Monday, December 18, 2017

A BIG EXODUS AND A BRILLIANT SOCIAL EVENT




Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, February 9, 1895.

A BIG EXODUS.
The Scheme of "Peg" Williams of Georgia to Lead 100,000 Negroes to Mexico.
   The redoubtable "Peg" Williams of Atlanta, he of the negro exodus fame, has created a small sized sensation in Texas and Mexico by announcing that he would export 100,000 negroes from the southern states to Mexico during this winter. The above information was conveyed to Atlanta last night in a press dispatch, dated at San Antonio, Tex., which also stated that "Peg" had signed a contract on Saturday to furnish a wealthy planting company in Mapiamia, Mexico, 800 laborers, to be obtained from Georgia.
   "Peg" Williams is one of the best known railroad men in Georgia, and he has been instrumental in the exportation of more worthy and worthless negroes from this state than any other half dozen men in it. He is known, and intimately, by every prospective darky exoduster in the borders of the state, from the Blue Ridge to Liberty, and to say aught against "Peg" in the hearing of any one of them is to lay yourself liable to trouble.
   Did "Peg" mean what he has been telling the people out in Texas? Will he really relieve the south of 100,000 members of its population within a few months and, if so, how will he do it? Will he colonize and march them to the land of the greaser, or will he send them in specials prepaid all the way through?
   "Peg" Williams is known as a hustler, and when he undertakes to do a thing he generally succeeds. If there are 100,000 negroes in the south who want to go to Mexico that have the necessary cash, "Peg" Williams is the man who can carry them. He is resourceful, and if they have the money he can provide transportation for that number and many more.—Atlanta Constitution.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Mrs. Lease's Idea.
   Although Mrs. Lease seems to have retired from politics, she has not retired from political economy. Her book, just published, is called "The Problem of Civilization Solved." It contains more ideas to the page than some books have in their whole length. Lack of ideas was never one of Mrs. Lease's failings. The reader will be inclined to wonder where this woman, a Kansas farmer's wife for many years, out on the prairies, afar from school or library, got all the information that is apparent in her attempt to solve the problem of civilization. Whether she is right or wrong in her deductions from the facts of history, the facts certainly have been sought and marshaled abundantly before her readers.
   According to Mary Elizabeth Lease's lights, the problem of civilization today is chiefly to find a way of thinning out the wretched poor who are crowded together in the great cities, cheated out of light, air, food, education and everything that makes life worth living, existing either as criminals or slaves.
   The trouble with the civilized world, the author says, is overpopulation in a few great centers. Two-thirds of the earth's people live on only one-eleventh of its land acres. The total population of the globe is about 1,500,000,000. Belgium has 600 persons to the square mile, England 500, and even our own New England states have 300.
   At the same time in Africa, in Central and South America there are 10,000,000 square miles of the most fertile, favored land on the globe waiting for the hand of man to cultivate it. The climate is admirable in most of these regions. In all of them it may be made healthful by cultivation and drainage. Thin out, thin out! cries Mary Lease. Send the suffering surplus population of civilization to these favored climes and fertile lands, where life will be happiness, and the poorest can by their own reasonable effort easily enjoy every luxury needed by man. In two words "tropical colonization" is Mrs. Lease's solution for the problem of civilization. Besides this she would have the profits derived from labor saving machinery shared equally by the capitalist, the workman who runs the machines and the purchaser who consumes their product.

◘ A committee of ladies belonging to the Municipal Order league of Chicago are endeavoring to get the city council to make an appropriation to provide free baths in the smoky town. The ladies say, "We hope to show the finance committee that clean bodies lead to clean souls and less need of police." Whether entirely free or not, there ought to be public baths, and excellent ones, in every city of the Union. Poor tenement house people cannot be blamed for being dirty when there is absolutely no place in their poor dwellings where they can take even a sponge bath in privacy.
◘ Captain Rockefellow, a fruit culturist of Colorado, says, "Results show that we can successfully fight all sorts of bugs, How about goldbugs?

STILL SHE BLOWS.
NO PROSPECT OF THE STORM ABATING.
Trains Still Tied Up, No Mails Moving—Traffic Paralyzed. Warmer and That is One Comfort.
   The storm still continues in full violence. Railroads are to-day in worse condition than yesterday. Last night at about midnight the wind went down, the moon shone out and there was a prospect that the blow was over. By 8 o'clock this morning though, the gale was on again. There was a lull from 10 to 12 o'clock, and then it began again worse than ever. Roads leading into town are badly blocked. The snow is as hard as flint and will not be pushed out of the way and it is hard to dig it out.
   The electric road has kept a car running constantly from the E., C. & N. station to the carhouse. The car north of that point was abandoned yesterday and a sleigh omnibus was used, but that had to be pulled off toward night and this morning it was not possible to get a horse through. By steady digging the streets were opened so that the omnibus was resumed this afternoon.
   The D., L & W. R. R. kept the snowplows at work all night. The single track plow worked south of Cortland and the double track plow north of here. One of the crew of the latter plow told a reporter at 10 o'clock this morning that they had been on duty constantly since 6 o'clock last night. They had been running back and forth over the road, but through the Tully flats the snow blew in about as fast as they could throw it out. This plow was then starting for Syracuse which they hoped to reach about noon and they hoped then to be relieved.
   The 6 o'clock train north was an hour and a half late this morning. The 9:58 was nearly on time, but only had two cars. The 8:52 train south was nearly on the schedule, but the vestibule train due at 10 o'clock did not go down until after 12 when it pushed through with two engines. It had been stuck in the banks north of Syracuse.
   The E., C & N. started a snow plow with three engines and two passenger cars from Elmira at 7:46 this morning. The train reached Cortland at 12:13 and stopped here. Another snow plow left Camden early this morning and came twenty miles down to Canastota and stopped. An hour was occupied in the trip. At 1:25 this afternoon the snow plow with three engines and two cars left Canastota for Cortland. It will probably get in before 5 o'clock. It will depend on the weather whether or not it goes on to Elmira and whether a train will leave for Canastota to-night after the other one gets in.

A LONG TRIP.
They Were Snowed in Thirteen Hours at Mount Pocono.
   Mr. I. Whiteson returned last night at 9 o'clock from Philadelphia, from which place he had started at 5 o'clock on Thursday night. At 11:30 on Thursday night the train had reached Mount Pocono and got stuck in the snowbank. The train stayed there until 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The wind was blowing a hurricane and all efforts to reach and extricate the train were in vain. The passengers did not suffer from cold and were able to get a light lunch from the buffet in the sleeping car. At 1 o'clock yesterday a snowplow reached there and at 3 o'clock they got to Scranton and had a square meal. The train reached Cortland at 9 o'clock last night,
   Among Cortland passengers on the train were Mr. Whiteson from Philadelphia and the following from New York: Mrs. C. W. Sanders, Misses Maine and Ethel Sanders, Mr. W. J. Eisom and Miss Jennie Humes and Mrs. H. S. Bliss.

KILLED BY CARS.
Oliver Baum of Marathon Was the Unfortunate.
   Oliver Baum, who lived a half mile south of the D., L. & W. station at Marathon, was found lying dead beside the railroad track this morning. It is supposed that he was struck by a train while walking on the track and was killed.
   Mr. Baum was a man about sixty-five years old and was slightly deaf. He has a son who is a student at Cornell university. The young man was expected home on the 6:57 train last night and at about 5 o'clock Mr. Baum said he guessed he would walk up to the village and do some errands and meet his son and come home with him. As he did not return, Mrs. Baum concluded that her son had not come on that train but would be along on the late express, and that her husband had waited for him. This train is due in Marathon at 11:46, but did not get along last night until nearly 3 o'clock. After a reasonable time had elapsed after the train had passed for the arrival at the house of father and son, and as they did not appear Mrs. Baum became frightened and got a neighbor to start out in search of her husband. His body was found about half way from the house to the station.
   The son did not go home at all last night. It appeared that at about half past 5 o'clock Mr. Baum stopped in to get warm at the house of a friend who lived about half way to the village. He stayed there a few minutes and then started on. His body was found about thirty rods from their house. Coroner W. J. Moore was summoned and will go down on the first train that goes through.

CITY BAND MINSTRELS.
AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT.
To-night's Entertainment Postponed Until Monday on Account of the Weather and an Extra Put in on Tuesday Night.
   The first performance of the Cortland City Band Minstrels was given at the Opera House last evening. The band boys seem to be fated as regards the weather and a worse night for such an entertainment could not have been selected. Notwithstanding the storm a fair sized audience was present to greet the performers when the curtain rose.
   The program opened with a novel and artistic first part entitled "White and Black." Mr. E. B. Cummings took the part of conversationalist in his usual artistic manner, and his "darkies," with Mr. O'Connell and Mr. W. Dillon as end men, kept the audience in excellent humor with their jokes and funny remarks.
   After the introductory overture by the entire company, Mr. J. D. Clark rendered in a very pleasing manner the ballad, "Back Among the Old Folks." This was followed by songs by Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. Malick, and a selection by the Carriage City quartet, consisting of Messrs. F. Lanigan, Jas. Walsh, T. H. Dowd and O. W. Lund. All were obliged to respond to encores.
   Mr. J. Widmer and Mr. J. F. Costello as "Emperors of Mirth and Music" kept the audience convulsed by their performances and jokes. Mr. Widmer is a host in himself and his appearance upon the stage was always a signal for applause. "The Sweetest Story Ever Told" by Mr. Lanigan was well received and he was obliged to respond to an encore as was also Mr. T. H. Dowd in his baritone solo, entitled, "Because I Love Thee So."
   The Fifth-ave. colored swells were represented by Mr. L. Dillon and Mr. J. Fitzgerald and the first part of the program closed with a selection by the Carriage City quartet.
   One of the most original, pleasing and interesting features of the whole entertainment was the work of Messrs. P. T. and R. L. Carpenter and George Murphy. Their solos, topical songs and musical selections were highly amusing, while the song "In This Town," fairly brought down the house. Mr. Malick, "the human serpent," performed some tricks which would puzzle a professional. The dancing by Messrs. J. Sullivan and F. Ketchum, the "knockabout song and dance artists," was a prominent feature of the evening and created no end of amusement.
   "Down in the Orange Grove," arranged by Mr. Lawrence Dillon, gave an opportunity for several artists to display their talents.
   The saxophone solo by Mr. Fred L. Graham was rendered in his usual excellent and artistic manner. The African Demosthenes impersonated by Mr. Jas. F. Costello, followed the presentation of "Down in the Orange Grove," and the entertainment closed with a short and laughable farce, entitled "The Darktown Fire Brigade."
   The entertainment throughout was pleasing and showed careful preparation. Owing to the storm Prof. P. Conway of Ithaca, who had a part on the program, was unable to reach Cortland and his part was necessarily omitted.
   On account of the weather the management has concluded to postpone the entertainment of to-night until next week when two performances will be given on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Feb. 11 and 12. Those who were unable, on account of the storm, to see the entertainment last evening can exchange their tickets at O. F. Wallace of Co. Reserved seat tickets held by persons for to-night will be good Monday night,
   The same chart used for to-night will be used Monday night.

A BRILLIANT SOCIAL EVENT.
Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Wickwire Entertain Nearly Three Hundred Guests.
   The reception by Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Wickwire which occurred last evening, and which was the first event of its kind to take place in their spacious and beautiful brown stone residence on Tompkins-st., had been looked forward to with lively interest by every one who had been honored with an invitation out of the more than four hundred issued, and who expected to be present. A more inauspicious day for such an event than yesterday has never been manufactured by the weather machinery. It would have killed a church sociable, paralyzed a theatrical performance and kept every one but would-be delegates and officeholders away from a political caucus. But in this instance it had so little effect, and the weather clerk was so surprised thereby, that the mercury in thermometers and barometers went up and the weather forecast this morning was decidedly favorable.
   But while wind and snow were doing their best, or worst, a great many invited guests were anxious or inconvenienced. Mrs. C. W. Sanders and daughters Mame and Ethel, who started from New York City at 9 o'clock the previous evening, were on the D., L. & W. train which was snowed in on Pocono mountain and did not reach Cortland until 9 o'clock last evening. Dr. and Mrs. I. D. Warner who had come on from Bridgeport to attend the reception and had driven down to McGrawville were unable to get back to Cortland. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Crane, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. Brockway and Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Murray of Homer got as far toward Cortland as Tisdale's mill, and were there compelled to turn back. And with those living in Cortland even, it became a serious question whether horses and sleighs could get through the drifts between the various residences and the Wickwire mansion. Every covered sleigh and cab in the place was pressed into service, however, and kept running at as rapid a rate as possible, and when the latest guest had arrived the company numbered two hundred and sixty-six.
   The beautiful roses which decorated the various rooms did not arrive till just before the first guests made their appearance, and the last of [Rochester, N. Y.] Caterer Teall's essentials came still later. But everything needed did finally arrive and was beyond criticism, though the day must have been an anxious one for host and hostess.
   Besides the guests from Cortland the following were present from out of town: Mrs. Chas. W. Sanders, Miss Sanders and Miss Ethel Sanders and Mr. J. Maas Schermerhorn of New York City; Mr. and Mrs. C. F. [Lighton] and Mr. J. W. Black of Syracuse; Mrs. Hyde of Buffalo; Miss Katie Henry of Orange, N. J.; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert C. Brown of Boston; Mrs. I. N. Tillinghast of Poughkeepsie; Mrs. Wallace Hose of Little Falls; Mrs. A. H. Bennett and Miss Henry of Homer; and Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Nelson of Truxton.
   The large, elegantly furnished and brilliantly lighted rooms presented one of the most attractive sights ever witnessed in Cortland. The three stories of the house were thrown open to the guests, the ground floor—including the wide and beautiful hall, the receptionroom, diningroom, sittingroom and library—being devoted to the reception of the guests, social intercourse, and refreshments, the first floor above to dressing and card rooms, and the second floor to dancing. Valentine's Harp orchestra of Rochester occupied the middle landing of the grand staircase and furnished delightful music throughout the evening, while Dresser's orchestra of Syracuse stirred the souls and the feet of the dancers.
   The refreshments by Teall were most elaborate and delicious, and all the minor arrangements and accessories of the affair were planned and carried out in excellent taste and to the satisfaction and enjoyment of every one, and the reception throughout was a most brilliant and successful affair.

BREVITIES.
   —Reports from Dr. G. W. Hull to-day are that he is no better, but is rather worse.
   —The prayer-meeting in Good Templars' hall will be omitted Sunday, Feb. 10, on account of the temperance mass-meeting in the Baptist church.
   —Four Normal lady students who live in Homer waited at the D., L. & W. station from 3 to 9 o'clock last night for a train to take them home.
   —On account of the temperance mass-meeting in the Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, there will be no meetings in the Y. M. C. A. rooms.
   —The no-license caucus will be held at Fireman's hall this evening at 7:30 o'clock. All temperance voters and those interested in the enforcement of law are requested to be present.
   —A mass-meeting in the interest of no-license movement will be held at the Baptist church to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Addresses will be made by a number of local speakers. A general invitation is extended to all,
   — A bill was introduced in the assembly yesterday fixing day telegraph rates at fifteen cents for ten words and one-half cent for each word extra; and the night rate at fifteen cents for each twenty words and one-half cent for each word extra.
    —Dr. H. A. Cordo will deliver a discourse to young people in the Baptist church to-morrow evening on "Relation and Duty of Young People to the Temperance Cause." A cordial invitation is given to all young people and to the various temperance organizations.
    —Mail Carrier Theodore Sheeley was out on the first delivery this morning with his horse and got into a drift. The horse got down, the harness was broken and Mr. Sheeley got back to his barn as best he could. He has done the rest of his delivering to-day on foot.
     L. D. Gutches of East Homer was in town several days buying cows, going back Tuesday with a drove of ten head. While here he stopped with his son-in-law, Arthur Rozelle, who is also engaged with him in the stock business. They report cows in this section as scarce and high, the prices paid being about $30 apiece.—Whitney's Point Reporter.
   —The local board of the Normal yesterday ordered out two hacks to carry the lady students home from school. They thought that the day was too dreadful to have them face cold and wind on drifted sidewalks. The primary and intermediate departments were not in session, as the term was just opening and it was impossible to arrange the work for the practice teachers.
   —Six McLean [business] men men came to Cortland yesterday to draw their money from the Second National bank. Most of them left the money undisturbed when they found the bank all right and as the six decided that they must get back to McLean last night and as no trains were running they started at 4 o'clock to go there on foot. They have not since been heard from at this end of the line, but it is a wonder if they did not almost perish on the way.
 

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