Friday, January 31, 2020

TO RAISE OLD GLORY


Japanese cruiser Naniwa.


Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, July 13, 1897.

TO RAISE OLD GLORY
At Once in Hawaii If Japan Takes Aggressive Action.
   NEW YORK, July 13.—A special to The Herald from Washington says: Any aggressive interference on the part of Japan will result in the landing of blue jackets and marines and the hoisting of the American flag over the Hawaiian Islands with or without the ratification of the pending annexation treaty.
   The administration, realizing that some crisis might arise while the treaty still hangs fire in the senate, has taken steps to be prepared for any emergency. Rear Admiral Beardslee will have, when the next steamer arrives in Honolulu, instructions giving him power to act in the manner indicated above at the first sign of aggression on the part of Japan, or trouble of any kind with which the local authorities are not able to cope.
   It was not until after the receipt of the last mail advices from Hawaii that the officials considered it necessary to issue any specific instructions to the American minister and the naval commander at Hawaii regarding the course to be pursued in the event of trouble. These advices were of such a nature as to cause a conference between the state and navy department officials which have resulted in the instructions, which contemplate the landing of marines and the hoisting of the American flag over the government buildings in Honolulu on the first sign of interference by any foreign nation.
   While believing the reports concerning the possible aggression by Japan were unnecessarily alarming, the authorities have considered it prudent
to have the American representatives in Hawaii clothed with all necessary authority to act promptly and forcibly if the occasion should arise. They do not now believe that Japan, knowing the positive purpose of the United States to annex the islands, will go beyond a little diplomacy to prevent the consummation of that policy.
   Rear Admiral Beardslee will be given sufficient force to carry out any program that events may force upon him. It is definitely settled that the battleship Oregon, now en route to San Francisco from Seattle, will be dispatched to Hawaii as soon as she can be prepared for the voyage. This will give Admiral Beardslee three vessels—the Oregon, Philadelphia and Marion. Japan has at present only one vessel in the harbor at Honolulu, the cruiser Naniwa. She has another cruiser at San Francisco awaiting orders which may take her to the Hawaiian Islands.
   Members of the senate committee on foreign relations, having been informed of the purpose of the administration to assume control of affairs in Hawaii in the event of Japanese interference, do not consider that the annexation treaty is endangered by delay. The treaty will be reported to the senate, but unless some unexpected emergency arises it is not the present intention of the committeemen to press it to a final vote during the present session. They are seemingly not at all worried by the protests and threatening manner of Japan.


GENERAL BANDERA DEAD.
Noted Insurgent Leader Meets Death During a Battle.
   HAVANA, July 13.—Reports from Sancti Spiritus confirms the rumor that General Quintin Bandera, who commanded the insurgents in the engagement on July 5 at Papaya Heights, was killed during the fight.
   Captain General Weyler, who left Sancti Spiritus in the latter part of last week with the Asturias battalion surprised a camp of the insurgents near Jarico, and a sharp engagement took place. Among the killed was the well-known Dr. Hernandez.
   The Yberia squadron, while reconnoitering near Guanabana, on the north coast in the province of Pinar del Rio, encountered a large band of insurgents, killed 19 and captured 2.
   The Spanish destroyed the huts at the salt mines and a sugar mill.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
State Camp at Peekskill in an Uproar.
CORPORAL M'DONALD KILLED.
Many Other Soldiers Are Badly Torn, Burned or Rendered Unconscious—
McDonald Was to Have Been Married on Saturday Evening Next.
   NEW YORK, July 13.—Lightning struck in the state camp at Peekskill. One man was killed, and many others were badly hurt.
   The storm at Peekskill was a terrific one. Rain fell during the entire day, and as a result, the men did not have many duties to perform. A number of them gathered in the Young Men's Christian association tent, which was commodious and occupied generally by those who had reading or letter writing to do.
   There was a blinding flash of lightning, and in a moment the tent was down and in flames. A general alarm was sounded, and the guardsmen and ambulance corps came at double quick.
   Almost every man who had been under the canvas was shocked by the lightning.
   Corporal J. J. McDonald, of Company A, Twenty-second regiment, was dead. Half a dozen more men were unconscious.
   The body of Corporal McDonald was the first taken from the ruins. The surgeons worked over it for an hour or more, but their efforts were fruitless. Those who were knocked unconscious were revived, some of them only with great difficulty and one or two of the men are still in a serious condition.
   Those who suffered the most are:
   Private H. Pringle, Company E. The bolt struck him on the right leg above the knee, badly marking it. The flesh at the ankle was blistered and the shoe torn off. The whole leg was paralyzed.
   Private A. Sylvester, Company I; struck on the left leg, leg badly burned.
   Private A. D. Schaffer; no visible marks but suffering from shock.
   Private J. W. Crawford, Company A, general shock. He was seated beside Corporal McDonald, and was struck unconscious.
   Private J. F. Lutz, Company C, burned along the right thigh and ankle, was unconscious when taken out. He was suffering from shock and nervous prostration.
   Private J. L. Duncan, Fourteenth Separate company, burned on the left forearm and hand; right wrist burned.
   Private Wagner, Sixteenth Separate company, right side and foot burned.
   Private Fred Gerber, Forty-seventh Separate company, shoe torn from right foot.
   Walter Francis, negro, badly bruised and left arm burned; Francis was thrown through the tent by the shock.
   Manager Schefield of the Young Men's Christian association, general shock.
   Benjamin Steamer and J. Owen, both negroes, waiters in the restaurant, suffering from shock and slightly burned.
   Everything possible was done hastily to make the men as comfortable as possible, and the most of them are progressing favorably.
   For a short time the whole camp was in an uproar and it was feared that the fatalities would number more than one.
   Corporal McDonald's body was placed in a tent and a guard assigned to do duty over it. The colors were placed at half-mast.
   Corporal McDonald lived with his mother at 447 West Thirty-fourth street, this city. He was 22 years old. He had been a member of the Twenty-second regiment since 1893, and was looked upon as an exemplary soldier. He was to have been married next Saturday evening upon the return of the regiment from camp.
   The letter which McDonald had just written was found. It was, as supposed, to the young woman whom he was to have married. It was signed, "Yours until death, Jim."
   He is said to have been in the act of addressing the envelope, having just signed the letter, when the bolt struck the tent.

Killed by Lightning.
   GENEVA, N. Y., July 13.—During the heavy thunder storm that passed over this city Thomas Rue was struck by lightning and killed instantly. Rue was employed as a laborer in one of the local nurseries. He was lowering a window to keep out the rain when the lightning struck him near his shoulders. The current passed down his legs and through his feet, burning the flesh and tearing his shoes.

Walter Wellman.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.

Gathered From the Sea of Washington News.
UNCLE SAM'S DAMAGED STAMPS.
A Chickamauga Belle—Attractive Southern Girls—Information For the Fair Daughters of the North
—Land So Poor That It Will Not Raise a Disturbance.
   WASHINGTON, July 18.—(Special.)— Many complaints have reached the postoffice [sic] department during the past month concerning the quality of the adhesive gum used on postage stamps. In the excessively hot weather which has prevailed throughout the country many business firms and individuals have suffered loss or annoyance through the sticking of postage stamps to other objects than the letters for which they were intended. Every one knows how provoking it is to buy a lot of stamps at a postoffice or agency and to find them all run together when they are wanted for use. It is believed that if a better quality of adhesive glue were used there would be less trouble of this sort. The postoffice department has authority to redeem spoiled postage stamps, and in an average year $250,000 worth of damaged stamps are replaced by new ones. But the authority to do this does not extend to "stuck" stamps—only to those whose face has been ink-marked or accidentally canceled, so that they could not be accepted in the mails.
Uncle Sam's Finest.
   Uncle Sam has a very nice little trust in the postage stamp business, and he ought to turn out a more satisfactory article. At the present time the cost of manufacturing and delivering postage stamps to any part of the country is only 6 cents per thousand, and as a thousand twos are worth $20 it is easy to see that the government has a wide margin of profit. Notwithstanding the apparent difficulty of working off to advantage bogus stamps, frequent attempts are made to produce counterfeit postage stamps. The secret service makes a number of arrests every year for this offense. In a single year the bureau of engraving and printing here turns out more than $80,000,000 worth of stamps, and about $12,000,000 worth of stamped envelopes are also used. It is a remarkable fact that there is enough carelessness in this country to make it possible for the government to sell in a single year $450,000 worth of postage due stamps, principally ones and twos.
   While President McKinley and his party were at Chattanooga last month General Grosvenor of Ohio was approached by a one armed Confederate veteran. The old fellow had for sale bullets and other souvenirs of Chickamauga battlefield. He warranted them all genuine. One piece of flattened lead he placed in General Grosvenor's hand, with the remark that he had himself cut it from a tree on the battlefield.
   "Was it a Federal or Confederate bullet?" asked General Grosvenor.
   "Federal," replied the veteran promptly. "We didn't shoot at trees."
   General Grosvenor bought the relic as a reward for the old fellow's wit.
A Decided Attraction.
   Among the Chattanooga gentlemen who escorted the presidential party over the field of Chickamauga it was discovered that of nine in one group seven were from the state of Ohio, and all seven had served in the Union army, most of them having been present at the battle of Chickamauga.
   "How do you account for so many Ohio soldiers coming back to Chattanooga after the war was over to find homes?" I asked.
   "Well, I guess it was in part because we liked the scenery of this beautiful spot," replied one of the gentleman, "but in my case I am willing to confess that it was a southern girl. I met her while I was soldiering here, and I told her that after the war was over and the rebels had been whipped I should come back to claim her. She said the rebels never would be whipped, and that if they were and I came back here she wouldn't speak to me. She was so much of a southern woman that one day she was up there on Lookout mountain and she begged the artillerymen to let her pull the lanyards of a gun. They consented, and she fired a gun at the Union troops in the valley below, of whom I was I one."
   "And you came back after the war was over?"
   "Yes, and the girl said that inasmuch as all the other Confederates had surrendered she was going to stay with them and surrender too. We have been married now for a quarter of a century."
   This little story brought out the interesting fact that of the seven Ohio men who had returned to Chattanooga after spending some time there as soldiers five had been hired back by the wiles of Tennessee maidens whom they had met while doing duty as young soldiers in the town between the hills. To this day one can understand why a man would be willing to give up his home and his family and his party, and if necessary conceal his convictions, in order to take as wife one of those fair southern girls.
The Glories of Dixie.
   It is rather odd, though, and of the fact I am assured by a good many people in Nashville, Chattanooga and other southern cities, that the southern young men have a weakness for northern girls. Whenever a northern girl goes south to visit relatives, she may as well make up her mind that she is going to be married. It would be ungallant to say that northern girls purposely hunt up southern relatives and hint for an invitation to pay them a visit, but the large number of matrimonial ventures indulged by northern girls and southern young men has become a well recognized social tradition in Dixie.
   Henry Clay Evans, now commissioner of pensions and one of the most popular men in Tennessee, tried to explain to President McKinley what a rich and productive country Tennessee was. After he had dilated for some time on the glories of his native state Mr. Evans was a little surprised to hear the president ask:
   "Haven't you any poor land in Tennessee?"
   "Oh, yes, Mr. President," replied Evans, who well knows the value of apparent sincerity when he wants to have a tall story believed. "Oh, yes. We have a leetle land in this state which is said to be so poor that the people can't even raise a disturbance on it."
   WALTER WELLMAN.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
Decided Upon by the Board of Education Last Night.
   The [Cortland] board of education held its regular monthly meeting last night. The resignation of Miss Eleanor E. Miller as principal at the Central school was accepted. Her successor has not yet been named. The revised course of study was reported with the approval of the state superintendent of public instruction, and was authorized by the board. The new course provides for one more year's work in the Central school, that is, a forty-eight count Regents' certificate for graduation, and also for admission to the Normal.
   Some of the school buildings and grounds will be improved. A new porch will be provided for the Pomeroy-st. school, the grounds about the Owego-st. building will be nicely graded, and minor improvements and changes will be made in the other ward schools.




BREVITIES.
   —There will be a joint meeting of the session and board of trustees of the Presbyterian church at the pastor's study to-night at 8 o'clock.
   —A special meeting of the A. O. H. will be held at Empire hall, Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock to make further arrangements for the excursion to the Thousand Islands.
   —At a special meeting of the Epworth league of the First M. E. church last
night, Mr. C. F. Weiler was elected president in place of Mr. J. G. Marshall, resigned on account of leaving town.
   —New display advertisements to-day are—D. McCarthy & Co., University Bicycles, page 6; C. T. Brown, Ideal Photographer, page 4; A. S. Burgess, Summer Shirts, page 8; D. E. Shepard, Life's Lessons, page 4.
   —While "Hawk," the proprietor of the Chinese hand laundry on Clinton-ave., was out on an errand Saturday evening, some stranger entered his place of business and relieved the money drawer of its contents, between $2 and $3 in change.
   —The Congregational church and Sunday-school who are to picnic at Sylvan Beach to-morrow will doubtless read with pleasure the weather report to-day "Tuesday night and Wednesday fair." The special train leaves the Lehigh Valley station at 9 o'clock.
   —The funeral of Abram F. Lewis will be held from the home of his nephew, L. Huguenin, 187 Port Watson-st., at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. The remains will be taken on the 9:48 A. M. train over the Lehigh Valley and interment will be made at Tribe's Hill.
   —The Northern Pacific Railroad company's land car is at the D., L. & W. station to-day and is being visited by large crowds. This is the same car that was at the Lehigh Valley station some weeks since and which was then described in detail in The STANDARD.
   —Miss Jennie Bell, who was so seriously burned April 29 at Judge Eggleston's by her clothing catching fire from contact with the flames while burning waste paper in the yard, was able to be removed Saturday night in Beard & Peck's ambulance to her home near East Homer.
   —The attention of baseball enthusiasts is called to the table of standings of the State league clubs, which is absolutely correct according to the president of the State league, and which agrees with the record kept by The STANDARD, showing that the record has been correctly kept, while that published by other papers has been incorrect.

McGRAWVILLE.
Crisp local Happenings at the Corset City.
   Floyd Ensign and Miss Florence Baker of Centre Lisle were at Miss Baker's uncle's, A. A. Borthwick, on Sunday.
   Mr. Ensign called on his grandmother, Mrs. Alma Ensign, who is reported as no better.
   Rollo Dibble returned Monday evening from a brief trip to Binghamton and Westville. Mrs. Goodell and daughter Julia will remain for a few weeks.
   Mrs. Elizabeth Snyder Roberts of Syracuse spent a few days with Miss Corey last week. She is arranging the program for the Round Table at Tully [Lake] Chautauqua assembly which promises to be more interesting than ever before.
   Rodney Morse, who is having great success in selling the Champion threshers, is in Stella, N. Y., on business connected with that machine. Among those sold by him last week was one in Marathon.
   William Gleason has just finished the erection of a large barn for Watts O'Brien which speaks highly for the ability of the master workman.
   Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle of Syracuse are guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Harvey.
   A. P. McGraw has in his grove in the rear of his residence many fine trees which have reached a size to be enjoyed during sultry midsummer days, but of all the varieties there is none equal to a splendid magnolia tree now full of the most fragrant blossoms. Your reporter's sanctum still bears the perfume of a large cluster with which he was recently favored.
   Rev. N. S. Burd and family left Monday for a two weeks' visit to his mother in Hornellsville.
   Merton Hammond of Bridgeport, Conn., who is visiting his parents here, received a reminder of the friends left behind which proved their remembrance of him as well as their ideas of art.
 
 

Thursday, January 30, 2020

DRYDEN CENTENNIAL, PART TWO




Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, July 12, 1897.

DRYDEN CENTENNIAL.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE HEAT ALL ENJOYED THE DAY.

Judge Eggleston's Excellent Address—Partial List of the Relics and Curiosities Exhibited—Notes on a Variety of Subjects Connected with the Celebration.

   The morning meeting and exercises of the forenoon at Dryden, which was detailed in The STANDARD Saturday, closed promptly at 12 o'clock and an adjournment was then taken for dinner. Many who had brought their dinners picnicked at the fair grounds and spent the interval in talking over old times and in taking a look at the relics which were on exhibition at the fair building and in the log cabin. These exhibits contained many rare and valuable relics and formed the center of attraction for a large crowd during the entire afternoon. Portraits of the pioneers and early residents of Dryden, whose history would be the history of the town itself, formed an interesting collection. Among these were noted the pictures of Judge Ellis, more familiarly known to the older residents as King Ellis; Major Peleg Ellis, who led the Dryden company at the battle of Queenstown in the war of 1812; Assemblyman Elias W. Cady, Luther and Leonard Griswold, Eleck Jameson, John Hiles, David J. Baker and many others whose names are identified with the early history of the town.

   Spinning wheels, reels and swifts as they were used olden times were on exhibition. There was a copy of a call for volunteers, dated Aug. 15, 1864; a rocker over 200 years old, which belonged to "Jennie McCrea's aunt's parlor suit;" old Bibles dating back 150 years and more; a copy of the Catechism published in 1764; an old griddle, hammered out by hand in 1800, belonging to Joseph Genung; a snuff box picked up at Tarrytown, N. Y., and said to be over 200 years old; hand made linen, whose history dates back 150 years; a copy of a work on surgery published in 1867; an old almanac for the year 1814; a memorandum book 104 years old; map of Tompkins county in 1833; old flint lock guns, swords and army relics which had been used in Revolutionary times; a candlestick of curious design whittles out of wood; a saw used by Daniel White in building the first gristmill in the town in 1800; a copy of the first paper printed in Dryden, called Rumsey's Companion, dated March 11, 1857; an old deed with seal given to Beneni Ballard Aug. 26, 1790; an old tin lantern; a collection of pewter plates and Indian relics; a glass bottle over 100 years old, brought from Scotland by Daniel Lamont; a colonial taper, old sickle and pair of tailor shears, used by Nathan Ferris more than 100 years ago; a cheesebox, 120 years old; a sauce dish, 140 years old; a grandfather's clock and old secretary brought by the Ellis family from Rhode
Island in 1800; a cane, which belonged to Captain George Robertson; an ivory-headed cane, belonging to I. Ellis, made from wood taken from Perry's flagship; and a letter written in 1808, before the day of rapid delivery of mail, addressed to Mr. Lewis Fortner, Dryden, Cayuga Co., care of Post M, Milton. These and many other curious relics carried one back in imagination to those early days and presented a marked contrast to the improvements made during the century which has passed.

   The interior of the log cabin was intended to represent conditions as they existed one hundred years ago. The fireplace with its logs, andirons, and all the old time cooking utensils; the iron candle sticks with tallow dip, and snuffers, the spinning wheel and flax, the warming pan and the many articles hanging about the walls formed a striking contrast with the modern house and its furnishings. Mrs. A. L. Hutchings was in charge of the cabin and during a part of the day Mrs. John Lormor, 73 years of age sat at the spinning wheel and gave a practical exhibition of spinning. The thread which she spun from the flax was sold as souvenirs and was in great demand. The millstone which was noticed just outside the log cabin was one which was cut near Freeville by Daniel White in 1800, and was used for over thirty years in the mill at Freeville, which was the first gristmill built in the town.

   At 2 P. M. the formal exercises of the day commenced, and the following program was admirably carried out under the direction of Mr. Geo. E. Goodrich, who presided at the meeting:

   Music, Orchestra.

   Music, Band.

   Prayer, Rev. F. L. Hiller.

   Music, Hail Heroic Fathers, Orchestra and Chorus.

   Poem, Alexander's Feast, John Dryden, read by Prof. Geo. Williams.

   Music, Auld Lang Syne, Orchestra and Chorus.

   Recitation, First Settler's Story, Will Carlton, Miss Victoria Moore.

   Music, The Old Log Cabin, Air of Marching Through Georgia, Orchestra and Chorus.

   Address, Hon. J. B. Eggleston.

   Song, Chorus.

   Benediction.

   The music, which was in charge of F. S. Howe, was an important part of the day's program. Nearly all the songs had been written expressly for the occasion and the large chorus and entire audience joined heartily in singing them.

   The address by Hon. J. E. Eggleston of Cortland was the principle feature of the afternoon's program. The address was an ideal one for the occasion. The older people, who were present in rather larger numbers than usual, listened to it with marked attention and had none but words of praise for the speaker and his address at its close. It was of interest to the younger people in that it had to do with not only the past but pointed out valuable lessons for the present and contained words of inspiration and hope for the future.

   The sun was beating down fiercely upon the roof of the grandstand, the speaker's platform and the intervening space and the temperature was well up in the nineties when the judge began his address. Notwithstanding the fact that the address was delivered in the open air and that some parts of the audience were quite a distance from the speaker every one heard distinctly. Judge Eggleston spoke in part as follows:

   Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I do not know why it was that I had the distinguished honor of being invited to be the speaker here to-day inasmuch as I am not a citizen of your town, unless it was that I was born and brought up within sight of the grand old hills of Dryden. We live in an age of celebrations and I want to talk to you from the aspiration of the exercises of the day.

   One hundred years ago this morning the sun as it rose above yonder hilltop looked down upon the primeval forest. As yet the pioneer had not disturbed the quiet of the peaceful valley and the first settlers had not laid the foundation work for the town of Dryden as it exists to-day. What a story is the history of the founding of any community. What a story of trials and privations; of joys and sorrows. The people who undertook such a task entered upon their work with the determination to succeed and that in itself was half the battle. With a definite object in view they bent every energy to accomplish the desired result. The early settlers were men of industry. They were men of resolution and determination. In their solitude they had time and room to think. The average man of to-day is too artificial. He does not think enough for himself, he is too much of a society man, and when you find a man who gives himself up to the demands of society he is apt to be at the tail end of the procession in the other affairs of life. The average man of to-day possesses less of independence, strength of character and principle than distinguished our fathers. The times and conditions in which they lived were favorable for developing such characters. Solitude tends to develop these qualities. The discipline of reflection is necessary for the formation of a well rounded character. The solitary maple standing alone in a field develops with more symmetry than the tree of the forest.  Success is born of reflection.

   The town of Dryden received its name from a great poet. There is much in a name. Dryden, honored and loved, has thus a monument erected to his memory, more lasting than marble, which shall endure throughout the ages.  There is much of enjoyment in this meeting here to-day when we can in a measure live over other days. How pleasant the trees and hills and skies! and what memories of the past. Time makes rapid changes. Look forward and one hundred years seems a long time; look backward and it seems but a span.

   The speaker then referred to the progress made by our country during the

past century and contrasted the conditions as they existed one hundred years ago with the conditions to-day, touched upon some of the great questions and problems which demand settlement and said:

   This is the land our fathers loved and we are enjoying the blessings gained by them. We need more of the faith of our fathers. Faith is a heritage of our people. It should be one of the earliest lessons learned and should never be forgotten. What a corner stone upon which to build the foundations of liberty. We want to live more in the simplicity of our fathers. We are living too fast. If we would practice more the economy and sacrifice of those early days we should be the better for it. That nation whose God is the Lord will live long and prosper upon the earth.

   The American home is the strongest institution in our land to-day. Much has been said here about what our fathers did in establishing this nation, all glory to them, but I want to say a word for the mothers of this land. While the men were fighting for liberty and the salvation of the nation, the wives and mothers were praying and the latter was of as much importance as the former.

   You find enjoyment in this celebration here to-day because you have contributed something to make the town of Dryden what it is. Heretofore we have been thinking of the past, but this will avail nothing for the future. The chances for advancement are as great to-day as they were 100 years ago. There are questions to be settled as great as ever confronted any age. To what teacher shall we go to learn the lessons of economy and thrift which are necessary to solve the problems of life? To what statesman shall we turn for the solution of great national questions? The strength of our government to-day is found in the fact that the power is in the hands of the common people. I have no fear for the future of my country. I can indulge in anticipation for the success of its future.

   In conclusion, I call upon the old men so many of whom I see about me, see to it that the fires kindled up on the hearthstones of your fathers be kept burning. I call upon you, young men, that you remember whose sons you are. I call upon you all to enlist in the great army of those who neither paused nor swerved in the paths of duty, to press on and attain whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, so that others when they speak of your good deeds shall rise up and call you blessed.


Lord vs. Cooper, Reversed.

   Attorney John H. Kelley has been notified that the appellate division has handed down its decision in favor of the appellant, Orlando Cooper, reversing the judgment of Justice Dowd and Judge Eggleston, rendered in favor of William Lord, the plaintiff, for $50 and costs.
   This action was brought by Lord to recover the value of two horses and a phaeton distrained from him and sold to satisfy his village taxes for 1895, by Orlando Cooper, collector of the village of McGrawville. Attorneys Bouton & Champlin were plaintiff's counsel and claimed that the collector's process was invalid by reason of an alleged defective assessor's oath appearing upon the face of the process. Lawyer Kelley contended that the statute did not specifically provide for an oath verifying the assessor's roll, and that for all purposes relating to the collector's defense the form of oath used was wholly immaterial. In this position he seems to be fully sustained by the appellate court, and thus scores a notable triumph for himself as a lawyer and for the village authorities whom he represented in this litigation.
   He informs us that Mr. Lord has on several occasions of late joked him about milking the "farrow cow" (the village of McGrawville), and lawyer fashion, he smilingly adds that he thinks he will presently try what can be drawn from the full udders of the new milch cow which this decision brings to his hand.

The Woman's Home.
   The papers have been signed and delivered transferring the Fairchild property on Port Watson-st. to Mrs. E. M. Moore, as stated a few days ago in The STANDARD would soon occur. Mrs. Moore has decided to call this "The Woman's Home" to distinguish it from the Old Ladies' Home at Homer, and thinks it especially appropriate as there is no age limit put upon they applicants for admission. The house will be vacated August 1, and the work of repairs will be begun at once, and steps will also be taken immediately to incorporate the Home. Two ladies from each church will be selected to form the corporation and board of managers.

A Visit to Rochester.
   Several of the employees of the Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co. spent the Fourth and several days following last week at Rochester. Among the number were Mr. William Youngblut, superintendent and foreman of the foundry, Mr. Val Hetzler, foreman of the nickel department, Mr. Adam Miller, foreman of the mounting floor, Mr. William Miller, Mr. Thos. McAuliff and Mr. John Glass.
   The city was the former home of Messrs. Youngblut, Hetzler and the Millers. During their stay Messrs. Hetzler, Glass and McAuliff visited the state hospital for the insane in company with Supervisor Kellar of the Seventeenth ward and John Zimbrick, the well-known florist, and were shown through the institution by Superintendent Webster, of whose courtesy they speak in the highest terms. The boys were also entertained at dinner at The Livingston by Mr. F. A. Reynolds. They saw the chief sights of the city pretty thoroughly during their stay, and came back to Cortland well rested and full of good words for those who had helped to make their visit pleasant.

A Series of Promotions.
   Mr. Howard J. Drake, who for some time has been the general ledger clerk at the National bank of Cortland, has resigned that position to become the bookkeeper at the factory of the Cortland Carriage Goods Co. Mr. Charles M. DeVany, who has been the bookkeeper, has been promoted to attend to another branch of the rapidly increasing business of this prosperous concern.   Mr. Drake is succeeded at the bank by Mr. Clayton E. Mudge, who has been promoted from the position of correspondence clerk, and he in turn is succeeded by Mr. James A. Corwin, a recent graduate of Joiners' business school. Mr. Corwin was also graduated a little longer time ago from the ranks of The STANDARD'S carriers, in which position he distinguished himself by his regularity, faithfulness and fidelity, and it is expected that in his new place of employment he will be characterized by the same qualities for which he was so well known at this office.


BREVITIES.
   —The annual picnic of St. Mary's Catholic church and congregation will be held at the park on Saturday, July 17.
   —New display advertisements to-day are—Palmer Bros., Special Sale, page 4; Bingham Bros. & Miller, Clothing, page 8: Case & Ruggles, Look Out, page 6.
   —A thermometer on the west wall of the McWhorter building, in a position where the sun shone upon it, registered 135 degrees at 3 P. M. yesterday.—Ithaca Journal, Saturday.
   —Mr. Lucius Townley, who has been in failing health for several months, died yesterday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. J. Warfield, 137 Groton-ave., at the age 75 years, 5 months and 4 days. The funeral service will be held at the house to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock and burial will be made at McLean.
   —Mr. Abram F. Lewis died this morning at the residence of his nephew, L. Huguenin, 187 Port Watson-st. He was 73 years, 3 months and 25 days of age. The funeral arrangements have not been completed. Deceased was a veteran of the Civil war, serving in Co. C., One Hundred Fifty-Third New York Volunteers.