BARNUM & BAILEY, JUDGE SMITH, MR. REW AND WESTERN TELEPHONE

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 28, 1896.

FIFTY-ONE MOVING HORSES.

A Ring Full of Thoroughbreds, a Feature of the Barnum Show.

   One of the greatest circus acts, and an entirely new one, which will be seen with the Barnum & Bailey Show at Cortland on Saturday, Sept. 5, is a horse performance conducted by John O'Brien, the famous horse trainer, who has been with the show for several years. Last summer, just before the show closed its season, Mr. O'Brien went to Mr. Bailey and said: "Mr. Bailey, I have an idea in my head for a novel act which I think would make a great sensation. I believe that I can teach fifty horses to perform in a single ring together; to form pyramids, and to trot in different directions in concentric rings, giving a kaleidoscopic effect with their intricate movements."

   Mr. Bailey thought it over a few days, and then told O'Brien to go ahead. He worked in the barn at Bridgeport, Conn., for three months, taking the horses singly, by twos, by threes, by half dozens, and finally by fifties. By spring the whole group worked perfectly in the practice barn, but everyone was afraid of the result when these high-bred and nervous animals should be brought out for the first time in Madison Square Garden, with the glare of the lights, the noise of the band, and the excitement of the crowds, and the distractions of the property men and rigging for the acrobats. However, the first public exhibition came off without a hitch, and so wonderful did it seem to see so large a group of horses perfectly trained in movements so intricate that the eye could not untangle them, that the fifty horses became immediately the feature of the entire performance.

   When O'Brien's fifty horse act is to come on he rides into the ring on the back of a beautiful white horse, and after going through several manege feats, rides to a pedestal in the center of the ring, to which a number of concentric platforms forming steps lead. Four black stallions next come in, and, after going through a series of graceful evolutions, run up to the third platform and place their fore feet on the one above, forming a star. Seven light sorrels are then brought in, and after them nine bays. They take a position similar to the first four, fore feet on the platform above them, forming a star of intricate pattern. Then twelve Kentucky thoroughbreds dash into outer ring, and form compact groups at each side with fore feet on the outer curb. Last of all, eighteen Shetland ponies mount to the outer curb. Then, at the word of command "Forward," each ring of horses begins to move, every alternate one in the opposite direction. At the word of command, they halt again, and reverse positions, and then start forward at a rapid gait. Finally they begin to untangle the weaving pattern, and trot from the ring in the reverse order to that in which they entered.

CHEAPER TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Business Places $24, Residences $18, Will be the Prices if the Franchise is Granted.

   The Western Telephone and Construction Co. of Chicago, Ill., has made application to the trustees for a franchise to operate lines in Cortland. A franchise was presented to the board last Monday evening and thoroughly discussed. It will be amended to the mutual satisfaction of both parties and will probably be granted by the board next week. If so, work will be commenced immediately by the Western Telephone Construction Co. without asking any aid whatever of local capital.

   The company have for years been fighting the Bell Telephone but have now an instrument which is pronounced by the authorities as entirely free from infringement on any one. The United States government has many of them in use, there being 150 in the department of the Interior at Washington and many times that number in other departments. Most of the lines now in operation are in the west, but they have made a start in this section. Oswego and Fulton have granted them franchises and it is expected that Syracuse will follow.

   This company will reduce the present rates one half, business places being $24 and residences $18. Mr. C. S. Bull has been for a few days circulating a paper for subscribers and is meeting with much success. Over 150 have signed and but few have refused who were asked. Homer will be connected and there will be no extra charge for talking there.

STUDENT REW HEARD FROM.

THE BOY WHO MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED FROM CORNELL TWO YEARS AGO WRITES FROM INDIA.

Left College Because He Was Behind in His Studies and Has Been Traveling Around the World Since.

   BUFFALO, Aug. 23.—Frederick Gordon Rew, the Cornell student who disappeared on October 2, 1894, and was supposed to have met with foul play, has been heard from. His father Esbon B. Rew, of this day received a letter dated from India, stating that he was in good health and leaving for home.

   His reason for leaving college was [that] he found his knowledge of French and German was limited and was confident he would be unable to keep up with his class and rather than fail he believed it would be better to go among the people and learn the languages.

   After leaving Cornell he went to New York, engaging passage on a battleship and working his way to Bordeaux, France. At this place he procured employment with an electric [firm] that was about to erect an electric [plant] in Central America. He sailed for Honduras in the early part of 1895, visited Martinique and Cuba, and then returned to France where he contracted to [look] after the electric machinery of a tramp trading ship bound for the East Indies. His knowledge of mathematics, physics and Latin has kept him employed and enabled him to see much of the world.

   The knowledge of his son's safety has brought great joy to the family of Mr. Rew. Almost from the first Mr. Rew believed that his son was dead. He said that he was certain the young man had been murdered and pointed to the finding of his watch to substantiate this theory. He declared that he had other evidence, but what it was he refused to divulge. Mrs. Rew was equally certain of her son's fate.

Judge A. P. Smith.

A Letter from Hon. A. P. Smith.

   Dijon le, France, Aug. 8, 1896.

   B. B. JONES, ESQ.

   DEAR SIR:—We have "done" England, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, so far as we shall do them, and last night stopped off here on our way to Paris to break the journey and give us rest. But if you were ever a "poor tourist" flying through strange countries and seeing strange sights and meeting strange people and attempting to converse in "unknown tongues" all the time for a couple of months, you know right well that there is no rest. Even this morning while stopping off for rest we have tried to take in the city of Dijon and are physically whipped. It is now half past eleven A. M. and we take the train at 1:12 this P. M. for Paris where we meet [son] Eugene and the rest of our party about half past six this evening. We shall probably stay in Paris about a week and then return to England, and probably visit Scotland and spend two or three days in Ireland and sail from Liverpool for home the 27th. This will make lively work for the next nineteen days.

   I wish I had the power to describe to you the beauties of this trip, especially in Switzerland. No pen can overdo it. The present week has been completely filled with lovely and ever changing sights. Splendid cities; lofty and varied mountains; rides up and down their rocky sides at incredible grades; beautiful lakes; rare old castles and ruins, ruins before America was even discovered, and styles of farming, gardening, road making, building, dressing, living, etc., scarcely ever dreamed of by us Americans, all conspire to make the trip a most delightful one. It must be seen to be appreciated.

   We expect to be home about a month from to-day, and while it has been extremely pleasant and we are all going to be benefitted by the trip, we shall all be glad to land once more on our own shores. Cortland is good enough for us.

   Hoping you are a good "hard money" man by this time, I am

   Very truly yours,

   A. P. SMITH.

Paris, Aug. 9, 1896.

   We arrived here last evening. All well. Expect to leave here for London next Thursday. S.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO. —The Soldiers' Home at Oxford is nearing completion.

   Prof. Hubert A. Newton, the eminent mathematician and oldest professor in Yale University, died the l2th, aged 66 years. He was born in Sherburne and was a brother of the late Isaac S. Newton, the eminent Norwich lawyer.

   MADISON.—A Bryan and Sewall club was organized at Chittenango the 10th.

   Work on the sewers at Oneida is not progressing rapidly on account of quick sand and delay in receiving pipe.

   The onion harvest around Canastota has commenced. The growers report that the yield will be unusually large, though the acreage is comparatively small. Fifty cents is now quoted as the wholesale price of onions.

   New floors of edge grain pine are being laid in the senior and secondary rooms at the Union school building in Cazenovia. The seats are also being changed so that the junior and secondary pupils will change rooms next year.

   TOMPKINS.— Interest in the proposed electric road along the west shore of the lake from Ithaca to Glenwood and beyond, is reviving.

   The officers of the Tompkins County Fair are trying to get a horseless wagon for exhibition during the fair.

   A contract has been let to a Kings Ferry man for a four-inch stone walk, twelve feet wide, in front of the Treman, King & Company property, at the corner of State and Cayuga streets, Ithaca.

   A reward of $200 has been offered for the recovery of the body of J. Fred Mead, who was drowned opposite Sheldrake Saturday of last week. The commissioner of fisheries has permitted the use of dynamite in the efforts to raise the body.

   Capt. Zalinski, inventor of the dynamite gun, who has just returned from China, arrived in Ithaca August 16 to call on his sister, Mrs. Goodman, of Eddy street. Mr. Theo. Dobrin of Ithaca, gave Mr. Zalinski his first military instruction, when both were residents of Seneca Falls, the latter then being a lad of fourteen.—Ithaca Journal.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Normal school opens Sept. 2d.

   The Union Free schools will commence the fall term Sept. 8th.

   Don't forget the beekeepers' picnic at Elysium park on Saturday, Aug. 29th.

   The interior of the Congregational church in this village is being repaired.

   Bingham Bros. & Miller advertise boys' clothing in their space on the eighth page.

   Happy Bill Daniels [and orchestra] had an immense crowd at his hop in the armory building last Saturday and Wednesday nights.

   Irving H. Palmer has a call in the Cortland Standard for a sound money Democratic convention to be held in this place to-morrow.

   Judge I. W. Lansing of Lincoln, Neb., and Mr. F. W. Collins of Cortland held a debate on the money question at Cincinnatus yesterday.

   While Maurice E. Watrous of 56 Elm-st. was driving to his farm in Virgil Monday morning one of his horses dropped dead at the corner of Main and Tompkins-sts.

   Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3 P. M. Devotionals led by Mrs. Morehouse, followed by a business meeting and the annual election of officers.

   Diphtheria is said to be epidemic in school district No. 3, Taylor Centre. The board of health has ordered the school closed. There are four cases at the present time, one of them, however, is convalescent.

   "The Great Social Problems of Great Britain and America," is the subject of the lecture to be given in the First M. E. church on Friday evening, Aug. 28 at 7:45, by Miss Agnes E. Slack of England. Remember she is well worthy of a full house. Remember also that no admission is charged but that a collection will be taken at the close of the address.

   The Cortland Conservatory of Music will open for its first term next Wednesday. The rates of tuition are very low considering the thorough course which is given, much below other similar institutions. Those intending to enter can now register at Mr. Mahan's store.

   Messrs. W. McKean Wilson and H. B. Champion are in town representing the educational department of the Binghamton Republican. They are introducing the encyclopaedia Britannica in a revised edition with a guide to course reading therein. It is a work every one should have.

   The Marathon Independent learns that after leaving a little over $9,000 to Cazenovia Seminary, Rev. Hiram Gee, who died recently in Ithaca, left the hulk of his property amounting to between $30,000 and $50,000 to his nephew, Fred H. Gee, who conducted a job printing office in the Masonic block in this village a few years ago. Mr. Gee is now publishing the Mirror at Parish, N. Y.

   Mr. "Sandy" Ogden of Norwich will move to Cortland this week with his family. He was formerly with the Baker & Stevenson band and orchestra of Binghamton and will play cornet in Daniels' orchestra this season. The dances at the armory are becoming more popular with each succeeding one, and it is proposed to fix over the armory so it will be more convenient and can be heated this winter.

CUYLER HILL.

   B. B Gardner and family visited at James Breed's in Cowles Settlement Saturday.

   I suppose there are lots of people sitting up to see the eclipse to-night. Think I shall wind the alarm and go to bed soon.

   Ed. L. Phelps and family of McGrawville attended the annual Foster Picnic, which was held at J. E. C. G. Kibbe's, Thursday, August 20th. The picnic was appointed for next year at Bert Potter's, near Taylor Center. Mr. Phelps and family stayed over night [sic] with his sister, Mrs. Lee Burdick.

   Mr. James Johnson and family of Card Hill visited at Lee Burdick's Saturday. They all went on the top of Muncey Hill, where they could see into seven counties, nineteen towns, and the State of Pennsylvania. They could see the church in Fabius and on Pompey Hill, also DeRuyter Reservoir and a portion of Oneida Lake, all with the naked eye. What a place for a picnic, and several good telescopes!