Saturday, December 30, 2017

FREED FROM ALL BONDS



Frederick Douglass.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, February 21, 1895.

FREED FROM ALL BONDS.
Fred Douglass, the Ex-Slave, Is Dead.
DEATH GAVE NO WARNING SIGN.
The Aged Freedman Seized With Sudden Illness While Conversing With His
Wife and Expires In a Few Moments. Sketch of the Dead Man's Career From
Slavery to High Social and Political Position.
   WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—Frederick Douglass, the noted freedman, orator and diplomat, died a few minutes before 7 o'clock last night at his residence in Anacostia, a suburb of this city, of heart failure. His death was entirely unexpected, as he had been enjoying the best of health. During the afternoon he attended the convention of the Women of the United States, now in progress in this city, and chatted with Miss Susan B. Anthony and others of the leading members with whom he had been on intimate terms for many years.
   When he returned home he said nothing of any feeling of illness, though he appeared to be a little exhausted from the climb up the steep flights of steps leading from the street to the house, which is on a high terrace. He sat down and chatted with his wife about the women at the convention, telling of various things that had been said and done.
   Suddenly he gasped, clapped his hand to his heart and fell back unconscious. A doctor was hastily summoned and arrived within a very few moments, but his efforts to revive Mr. Douglass were hopeless from the first. Within 20 minutes after the attack the faint motion of the heart ceased entirely, and the great ex-slave statesman was dead.
   Mr. Douglass leaves two sons and a daughter, the children of his first wife. His second wife, who is a white woman, survives him.
   The story of his second marriage was a romantic one. Miss Helen Pitts, whom he married, was a New England woman of middle age, a clerk in the office of the recorder of deeds in the District of Columbia when Mr. Douglass was appointed to that office. She was also a member of a literary society to which he belonged.
   They were thrown much together and finally became engaged. Her relatives opposed the match bitterly on account of his color, but finally yielded to force of circumstances.
   Some of them have for some time been living at the Douglass home on Anacostia Heights.
   Frederick Douglass was born near Easton, Talbot county, Maryland, in February, 1817. His mother was a negro slave and his father a white man. At the age of 10 he was sent to Baltimore where he learned to read and write. His master allowed him to hire his own time for $3 a week and he was employed in a shipyard.
   In September, 1838, he fled from Baltimore and made his way to New York. Hence he went to New Bedford, Mass., where he married and lived for two or three years, supporting himself by day labor on the wharves and in various workshops. While there he changed his name to Douglass. He had previously been called Lloyd, from the name of his old master. He was aided in his efforts for self-education by William Lloyd Garrison.
   In the summer of 1841 he attended an antislavery convention at Nantucket and made a speech which was so well received that he was offered the agency of the Massachusetts Antislavery society.
   In this capacity he travelled and lectured through the New England states for four years. Large audiences were attracted by his graphic descriptions of slavery and his eloquent appeals. At this time he published his first book, entitled, "Narrative of My Experience In Slavery."
   In 1845 he went to Europe and lectured on slavery to enthusiastic audiences in nearly all of the large towns of Great Britain. In 1846 his friends in England raised a purse of $750 to purchase his freedom in due form of law.
   He remained two years in Great Britain and in 1847 began at Rochester, N. Y., the publication of Frederick Douglass' Paper, whose title was afterwards changed to The North Star. In 1856 he published "My Bondage and My Freedom."
   In 1859 the John Brown riots took place in Virginia. He was supposed to be implicated in these, and Governor Wise of Virginia made requisition for his arrest upon the governor of Michigan, in which state he then was. To avoid difficulty Mr. Douglass went to England, where he remained for six or eight months. He then returned to Rochester and continued the publication of his paper.
   When the civil war began in 1861 he urged upon President Lincoln the employment of colored troops and the issuance of a proclamation of emancipation. In 1863, when it was at last decided to employ such troops, he gave his assistance in enlisting men for such regiments, especially in the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Massachusetts.
   After the abolition of slavery he discontinued the publication of his paper and applied himself to the preparation and delivery of lyceum lectures.
   In September, 1870, be became editor of The New National Era in Washington. This was afterwards continued by his sons, Lewis and Frederick.
   In 1871 he was appointed assistant secretary to the commission to San Domingo. On his return President Grant appointed him one of the territorial council for the District of Columbia.
   In 1872 he was elected presidential elector at large for the state of New York and was appointed to carry the electoral vote of the state to Washington.
   In 1876 he was appointed United States Marshal for the District of Columbia. After this he became recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, from which office he was removed by President Cleveland in 1886.
   In the autumn of that year he revisited England to inform the friends whom he had made while a fugitive slave of the progress of the African race in the United States.
   After his return to the United States he was appointed minister to Hayti by President Harrison in 1889. He was sent to Hayti in a United States man-of-war. He arrived in Hayti on Oct. 8, 1889, just as the country was emerging from one of the most exciting revolutions that it had witnessed for years.
   The government existing upon his arrival was simply provisional and even after the new president took office, there was some delay in the arrival and presentation of his credentials.
   These circumstances gave rise in the United States to persistent rumors that the Haytian government had refused to receive Mr. Douglass on account of his color. This was authoritatively denied, however, and Mr. Douglass was finally received.
   The Haytian ministry was the last position in the gift of the United States held by Mr. Douglass.
   In 1892, Hayti made an appropriation of money for the Columbian exposition at Chicago and appointed Mr. Douglass the senior of her two commissioners to the exposition.
   Since the close of the exposition Mr. Douglass has lived quietly in Washington without engaging in any special business. His wealth is variously estimated at from $100,000 to $200,000.

FOREIGN EVENTS.
Doings of the Day In Various Lands Beyond the Waters.
   YOKOHAMA, Feb. 21.—The bill which it was announced yesterday the government would submit to parliament, asking for a fresh appropriation on account of the war with China, was presented to the house. The amount asked for is 100,000,000 yen.
   If this sum should be voted by parliament it would make the total amount already appropriated 250,000,000 yen.
   It is officially announced that the entire Japanese fleet entered the harbor of Wei Hai Wei on Sunday. The forts, the torpedo boats, the garrison and 10 warships have been handed over to the Japanese.
   After their surrender, the warship Kwang Chi was disarmed by the Japanese and tendered to the Chinese for the conveyance to Chefoo of the body of Admiral Ting, the Chinese naval commander, who committed suicide when he found that the surrender of Wei Hal Wei was inevitable.

THE WOMAN'S PAPER.
TO-MORROW IS THE EVENTFUL DAY OP PUBLICATION.
Everything Points to a Great Success—Furnish News to the Woman Reporters To-morrow.
   To-morrow is the eventful day when the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. are to publish the sixteen-page edition of the Cortland daily STANDARD. They have worked hard and faithfully and success seems about to crown their efforts. The copy is all in, except the local and telegraphic news of the day. The editor-in-chief, Mrs. C. C. Darby, who has worked steadily and constantly from the beginning, has taken time by the forelock and has her editorial work all done. And fortunate it is, for it appears true that even editors are not proof against attacks of the grip. To-day she is confined to her bed with this uncomfortable epidemic and has the unpleasant thought that she cannot be on hand to-morrow and see the first copy of the woman's paper fall from the press. She can, however, have the consolation of knowing that she is not alone in her editorial trouble and that the editor-in-chief of The STANDARD (as published on other days) is similarly afflicted in another part of the town. But so well has she done her work that the paper will appear just as expected and just as she had arranged, under the direction of the efficient managing editor, Mrs. J. W. Keese.
   To-morrow the woman reporters will cover the news of the village and everyone who has an "item" or can find one will confer a favor by remembering it and giving it to them as they appear at the various sources of news.
   The edition will be 7,000 copies and over 6,000 of these are already spoken and paid for.
   The one thing unfavorable to The STANDARD about this woman's edition is that the woman editors will to-morrow set the pace so brisk that it will hereafter put the regular staff to shame in its efforts to keep up with them.

CITIZENS' MEETING.
Resolutions Looking Toward the Enforcement of Law.
   There was a meeting of citizens of Cortland in the Y. M. C. A. parlor yesterday afternoon held to consider the best means of securing an enforcement of the law. Prof D. L. Bardwell was chairman and B. T. Wright secretary. There was a large attendance. Speeches were made by a number of gentlemen. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
   WHEREAS, It is of the highest importance to the welfare of this community that the illegal sale of intoxicating drinks should be suppressed and the prevailing immorality and drunkenness should be abated, and
   WHEREAS, About two years ago a determined but unsuccessful attempt to enforce the law was made by private citizens, in which they expended a large amount of money and by which they suffered personal loss and great inconvenience unjust to require of private individuals, and
   WHEREAS, The village charter declares it shall be the duty of the president "to see that the laws of the state, applicable to this village * * * * are faithfully and impartially executed, to institute prosecutions in the corporate name for violations thereof;" and
   WHEREAS, It is clear that the only just, proper and certain way to attain the result desired would be to secure a village administration in full sympathy with this object and definitely pledged to use every lawful and reasonable effort to secure it; and
    WHEREAS, A committee of well-known and highly esteemed citizens waited upon the Republican league of Cortland and in the most respectful and urgent way attempted to secure from them, as the leaders of the dominant party in the village, assurances that they would use their influence to secure the nomination of Republican candidates for president and trustees at the approaching charter election who would be expected, if elected, to enforce the excise laws; and
   WHEREAS, The Republican league definitely and positively refused to give any such assurances; and
   WHEREAS, There is no Democratic organization in the village before whom a similar request could be made, therefore
   Resolved, That a call is hereby made for the people of Cortland irrespective of party affiliations to assemble in convention, at a time and place to be hereafter fixed to take the proper and legal course for putting in nomination a citizens' ticket of men who shall be thoroughly identified with all the business interests of the community, fully competent to carry forward the important improvements now in progress and who, if elected, will impartially enforce the law, said ticket to be voted on at the village election to be held March 12, 1895.


BREVITIES.
   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet at Mrs. J. O. Reid's, 128 Main-st., Monday evening, Feb. 25.
   —The King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 54 N. Main-st., Friday, Feb. 22, at 2:30 P. M.
   —Last evening Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Doubleday entertained a number of their friends at an elaborate 6 o'clock tea, after which the evening was spent in a pleasant social way.
   —The postoffice will be open to-morrow, Washington's birthday, from 7 to 10 A. M. and from 5:30 to 7 P. M. The carriers will make one complete delivery in the morning and the evening the mail will close at 7 o'clock.
   —A military social will be held in Hulbert's hall to-morrow afternoon and evening. Supper will be served from 5:30 to 8 o'clock. The children's program will begin at 3 o'clock and a beautiful drill will be given by the little girls at 4 o'clock.
   —The Salvation Army will open their work in Cortland Saturday evening in Collins' hall at 31 1/2 Main-st., the former headquarters of the W. C. T. U. Adj. J. C. Smith of Syracuse, Capt. George Humphreys and wife and Cadet Myrtle Hayes assisted by a few others will be present.
   —Mahan's twenty-first music festival will be held at the Cortland Opera House June 3 to 7 inclusive. Dr. H. R. Palmer will conduct, and some of the world's greatest artists will assist at the concerts, of which full particulars will be announced, when all the engagements are completed.
   —The breaking of one of the large belts at the electric light station on Elm-st. about half past 10 o'clock last night was the cause of the arc lights in the central part of the town going out earlier than usual. One end of the broken belt struck a window in the east side of the building and demolished nearly every pane of glass, No further damage was done.
   —All the engines and nearly all the machinery for running the electric lights have been removed from the electric light station on Elm-st. to the power house. The Homer circuit, the arc lights in the north part of Cortland and the incandescent lights are now run from the central station. The remaining machinery will be removed during the next few days.
   —George C. Hubbard's gray horse got tired of waiting this morning while Mr. Hubbard was in the postoffice and started down Tompkins-st. at a rapid rate. The covered cutter bounded around in a lively manner. Near the corner of Reynolds-ave. Cassius Westgate rushed out from the walk and stopped the animal. No damage of any kind was done.

CORTLAND COUNTY NEWS.
INTERESTING FACTS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Things Seen and Heard In Villages and Hamlets About Us, and Items From All Over the County.
Virgil.
   VIRGIL, Feb 19. —Died, at the home of her son-in-law in Virgil, N. Y., Feb. 6, 1895, Mrs. Catherine Reese Van Hoesen, widow of the late Peter Van Hoesen, aged 88 years, 9 months, 19 days. Mrs. Van Hoesen was born in the year 1806, was the daughter of Abraham and Jane Collier Spore of Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N. Y., being the sixth child of eleven children.
   In the year 1825, she married Jacob Reese of Tribes Hill, N. Y. At the age of 21 she united with the Dutch Reformed church of Tribes Hill, and was a member of this church eight years. In the year 1839 her husband removed to Syracuse, N. Y., after which she united with the First Ward Presbyterian church of Salina of which she was an exemplary member up to the time of her death. She was the mother of three children, two of whom survive her: Mrs. David Shults of Virgil, N. Y., and Abraham Reese of Syracuse, N. Y. The funeral services were held in Oakwood chapel, at Syracuse, N. Y. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Fawnstock, pastor of the First Ward Presbyterian church of Syracuse, N. Y. In a brief acquaintance with
Mrs. Van Hoesen we found her a woman of much more than average intelligence retaining her faculties in a marked degree.
   The annual meeting of the patrons of the Virgil spring cheese factory will be held at Crain's hall on Saturday of this week at 1 o'clock P. M. A special invitation is extended to all dairymen.
   Quarterly meeting at the M. E. church last Friday evening. Presiding Elder Blakeslee preached an excellent sermon and held quarterly conference.
   Rev. Mr. Reeves baptized Mrs. C. V. Rease and Mrs. Seely Smith at the M. E. church Sunday morning, both uniting with the class.
   Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lewis of Herkimer county, Feb. 1, a son. Mrs. Lewis will be remembered as Mrs. Jerome B. Rease.
   Mr. Allan Smith has sold his farm to Mr. Devillo Verreau.
   Mr. Dudley Bays will set up housekeeping on his place on the state road.
   Mrs. Pearl Sprague Green who has been very sick at Syracuse has recovered sufficiently to be able to be brought to her home on the A. D. Rease place.
   Mr. George Seamans will move into Mrs. Myron Ballou's farm house and work Mr. J. B. Hutchings' farm.
   Mr. and Mrs. Baum of Dryden, Mr. and Mrs. Seveny and daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Hogg of Binghamton were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. P. Dann last week.
   The sick list as reported last week are all doing well with addition of Mr. Jay Ballou, Mrs. Geo. Dearman, Mrs. Frank Davis, a little child of Mr. Duvinnie and a little child of Mr. Marvin.
   Mrs. Byron Sherman is very dangerously ill
   Mrs. Harvey Yager is not able to be around.
   Mr. Martin Dann, who has been sick for a long time, attended church on Sunday for the first [sic].
   Thursday evening, Feb. 14, proved a very enjoyable one for the younger element of our village, it being the occasion of a surprise given by Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Stillman in honor of their two sons, Edward G. and Fred E. Mr. Stillman furnished means to convey the children from the village to his house and the short ride through the snow drifts was thoroughly enjoyed by the young people. An excellent supper was served at about 9:30 and after the tables were removed the young people were given control of the spacious rooms. For over two hours they were busily engaged in all games in which children delight. Then the sleigh was at the door, the guests were loaded in and driven to their respective homes. Those present were Misses Frances Tyler, Anna Barnes, Grace Wilcox, Pearl Rounds, Maud Reas, Maud Overton, Messrs. Orris Winslow, Neil Price, Leo Tyler, Fred Reas, Floyd Reas, Arch Stewart and Rannie Muncey.
   Fred E. Boyce is visiting is his aunt, Mrs. D. E. Call, of Cortland.
   At the dance at the hall on Thursday evening sixty-five numbers were sold. Chrisman & Lang's orchestra furnished excellent music and everything passed off very pleasantly.

Truxton.
   TRUXTON, Feb. 20.— Town meeting passed off very quietly. A very high vote was polled. The entire Democrat ticket was elected by small majorities with the exception of Mr. Wm. Youngs, Rep., who was tied for the office of assessor with Wm. Miller, Dem. Chas. W. Beattie, Rep., was elected excise commissioner and Daniel Twentyman, Rep., constable.
   We had the pleasure one day last week of visiting the Truxton furniture factory, one of the largest manufacturing establishments in Cortland county. Connected with it is one of the finest sawmills in the state, which has been running ever since the factory was started and between 8,000 and 9,000 feet are sawed every day. The yard is full of logs and they will be kept busy for some time. Mr. Luther Stanton is head sawyer. In the furniture department everything works like clock work. Mr. A. G. Kenney is the superintendent. He is a fine fellow and a worker and nothing can fail to work all right where he is. The factory is run by two 40-horse power engines and a 100-horse power boiler. Mr. Fred Schellinger is the engineer. About 20 hands are employed in the factory. Large orders are received every day.
   Miss Julia Baldwin leaves to-morrow morning for Lincklaen where she will be the pleasant guest of her cousin.
   Rev. James Fish of Marathon is in town assisting in the revival meetings that are being held.
   CRAZY PAT.

Elm Stump.
   ELM STUMP, Feb. 20.—Quarterly meeting services were held last Saturday and Sunday at this church. Presiding Elder Wellington was present and administered the sacrament.
   Mrs. George Dearman is very sick. Dr. Bruce of Virgil is in attendance.
   Mr. and Mrs. Dolph Skinner visited her parents at Slaterville last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
   Mr. Marvin Hulslander of Slaterville has been the guest of his sister, Mrs. Dolph Skinner, for a couple of weeks.
   Mrs. Frank Gallagher who has been quite sick is reported better.
   Mr. Charles Sherman of Vesper is a guest of his brother, Mr. George Sherman.
   Mrs. Lovina Spencer is moving her household effects to Groton to-day.
 

Friday, December 29, 2017

A PERFECT STORM



Joe Bakewell.

A PERFECT STORM

Over the last twenty years, or more, a system of legal? bribery has engulfed our nation’s capital, dislodging our democracy. As things stand, our legislature and administration are for sale to the highest bidders. Once elected, our politicians get back to work raising more funds with which to purchase committee assignments, their reelection, and a lush retirement.

Time left over from fundraising is primarily devoted to demonizing the opposing party’s politicians, using media that cooperate for their own benefit. The media do this by identifying their target audience and selecting ‘content’ (mostly supplied by politicians) that will appeal to the emotions of their target audience. The selected ‘content’ is carefully massaged (spun) for maximum impact. Media salaries depend of the degree to which they can hook, and retain, their audience. Years ago, the media expression was “If it bleeds, it leads.” Now, it’s “If it looks bad, make it worse.”

The audiences (the public and the voters) are a mixed bag. Some are motivated by a desire to be informed. Others thrive on the gossipy nature of what passes for news and the combative nature of modern politics. In either case, they tune in to, or read, their favorite sources for today’s news. Unfortunately, the media never mention the issues that should be our primary concern—the issues that have brought our country to its current sad condition.

We’re broke. We can’t pay for our current spending except by going deeper into debt, and our future obligations will keep adding debt until we hit some kind of major crisis.

Our political leaders are corrupt. They’re totally focused on raising money for their own personal power and wealth.

Our media pursue their own agenda. Their game plans don’t include any serious analysis of our fundamental problems.

Our citizenry, for a number of reasons including technology, have shortened attention spans. Our media are well aware of this.

Our voters are divided. Some have always voted for one party and will continue to do so. Some will vote their paycheck. Others have at least an awareness of the big problems but see no way to solve them, so they vote for ‘the lesser of two evils’, thinking that this will at least slow down the bad guys.

Politicians elected by any combination of the foregoing will inevitably conclude that the ‘SYSTEM’ of special interest money is working for them. Our voters are, unwittingly, voting to keep the ‘SYSTEM’ in place. Few realize the consequences directly attributable to this SYSTEM.

A good portion of our debt can be attributed to the SYSTEM. We spend 2 ½ times the average for developed countries (almost 20% of GDP) for poor health. We lead the world in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and do poorly in other categories. And we don’t have universal health insurance.

Our tax code is loaded with special interest loopholes (a direct payoff for bribes).

I could go on and on, connecting every major problem to the SYSTEM because, even if the SYSTEM is not the direct cause, it blocks a solution. It seems that the candidates and the parties are inconsequential in the harm they do compared to the SYSTEM.

Wouldn’t it be nice if instead of voting for ‘the lesser of two evils’ you could vote directly against the ‘SYSTEM’, use your ballot to indicate your desire for a return to democracy?

Joe Bakewell
https://joebakewell.wordpress.com/ 

Thursday, December 28, 2017

TOWN MEETING AND LAST CALL ON SNOW




Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 20, 1895.

TOWN MEETING.
   Town meeting passed off quietly in Cortlandville yesterday. The vote was smaller than that of last year by some five hundred ballots, but this was perhaps accounted for by the fact that no supervisor was elected this year and that the interest in the election of the other officials was not sufficient to draw out the entire vote of the town. The Republican candidates were all elected, and the plurality on the head of ticket was 495.
   The resolution for a division of the town into two election districts for town meeting was carried by a vote of 1,228 to 157. This will in the future obviate the difficulty which has existed for many years of getting in the entire vote of this large town in one day. On several different years it has been voted to continue town meeting a second day. The matter was brought up at the business meeting yesterday at noon, and an opportunity for a motion to that effect was given. None, however, was made and so when the time for closing the polls came, the town meeting was at an end. Just prior to the closing of the polls a motion was made to continue the town meeting a second day, but the justices of peace, who were in charge of the election were unanimously of the opinion that no such motion could be entertained at that time, that it would be illegal to vote up on this except at the regular business meeting which is every year held at the stated time—noon.
   Several other prominent lawyers of Cortland expressed a similar opinion. One lawyer is quoted as saying that in his opinion the presenting of the matter at the business meeting and the giving of the opportunity for an expression upon it at that time and the neglect to take any action upon it then was equivalent to having taken adverse action upon the subject.
   When the time for closing the polls came every vote was taken in which was actually presented, but it is known that a large number of voters came and looked at the long line of men extending down the stairs, each awaiting his turn, and then went away without voting, not having the time to spare to wait for a chance to get to the polls. However, this is a difficulty which will never occur again under the new division.
   The Memorial day appropriation was carried by a vote of 1042 to 289.
   It is a cause for gratification that the voters again decided against the granting of licenses. The vote was 878 for Prof. Banta [Prohibition] and 711 for Mr. Phillips [Republican]. How much satisfaction can be derived from this, however, will depend upon how well the law is enforced. Many citizens who prefer to see a restriction of the liquor traffic rather than an open bar this year voted again for no-license with the idea of giving it the advantage of the fullest trial. It can hardly be expected though that the people will continue to vote for no-license if liquor is sold freely. The three members of the excise board are now all opposed to the granting of licences and are prepared to work in perfect harmony. The result of their efforts will be looked forward to with interest. Homer also went no-licence and several other towns which have some times granted licences also made a similar decision.

LAST CALL ON "SNOW."
Another Communication From the Street Commissioner.
   (We give space to-day to the street commissioner to reply to "Citizen," but we must decline to continue the controversy further over the snow question.—STANDARD Editor.)
   To the Editor of the Standard:
   Sir,—It begins to look as though that "Mountain of snow" stands a poor chance of dying a natural death; first it was to cause a flood. People below the grade built rafts and boats and became reconciled to their fate. Now they have another terror sprung upon them. "Citizen" predicts that the mountain will breed a pestilence. What next?
   Our "heroic" disposition immediately set us to work in the interests of our people to guard against danger, we found our apothecaries had an ample supply of microbe killer (one gallon jug $2 or for unhealthy neighborhoods three jugs for $5). If the innocent snow bank should breed anything in the shape of an epidemic and could make its special mission the attack of chronic kickers, it would confer one of the greatest blessings on this community it has had for years.
   During a residence of over 26 years in Cortland this is the first instance that we have known of the snow being carted off Main-st. The supposition is that in former years it melted and ran off in the gutters. Now the only way that he can account for our longevity in such unhealthy surroundings is that our winter boots were in such condition in the spring that we could not go out in the wet.
   We have unfortunately had this burden thrust upon us (we begin to think it was done with malice and aforethought) and unless some "hero" comes to the rescue and relieves us from our perilous position we will be compelled to inhale the poisonous vapors from that mountain of snow through the balmy spring. The board of health or the trustees should at once forbid the fall of any more snow within the limits of the village, for if it falls it is sure to melt and when it melts it might give some one a throat difficulty. "Eminent physicians" claim melting snow will cause throat difficulties.
   We had the best of motives in placing the snow on Court-st. We expected to see it disappear as rapidly as did the gold reserve from Uncle Sam's treasury and still think it will when old Sol gets a fair chance at it. We cannot ask the further indulgence of either the press or public on this insignificant topic which in the end only amounts to a few barrels of water.
   A. H. D. [A. H. Decker]
   Cortland, Feb. 20, 1895.

A NARROW ESCAPE.
A Match Head Started a Fire which was Extinguished.
   When Mrs. C. S. Strowbridge of 16 Monroe Heights came down stairs on Monday morning she found her dinningroom table in flames and the table cloth very much of a wreck. It took but a few minutes to whip it out. The cause of the fire was first a mystery, but later it was concluded that it proceeded from the broken head of a parlor match. Mr. Strowbridge had risen earlier and after eating his breakfast had gone to Homer where he is engaged through the day at the wire mills. He struck a match in the dining room that morning and the head broke off. Without looking for the missing head he used another match. It is thought that the match was burning as the head flew off and that it is the cause of the fire. This experience is frequently happening to many people.
   An insurance agent in town says he has known of four such little fires here within a month, all of which have been extinguished without giving any alarm. Had this fire got a little larger start though, the results might have been serious.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.
Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.
   The temperance class under the leadership of Mrs. Marshall Briggs will meet at the home of Mrs. Briggs on South Main-st. this evening.
   The annual meeting of the Glenwood cemetery association was held at the Homer National bank this afternoon. The chief object of the meeting was to elect four trustees in place of G. D. Daniels, C. A. Ford, A. H. Bennett and Thomas Knobel whose terms of office have expired.
   The remains of Mrs. Catherine Bramer, who died last Saturday were forwarded from this village to Syracuse this morning by Briggs Bros. The remains will be interred at Oakwood cemetery.
   What might have proved a very serious and fatal accident occurred near the D., L. & W. depot in this village this morning. Michael Galvin aged 11 years and his brother were picking up coal by the railroad track when the vestibule express train from the north rounded the curve at Clinton-st. There was a coal train standing on the northbound track and just beyond the southbound track little Michael was standing. It is probable that the noise of escaping steam from the engine standing but a few feet away was so great that he did not hear the express train approaching. At any rate it struck him and tossed him into the snow bank in a jiffy. He was picked up insensible by the crew of the coal train and was soon surrounded by a crowd of men and boys. Dr. F. H. Green, who happened to be at the station at the time of the accident, made a hasty examination of the lad's injuries, but failed to find any broken bones. He received a slight scalp wound, but aside from loss of wind his injuries are not thought to be serious. But he had a narrow escape from instant death.
   General satisfaction is expressed at the result of yesterday's town meeting. It is thought that the cause of the large no-license majority may be attributed to the growing feeling of disgust at liquor business. It was reported last evening that one man, for whom the license men drove six miles to bring to the polls, voted for no-license when he reached the polling place and he had to walk home in consequence but the truthfulness of the story was not vouched for.



CONSIDERABLE BUSINESS.
By the Board of Trustees Monday Evening— Polling Places.
   At the meeting of the board of trustees Monday night considerable business was transacted. The following sums have been paid to the village treasurer during the current year:
   Fees, dues, etc., collected by police justice or audited by town board or board of supervisors, $1,255 65
   Back taxes, 48.87
   Licenses, street sales, etc. collected by clerk, 80.50
   Gravel and dirt sold and rent of gravel bank house, 120.68
   Collected by president from Cortland and Homer Traction Co., 660.95
   Poll tax collected, 10.00
   Gravel sold, 65.50
   Zinc sold by Superintendent Bickford, 10.16
   Old Iron sold from engine house, 8.75
   Rebate on insurance, 5.40
   The sums of $120.68 gravel sold, $660.95 from the Traction company, $65.50 and $10 amounting to $857.13 was credited to the highway fund.
   The sum of $48.87 back taxes, and $80.50 for licenses, amounting to $129.37, were credited to the contingent fund.
   To the fire department fund was credited the sums of $5.40, $2.75 and $10.16, amounting to $18.30.
   The $1,255.65 fines collected was credited to the salary fund.
   The following polling places were selected by the board for the annual village election to be held March 12:
   First ward—The south store of the Squires block, west side South Main-st., formerly occupied by A. B. Frazier for a meat market.
   Second ward—Fireman's hall, Main-st.
   Third ward—The office and store of Harrison Wells on Clinton-ave.
   Fourth ward—Nottingham's shop on South Main-st.
   The meeting was then adjourned till Feb. 21.

BREVITIES.
   —One drunk in police court this morning. Three dollars or three days.
   —The Fortnightly club met this afternoon with Mrs. W. R. Cole, 6 Argyle Place.
   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, worked the second degree on one candidate last evening.
   —The person who exchanged hats at the Young People's social at the Presbyterian church last evening can find trace of the same by calling at the STANDARD Office.
   —To-night is Ladies' night at the Tioughnioga club. No special program has been prepared, but cards are in order and it is likely that there will be the informal generally good time which the ladies have so often enjoyed there upon these occasions.
   —Pages nine to sixteen of the woman's paper to be issued on Friday were printed this morning. The edition will be seven thousand copies. The whole sixteen pages will be full of valuable reading and advertising matter. It is safe to say that every line of it will be read with the greatest care. If there is a single business man in town who is not represented there with an advertisement, here is a great opportunity to tell the public about his business and he may be sure that his words will be read.

Wire Drawers' Ball.
   A ball will be held Friday evening, Feb. 22, by the Fine Wire Drawers' Social and Beneficial society in Taylor hall. The following committers have the matter in charge:
   Arrangements—Messrs. T. A. Jenkins, A. J. Lucy, T. Connel, J. Harriott, J. Luther and H. Holcomb.
   Reception—B. H. McNiff, S . Job, E. H. Stockwell, R. Lee, J. Porter, W. Hookway, T. Ashworth, D. Lucy and A. M. Duffy.
   Floor—A. J. Lucy, Charles Roethig, J. Harriott, J. D. Hyde, M. W. Edwards and H , Holcomb.
   The following are the permanent officers of the association:
   President—M. W. Edwards.
   Vice-President T. A. Jenkins.
   Financial Secretary—D. N. Lucy.
   Corresponding Secretary—J. Summers.
   Treasurer—Harry Swan.
   Trustees—A. J. Lucy, S. Summers and A. G. Klotten.

SNOW IN GEORGIA.
Part of a Letter From J. C. Puder at Savannah.
   To the Editor of the Standard:
   My son-in-law, J. C. Puder, a business man of Savannah, Ga., writes me as follows: "I must write you of the grand treat we are having. When we awoke this morning, (Feb. 15), the ground was white with snow four inches deep. It snowed all last night. Oh my! What a grand sight to behold. Our city is all broken up over it, business generally suspended, everybody out doors snowballing. It is almost impossible to get through the city without the crowds covering you with snow. I had to make up a lot of snowballs and carry them in the bottom of my buggy to defend myself with as I came through the streets to dinner. Some business men have taken the wheels off their buggies and converted them into sleighs. My little daughter Eleanor thinks that her grandpa sent the snow from Cortland and she is delighted."
   He wrote me that a few winters ago they had just enough snow to make snowballs and that business men went out and snowballed each other, and pelted the police and they had a jolly good time all around. It is so seldom that they ever see snow down there it really is a beautiful and rare sight and everybody enjoys it to the utmost for it only lasts a few hours.
   H. M. K.