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| The Cortland House. |
SUPERVISORS'
BANQUET.
TENDERED
BY THE BOARD TO THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
A Feast
of Good Things Gastronomic and Intellectual—Who Were There and What Was Done.
Last year at the close of the session of the
board of supervisors the county officers tendered to the members and a few
invited guests a banquet at the Hotel Brunswick, which proved a remarkably
successful and enjoyable affair. The "spread" was excellent and the
after-dinner sociability a pleasure to every one. Last week the following
invitation to something in the same line was received by the county officers
and a number of residents of this and other towns:
You are cordially invited to attend a
banquet tendered to the county officers and others, by the board of supervisors
of Cortland county, N. Y., at the Cortland House, on the evening of Wednesday,
Dec. 6, 1898, at 8:30 o'clock.
BENJ. KINYON,
HERMON D. HUNT,
J. C. BARRY,
Committee.
Responsive to the invitation the officers
and other guests gathered at the Cortland House to the number of forty-four and
after a social chat sat down to one of the best prepared, best served and most
elaborate banquets ever given at this always popular hotel. The guests were
arranged at four tables, the tables centering in the middle of the diningroom
and placed in two lines at right angles to each other. At the head of the room
and the head of the first table sat Chairman Crane and at the head of the
opposite table Clerk Barry of the board of supervisors. At the heads of the
other two tables were Supervisors R. Bruce Smith of Cortlandville and
Supervisor Walter A. Brink of Marathon. With Mr. Crane sat the following
gentlemen: Judge J. E. Eggleston, Hugh Duffey, Hon. Jas. H. Tripp, Dr. Francis
J. Cheney.
At Mr. Barry's table were the following:
Supervisors Hunt, Lee, Bourne and Gardner of
this county, Supervisor Hakes of Pitcher, Chenango Co., and ex-Supervisor Henry
Howes, Hon. B. F. Lee, assemblyman-elect, Dr. H. S. Braman and Adelbert Fuller
of Cuyler, Superintendent of the Poor A. W. Angel, W. J. Mantanye, Dorr C.
Smith, Dr. H. O. Jewitt, E. M. Seacord and E. D. Phillips of Cortland.
At Supervisor Smith's table were the
following: Supervisors Cottrell, Kinyon and Surdam, ex-Supervisor Ernest W.
Childs of Scott, ex-Supervisor F. M. Benjamin and C. J . Cole of Cincinnatus,
County Clerk S. K. Jones, District Attorney Jerome Squires, County Treasurer A.
S. Brown, ex-Sheriff G. S. Van Hoesen and Wm. H. Clark of The STANDARD.
At Supervisor Brink's table sat Supervisors
Brown, Bingham and Miner, School Commissioners La Floyd Stillman and W. A. Coon
and Commissioner-elect N. L. Miller, Sheriff John Miller, County
Treasurer-elect Foster, Editor C. H. Stevens of the Homer Republican and W. C. Collins also of Homer.
The menu for the occasion was as follows:
Blue Point Oysters on the Half Shell.
Ox Tail.
Red Snapper Sauce Crevette.
Celery Tips. Queen olives.
Roast Turkey, Stuffed. Cranberry Sauce.
Creamed Mashed Potatoes.
Salmi of Duck with Dressing.
Old Dominion Sweet Potatoes.
Oyster Patties. Chicken Mayonaise.
Neapolitan Ice Cream.
Wine Jelly. Assorted Cakes.
Fruit. Cafe Noir.
After the good things spread before the
company had been thoroughly attended to, Chairman Crane referred to the banquet
of last year and to the guests of that time being the hosts of the present
occasion. This banquet was not intended as a return of favors, but was a
testimonial of kindly appreciation. In a few complimentary words he then called
on Judge Eggleston to speak for the judiciary, which the judge did in his usual
happy manner, touching specially on the subject of good roads upon which he believed
that county legislatures at no distant day would be called on to act.
Sheriff Miller was the next one served with
a summons to stand and deliver a speech, Chairman Crane referring, in making
the summons, to the sheriff's marked attachment for the guests entertained in
the county's stone hotel. The sheriff, while disclaiming any title to be called
a speech-maker, made one of the hits of the evening by stating to the chairman
that there were at present only three guests in the county's hotel and that
they were all from Homer.
On the back of the menu card there appeared
the following:
He may live without books,
What is knowledge but grieving;
He may live without hope,
What is hope but deceiving;
He may live without love,
What is passion but pining!
But where is the man
Who can live without dining?
—Steve Jones' Elegy on Virgil.
Chairman Crane next called on the alleged
poet—the double of Owen Meredith—referring to the oft-quoted saying that
"either all smart men came from Virgil or that all the men who came from
Virgil were smart." The poet arose amid tumultuous cheering and thanked
the supervisors for the honor they had done him in having his speech printed in
advance and distributed, thus saving him the trouble of delivering it. He had
enjoyed the evening greatly and highly appreciated the courtesy of the board.
District Attorney Squires was then called on
as from Lapeer, "a town where they haven't any hotel and where the
chairman didn't know that they had any churches." Mr. Squires resented the
insinuation that his native township was destitute of "the milk of the
word" and declared that it was liberally dispensed at the various
schoolhouses. He believed that such a social gathering of the supervisors and
county officers as the present was profitable as well as pleasant, and gave
expression to the opinion, which was frequently endorsed during the evening,
that these banquets should be continued.
Chairman Crane next referred to the time
when County Treasurer Brown in 1885 appeared in the board as the representative
of Solon and on account of his youth and boyish appearance was called "the
baby of the board." He complimented Mr. Brown in the highest terms on his
service as supervisor and especially as county treasurer, saying that his books
were so admirably kept that it was a pleasure to settle with him. He called on
Mr. Brown to respond, which he did, referring pleasantly to the fears and embarrassments
of a new supervisor and to the courtesy with which he had been treated in his
"baby" official days, and to the effort which boards rarely failed to
make to discharge their duties equitably and well. He had enjoyed both the
banquet of last year and this and hoped that the county officers of next year
would be equally as successful as entertainers as the hosts of this.
Superintendent of the Poor Angel was called
out with a reference to the importance, delicacy and responsibility of the
duties which he has to discharge and a compliment on his manner of discharging
them. Mr. Angel responded modestly and courteously, expressing his appreciation
of the hospitality of the board and the good fellowship and good feeling
resulting from it.
School Commissioner Stillman was then called
upon, also with a compliment, and made one of the most graceful responses of
the evening.
Commissioner-elect Miller was the next man
drafted, and gave an excellent little speech, humorous, appropriate and timely.
School Commissioner Coon responded happily
to the complimentary call of the chairman, expressing his thankfulness that he
was alive and able to be present after the political cyclone which had struck
his party, and referring to the fact that it was his politics which had, during
his term, kept the county officers from being a partisan body.
William H. Clark of The STANDARD was next
called upon to speak for the Press. He joined in the general sentiment as to
the pleasure connected with the banquets of last year and this, the friendly
feeling and better understanding of each other resulting therefrom, and
expressed the appreciation of the representatives of the press for the courtesies
shown them by the board.
Mr. C. H. Stevens of the Homer Republican came next in order and cordially endorsed the sentiments just
expressed and thanked the board in behalf of the press of his town.
Dr. Francis J. Cheney of the Normal school was
then called on and made a very happy response, touching on the relations
between education and legislation, and cordially inviting the board to visit
and inspect the school.
County Treasurer-elect Foster was introduced
as a great fisherman and hunter as well as an able business man. He thought it
rather unkind to call on such a man for a speech after the responses which had
just been listened to, but expressed his thanks for the compliment implied in
such a call and for the courtesy of an invitation to be present, and endorsed
the continuance of the custom of meeting at an annual banquet which last year
and this had introduced. [Prior to 1892-93 the Board of Supervisors accepted
an annual invitation to inspect and dine at the County Alms House. This past
practice resulted in charges of “freeloading” by some taxpayers and there was
criticism by the press—CC editor.]
Hon. Jas. H. Tripp responded to the call of
the chairman and expressed the great pleasure which the evening had afforded
him. He spoke interestingly also on the question of taxes, of equalization of
assessments and good roads, and was listened to with close attention.
Hugh Duffey, following a highly
complimentary introduction by Chairman Crane,
made a very happy and timely response. Though he declared that about all the
excuses and speeches possible had been made and ammunition about exhausted, he
found enough of the latter for all his purposes and used it to good effect.
Dr. H. O. Jewett was thankful for the
banquet but hardly knew whether he ought to be thankful for being called on for
a speech or not. He was not a funny man himself, but could say in seriousness
that the occasion had been a most pleasant one.
The chairman then referred to the acceptable
service rendered by Assemblyman-elect B. F. Lee of Cuyler as a former member
and chairman of the board and called on that gentleman for a response. Mr. Lee
returned his thanks both for the compliment of an invitation to the banquet and
for the invitation to speak. Impromptu speech making was somewhat out of his
usual line of business, and he felt that the responsibility in this direction
had been very well assumed on this occasion by others. The members of the board
of 1893 had not only proved themselves royal entertainers but had shown their
capacity for business by shortening the usual length of the annual session in a
marked degree. Mr. Lee also referred to the difficulties of equalization and to
his own membership in the board which began in the same year with County
Treasurer Brown's and of which he entertained only the most pleasant
recollections. He was closely listened to
and with marked interest.
Supervisor F. P. Hakes of Chenango Co. asked
to be excused from lengthy remarks, but noted one point of difference between
the supervisors of the two counties which caused considerable laughter.
Ex-Chairman Frank P. Benjamin of Cincinnatus
was not prepared to admit that boards nowadays were any better than formerly.
They had no banquets in his day but the members were poor. Banquets are just
coming up.
Ex-Chairman Howes of Cuyler had no speech
prepared, but hoped that these banquets would be continued by someone. He would
rather have an invitation to them than to be Chauncey Depew or Poet Jones.
Mr. W. J. Mantanye said that he had supposed
that every one who was invited to the banquet was expected to make a speech and
had prepared his speech, but those who had gone before had used up about all
his material. He managed to make some good points nevertheless.
Clerk Barry regarded himself as rather a
fifth wheel. He was neither supervisor nor county officer. He could, however,
endorse all that had been said about the care and efficiency of both county
officers and supervisors. He urged that Cortlandville should have more
supervisors—that the work is too much and too heavy for one man.
Dorr C. Smith was called on but declined to
take up any of the time.
Ex-Supervisor Ernest W. Childs of Scott
would only say that to himself the evening with the banquet and speeches had
been a most pleasant one and he was glad to have been present.
Supervisor Bourne joined with the chairman
and other members of the board in tendering to their guests thanks for the
honor done the board in accepting the invitation extended by its members.
Supervisor Brink said that nothing which he
could say would add to the complementary expressions made by the other members
of the board, or to the interest of the speeches of the evening and therefore
begged the chairman to excuse him from any extended remarks.
Supervisor Smith responded by saying that he
was no speech maker but that he had been more than happy in being able to attend
the banquet and meet the other members of the board, the county officers and
other guests. It had afforded him great pleasure to hear the speeches and partake
of the repast. He was especially glad of the opportunity given him to state how
thoroughly he appreciated the many kindnesses and courtesies which he had
received from the younger members of the board and for which he was very
thankful.
Chairman Crane said that a large share of the
credit for the short session was due to the promptness and business-like methods
of Clerk Barry.
Supervisor Hunt, like Mr. Mantanye, had
supposed everyone was to make a speech and would have prepared and written it
out but for fear that, like a certain other speech, it would be stolen. As a physician
he might speak of the beauties of a hearty meal late at night but those present
would appreciate these.
Supervisor Kenyon had misunderstood the
object of this occasion. He supposed the board furnished the feast, the officers
the taffy and the press was invited to herald the news and secure the return of
the various members, by unanimous consent. He closed with one of the best stories
of the evening.
It was after 1 o'clock A. M. when the
company broke up. Applause had been general throughout the speeches and every
one left in the beat of humor.
HE DID NOT ESCAPE.
RICHARDS,
THE OLIVER CURTIS PERRY OF CORTLAND.
He Said
He Would Hang Spear's Heart Up Before His Eyes if He Squealed.
Charles, alias DeVer, Richards left this morning
for Auburn prison and will probably not trouble the officials of this county
for a year, as that was his sentence for stabbing Wilber H. Butler at Homer
October 10. He has been the Oliver
Curtis Perry of the county and has given Sheriff Miller more trouble than any
other prisoner he has had to deal with since he has held the office of sheriff.
After receiving his sentence he asked the sheriff when he would be taken to
Auburn. The sheriff had his suspicions aroused and told him that he would
probably not be taken before Saturday.
Sheriff Miller has kept a very close watch
of him, as he suspected that after Richards was sentenced he would attempt to
escape. His suspicions proved correct, when he discovered this morning, while
examining the walls, bars and cells of the jail, while the prisoners were eating
their breakfast, that Richards had made an attempt to escape. Richards had
secured a case knife and had succeeded in removing the plastering from the sink
on the south end of the jail proper. The prisoner must have understood his
bearing, as the place where he had planned to get out was an old window which
had been bricked up.
In showing the place to a STANDARD reporter
this afternoon the sheriff explained for the benefit of the other prisoners that
the window was barred by latticed iron work and DeVer would have met an
obstacle he had not bargained for. The man has a strong will and is possessed
of a good deal of perseverance and had the sheriff not deceived him as to the
time he was to be transferred to Auburn prison he would have made a dash for
liberty.
Charles Spear, who gained considerable notoriety
after stealing about $110 from Schermerhorn & Graham's butter store on the
evening of October 13 and who was sentenced Tuesday to the Elmira Reformatory,
when asked about Richards attempted escape told a STANDARD reporter that DeVer
worked on the bricks nearly all of yesterday afternoon, and that he told him if
he "squealed" on him he would hang his heart up before his
eyes."I wanted to see what the Elmira Reformatory looked like," said
Spear, "and so did not let out on him."
Richards was the terror of the prisoners and
they did not dare offend them. He had
broken one of the legs off of the iron bedstead. This was hollow and he kept
the case knife, which aided him in his attempted escape, inside and kept the
post wrapped in a paper. On last Sunday evening he took the iron bed post and
waited by the door till his supper was brought to him. He told the other
prisoners that he intended to brain the officer and escape. The boys told him
that he had better wait till he was either discharged or sentenced and he was
persuaded not to make the attempt. He would probably have met his match as
Sheriff Miller is always prepared for breaks of this character.
Deputy James Edwards took him to Auburn this
morning. When Sheriff Miller put
the "bracelets" on him and took him from his cell, he smilingly said to
the sheriff as he pulled them, "Think I can't break those?" As a
double precaution the sheriff invited him into his private office and snapped
another pair of handcuffs and then Deputy Edwards, with his hand on the butt of
a thirty-eight calibre revolver, marshaled the prisoner to the station, where
they took the
train for Auburn.
A HITCH
IN THE SETTLEMENT.
Lehigh
Strikers Refuse to Return Until Nonunion Men Are Discharged.
MAUCH CHUNK, Pa., Dec. 7.—There is a serious
hitch in the settlement of the Lehigh Valley strike. The leaders here received cipher
dispatches declaring the strike off. They expected to return in a body and
every man take his place. When the arrangement was made known to them, things
assumed a different shape. They
unanimously declared that every man would have to be taken back or none.
The strikers had a meeting in the opera house.
The proposition for settlement was rejected.
Similar action was taken at Lehighton, Weissport
and White Haven.
The men here were formerly engaged on the
Wyoming division, the most difficult portion of the entire line.
The officials of the road at Mauch Chunk know
nothing of the alleged settlement. The men refused to go to work singly. They
want the nonunion men discharged.
Similar reports are coming in from all along
the lines and fears of a serious setback in settlement of the strike are
expressed. The men say they have been sold out by the chiefs and may refuse to abide
by the agreement.
Ratified
the Agreement.
EASTON, Pa., Dec. 7.—The 450 strikers in and
about Easton ratified the agreement between the railroad officials and the grievance
committee, after which they formed in line and marched in a body to the office
of Superintendent Donnally, to whom they reported for duty. There was little or
no excitement.
A Trip
to the World's Fair.
There was a medium-sized house at the
Presbyterian church last night to see the World's Fair stereopticon views and
to listen to the description by Prof. D. L. Bardwell. It was unfortunate that
so many things were going on last night which drew away from this entertainment,
for there was a business meeting or entertainment of some kind at every church
on Church-st., and the Homer-ave. church was having a sociable. But this did
not detract in any way from the views or the character of the lecture. The
views were even better than anticipated. They were projected upon a screen
fifteen feet square and covered the entire screen, and were remarkably clear
and distinct. Seventy-five slides were used, some of them being colored. Prof.
Bardwell accompanied the views by a description which made everything plain and
which was exceedingly interesting, as well as instructive. Few could realize
when the last view was shown that they had been looking and listening for
nearly two hours, but such was the fact.
On Friday evening of this week the same
views will be shown in McGrawville by Prof. Bardwell for the benefit of the
McGrawville academy. Admission will be 15 and 10 cents. No one in McGrawville should
fail to attend, and, if the sleighing is fine, it will afford a nice opportunity
for Cortland people who were detained from being present last night for any
reason to get both a sleighride and a sight of the views.
HOMER
DEPARTMENT.
Gleanings
of News From our Twin Village.
On Friday night, Dec. 8, the attraction at
Keator opera house will be Helen Russell's
English Sports. The Baltimore American
says: Helen Russell's English
Sports proved a drawing card at The Monumental, the house being crowded at both
matinees and evening performances. The company is one of the best burlesque
organizations on the road, and their performance is full of vim and mirth and
enjoyment. The first part is styled "a rehearsal" and it affords opportunities
for the introduction of Terpsichorean and musical specialties of exceptional
brightness and merit. Among the numbers which received greatest applause were
the serpentine dance by Misses Russel, Fleming, Hazel and Rose Montaine; Turner
and Russell in a musical comedy sketch; Mlle. Lucille in phenomenal dancing and
Fred Barth in his inimitable funny business. The performance closes with a burlesque
in which the girls go through the mazy movements of an Amazonian march with red
lights.
The Columbia club give a progressive euchre
party in the rooms to-morrow night, ladies' night. Playing will begin promptly
at 8 o'clock and will close at
10:30
o'clock.
City
Band Minstrel Notes.
Rehearsals are called at the [Cortland]
Opera House nearly every night this week, and preparations are nearly completed
for the big minstrel show, which will take place Monday and Tuesday evenings,
Dec. 11 and 12. The special scenery for the afterpiece has arrived and effects
for the first part setting are nearly completed.
Enough tickets are already sold to assure the
boys a large house.
Our local bill board director, Mr. John
Murphy, is at work decorating the big bill boards about the town.
New costumes, chair covers, drapings, etc.,
are being made by the ladies, who have generously donated their services.
One of our Cortland merchants has purchased
fifteen tickets for the big minstrels and others have bought nearly as many.
Messrs. Lawrence Dillon and John Fitzgerald
do a song and dance which will be one of the most amusing specialties of the
evening. The song "The Ruben,"
was written by Mr. Harry Dillon and he with his brother, John Dillon,
have made great hits with it at Tony Pastor's and Koster & Bials, New
York, and Shea and Shen's at Buffalo. The buzzard dance was arranged by Mr.
Lawrence Dillon and is one of the most amusing of the evening.
BREVITIES.
—A special street car will return to Cortland
after the Helen Russell variety show at Homer to-morrow evening.
—The K. of P. lodge hold a meeting in their
rooms this evening for the nomination of officers for the ensuing year.
—A donation will be held in the Elm Stump
church Thursday evening, Dec. 14, for the benefit of Rev. Wm. Warner. All are
cordially invited.
—The Presbyterian church and society of
Solon will give a donation party to their pastor, Rev. George Macdonald, on
Friday evening, Dec. 15 at the church.
—There will be a social at the Baptist Memorial
chapel, Friday, Dec. 8, afternoon and evening. Useful and ornamental articles
will be on exhibition and for sale. Supper ten cents.
—The Ladies' Missionary meeting will be held
at the Congregational church parlors from 2 to 3 P. M. to-morrow; the social
tea will be held from 5 to 7 o'clock. All are most cordially invited.
—Willard hospital farm consists of over 700
acres, on which are 56 horses and mules, 130 cows, and many young cattle. The
farm is the largest and best cultivated of any in all central New York.—Ithaca Journal.
—A regular meeting of the Cortland Wheel
club will be held in their rooms this evening. The annual election of officers
will be held, and as it will be an important meeting, every member should make
a special effort to attend.
—The regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will
be held in the rooms, (over Collins' store) Saturday, Dec. 9, at 2:30 P. M. Consecration
service from 2:30 to 3. The regular meeting will be one of great interest and a
large attendance is desired. All ladies are cordially invited.
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