CHRISTMAS TRADE

Main Street, Cortland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, December 27, 1895.

CHRISTMAS TRADE.

What Cortland Merchants Say Regarding the Local Trade.

   An impression has been gaining ground among a number of people that the Christmas trade in Cortland this year has not been up to the usual standard. The unfavorable weather preceding Christmas had a great deal to do with this and no doubt made a great difference with the Christmas trade of local merchants. That the trade in general has not been below the average and in many cases is better than ever before will be an agreeable surprise, not only to the merchants themselves, but to the people generally.

   In order to get at the facts in the case a STANDARD representative called upon the leading firms whose business would be most affected by the Christmas trade with an idea of finding out how business compared with previous years and how the merchants were feeling in regard to their respective shares of trade. In nearly every instance, this year was reported ahead of last year and in numerous cases far in advance of any previous year. Nearly all agreed, however, that the sales would have been greatly increased had the weather and roads been more favorable so that the country people and people from adjoining towns could have been able to come to Cortland to do their trading. As it was, nearly all express themselves as well pleased with the results. The following are some of the replies which the STANDARD man received to his inquiries:

   Yager & Marshall, Fair store: "Taken all together the last two weeks preceding Christmas are the best we ever had.''

   Tanner Bros.: "Monday and Tuesday ahead of last year. Taken all together the Christmas trade was very satisfactory."

   H. B. Hubbard: "Christmas trade good. Monday and Tuesday ahead of anything we ever had. More goods sold Tuesday than we ever sold in a single day before."

   Baker & Angell: "Trade ahead of last year up to Saturday. Last three days not what it would have been had the weather been more favorable. As it is we have no reason to complain.''

   Warren, Tanner & Co. "Christmas trade good. If the weather had been favorable we could not have begun to wait upon the people during the three days before Christmas. It does not seem as though there were five country people in town and our sales were largely to town people. We are more than satisfied and our trade is far ahead of what we had reason to expect. We have sold over eight hundred garments this year in our cloak department."

   W. G. Mead: "Christmas trade not up to last year. There are several reasons for this. The small prices which farmers are receiving for their produce had a great deal to do with it. The fact that I have changed my location since last year would naturally have a tendency to decrease my Holiday trade."

   F. E. Brogden: "We are not dealing much in Holiday goods, but our Christmas trade was good for the stock we had. Trade was better the day before Christmas than we ever had it before. All in all, our trade was as good as we ever had."

   G. F. Beaudry: "Far beyond what we expected. Trade ahead of anything we ever had before, in advance of last year, which was the largest in our history up to that time. Did not realize it until I figured up the night before Christmas."

   Case, Ruggles & Bristol: "Christmas trade satisfactory—ahead of last year. As good as we could expect and very much better than we anticipated."

   Stowell's: "Christmas trade far ahead of what we thought it would be. We have very few goods to be carried over. Our sales are ahead of last year."

   Pomeroy's: "Very good trade. Better than we expected after having moved.  Fully up to last year but not quite equal to '93."

   Jewett: "More business in the twenty-four days before Christmas than in the whole of December a year ago, and last year was ahead of anything I ever had before."

   Ament & Brazie: "Considering the roads and weather and the fact that people generally complain of lack of money our trade is first class."

   Kellogg & Curtis: "Fair, but not quite up to last year. Trade good considering the weather."

   F. B. Nourse: "Trade good. Have not had time to figure up, but we are ahead of last year."

   G. J. Mager & Co.: "Trade good, but not quite up to the usual standard."

   G. H. Ames: "Not very brisk, but good considering the weather."

   C. W. Collins: "Christmas trade in high grade of goods better than last year."

   McKinney & Doubleday: "Trade has been very satisfactory and will compare favorably with other years."

   Beard & Peck: "Probably had as many sales this year as a year ago, but do not think the amount will equal previous years. People seem to have bought a cheaper class of goods."

   Shoe stores generally have been affected by the mild weather and report Christmas trade not up to some previous years.

   The clothing stores all report a good trade in their line of Christmas goods.

The mild weather has been unfavorable to their regular trade. Grocers and meat markets [say] trade brisk and the hardware merchants who had Holiday goods report sales good. Their trade is not so much affected by the Holidays.

   Maricle and Johnson of McGrawviile report trade fully up to last year.

   The express companies have had the usual amount of Christmas packages to deliver. The returns are not all in yet and the exact figures cannot be obtained for several days, but both companies are of the opinion that the number is fully equal to previous years.

   The number of Christmas packages sent by mail from the Cortland post office is more than in any previous year in the history of the office. Up to Monday the number of packages dispatched was 1,202. Monday the number was 841, Tuesday 775, and Wednesday, Christmas day, 150, making the total number 2,968. The number of packages received and delivered by the carriers was 1,753.

MASQUERADE BALL

Given by the Crescent Club in Empire Hall Last Night.

   Empire hall was last night the scene of a very pleasant and successful masquerade ball given under the auspices of the Crescent club. The rooms were elegantly decorated with bunting and evergreens and presented an inviting appearance. The costumes worn by the ladies and gentlemen were of a large variety and were very beautiful. Among the more noticeable were Indians, clowns, the new woman, the Spanish girl, the Christmas girl, the Queen of Hearts, Mephisto and Marguerite.

   At 11 o'clock the masks were removed and dancing was continued until nearly 3 o'clock this morning. There were twenty-eight dances on the program, McDermott's orchestra of five pieces furnishing the music. Thirty-seven couples were in attendance. Refreshments were served by B. H. Bosworth and all voted it one of the pleasantest occasions of the season.

CHRISTMAS VISIT

At the Almshouse Yesterday by the Ladies of the W. C. T. U.

   The ladies of the W. C. T. U. made their annual Christmas visit at the county almshouse yesterday afternoon. Soon after 1 o'clock sixteen ladies of the union left the rooms in a large carryall and upon arrival at the county house the inmates were assembled in the large cookroom, where the exercises of the afternoon were held.

   The inmates have begun to look upon this annual Christmas visit with a great deal of expectation and pleasure and to say that all were delighted would be putting it very mildly.

   After singing "He is the Bright and Morning Star" Rev. George H. Brigham offered prayer. This was followed by singing, and a recitation entitled "Jes A'fore Christmas," by Master Carl Beard. Jessie Jones recited "Mrs. Santa Claus" and then Mr. Brigham made a few remarks in his usual happy vein. His remarks were very timely and appropriate and made every one feel very joyous. The distribution of presents followed. Each person was presented with a small package of assorted candies and a book or card. The inmates were very thankful for this kindness and the Christmas of 1895 will long linger in their memories as a happy event.

   The ladies of the W. C. T. U. wish to express their thanks to the Presbyterian session for money contributed and also to the firms McKinney & Doubleday and Ament & Brazie for books and cards.

Mark Twain.

MARK TWAIN'S LUCK.

His Tour Is Successful, but He Has Had Some Hard Experiences.

   Mark Twain's lecture tour in the Antipodes is proving highly successful, but, according to the Australian papers, he had a series of setbacks at the start, which probably have afforded him some quiet chuckles since. His agents had engaged a hall at Honolulu in which he was to lecture while the steamer in which he was traveling to Australia was in port. Eight hundred seats were sold. But when Mark Twain arrived he found he could not land at Honolulu on account of the cholera.

   As soon as he arrived in Australia he was laid up with a carbuncle, which kept him in his hotel for a week. When he got well, and everything seemed smooth ahead, his manager was put in quarantine at Adelaide and kept there 14 days because the steamer in which he arrived had smallpox aboard. But Mark went ahead without his manager and let him catch up after he got out of quarantine.

TO AID THEIR SISTERS.

THE LEAGUE OF CONSUMERS BOYCOTT UNFAIR EMPLOYERS.

These New York Women Won't Buy From Houses Where Employees Are Ill Treated. What It Takes to Make a Shop "Fair."

   There is a league of New York women called the Consumers' League of the City of New York. The object of this organization is to recommend to its members and to all others interested in the welfare of working women and girls such retail houses in the city as the league finds just in dealings with employees.

   The shop that has its name down on the favored list gains much trade from the thousands of members of the Consumers' league. These members and their friends will not trade at or lend their influence to a house that is not fair. Just what it takes to make a shop "fair" is laid down by the league under four headings:

   First.—Wages. A fair house is one in which equal pay is given for work of equal value, irrespective of sex. In departments where women only are employed the minimum wages are $6 per week for experienced adult workers and in few instances are below $8.

   Second.—In which wages are paid by the week.

   Third.—In which fines, if imposed, are paid into a fund for the benefit of the employees.

   Fourth.—In which the minimum wages of cash girls are $2 per week, with the same conditions regarding weekly payments and fines.

   Regarding "hours," the league says a fair house is one in which the hours are from 8 a. m. to 6 p. m., with three-quarters of an hour for lunch; in which a general half holiday is given on one day in each week during at least two summer months; in which a vacation of not less than one week is given during the summer season, and in which all overtime is compensated for.

   A fair house, with proper "physical conditions," is one in which work, lunch and retiring rooms are apart from each other and conform in all respects to the present New York city sanitary laws, and in which the present law regarding the providing of seats for saleswomen is observed and the use of seats permitted.

   Another requirement of a fair house, according to the league, is one in which humane and considerate behavior toward employees is the rule; in which fidelity and length of service meet with the consideration which is their due, and in which no children under 14 years of age are employed.

   Houses that are up to this standard get their names on the Consumers' league list. The members of the league receive regular reports of the treatment employees receive in the big shops, and they distribute their patronage where the working women and girls have what the league calls "fair play." Several of the largest houses in New York are not on "speaking terms" with the league members.—New York World.

RAILWAY INDUSTRY.

Locomotive and Car Building and Road Extension During 1895.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 27.—The Railroad Gazette has gathered records which show that of the 13 locomotive building companies in the United States, except one, built more locomotives in 1895 than in 1894, and the total number of engines built foots up 1,109, against 695 in the previous year [sic].

   Reports from the car building companies show that car building also has taken an upward turn, the output of the contracting shops being 31,893 freight cars. This is in comparison with 17,020 freight cars built in 1894.

   The new railroad construction in this country in 1894 was reported at 1,700 miles and that seemed to be as low a record as was likely to be again made.

   But the total for this year is about 300 miles less than that, being 1,428 miles according to The Railroad Gazette of Dec. 27. This shows that railroad extension is no longer a very important factor in the industrial concern of the nation.

   The largest amount of new track laid in any one state was in Texas, which built 187 miles of new road. In the Indian Territory 144 miles of new road was built during the year and no other state built anything like this amount.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Irrigating the Air.

   A man who has studied the western plains thinks he has found a way to break up the great arid tracts that lie along eastward of the Rocky mountains for so many hundreds of miles. He has been investigating the cause of the hot winds that in dry seasons wither up the corn blades like a consuming fire. He finds it to be partly in the nature of the ground itself. In a communication to

The American Cultivator he points out that wind blowing northward from the gulf regions or eastward from the Pacific coast passes over millions of acres of what is known as buffalo sod. This sod is so tough that it is impervious to rain. The rain consequently runs off and leaves the earth almost as dry as before. In the summer the buffalo sod is as hot and dry as a baked clay surface. The wind passing over it is superheated. Coming in contact with vegetation eastward and northward it kills the tender green as if a real fire swept by. The vast forest fires, annually breaking out where there are trees, have the same effect of making the air dry and blistering for many miles.

   The writer declares alfalfa is the blessed agent that will change these conditions. When the buffalo sod has been broken up, it is found that alfalfa will grow well in its place. Breaking the sod makes the ground soft and porous, so that moisture from the rains will be retained around the roots of the alfalfa. The air above then will be no longer dry and hot, but comparatively cool and moist, and this is what the writer means by irrigating the atmosphere. If, in addition, farmers in the droughty states will construct ponds or reservoirs in such a way that they will retain the water from the rains, he thinks, further, that these will aid greatly in moistening the air.

   ◘ The current periodicals this holiday season show that the magazine scold is going out of fashion, and a good riddance to him or her, as the case may be. A cheerful tone pervades much of the latest periodical literature. Even those who think all the world is going to the dogs because of the millionaires have partially ceased for the time to howl out their jeremiads. For this brief silence we are thankful. The person whom it is least desirable to have around either in literature or private life is the scold. The ducking stool was not a great punishment for the common scold in the old time, considering what a nuisance she was. It is a dangerous habit to fall into, that of constantly finding fault with all creation. It is dangerous to the scold's own health and reason, and it destroys every spark of affection in the bosom of his or her nearest relatives and friends. They are glad when the scold is dead, and small blame to them. No! There is more good than bad, there is more sunshine than cloud in the world always. You can make people better far more easily by praising the good than by abusing the bad, if your aim is to reform them.

  ◘ The resolution of Mr. Sperry in the house of representatives, declaring that immigration should be carefully looked into, is to be commended. The resolution also includes a proposition for the institution of an inquiry whether it is not time to stop immigration entirely. The time has certainly come when we should investigate much more closely the character of the immigrants. With the return of prosperity foreigners will land upon our shores in larger numbers than ever. Europe continues recklessly to overpopulate her own area with the scruff of creation, trusting to the United States to take it off her hands. We should refuse any longer to oblige her. The lower in the scale an animal is, the more rapidly does it propagate itself. This is as true of the human race as of the amoeba or cockroach. There may be in the remote parts of this country—in what particular localities it would be invidious to specify—native Americans as backward in civilized development as some of the hordes who swarm from Europe to our shores, but it will not help matters any to let more of the same kind in. It will need all our powers of assimilation to make over the immigrants and their families that we have already with us. Let us keep future hordes out. Let us give the natives a chance.

BREVITIES.

   —No one should fail to remember or to attend the public meeting at the

Opera House to-night at which the proposed paving bill will be presented and discussed.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. S. Burgess, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., page 7; C. F. Brown, page 7; McKinney & Doubleday, page 6; F. E. Brogden, page 6.

   —During the storm last night Beard & Peck's awning was torn down and completely destroyed. The only window broken so far as is known was one in Peckham's barber shop.

   —Two ladies met to-day. One looking at the muddy streets and slippery walks remarked, "Horrible going." "Yes, but it's beautiful overhead," said the other. "All very true," said the first one, "but we're not all of us traveling that way."

   —The jury in the case of Corl vs. Torry which was tried in Justice Dowd's court yesterday rendered a verdict of $3 for the plaintiff. The action was brought to recover damages to the amount of $100 for the alleged diversion of a stream of water.

   —Mr. Arthur D. Parce, who was recently removed from Cortland hospital

to his home in South Otselic, died yesterday morning. The funeral will be held from his late home at 1 o'clock P. M. tomorrow, Rev. H. W. Carr of the Cortland Universalist Church officiating.

   —Cortland Commandery of Knights Templars will hold a regular conclave this evening. A proposed visitation to the Old Ladies' Home at Homer on New Year's day will be considered and other important business will be transacted. Every Sir Knight is earnestly requested to be at the asylum at 7:30 P. M.

   —The Ithaca Journal says: "Joseph Jefferson's appearance at the Lyceum

Saturday night closes his engagement for the season. After the performance in the evening he will leave on a special [train] for New York, and after passing a few days in the East will start for his California ranch where he will spend the winter."

   —Forty-nine head of Jersey cattle, the property of the Hon. Alvin Devereaux of Chestnut Grove farm at Deposit, have been condemned by the state inspectors. Mr. Devereaux's dairy was one of the finest in Southern New York and numbered seventy head. Many of the cattle had registered pedigrees and were valuable animals. The cows were killed Thursday.—Binghamton Republican.

   —In a very few days the world will write "1896." It will be a leap year and the last one for eight years. There will be four eclipses during the year, two of the sun and two of the moon. Only one of them will be visible in the United States, that of a partial eclipse of the moon occurring on the 23rd of August. Lent, the period in which all church people are interested, falls somewhat earlier the coming year. Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 14, bringing Easter Sunday on April 6. Of the Holidays the Fourth of July falls on Saturday and Christmas will come on Friday.