EUROPEAN LETTER

Saint Agnes, the Roman virgin martyr.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 12, 1896.

EUROPEAN LETTER.

From Our Special Correspondent.

   ROME, Italy. May 20, 1996.—Religion is very conspicuous here in spite of the vanished temporal power. On almost every street corner there is a little shrine, a picture or statue of the Madonna, adorned with artificial flowers and covered with glass. Women stop to murmur prayers before them, with a heedlessness of the passerby that indicates either very mechanical or very sincere devotion and in the churches the same thing is noticeable.

   Fancy a tourist walking around during religious service in a church in America, striking the pillars to see if they are marble or only stucco, and turning opera glasses on the stained glass windows, on the frescoes and on the priest himself. The scene that may be hourly observed in St. Peter's of worshippers kneeling before the statue of the patron saint and reverentially kissing his toe while visitors watch them through lorgnettes, speaks eloquently of the good-natured passivity of the Italians and the heedless curiosity of sight seers.

   Almost every week during the winter in Rome there is a church festival, and some of them are as interesting and unique in their way as the Oberammagau performance. At St. Agnes-outside-the walls on the third Sunday in January occurs the blessing of the lambs from whose wool certain sacerdotal robes are made. All day long there is a pilgrimage from the city to the church, and the road beyond the Porta Pia is full of carriages and cabs and pedestrians. Two lambs, shampooed into an unprecedented condition of cleanliness, with their fleece curled in the latest style, are carried into the church. They are bedecked with ribbons until they look like toys. For fear they might fail to appreciate the honor that is being paid to them and make unseemly efforts to escape, they are securely tied on cushions. They are borne in state to the altar, sprinkled with holy water and enveloped in incense. Mass is said, interrupted by their bleats of helpless remonstrance. Then the people crowd around and try to touch them, and the puzzled lambs again say that they want to go home. But they must first be taken to the Vatican to receive the Papal blessing and then the fleece is solemnly sheared and the lambs are allowed to return to comfort and dirt.

   Another curious festival is the Distribution of Dowries in the church of St. Agostino. Some generous persons who evidently believe that marriage was a success established a Dowry Fund to encourage maidens to enter the holy bonds.

   Courageous and cheerful candidates are not lacking—indeed they are usually so many that the committee has difficulty in choosing. The only conditions are that the applicant be poor and a Roman. About fifty maidens this year publicly proclaimed their willingness to offer themselves on the altar of matrimony, and their philanthropy was rewarded by a gift of 150 lire ($30) apiece. Very pretty and unmercenary did they look, in their white dresses and veils. Those costumes will probably soon be used again at the consummation of the sacrifice; for suitors wait on the footsteps of the dowried maidens. Indeed in more than one case the marriage is arranged beforehand with the condition that the dot [sic] be received.

   Rome has not a monopoly of festivals. We saw one a few months ago on Lake Como in honor of the Infant St. John. A procession of small boys with garments of sheepskin (probably the nearest they could get to the traditional camels hair) were leading lambs, the latter of course representing Christ. Very pretty would it be in theory; but the day was warm and the road dusty. The little St. Johns grew tired and wept noisily, and the lambs, with no sense of proprieties, occasionally stopped short and refused to budge. It kept a priest busy running along the line, stirring up the obstinate ones with a stick, or catching fugitives. I asked one of the peasants accompanying the procession what were the contents of a silver box that was carried in much pomp at the head. "That," he answered, reverentially, "is one of the fingers of the Infant St. John."

   We were walking in the same neighborhood one day when we found a small chapel hidden among the hills. We entered with somewhat languid curiosity but our interest was awakened when we saw over the altar instead of the traditional Madonna, a very good picture of Diana and Acteon. We inquired of the priest about the apparent error, but he silenced us by saying: "But, yes, it occurred near here, not far from Lake Lugano. You can see the place where she changed him into a stag."

Emma Juch.

The Music Festival.

   To those unable to be present at the recent Musical Festival, a word about some of the most distinguished artists may be of interest.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, who has been so gladly greeted as Conductor for 15 years, is too well known, both as a composer, (his written works comprising 41 volumes, the aggregate sales exceeding a million copies) and as Director to need mention. This year, as usual, he will lead the grand chorus at Chautauqua, which will be organized about June 27th. On August 15, the Stabat Mater will be rendered by the chorus, Rogers orchestra, and include as soloists, the "American Jennie Lind," Marie Decca—Mrs. Otis Huff, contralto, Mr. Whitney Lew, of London, tenor, and Mrs. Homer Moore of New York as Baritone.

   Dr. Palmer has traveled extensively in Europe and the Orient and has won in Cortland as everywhere only the warmest of friends. His able assistant, Mr. Caryl Florio, that grand master of the piano, has been permanently engaged by Mr. Vanderbilt at his magnificent home "Biltmore" near Ashville, North Carolina. While England has the honor of being his birth place yet America is proud of his citizenship. Special mention should be made of his exquisite rendering of "Freischnetz" by Weber. Never having read the production until it was placed before him to be presented as an accompaniment for Miss Juch, shows a skill which less than two pianists in America can boast. Indeed he has so much the advantage that a comparison would be unkind.

   Miss Juch has been lavishly endowed by nature with beauty of face and a rare musical voice, which has triumphed at the Philharmonic and Thomas concerts many times. It is understood Mrs. Powell has been engaged for the coming season at the Metropolitan where an unqualified success awaits her. The charming voice and manner are most happily supplemented by an exquisite taste in dress.

Horse Thieves Arrested.

   Officer Wilcox of DeRuyter has arrested at Shed's Corners the two men who are charged with having stolen a team of horses and a three-seated surrey at Athens, Pa., several weeks ago, and for whose apprehension officers have been on the lookout for some time past.

   The Athens officials, who were notified of the arrest, arrived in Cortland Monday morning and started for Pennsylvania with the prisoners.

   The men have been in hiding at Haight's Gulf, a locality of unsavory reputation, six miles from here, for several days past.

Trolley Car vs. Circus Wagon.

   The band wagon of the Robinson and Franklin Bros. circus was being drawn to the train by six horses Friday night about 11 o'clock when it met the combination trolley car on Homer-ave. The driver turned his horses from the track but not in time so the wagon was clear and as motorman Van Benschotten did not slow up there was quite a crash. No one was injured, but the side of the car was smashed and the trucks under the wagon demolished.

   The circus people had to take trucks from a wagon already on the train to use on the band wagon and it was three hours before it could be moved.

Farm Dwelling Burned.

   The dwelling house on the farm of Mr. Chas. A. Willett, one mile south of Blodgett Mills was burned to the ground about midnight last Friday. After supper Mr. and Mrs. M. Healey who occupied the house and work the farm drove to McGrawville after Mr. Healey's father to help about the work in place of Mr. Willet who is confined to his home in Cortland by illness.

   When they reached home it was apparent that someone had been there in their absence for the door was not as they left it. As nothing inside was apparently disturbed, they soon retired, Mr. and Mrs. Healey on the lower floor and Mr. Healey Sr. in a bedroom overlooking the long wood shed.

   About 11:30 he was awakened by smoke in his room and looking out saw flames along the shed roof. He roused the others and the furniture in the front rooms on the lower floor was removed by the three before neighbors arrived. The fire had made such headway it was impossible to save the house, but the fire was prevented from consuming nearby out-houses.

   Mr. Healey had no insurance on his goods. Mr. Willett had $850 insurance on the house, but the furnishings of one room which he kept for himself and a quantity of syrup and farm produce stored in the cellar are a total loss.

   The Healey's had had no fire in the house after supper so it must be that their unknown visitor was, either intentionally or otherwise, the cause of the misfortune. They had no insurance.

Taughannock Falls, Tompkins County, N. Y.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO.—A Bainbridge man trapped 128 rats on his premises in four days.

   H. M. Dixon, a pioneer merchant of Smyrna, recently became insane. He has been in business 44 years. Financial troubles are responsible.

   The board of education gave the contract for furnishing the material and erecting the Union school building in Oxford to George W. Aldrich of Norwich last week. Mr. Aldrich's bid was $17,370 and he agrees to have the building completed in five months.

   Mrs. W. H. Hanner, wife of "Kid" Hanner, who made an unsuccessful attempt to make a balloon ascension at the County Fair last fall, was drowned at Baltimore last week. She had made a successful ascension and parachute jump but fell into the river and became entangled in the ropes of the parachute. Before help arrived she drowned.

   MADISON.— The salary of the postmaster at Earlville has been increased from $1,100 to $1,200 a year.

   DeRuyter will celebrate the Fourth with a horse trot, bicycle races, ball game and a choice assortment of jags.

   Hotchkiss' photograph gallery and the merry-go-round building at Sylvan Beach were burned Friday morning. Loss, $10.000.

   TOMPKINS.—Spiritualism and alleged communications in the form of letters from departed friends are interesting Ithacans.

   Considerable corn is being planted over on account of seed not growing and insect pests which are unusually prevalent this reason.

   Work on the new buildings at the George Junior Republic at Freeville is progressing nicely. The well, which is being drilled, has reached a depth of 175 feet.

   The outlook for the hay crop is not flattering. Grass does not seem to make much of a growth, and many meadows will not cut over 50 per cent of a crop. Clover is advancing rapidly and will soon do to cut. The yield will be very light.

   Landlord Freer has completed the extension of a veranda and addition of a parte cochere at his Taughannock Falls hotel. He has also made many minor improvements there, and the resort is now ready for the summer patronage to which it is entitled. [Mr. Freer built his hotel at the present site of the falls overlook parking lot and visitor center—CC editor.]

A Dramatic Feast.

   Over the Hills to the Poorhouse, which will be seen at the Cortland Opera house, Wednesday evening, June 24, is one of the most beautiful and poetic plays ever written and no one who has an appreciation for the grand and noble can afford to miss it. There is a simplicity and sweetness about it that is irresistible. And there ts a charm that never fails, no matter how often it is seen, and in its artistic simplicity and homely beauty one can almost persuade oneself that it is indeed a bit of real life on which one is permitted to look.

   It is a dramatization of Will Carlton's famous poem of the same name. While the author has confined himself sufficiently close to the original story to bring out all the power and sweetness of Mr. Carlton's poem, he has introduced several new characters which were necessary to a successful dramatization. Among the most prominent of these is a negro comedy part which furnishes fun enough to tickle the ribs of an umbrella. This part will be in the hands of Mr. Edward B. Kelley late of the Alabama company. Mr. Kelly is a comedian of wide reputation and long experience, both as an actor and stage director. The entire production will be under his management. The cast with the exception of Mr. Kelly is made up of our best local talent and unless the unexpected happens the performance will be the most enjoyable event of the year.

   The play is to be given under the auspices of the Cortland Athletic Association and the boys are doing their utmost to make it a grand success. Admission will be 25, 35 and 50 cents. Reserved seats will be on sale June 20, at Rood's Candy Kitchen at 9 A. M.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Cortland City band gave an open air concert on Main-st. last night.

   Mr. Fred I. Graham has just put a handsome new soda fountain in his new drug store on Main-st. It is one of the handsomest ones in town.

   Rev. S. J. Parmiter will preach for the colored people's society every Sunday at 7:30 o'clock P. M. in Collins hall until a regular pastor is secured.

   A meeting of the Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church will be held Friday afternoon in the church. A ten-cent supper will be held in the evening.

   The bicycle parade will take place on Tuesday evening, June 16. It is expected that every rider of bicycles will turn out. C. F Thompson and R. H. Miller will act as marshals.

   About fifty Cortland wheelmen attended the cycle services held in the Baptist church at Groton last Sunday. The boys all speak in highest terms of the services and their entertainment while in Groton.

   Mr. M. B. Auger, for the past few weeks trainmaster on this branch of the Lehigh Valley road has been transferred to a similar position on the mainline with headquarters at Buffalo. Mr. Leonard Goodwin of So. Bethlehem, Pa., takes his place here.

   Counterfeiters have placed in circulation silver dollars bearing the date of 1890. The coins are a good imitation in color, and the milling about the edges is not bad. They have a clear ring and pass easily for a genuine silver dollar. It will be worthwhile to keep an eye open for these spurious coins.—Exchange.

   The Court of Appeals has handed down a decision which will be of wide interest to land owners. The action was brought against a farmer named Jeffers of Rose, Wayne county, to restrain him from draining his land upon the lands of his neighbors. The court held that "it is the duty of the lower owners to turn in and drain their land in the same manner, and so on until the water is disposed of." This is the old common law doctrine and practice.—Exchange.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   A circular calling for recruits to go to Cuba and join the insurgents is posted in the Walton postoffice. It calls for men between the ages of 18 and 27 and unmarried.

   It is estimated that $2,000,000 was spent in building operations in Syracuse in the past year, including new structures, additions and repairs. It is also claimed that the business of the city, manufacturing and mercantile, exceeded $100,000,000 the past year.

   The Freeville Dramatic company which for a long time has been preparing to produce "Placer Gold," has arranged to present the play Thursday and Friday evenings, June 11th and 12th.

   The fourth annual convention of the Volunteer Firemen's association of Central New York will be held in Waterloo, August 4, 5 and 6. The first two days will be devoted to the business of the convention and the third day will be given up to a grand parade, races, etc.