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| Buildings at the George Industrial Camp. |
THE BOY'S REPUBLIC.
A school of citizenship for boys has been
established at Freeville, Tompkins county, N.
Y. It is an effort to make idle and unruly lads thrifty and self-respecting
and it is also an effort to settle one problem of the slums. The common belief
is that boys and girls are hardly able to take care of themselves but the
history of the George Industrial Camp would show the contrary. Two hundred and
fifteen boys and eighty-five girls from one of the worst quarters of the East
Side were brought within one week under complete discipline, according to Mr.
William C. Orton, who writes as follows to the New York World:
To a splendid forty-three acre farm commanding
a magnificent view of a beautiful rolling country, Mr. W. R. George has taken
from summer to summer the fresh air children who were too disreputable in
appearance or too incorrigible in behavior to be harbored by any farmer. On
July 5 he took three hundred particularly bad boys and girls to this farm for a
two month's stay. Twenty-three young women and seventeen college men,
volunteers, accompanied them as attendants and teachers.
The morning of July 6 the first and only
Republic of the children, for the children, and by the children was founded.
Within one week the Republic had held its
first election, exactly as a New York
election is conducted, from registry to stump-speaking and booth voting, and
its president, senate, congress, militia, police force and judiciary were put
in working order. From that day the occasions when an attendant had to say one
word in regard to order were rare indeed.
Upon arrival, each child was assigned to a
class, the girls being instructed in sewing, dressmaking, millinery, cooking
and housekeeping; the boys in carpentering, farming, landscape gardening and
hostelry. It was through these classes that the efficient work was done, the
farming being managed entirely by them. No one was compelled to attend, but for
doing so from 10 A. M. to 12 noon each child received at first 50 cents a day.
If they improved they were advanced to 70 cents and 90 cents, being paid in the
cardboard currency adopted by the Government. With this money they paid ten
cents for each meal, ten cents for lodging and three cents a day taxes for
support of paupers. Lack of cash compelled one to live on pauper fare—bread and
water—and sleep in the pauper's cell on straw. But later it was changed and a
bill was introduced by a congressman, the son of paupers in New York, to do
away with this. He said: "We don't want none idle here. If a fellow won't work
let him starve, but no more taxes to support him."
The bill passed and the camp motto
thereafter, "If a man won't work, neither shall he eat," was rigidly
adhered to. Yet at every meal there were those so indolent or improvident that
they had no money, so sat without the dining tent and longed for the food that
never came. If caught begging they were arrested by the ever-vigilant police
and locked up for one day or fined 50 cents.
Their clothes were not mended; they were
given nothing unless they could pay for it; and before three weeks had passed
each child had settled to its level, easily distinguishable by its
appearance—the prosperous and the industrious, those who saw chances and
scooped them and the shiftless, improvident and lazy.
Among the former were two boys who,
approaching Mr. George, offered to hire a barn on the place for $1 a day. They
explained that they intended to start a hotel: and the deal was made. Hiring
carpenters to make windows and repair leaks, whitewashing the interior and
putting in cots separated by sheets hung from the ceiling, they christened it
the Waldorf and at $2 a week soon had a full house. It became the resort of the
rich and the proprietors, clearing $7 a week each, were the Rockefellers of the
camp, never working but having others to do whatsoever they would. Competition
made them pay in the end $7.20 a day for the privilege.
Of course every public officer received a
salary—senators $1.50, congressmen $1.20 and policemen 90 cents a day each—and
they performed their duties with a faithfulness and energy perhaps rare in
public life. If apples were donated they were put up at auction and the successful
bidder retailed them to his fellows. Others went without the camp, and getting
fruit free, undersold the merchants. This emergency brought forth the man, the
McKinley of the camp, who rising in congress one day said, "Mr. Speaker,
the government sells us goods and taking our money, lets other fellows come in
with free goods, so we get stuck with ours. It ain't a square deal and I offer
a bill putting a tax of 25 per cent on all stuff brought in to be sold."
Here was a national question upon which
seventeen speeches were made in the house and nine in the senate, the bill
finally passing. The debates brought out some wonderfully keen fellows and the
weekly elections became very exciting.
The police force and judiciary were among
the most interesting features of this little Republic. Admission to the force
was through a rigid civil service examination and the position was a coveted
one. Thirteen boys from twelve to sixteen years old and two girls (clerks) made
up the force. The penalty for failure to enforce laws or arrest offenders was
dismissal. After three or four had been deprived of their uniforms the others,
no matter how large the offender, arrested him at once.
Altogether eight boys tried to run away.
Four reached New York and wrote back: "Tell Mr. George we liked der place
but didn,t want ter be arrested by kid cops."
Being interested I went to the camp to spend
two days in investigating. I was very skeptical as to the work. I stayed twelve
days and unhesitatingly pronounced it the most practical and successful
philanthropic work I ever investigated or heard of. The scheme sounded Utopian;
it proved wonderfully successful. Let us honor the originator, Mr. George, who
without recompense devotes his life to New York boys, and let those who can
help the society now being formed to carry on this work to [build] the farm and
equip it thoroughly
WILLIAM C. ORTON.
POSTAL
STREET CARS
Made Their
First Trip in New York City This Morning.
NEW YORK, Oct. 1.—The system of street car
postal service was inaugurated in this city to-day, when the two first railway
mail cars started simultaneously from the general postoffice over the Third-ave
cable car road at 5 o'clock this morning. The cars attracted considerable
attention, not only at the initial and terminal points, but along the entire
line.
The working of the new mail cars, or street
postoffices which they really are, was pronounced highly satisfactory by the
officials on board. The cars will run regularly week days and Sundays. A car
will start from each terminal every half hour, running north and south. Letters
can be mailed on board the cars.
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| USS Monterrey. |
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
Do We
Need a Navy?
We certainly do, says Captain A. T. Mahan in
Harper's Magazine. He calls attention to a fact that all Americans do not duly
recognize today, and that is the great changes, geographical and political, that
have taken place in this nation since the beginning of the century. When
Washington was president, the strength of the republic lay largely in its
isolation from the rest of the world. It was our wisest policy to stay at home and
avoid disputes with other nations. Now all that has changed. The borders of the
country have extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific and by the cession of
Louisiana and the acquisition of Texas have extended also around a large portion
of the gulf. This coast must be protected.
At the beginning of the century we had no
foreign commerce to speak of. It had not yet developed. Now much of the living
of our farmers and manufacturers comes from the export of their products. Even
50 years ago we shipped to foreign countries almost no meat, breadstuffs or
machinery, and no petroleum, fruit or dairy products at all. In some dispute,
which, it is to be hoped, never will arise, all this commerce could be wiped
off the earth in a month by a nation with a powerful navy. As it is, even
today, with so fine a beginning of our new navy, England could destroy it all
in a short time.
To defend our far-reaching seaboard and to
protect our commerce, therefore, Captain
Mahan argues that a thoroughly equipped navy is a necessity. But there is
something else. The principle of the Monroe doctrine is believed in by every
American as devoutly as he believes in the creed and confession of his theology.
An American would not be an American indeed who did not accept that doctrine.
It requires that we shall prevent any aggression by European powers on any
portion of America, north or south. It requires, for our own self preservation,
not as a matter of philanthropy, that we shall protect the Central and South
American republics from European powers in case of difficulty. For this a navy
is necessary, and a good one.
Every year our relations with the isthmus
countries and the islands of the Caribbean
sea become closer and more involved, our trade in that region becomes more
important. We must not only have a navy to defend our interests there, but we
must build that Nicaragua canal and own and control it. For this, too, we shall
need a navy, and there is not an American alive who grudges the money to make
and maintain it.
◘ If Spain conquers Cuba, a permanent military
despotism will be set up there, and the fate of that unhappy island will be
something to shudder at. What Spain will do in Cuba may be judged by what Spain
has done in Mexico, in the Spanish American republics and in the fair West
Indies from the date of their earliest discovery. Spain as a conqueror has ever
been a robber and bloodthirsty butcher from the time she slaughtered and
expelled Moors and Jews down to today, when her exactions have been so terrible
as to force Cuba to revolt. This is the reward Cuba gets for not rebelling when
the other Spanish American colonies did. Had she done so, she would now have
been a rich and happy state of the American Union or of Mexico or an
independent republic to herself. What Spain will do to Cuba in case she conquers
her this time ought to be a serious consideration to the United States government
in debating the matter of whether we shall recognize Cuba as a belligerent
power on her own account. The Spanish proclamation already issued of "Death
or deportation to rebels" is monstrous.
◘ It might be well for those interested in
good roads to investigate the French system of road tax. In France all
carriages pay yearly tax, ranging from $9.50 to $19.30, according to the size
of the vehicle. Moreover, not a bicycle can go on the road until the tax on it
has been paid, which amounts to $1.93 a year. Bicyclists in this country would
be glad to pay a dollar a year on every wheel if by that means they might have
roads they could ride over with ease and pleasure. It would not be unreasonable
at all to tax every wheel a dollar a year. Carriages ought to be taxed too, as
they are in France. There are so many of both carriages and bicycles in our
prosperous land that the road fund thus created would be amply sufficient to
make good highways everywhere, with very light taxation of real estate owners.
◘ So long as American citizens may freely
sell gunboats to Spain to whip Cuba, the American government has little to do
to try to stop American citizens from going over to try to help Cuba whip
Spain.
◘ This country is not a civilized one and
never will be so long as White Caps in any part of it are allowed to commit their
brutal outrages and go unpunished. It is time the lawless spirit of rude
frontier settlements was killed out of every foot of the United States.
◘ A new medical authority has arisen which declares
there are no malaria microbes in the blood, and that those who say there are
merely mistake the white corpuscles of the blood for bacteria. Well, we do wish
the doctors would agree on something in the matter of disease germs—something
that is final and certain, that is. We begin to suspect they have got microbes
on the brain, and that the little beasties are quite as much subjective as
objective.
SHOULDER
SPRAINED.
Cyrus
Terpenning Thrown From a Wagon and Injured.
Yesterday morning Mr. Cyrus Terpenning of 10
Halbert-st. started for the residence of Mr. Thomas Park on South hill to
finish some carpenter work on Mr. Park's house. He rode with Mr. Henry Robinson
as far as Mr. Robinson's house and as he started to alight from the wagon the
horses sprang forward quickly throwing him out. He struck on the right shoulder
which was very badly sprained, although it is thought no bones were broken. The
ligaments were torn loose and the injuries prove very painful. Mr. Robinson
brought Mr. Terpenning to Dr. Jewett's office, where the injuries were dressed.
Upon examination it was also found that the left wrist had been sprained.
Scared
by the Cars.
Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning the
team belonging to Mr. Burdette Knapp
became frightened at the electric cars and made a dash for the interior of
Bingham & Miller's store, but were stopped by Mr. Knapp when they reached
the walk. There was no damage done besides the breaking of a few straps to the
harness which was soon repaired.
Four of the Normal teachers are this week
taking part in the exercises of the teachers' institute held at Groton. Dr. F.
J. Cheney returned last night, having occupied a morning period in speaking of "Some
Essentials of a Good Teacher." Prof. D. L. Bardwell is present at the
institute to-day and has three periods assigned him. His theme is "Nature
Study." Tomorrow Prof. J. E. Banta will occupy two periods on civics and
will deliver a lecture in the evening. Mrs. M. L. Eastman will also address the
institute to-morrow upon "Primary Work."
To-morrow night Dr. Cheney leaves for Germantown
to attend an institute at that place on Thursday and will conduct two exercises
in the day session and deliver a lecture in the evening.
—The Y. M. C. A. bookkeeping class meets
to-night at 8 o'clock,
—The STANDARD is indebted to Mr. A. Mahan
for copies of the Los Angeles, Cal., papers.
—The regular meeting of the Sons of Veterans
will occur to-night. Reports of the delegates to the Berkshire convention will
be given.
—The case of the Village of Cortland vs.
Anna Bates, who is charged with violation of the excise law, has again been adjourned
to Oct. 17.
—There will be a meeting of the Ladies' Aid
society of the Universalist church to-morrow at 2 o'clock. All members are
urged to be present.
—Mrs. H. Griffith, who has so long conducted
a popular boarding house at 14 W.
Court St., has moved to 17 Court-st., the west side of the Garrison house.
—Kellogg & Curtis are enlarging the carpet
and cloak room in the second story of their store by removing a partition and
making the room ten feet longer.
—Rev. A. Chapman will lead the meeting at
Memorial chapel this evening at 7:30 o'clock. All interested in chapel work are
cordially invited to be present.
—Mrs. J. T. Tompkins is to-day moving from
17 Court-st. into the house formerly occupied by Mrs. H. Griffith, 14 West
Court-st. Mrs. Griffith is moving into the house vacated by Mrs. Tompkins.
—At a meeting of the directors of the National
bank of Cortland held this morning, Judge S. S. Knox was elected a director of
the bank in place of John D. Schermerhorn, who has told his stock in the bank.
—The Republican senatorial convention of the
Forty-first district is which now in session at Corning had last night taken
292 ballots without any result. Last night all the candidates were as sanguine
and hopeful as ever.
—Bishop Ludden at Rome on Sunday confirmed a
class of nearly 500 in St. Peter's
church and conducted vesper services at St. Mary's. He also confirmed a class
of 130 members in the latter church.—Syracuse Standard.
—The H. M. Whitney Co. is preparing to build
a ware house [sic] on their land west of the switch. The building will be of wood
40 by 200 feet in size. Messrs. Daniel and Charles D. Geer will do the mason
work and D. G. Corwin the wood work.
—The party who took the silk umbrella from
the piazza of C. B. Peck, corner of Greenbush and Elm-sts., last night was seen
and recognized and he will save himself further trouble by getting that umbrella
around to the STANDARD office with the least possible delay. No questions will
be asked.
—By unanimous vote the directors of the Y.
M. C. A. have requested J. H. Osterhout
to remain as secretary for another year and he has accepted. Mr. Osterhout has
been the secretary for the past two years and this action by the board of
directors is an endorsement of the good work done by him for the association.
—Mr. John Dodd, who for the past twenty-five
years has lived on the west road to Homer, and who was previously a resident of
Truxton, died this morning at his home at the age of 79 years. He leaves a
wife, a brother, who lives in Minnesota, and a sister, Mrs. John Warwick of
Fitz-ave, Cortland. The time of the funeral has not yet been decided upon, but
will be noted later. Mr. Dodd and Mr. Isaac Miller, who died a few years ago,
used to be the owners of the old plank road between Cortland and Homer and
maintained the toll gate.
Subscribers
to the Fund to be Called Upon To-morrow.
Last spring an effort was made by a few of
our business men to secure the location in Cortland of the Wesson-Nivison
Manufacturing company for the manufacture of bicycles. After considerable effort
the attempt was successful and the company located in the desk factory on
Owego-st., gave it a thorough renovation and put in entirely new machinery. They
are now employing regularly twenty-five hands.
The money subscribed by Cortland people was
not to be paid until the company employed regular [force of] twenty-five men.
They are now employing that number of men and are doing a flourishing business
in the manufacture of bicycles.
A meeting of business men was held at the
office of E. E. Mellon last night and a committee was appointed to call upon
those who subscribed and collect one-half of the subscription. The committee is
as follows: W. D. Tisdale, F. D. Smith and E. E. Mellon and they will call upon
the subscribers to-morrow.
Drowned
in Oneida Lake.
Three Oneida young men went sailing on
Oneida lake Sunday and failed to come back. It was feared that they were lost
in the big storm which arose. Yesterday
the overturned boat was washed ashore and the coat of one of the young men was
picked up. This settled the question beyond doubt.
One of the party was Mr. W. Porter Hunt,
aged 25 years. His mother, Mrs. B. L. Hunt, was visiting at the time at the
home of Engineer W. B. Landreth in Cortland. Last night Mr. Landreth received a
telegram announcing the sad news. He broke it as gently as possible to the mother,
and this morning the grief-stricken lady started for home.
Mr. Hunt was a graduate of Hamilton college in
the class of '94 and was studying law in Oneida. He has been quite prominent in
church work for young men, and was a director of the Brotherhood of Andrew and
Phillip and secretary of the Christian Endeavor Society of the First
Presbyterian church, of which he was a member. He was also a director and
secretary of the Young Men's Club of the First Baptist church and an active worker
in the Y. M. C. A.
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