WOODCHUCK AND WEATHER

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 3, 1897.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Woodchuck and Weather.

   Yesterday was Candlemas day. On this date the groundhog, more familiarly known in this section as the woodchuck, is supposed to emerge from his winter quarters and take some weather observations. These are of a limited character, being confined to a search for his own shadow. If the day is clear, the groundhog sees a silhouette counterpart of himself cast upon the snow at the entrance to his hole. He at once comes to the conclusion that there is considerable winter ahead yet, goes back into his hole, and resumes his hibernation. If, on the contrary, the sky is so cloudy that he is unable to see his shadow, the groundhog is satisfied that the backbone of the winter is broken, and that it is time for him to think of summer arrangements, not the least interesting of which will be the dodging of dogs and hunters.

   What woodchucks there are left in this section did not see themselves depicted in shadows to any great extent when they emerged from their holes yesterday, as it was cloudy most of the day. The sun made several attempts to get out and dim shadows appeared, but they were very faint indeed and of short duration. Possibly woodchucks generally throughout the country had the same experience.

   If they had then, according to the old prediction, the winter should be a fairly open one from now on. But leaving the groundhog out of the calculation, the same prospect may be evolved from a study of various meteorological conditions. The last week in January was phenomenal for the severity, extent and duration of the cold weather. The temperature over nearly the entire United States east of the Rocky mountains was greatly below the normal during the entire week, the deficiencies in some sections ranging from 30 to 40 degrees for several days.

   Throughout the Ohio valley and the lake region on the 25th, and the Carolinas, central and northern Florida, Georgia, Alabama and eastern Tennessee on the 28th and 29th, the minimum temperatures reported were lower than any previously recorded by the weather bureau during the last ten days of January. The conditions were especially severe throughout the southern states, the line of freezing temperatures extending nearly to Jupiter, Florida, and the temperature as far south as the gulf coast falling to 14 degrees below freezing, and continuing 10 degrees or more below for several days. There was a snowfall of three inches in New Orleans, which was heavier than had been experienced there since 1864. There were also unusually heavy falls reported from various portions of Texas.

    The last of January cold snap was the second of the winter. The first one was not as severe, widespread or long continued, but it helped to make an average that shows as much cold weather thus far this winter as there was in the entire season last year. As a rule, if the temperature is below the normal in the first part of winter it is above it in the last part. The chances are therefore that the cold January of this year will be followed by a fairly mild February, and possibly by an early spring. At any rate no long continued cold snaps are probable from now out, although there may be heavy snowstorms and occasional high winds.

Legislative Halls In Ruins.

   HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 3.—Fire completely destroyed the state Capitol in this city. The firemen were hampered in their work by a shortage of water. It was caused by an electric light wire. The house was in session when the fire broke out. Many persons were injured by the falling timbers, but none fatally. Superintendent of Public Buildings Delaney places the loss at $1,500,000; insurance, $100,000.

Free Text Books.

   ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 3.—The assembly committee on public education today favorably reported Mr. Nixon's bill providing that the qualified voters of any union free school district, present at any annual school meeting therein, or at any special meeting called for the purpose, shall have power, by a majority vote, to vote a tax for the purchase of free text books to be used in the schools of the district. If such a tax is voted the board of education of such district shall, within 90 days thereafter, purchase and furnish free text books to all of the pupils attending schools in such district.

ARBITRATION TREATY.

Signed by Representatives of England and Venezuela.

USED A SPECIAL PEN OF GOLD.

Sir Julian Pauncefote Represented Great Britain and Senor Jose Andrade,

Venezuela—Signed In Secretary Olney's Private Office.

   WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—All the representatives of their respective governments, Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador, and Senor Jose Andrade, the Venezuelan minister to Washington, signed a treaty providing for the settlement by arbitration of the long standing dispute over the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana, which has not only ruptured the relations between the principals and kept them apart diplomatically for years, but has threatened to involve the two great English speaking nations in hostilities.

   The treaty was really complete several days ago so far as all of the details were concerned, except the insertion of one name. Word came over the cable that Justice Collins had been appointed the second member of the British tribunal and that his appointment had been ratified by the privy council.

   Mr. Cridler, chief of the diplomatic bureau of the state department, had prepared the copies of the treaty for signature, both being in English and unlike the general arbitration treaty being printed on thick red-edged paper.

   Sir Julian came to the state department in company with his attache, Henry Outram Bax-Ironside. Senor Andrade followed in a short time with Mr. Storrow, and the parties were shown at once into Secretary Olney's private office where the secretary was awaiting them. A few minutes delay occurred before Senor Ponte, the attache of the Venezuelan legation, came in and the party proceeded at once to the business of the day.

   Messrs. Cridler and Bax-Ironside made a careful comparison of the two copies, and then Sir Julian signed both of them. Senor Andrade placed his name after Sir Julian, and Mr. Cridler affixed the seals and the treaty was an accomplished fact, save the single act of ratification by the Venezuelan congress.

   The signatures were written with a special pen, a beautiful gold holder and nib, tipped with an eagle feather and ornamented with a gold heart studded with diamonds. This was sent from Venezuela for the purpose and will be the property of Senor Andrade, brother of the minister.

New Swiss Treaty.

   BERNE, Feb. 3.—The federal council has submitted to the United States government the draft of a new extradition treaty to supercede the present treaty, which permits Swiss citizens to be extradited to the United States, contrary to the Swiss extradition laws.

The Great Fire Sale.

   After four weeks of incessant labors Messrs. G. J. Mager & Co. announce their readiness to resume business in their present store with over $25,000 worth of dry goods, carpets and cloaks more or less damaged by the recent fire. This great quantity of merchandise has been worked down to an average of about 50 cents on the dollar, and must all be sold before March 1, as at that time the store will undergo thorough repairs. The store will be opened to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.

BREVITIES.

   —New advertisements to-day are—G. J. Mager & Co., Great Fire Sale, page 4.

   —Mrs. J. H. Seeber of 34 Homer-ave. is ill from a stroke of paralysis suffered Monday evening.

   —Geneva has voted to adopt a city charter. The vote 1213 for, and 750 against; majority 457.

   —The Conservatory of Music opened this morning for the spring term with 150 students in attendance.

   —The Young Men's club of the Baptist church will meet to-night at 8 o'clock. The meeting will be a business meeting.

   —The regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Tioughnioga club will be held at the parlors of the club this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —The jury yesterday in the case of the Cortland Water Works company against Irving Fairchild brought in a verdict for plaintiff amounting to $40.70.

   —The meeting of the Adlake club, which was to have been held in John L.

Lewis lodge rooms to-night, has been postponed until next Wednesday night.

   —The Crescent club will give their third annual masquerade ball in Taylor hall on Friday evening, Feb. 12. No spectators will be admitted. The committee on arrangements is S. D. Alexander, Ralph Wright, M. F. Goodyear, Ed Ringer and Harry Chapin.

   —The Normal opened this morning for the spring term. The day was devoted to the registration of students, giving out of schedules and drawing of books. Over 200 have registered. The first classes will probably pass to-morrow afternoon, when lessons will be assigned.

   —Mr. Herman Bergholtz received a letter from a member of his family in Sweden, informing him of the death of his father on the 19th ultimo, from an attack of pneumonia, lasting only two days. The deceased was a man of exceptional physique and powers, 79 years old.—Ithaca Journal.

   —An effort is being made to get up a party of forty to go to Ithaca next Wednesday night to hear the Bostonians sing "The Bohemian Girl.'' A special train and a one way rate can be obtained if that number will go. Over half of the number have already been secured, and an effort will be made to get the other half.

   —Any person who would like to entertain one or more delegates to the Y. M. C. A. convention, which meets here from Feb 11 to 14, will confer a favor by sending name and address to either the Y. M. C. A. secretary, Mr. Armstrong, or to Mrs. Esther Johnson, chairman of the entertainment committee of the Ladies' Auxiliary, before Tuesday, Feb. 9.

A Guardian Appointed.

   In the matter of Isaac S. Samson, an alleged incompetent person, Hubert T. Bushnell was yesterday appointed by the county court committee of the person and property of the subject. He was required to give bonds in the sum of $8,000 with two sureties, S. N. Holden and A. H. Watkins, to be approved by the county Judge.

   Mr. Samson's counsel was allowed $50 for services in defending the proceedings and $10 disbursements. The petitioners' counsel was allowed $360 for services and $173.54 for disbursements.

Delightful Sleighride Party.

   Miss Grace Warren gave a very delightful sleighride party last evening to several of her young friends. The party left the Dexter House at 7 o'clock, all nicely bundled into J. B. Morris' large pleasure carryall. The party was chaperoned by Miss Warren's aunt, Mrs. H. D. Buckingham of Chicago. The party drove to Homer and about the streets of that village and returned to Cortland and took a short ride about town, returning to the Dexter House, where a very pleasant hour was spent by the young people before separating for their homes.

   The party consisted of Misses Matie Whiteson, Susan Tompkins, Bessie Samson, Lottie Brown, Louise Delavan, Louise Holden, Catharine James, and Messrs. Will Squires, Fred James, John Morgan, Mason Ingalls, T. J. Geer, Joseph Campion and Vernon Peck.

A SLEIGHRIDE PARTY

For Which was Substituted a Deligthful Evening Party.

   For a couple of days Mrs. George H. Leach of 8 Monroe Heights had been planning a sleighride party for last night, to the residence of her brother west of the village, but instead of being among the entertained on that evening she was unexpectedly called upon to perform the part of a hostess. It had been planned that the members of the party should assemble at the store of Warren, Tanner & Co. at the appointed hour last evening. But some members of the party had it on good authority that Mrs. Leach's brother would not be at home, and so planned a little surprise for her.

   The appointed hour arrived, but only two or three, besides Mr. and Mrs. Leach were at the store ready for the start. The team was ready, so the pretext was made to drive back to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leach to get a small table to be used in card playing. When their home was reached Mr. and Mrs. Leach were very much astonished and surprised to find their home taken possession of by the very same party of friends that had been invited to go on the sleighride. Explanations were in order and a most pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent at card playing.