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.