The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October
24, 1890.
TOWN REPORTS.
HARFORD MILLS.
Our wise
brothers, who have made our laws since the dawn of civilization, have very
graciously conceded to petticoats the right to vote at school meetings. [The New York State legislature in 1880 allowed women to vote for school commissioners and school
board members, and compete with men for elected school offices—CC editor.] Thank you,
gentlemen, for this consideration.
You can
foist upon us for school commissioner any political puppet who will allow you
to pull the wires for his jumping Jack contortions, and we are dumb. [Political parties consisting of men nominated school commissioners—CC editor.] The drunkest
slum foreigner, who cannot even read the name of the candidate upon the ballot that
partisans thrust into his voting, filth-smeared hand, reels up to the polls,
and decides this matter for us, and we are told to vote through our influence
at home. Our dainty fingers must not be soiled in the pool of politics, and as
this is Monday and my dainty fingers have done a washing for a family of ten,
six of whom are voters and had overalls and pantaloons covered with what they
termed political mire, though I shouldn't have known it from common ditch mud
and vomit, but the thought struck me while washing it, that I was an ingrate
not to acknowledge their courtesy in keeping me from the drudgery of lifting a
ballot.
Then too,
when I was wading about in the rain hanging up those garments, my heated brow
became sufficiently cooled by the torrent of rain that was pouring from the
blackened depths of equinoctial clouds, to cogitate with clearness, and I
henceforth lift my hat and bow my head to every male voter. Engrossed in
patriotic thought, I caught myself gracefully bowing to the breeches on the
line; for surely this is the signet of voting power.
O, how my
patriotism exulted at the thought, when shuffling across the lawn I beheld a
voter; unmistakably a voter, clad in the unmistakable habiliments of a voter, viz:
breeches, minus coat, hat and vest, who began eloquently haranguing the two-legged
garments frantically kicking in the wind.
Evidently
the fellow was a politician of no mean calibre and the burden of his soul was
school commissioners, and warning those pants not to risk the young idea
learning how to shoot under a young inexperienced school commissioner—too young
to know how to help book agents to saddle a set of text books upon the overburdened
tax paying school patrons; text books whose only merit is to differ
sufficiently from those already provided, to render it impossible to use the two;
too young to know that the criterion of qualification for teachers should not
be how competent; but where, where were you educated—for surely the Normal
school should fling its protecting banner over all its fledglings, and that
boyish Democratic nominee would know no more than to license according to
qualification and a pretty muddle he would have of it. A dozen teachers haggling
for the same school and instead of being able to demand ten dollars per week
for 25 hours' labor in rural districts that average from three to five scholars,
teachers might be obliged to content themselves with the same stipend counted
into the honorable toiling hand of the hired girl as compensation for 100 hours
hard labor by the week. I tell you, tax payers, your money has been poured out
like water to educate these teachers at your free schools, and to give them free
education at the Normal, and now will you withdraw your protection from them by
saying through your ballot: you shall no longer thrust your grasping hands into
our pockets and take therefrom ten dollars per week for teaching three seven
year old babies.
Exhausted
by this flow of eloquence the voter reeled and fell; and at the present writing
lies under the clothes line while the pantaloons wave like blackened banners
above his slumbering form, while I, convinced by his logic, take up the burden where
he lays it down, to say to the voters of Cortland county, beware how you vote for
Charley Osborne for school
commissioner. I have known him from childhood and can tell you he does not
possess the first attribute of a politician, never having been drunk in his
life, never patronized a liquor saloon nor a gambling hell; quiet, scholarly,
select, by dint of his own efforts he has outstripped hundreds less intrepid
and persevering; he stands outlined in the clear sunlight of honest, worthy,
young manhood, an honor to the party who has made this wise selection, and a
credit to the ticket that bears his name.
THAT HEN.
[pen name of correspondent.]
SCOTT.
Mr. Kellogg, son of Theron Kellogg, is
in town visiting relatives.
Wallace
Picket goes to New York city to see the sights this week.
Edna
Barber has commenced work in the woolen factory in Homer.
A very
little girl has come to winter with Mr. and Mrs. Paren Anthony.
We learn
that Eugene Camp, of New Hope, has come to grief from selling liquor illegally.
Frank
Jenks has returned from Ohio, where he has been for several mouths past dispensing
music from the violin at a lively rate.
Will J.
Cottrell found an extra boy upon his premises recently. It resembled the rest
of the children so much that he has concluded to bring it up as his own.
Rev. F.
H. Dickerson, of Union Valley, preached his first discourse at the M. E. church
here last Sunday. We think he is well received. He will move his wife and other
household goods this week.
Election
is near at hand but that does not cause all the excitement that exists. Some
say that the women can vote for School Commissioner. Perhaps Mr. Crofoot had
that idea and that might have been the reason of his interviewing so many of
the women of our town. We cannot commend these interviews for they sometimes
cause trouble.
FREETOWN.
Singing
school on Saturday night.
Mr.
George Hammond, of McGrawville, called on friends in town the past week.
The W. C.
T. U. will meet at Mrs. Joseph Underwood's on Saturday of the present week, to
hear the report of the delegate who attended the State convention at Elmira.
Again
death has entered our community and an aged mother has passed away. Mrs. Harvey
Bean, about eighty years old, has gone to her reward. The funeral will be held
at East Freetown to-morrow at 12 o'clock. It can be truly said our loss is her
eternal gain.
SOLON.
When a
couple returning home from a party wish to stop their horse and go to sleep,
they should do so somewhere else except here in town.
We will
have a few street lamps in town. Two being placed in front of Miss Hathaway's
and on the corner at the store which will be a great benefit these dark nights.
EAST HOMER.
The board
of registry was in session at Bennett Hall Saturday and 196 names were registered.
Mr. John
Beattie is on the sick list. Dr. Higgins, of Cortland, has been called to
attend him.
The great
political meeting held here Tuesday evening of last week and addressed by the
irrepressible Peck turned out to be a very slim affair, there being just 43
persons present by actual count. Mr. Peck in a laborious speech of over an hour
told the faithful what legislation he had been the prime factor in accomplishing
in the interest of the tax payers of the state and how much more he thought he
would be able to do if he was returned to Albany this fall. There was no
interest manifested during the speech and all seemed relieved at the close and
thus endeth the first lesson.
UNCLE SI.
[pen name of correspondent.]
FRANK'S CORNERS.
Voters
have you registered?
Will Cole, of Cortland, visited his parents on
Sunday last.
Dell Dann
has commenced his school in the Ball district.
Bouton
Glazier, who has been critically ill with typhoid fever, is convalescent.
The
bridge that was washed away near Geo. Dane's is being replaced by a new iron
one.
Mrs.
Susan Gee, who has been visiting relatives in Cortland for a few days, returned
home on Monday.
Charles
Osborn, nominee for school commissioner, called on some of his political friends
in this place one day last week.
There is
a positive law in this state compelling children to attend school. This law is
violated in every school district. Parents and guardians look after this matter.
The
teachers' association convened at the Baptist church, Virgil, Saturday last. It
was pronounced a grand success. The programme consisted of essays, orations, dialogues,
discussions on school management, and principals of teaching. The officers
elected for the ensuing year are, Bertha Givens, president; Geo. Munson, vice-president;
Louise Ryan, secretary.
UNCLE
DICK. [pen name of correspondent.]
Recommended: Matilda Joslyn Gage and Women's
Rights. http://www.matildajoslyngage.org/gage-home/womens-rights-room/
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