 |
| Early Cortland County Alms House. |
 |
| Cortland County Alms House (Closed) in 1982. |
Christmas at the Alms House.
In spite of winter and storm last Friday afternoon,
about fifteen ladies of the W. C. T. U.
visited the County House, carrying with them baskets and boxes filled with
gifts which were to make a merry Christmas for the inmates of that Institution.
A general welcome was given them by Mr. and Mrs. Frisbee, who took them into
the great kitchen, in the center of which a tree has been planted. The tree at
once began to bud and blossom and ere long was hung from the lowest branch to highest
peak with mittens, stockings, shoulder shawls, aprons, handkerchiefs, and
mottoes, reminding one of the tree spoken of in scripture as "bearing
twelve manner of fruit."
When everything was ready, keepers Frisbee
and Edwards brought in and seated at either end of the room all who were able
to be present. Before the distribution of gifts the following programme was
presented:
1. Singing
from Gospel Hymn.
2. Reading—John XIV by Sarah Chapman.
3. Prayer by
Mr. Parmeter.
4. Duet by
Misses Chapman and [name missing—CC editor.]
5. Select
Reading by Ina Parmeter.
6. Duet by
Ina Parmeter and Grace Hare.
7. Violin
solo by Mr. Lee (colored).
8. Remarks
by Mr. Parmeter.
Especially interesting was the reading by
Miss Chapman who is wholly blind, and read from her bible having raised letters.
The duet by Miss Chapman and another young lady who is also blind was exceedingly
sweet.
Mr. Parmeter visits the County House every
other Sunday under the auspices of the W. C. T. U., and preaches to them.
After the programme followed the picking of
the fruit, apparently the most interesting part of the entertainment. Among the
gifts too large for the tree were a number of pictures sent by the G's, a
chair, handsomely painted and cushioned, two covered stools and a new sled,
sent by a class of boys in Cortland, to the only boy in the house. Oranges and
candies were given to all. Those confined in the hospital were visited and received
their share of the gifts. If all who contributed to this object could have been
present and seen the tears and smiles and heard the "God bless
you's" they would have felt that it was indeed "more blessed to give
than to receive."
One of the present inmates was also in the
Institution twenty-two years ago, when they had their last Christmas tree. "The
poor ye have always with you, and when ye will, ye may do them good." Let us
hope that twenty-two years will not roll away before something of the sort will
again break the monotony in the lives of our poor. Many thanks are due Mr. and Mrs.
Frisbie who so heartily co-operated with the ladies, to the Messrs. Decker, Schouten
and Stone who furnished conveyances, and all who contributed in any way to the
success of the enterprise. Oranges etc., had also been received from Glen
Haven.
The
Schools of the State.
The annual report of State Superintendent
Andrew S. Draper, which will be presented to the incoming legislature, shows some
interesting statistics. The report covers the school year ended on July 25th
last.
During the year it cost $17,392,471.61 to maintain
the common schools of the state, this being an increase of expenditure over the
preceding year of $1,515,626.70. The number of children of the school age (5 to
21 years) was reported at 1,844,596, an increase of 40,929, of whom 1,042,160
attended school at some time during the year. Teachers employed continuously for
32 weeks or more numbered 23,865, while the whole number of teachers employed for
any length of time was 31,703. The total amount paid for teachers' wages was
$10,422,171.98, as increase of 617,567.98 over the school year of 1888-9. The
sum of $4,593,264.97 was spent for new school houses and sites, furniture
repairs and other items of current expenses, 12,022 school houses being
required to accommodate the pupils in attendance.
The average annual salary of teachers was
$436.71, an increase of $17.95 over the average salary for the preceding year.
The average weekly salary was $11.70, a decrease of nine cents a week, this
decrease being accounted for by the lengthening of the legal term of
instruction from 28 to 32 weeks. When the large salaries paid to many teachers
are taken into consideration, the average annual pay of $436.71 shows that some
teachers must receive extremely small compensation for their labors. During the
year 18,594 teachers were examined by School Commissioners, a decrease of
1,057, a fact which shows that there is some hesitancy about adopting the pedagogic
career, brought about, perhaps, by small average wages.
Superintendent Draper's figures show what an
important branch of the government is entrusted to his department. The expenditure
of over $17,000,000 wisely and well in a single year calls for a high order of
intelligence and good sense among school trustees, boards of education and school
officers generally. The vast sum is a precious legacy to be used with the
utmost care and honesty in the patriotic work for which it is intended, the
making of good citizens. As in all great enterprises, however, there is certain
to be waste somewhere, but it may safely be said that the school funds of our
state are spent as honestly, as economically and as intelligently as any part
of the money that falls into the hands of public officials. The growth of our
schools is the pride of every patriot and marks another step upward in the
progress of our civilization.
Death of
Mrs. J. C. Gray.
Last week Tuesday Mrs. Gray complained of
severe pain about her lungs, but attributed it to a cold and medical assistance
was not called until the following morning.
Symptoms of pneumonia developed so rapidly
as to resist all efforts to arrest the disease, which resulting in her death on
Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Gray, nee Miss Fannie Judd, was born in
Litchfield, Conn. in the year 1838, subsequently coming to Broome county and
afterward to Marathon with her parents. At the latter place in 1860, she was
married to Mr. J. C. Gray, removing to Cortland in 1873, since which time she
has been a resident of this
place and an active and influential member of the Presbyterian church.
The funeral services were conducted by the Rev.
J. L. Robertson, Tuesday afternoon and the remains borne from the beautiful
home on Lincoln-ave. to Marathon cemetery for interment. Besides her husband
she leaves two sons, Harry P. and Chas B. Gray surviving her. She was a sister
of Mr. Jesse L. Judd of this place and also of Mrs. O. M. Mitchell, of Marathon.
Mrs. Gray was a most devoted wife and affectionate mother and was highly
respected by all her acquaintances for her many virtues. The husband and family
have the heartfelt sympathy of our citizens as was manifest from the large
attendance at the last sad rites to the departed.
Capture
of Loomis.
Sheriff Borthwick received word Christmas
morning that a man corresponding with the description of John Loomis, the jail
breaker, had been arrested at a small hamlet in the northern part of Bradford
county, Penn., and was lodged in the county jail at Towanda. Deputy Sheriff John
Borthwick left town on the 2:40 P. M. train,
and found the prisoner in question to be the self-styled detective who figured
at Blodgett's Mills on election day and more recently successfully accomplished
an escape from the Cortland jail. He gave the name of Frank Johnson when arrested
in the Keystone state, but the officer was posted and at once notified our officials
that he was entitled to the reward offered.
Loomis refused to return to Cortland without
the requisition papers and under-sheriff Morns left for Auburn Friday, to
secure affidavits and went to Albany after obtaining them to secure requisition
papers.
The man Loomis entered a store in West Leroy,
Bradford county, on Christmas eve shortly after the proprietor had closed business
for the day. In opening up the store Loomis let the watch dog out, the animal
at once going to his master's residence. Knowing the dog had been locked in the
store the merchant was suspicious and enlisting a constable, the pair reached the
store in time to meet Loomis departing with a box containing some $10 in cash and
a quantity of postage stamps.
Early on the same evening a young fellow arrived
in town and desired to have his horse and cutter cared for until he should call
for the same later on. After the willowy Loomis was captured, the young man
failed to appear and his description is identical with that of Frank Johnson,
who broke jail with Loomis. Sheriff Borthwick called upon Loomis, but the
latter would not visit with him, although he would address conversation to the
deputy.
Mr. John Loomis will, it is expected, reach
Cortland on Friday of this week. Early in the week telegrams of inquiry were
pouring in on the sheriff from outside officials to ascertain the whereabouts
of the prisoner. Evidently he is an individual with an extensive acquaintance
among the officials of the state.
No comments:
Post a Comment