COMMENCEMENT AT THE CORTLAND NORMAL SCHOOL

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 26, 1896.

COMMENCEMENT AT THE NORMAL.

   The fifty-fifth term of the Cortland Normal school closed on Tuesday June 23rd. The attendance has been over five hundred both this term and last preceding term, greater, we believe, this year than ever in the history of the school.

   The graduating class, numbering forty-six, is the largest since the elementary course was abolished four years ago. Including the February class the total number of students graduating during the year is sixty-seven.

   There have been this year the usual accompaniments of commencement, a solid week of celebrations of one sort and another, such as declamation and oratorical prize contests, club receptions, class day exercises, alumni meetings and banquet, and of course others not so interesting to the public generally.

   The baccalaureate sermon, preached by Rev. Amos Watkins Sunday evening, was very earnest and impressive. His text was, "There remaineth very much land to possess." The sermon could not fail to be inspiring to the graduates and to all who heard it.

   The alumni meeting held in the Normal Hall Monday evening was of much interest. Miss Bishop's paper, contrasting the educational systems and methods of England and the United States, and Mr. McEvoy's address upon the present adverse criticism of Normal schools, were both very valuable for the information contained, and especially their thoughtful suggestions.

   The interest in the class day exercises in the afternoon was of a more personal character and for those who remember the class of '95. The class presented the school busts of Froebel and Pestaloggi, which are to be placed on either side of the rostrum in the Normal Hall.

   Tuesday morning the opera house was filled with people attracted thither by interest in the public exercises of the graduating class.

   The orations were of exceptional interest and merit, but once more we have to notice that very small place is given by them or in them to the problems of the teaching profession. If Normal graduates, just as they are being licensed to teach forever in the schools of the state, hunt the broad earth over for topics to discourse upon, overlooking the thousand and one interesting topics that their own chosen work offers, who in the world can be expected to look upon teaching as a profession or attach any importance to its claims to be regarded as such? Those of the class that appeared upon the stage represented well its scholarship and ability to think and express, but not, we hope, its professional spirit.

   Mr. Hembt's oration was an honorable exception. The public school, its place in the economy of the nation, the results for the nation that it now secures and that it still should secure, were his theme. He showed that an oration need not be less powerful in expression, or vigorous in thought, or interesting to the public for being professional.

   Miss Stillman's oration bearing the paradoxical title, "The Practicability of The Impracticable," deserves mention. She pointed out in a very interesting way that progress has mainly consisted in the successful working out of undertakings which to begin with it seemed madness to plan.

   The orations were all strong in thought and well delivered. Special mention of some implies no disrespect to the other.

   Many remarked that Mr. Week's oration upon the relation of progress to liberty was very remarkable for its mature thoughtfulness. Very briefly his argument was as follows:

   The great struggle of organic life in nature is for freedom. The kernel breaks through the shell into higher life, and so on throughout the organic world up to human society. What justifies this world wide struggle is that the first condition of progress is liberty. The trend of human life is upward. Human nature was once charged with total depravity, with not possessing the tendency towards improvement. The world's magnificent advance and especially the improvement always following grants of liberty refute the charge. The relation of liberty to progress is that of space to a growing body, of sunlight to the opening bud.

   Prof. A. S. Downing, supervisor of teacher's institutes and training classes, addressed the class. He referred to the fact that on each one of the three occasions when he had been called upon to address Cortland audiences it had been as a substitute for some, as he said, greater men. Now he had come to take the place of deputy superintendent Ainsworth. He spoke to the class of the rewards to the teacher. In this day the country is stirred throughout its length and breadth over the question whether a gold standard or a double standard or a silver standard should be adopted.

   Teachers need not for themselves be much concerned over the question. No matter which is adopted they will never get much of the commodity. And yet the rewards of the teacher are greater than those of any other calling. Making boys and girls into men and women is his work, and success in that work is itself the best reward, bringing most of happiness that man can possibly receive. "Greater love hath no man than this that a man should lay down his life for his friend." A teacher on Long Island, when there was no other to do it, nursed two of her pupils through diphtheria. The children recovered but the teacher was taken sick and died. A nobler sacrifice was never offered, a nobler, more heroic deed was never done. Such a sacrifice is seldom demanded of the teacher. When, however, such a demand is made the true teacher meets it.

   But in another sense it belongs to the teacher to show that greater love hath no man than this, that a man should give his life for his friend. The profession is the noblest in the world and its rewards the greatest. So brief a report cannot begin to do Prof. Downing's thought justice. His address was very humorous, but at the same time full of earnest thought, presenting high ideals, and it made a deep impression on all who heard it.

   Dr. Cheney said a few words to the class and presented the diplomas.

   At the business meeting of the alumni in the afternoon the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

   President—E. G. Lantman, Binghamton.

   Vice President—Miss Mary Louise Fairchild, Cortland.

   Secretary—Miss Mary E. Hunt, Binghamton.

   Treasurer—Melvin A. Rice, Brooklyn.

TOMMY JONES, THE FROG HUNTER.

(Copyright, 1896, by Walter B. Guild, Boston.)

   Tommy Jones was one of those boys who liked to throw stones at any harmless little bird, turtle, frog or other helpless creature which could not throw anything back at him.

   He was always picking upon and annoying all of the smaller boys and girls, and was a regular little tyrant whenever he saw any chance to bother any one smaller and weaker than himself.

   One day Tommy said to me, "Come on, Walt; come with me and kill a lot of frogs."

   Now, ever since I had gotten acquainted with the fairies I had known that Felinus, the flying cat, was ready to tell of any cruel act, so that unless I behaved well there would be no more rides through the air on his back and no more visits to the fairies.

   You see, the fairies are especially kindhearted, but when it comes to punishing a cruel boy or man who kills innocent birds or frogs "just for fun" they sometimes give them a scare that will last for a lifetime.

   Now, Felinus had heard Tommy's invitation, and he looked at me in such a queer sort of way that I immediately said, "No; and don't you go either, Tom."

   Tommy called me a little "goody goody tied to his mother's apron string, Sunday school, white haired, darling baby boy" and ran away just too quickly for me to catch him and teach him better manners.

   As soon as Tommy was out of sight Felinus said: "Now, I am just glad you didn't catch him. You ought to be above fighting because a foolish fellow calls you names. It wouldn't have proved anything to your credit if you had caught him and given him a solid pounding. You just leave Tommy's case to my treatment, and I'll show him one of our fairy frogs from Frog River, Fairyland. Say nothing, but be ready to get up early tomorrow morning before sunrise."

   Now, we sold milk and in warm weather we used to put the night's milk in a big can and set it in a spring to keep cool until morning. Father had said that lately the milk had seemed to be thin and watery looking, and that he thought the cows needed more cornstalks and a few beets and small potatoes to eat, so as to make their milk richer, and that we had better turn them into the north pasture.

   I knew Tommy Jones and thought that perhaps if he should go to visit his aunt up in New Hampshire our milk might be richer, but father said, "Oh, no; it can't be that he would steal the milk and pour water into the can to fill it up." I didn't want to think so either, but all the same I knew where Nellie Smith's lead pencils had gone, and I had my own opinion of Thomas Jones, Esq.

   The next morning, just about half an hour before sunrise, Felinus jumped up on my bed and brushed his velvety paw across my face to waken me. "Jump up," he said, "and be quick about it if you want to see some fun." I put on my clothes and ran out after Felinus.

   We were just nicely settled behind the little clump of bushes by the spring when along came Tommy with a two quart can in his hand. Pat Brady was with him, and Pat was Tommy's regular chum.

   Pat said to Tommy: "What's that alongside of the can there? Sure it's the biggest frog ever I saw," said Patsy.

   Tommy looked, and sure as you live there was a fairy frog half as large as himself. "Get a rock, Pat," said Tommy, "and we will kill him." They each picked up a stone as large as your fist, ran toward the frog and threw them with all their might.

   The frog was sitting in as round shouldered and sleepy looking a posture as I ever saw a lazy boy take, and as his back was turned toward the boys they, of course, thought that they would kill the largest frog that ever lived.

   You see, they were not acquainted with fairy frogs and did not know that the uncles and cousins of this frog were, many of them, as large as a man.

   They didn't know, either, that this honest, sleepy looking frog was watching them through a mirror which he had placed in the water for their special benefit.

   Felinus and I saw the whole performance, and what did Mr. Fairy Frog do but stand on his hind legs and catch the stones, one in each hand, just as easily as the best catcher in the Boston baseball club would catch a ball. Well, you may think all you wish to think, but Pat and Tom didn't stop to think, but ran for all they were worth. They dropped the two quart can, and their hats blew off their heads, but fast as they ran the frog ran faster and, what was still worse, out came two more frogs, each with a can in his hand. They jumped leapfrog fashion upon the shoulders of Tommy and Pat and put the cans over the boys' heads. Then they began to drum upon the bottoms of their fairy milk cans in such a lively way that Tommy and Pat were frightened half out of their wits.

   First the frogs would pound and drum on the bottom of the cans; then they would scratch with some gravel stones, as if they were trying to cut a hole through to get at the boys.

   The third frog just stood on his hind legs, opened his mouth and croaked; then he laughed a most unthinkable kind of laugh; then he would croak a regular frog croak, only so loud that it seemed as if all the frogs Tommy and Patsy had ever killed had joined in one awful croak.

   Felinus then ran out and gave the greatest growl you ever heard. Tommy could bear no more, so he just dropped down on his knees, and Patsy began to stagger and tremble.

   How they both begged when the frog spoke and told them to keep still and never to tell a living soul about their adventure!

   "Now go back and get your hats and the can," said the frogs, "and if either of you ever comes here again to steal milk, or if you ever kill another frog, you will see us again."

   The boys promised as much as you could wish, and the frog who had caught the stones which they threw at him now came up and took each boy by the hand and said, "Shake hands on it to never break your promise."

   The boys each shook hands with all three of the frogs, and then with each other, and made a great ceremony, as the frogs directed.

   Then the frogs took the fairy milk cans off from the boys' heads, and the boys got their hats and the milk can which they had brought and started to go home as sheepishly as ever I saw any two boys in my life.

   The first frog then stepped up and told them that they would have to eat the stones that they threw at him, and offered each boy the one he had thrown.

This scared them again, and they both said: "We can't eat a rock, sir. Please, won't you forgive us without it, sir. We thought that you was only a frog, sir."

   The frog then puffed himself up to about twice his usual size, and looked very dignified as he said:

   "Well, if you really are telling the truth, you can eat what I give you."

   The boys reached out their hands, and somehow the frog passed them each a big, juicy orange instead of the stone. He saw them eat the oranges before he let them get away.

   On finding such kindness, both Tommy and Patsy were completely surprised. They said that it was too good to expect that a frog which they had tried to kill should give them the best oranges they ever tasted.

   Felinus smiled, and as soon as they were out of hearing I fairly roared with laughter. But I have never before told anyone about it, not even father, so you are the very first ones to hear of Tommy's reform. For Tommy was reformed.

   The teacher noticed at school that Tommy and Patsy behaved better. There were not so many pencils lost as there used to be. There was no more coaxing of us boys to go frog hunting, and father said he noticed a great improvement in the milk since the cows had been turned into the north pasture.

   It is always risky at any time to be with people who do not behave themselves, but I never expected to be mistaken for Tommy. However, his bad habits and the careless gossip of some highly respectable frogs who ought to have known better very nearly left you children without any uncle to tell you these stories.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   The republicans held a lively meeting a few evenings since in Cortland. The McKinley League had made arrangements to have a big ratification meeting over the nominations and the county committee were desirous of doing the same, but here was a conflict. The McKinley League announced that they did not propose to be a "tail to the county committees kite" and they absolutely refused to join in the meeting. Prominent members of the party plead with them and urged them to join in having a rousing blow out but the followers of the Ohio Napoleon were obdurate and utterly refused to be cajoled or persuaded into the proposed fusion. They claim that they were first in the field for the candidate and they do not propose to allow the Platt boys to come in and take the plums if their candidate wins. It is difficult to foretell the result.

A RICH MAN'S TICKET.

Denver Times Says Money Must be Used to Elect It.

   DENVER, June 20.—The Times (Ind. Rep.) said editorially: "The ticket nominated by the National Republican convention at St. Louis will prove a strong one in the manufacturing sections of the East and in all localities where the financial question is not understood. It is essentially the rich man's ticket. It will nowhere have a stronghold on the masses of people. If elected next November it must be through the power of money at the polls. The action of the convention in adopting the financial plank of the platform was weak, unpatriotic and impolitic. It will give the Democratic party the opportunity of a century to ally itself with the interests of the whole people while the Republican party must stand as the protector of the small class of rich men in the money lending and importing branches of business."

Death of Frank E. Plumb.

   Mr. Frank E. Plumb, for the past two years assistant postmaster of Cortland, died at 7 o'clock last Sunday evening at Glen Haven of paralysis, aged 43 years.

   For several months past his health has been failing but his condition was not considered serious. On the morning of the 9th inst. he went to Glen Haven hoping to be speedily cured of his ailments, but was prostrated with paralysis the same evening. He rallied and was improving but on the Monday following he suffered another attack and remained unconscious until his death.

   He was the youngest son of Lewis B. and Phoebe Ann Plumb, and was born in Cortland April 2d, 1854. His elder brother Powell, enlisted in the old 76th Regiment and died not long after reaching the front.

   The subject of this sketch early decided to learn the printers trade, and after working a year or two in the Homer Republican office he joined the force of compositors on the DEMOCRAT. Soon afterwards he began to learn the job printing branch of the business in which he became an expert. As a tasty job printer he has had few equals in Central New York. In December, 1886, he moved to Auburn where be formed a partnership with Mr. E. J. Jewhurst in the job printing business. In the spring of 1888 he accepted the assistant foremanship in the job department of the Syracuse Journal where he remained for nearly a year when he accepted a situation as mail clerk on the Central road. In June, 1889, he returned to the DEMOCRAT office where he continued until April 1, 1894, when he was appointed assistant postmaster, which position he held at the time of his death.

   May 11, 1886, he married Miss Pearl M. Rice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Rice, who survives him.

   For several years Mr. Plumb was an active member of Orris Hose Co. of this village, and at the time of his death was an honorary member. In 1883 he was chief of the Cortland fire department, and for several years took an active part in the proceedings of the State Fireman's association, and on one or two occasions delivered addresses at the annual meeting which were well received.

   For some years past he has been the chorister of the Universalist church of which denomination his parents were almost lifelong members. Under his leadership the choir became one of the best in town. His services and those of his wife were given freely and both contributed in many ways to help to build up the church. His loss to the church can hardly be estimated.

   Until the death of his parents their care and maintenance devolved upon him, and he proved to be a most loving and dutiful son. He was a most devoted husband, a kind neighbor, and a highly respected citizen. If he had an enemy in the world, the fact is unknown.

   The funeral services were held from the house on Charles-st. at 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. H. W Carr officiating. The pastor paid a glowing tribute to the memory of the deceased and was nearly overcome by his feelings as he narrated the many good qualities of his friend. A very large number of friends attended the funeral. The casket was literally covered and surrounded with flowers which had been contributed by sorrowing friends.

   The following resolutions have been adopted by the carriers and postoffice employees in regard to the death of Deputy Postmaster Frank E. Plumb:

   WHEREAS, In view of the loss we have sustained by the death of our associate and deputy postmaster, Frank E. Plumb, and the still more keen loss sustained by those who are nearest and dearest to him, therefore be it

   Resolved, That it is but a just tribute to the memory of the departed to say that in regretting his removal from our midst we mourn for one who was in every way worthy of respect and regard.

   Resolved, That we sincerely condole with the family of the deceased in the dispensation with which it has pleased Divine Providence to afflict them and commend them for consolation to Him who orders all things for the best and whose chastisements are meant in mercy.

   Resolved, That this heartfelt testimonial of our sympathy and sorrow be forwarded to the wife of our departed friend and associate.

   CHAS. W. FLEMING,

   SAM. L. PALMER.

   Committee.