestrymen were elected for the ensuing year:

   Wardens—H. B. Hubbard, H. L. Rogers.

   Vestrymen—S. M. Benjamin, Geo. J. Mager, Chas. U. Parker, Edward D. Webb, A. Mahan, H. S. Dibble, Geo. L. Warren, J. S. Bull.

   Last Sunday the congregation occupied their new quarters in the Schermerhorn building. The rooms are very pleasant and well suited to the purpose for which they are to be used.

   The Bazaar held in Odd Fellows' Hall last week under the auspices of the Ladies Guild, was a success in every way. Members of other denominations and citizens generally patronized the ladies liberally. Something over $475 was taken in, about $345 of which was profit and will be used to help furnish the new church.

   The old building was sold to Mr. L. H. Hopkins, who is tearing the same down. The new building will be commenced as soon as the ground can be cleared and made ready for work. The new church will be a handsome one when completed. It is an enterprise that should receive the most liberal support from all our citizens, and we are glad to know that all are lending a helping hand.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   TOMPKINS.—Over fifty workmen in various capacities are employed at the shops of the Crandall Type Writer Co. in Groton. Thirty machines per week are now being made. This is pretty good, considering that five months ago ground was broken for commencing building operations. The machines are selling readily, and those who predicted it would not amount to much, have nothing to say.

   MADISON.--Fred Jencks arrived home in DeRuyter, Sunday morning, after an absence of some five years, four of which have been spent in the old country. Three years ago last October, he enlisted in the British army and for most of the time since has done garrison duty in India The British private, when so disposed and able, can sometimes purchase his discharge for £18 or about $90; and awhile since Mr. Jencks grew weary of serving her Britannic majesty, as a Yankee boy naturally would, and bought his liberty. He was then at Bangalore, India, 925 miles from Bombay, at which port be took a steamer for home. Several stops were made along the west coast of Africa, and at Malta and Gibraltar, where he was shown through the strongest fortress of the world. His health is rugged, and his complexion bronzed by a torrid sun.

A WOMAN’S CONFESSION.

While Under the Influence of Morphine and Whiskey She Fires a Barn.

   ITHACA, N. Y., April 13.—Julia Lawton, of Mihna, the woman who was arrested on Monday charged with being implicated in causing the fire which resulted in the cremation of Matthew Massock and three children at Myers Point, this county, on the night of March 28th, made a confession to Sheriff Tibbetts last night that she accidentally set fire to the barn adjacent to the Massock dwelling by dropping a lighted match in the straw after lighting her pipe. She claims she was under the influence of opium and whiskey when this was done and did not realize the consequences. Her husband, arrested on the same charge and now in jail is believed to be entirely innocent. It is not believed that the woman had any motive in setting fire to the building.

In Favor of the Knights.

   NEW YORK, April 18.—The Catholic News to-day received the following dispatch from Rome concerning the Pope and the Knights of Labor: The Pope has decided the questions of the Knights of Labor in favor of that organization. This decision will stand so long as the present method pursued in furthering their aims prevails. The document of Cardinal Gibbons has been endorsed.

   The Pope further decides that in Canada, where a [mandamus] had been issued against the Knights of Labor, the members of the order will receive absolution on promise of obedience to future decisions of the Holy See. If the Knights of Labor identify themselves with theories now being disseminated by certain agitators this decision in their favor will be revoked.

Editor's Note:
   "The Cortland Opera House, constructed of dark red brick, is an ornamental structure on Groton avenue, adjoining the Cortland House, a building used exclusively for a theater and having a broad ground floor entrance, connecting with a transverse lobby with an inside vestibule. The seating capacity is 1,000, and the parquet and dress circle are fitted with folding opera chairs. On each side of the stage is a single canopied private box, entered from the parquet. There is one balcony connecting the proscenium arch at both ends with an open family circle enclosed by a rail. An alley between the opera house and the hotel affords ad mission to the stage entrances, which may also be used for exits in case of fire. The proscenium opening is square, being 30-ft. high and 30-ft. wide. The greatest distance from the footlights across the stage is 35 feet, and the distance between the side walls is 64 feet. Between the stage and flygirders is 44 feet, and from the floor to the grooves overhead is 16 feet. The area of the building is 67x112. Its cost was $43,000. A stock company built and own the opera house, which was opened in May, 1885. At the present writing [1899] it is leased to an amusement firm, who employ William Wallace as the local manager. The officers of the company are: President, Edward Keator; Vice- President, Alex. Mahan; Secretary, H. M. Kellogg; Treasurer, Thomas F. Brayton."—Grip’s Historical Souvenir of Cortland, page 181.