CHANGING EARTH'S ATTRACTION AND JAPAN'S WARSHIPS

William Crookes.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, Aug. 5, 1897.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Changing Earth's Attraction.

   That was a curious line of speculation along which Professor William Crookes led his hearers in an address before the Society For Psychical Research. He asked them to suppose, first, that the power of the attraction of gravitation was doubled. Then the earth would draw everything to itself with prodigious force. Man would have to be twice as strong as he is now to keep himself upright at all. "It would be hard to rise from the ground, to run, leap, climb, drag or carry any object." Our bones would have to be very heavy and large, our muscles the same. To support this huge body we should be obliged to have larger digestive apparatus and eat twice as much food. Big, strong jaws and teeth would be necessary. It would be much easier for man to crawl upon the ground than to walk. Creatures of the air, butterflies, humming birds and bees would become extinct owing to the difficulty of flying.

   Creatures with long bodies and short legs, running close to the ground, would increase in number and the serpent type would probably be in the ascendant. Birds could scarcely fly at all against the tremendous force that pulled them down to the ground. Man would be transformed into a being, "stunted, thick limbed, flat footed, with enormous jaws underlying a diminutive skull."

   On the other hand, says Professor Crookes, suppose the power of gravitation to be diminished by one half. The physical structure of all creatures upon the earth would be changed to correspond. Man would become light of weight, tall and slender. "We should be able to lift heavier weights, to take longer bounds, to move with greater swiftness and to undergo prolonged muscular exertion with less fatigue, possibly to fly."

   We should skim along the ground, scarcely touching more than the tips of our toes; there would be a sense of lightness, case and power of locomotion to which mankind are strangers how.

   Finally the professor points out curiously enough that our highest ideals of physical beauty center in the type of man that decreased attraction of gravitation would produce, while the lowest and most evil thing our imagination pictures is the type that would become common if the earth's attraction were doubled—the serpent.

   ◘ The greatest excitement prevails in Chinatown, San Francisco, that has been started since the time of Dennis Kearney and the sand lot riots. The Chinese consul general at San Francisco sent word to his fellow countrymen that they must scrub up their town and henceforth and forever keep it clean. He commands them to do this that the emperor at home in China may not be scandalized. The benighted heathen of Chinatown know no better than to believe they are obliged to obey him literally, so that this command, which they need not comply with at all if they only knew it, will clean up the Chinese quarters at San Francisco more effectually than the lawful health authorities have ever been able to do.

Latest Hawaiian Information.

   WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.—The last Hawaiian mail to reach the state department brings the record of events on the islands up to the 21st of last month. Minister Sewall reports that, in the opinion of the best informed people of the islands, the Japanese government will be amply content with a recognition by the Hawaiians of the principle for which they contend without insisting upon substantial pecuniary damages. The future conduct of the negotiations has been transferred from Honolulu to Tokio. No reference was made in the dispatches to the reported intention to establish a protectorate.

Japanese warship Fuji.

JAPAN'S WARSHIPS.

SHE IS RAPIDLY BECOMING A GREAT NAVAL POWER.

New Vessels Are Being Built For Her by English, French, German and American Contractors—Russia and This Country Alone Are Lagging In This Respect.

   Charles H. Cramp returned recently from London, where he went as a delegate to the international congress of naval architects and marine engineers.

   During his stay abroad the shipbuilder made a thorough inspection of the Elswick shipyard, owned by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., in Newcastle-on-Tyne, as well as of several other shipyards.

   "There can be no questioning the fact that Japan is putting herself in a position to be a formidable power on the sea," Mr. Cramp said. "Let me give you an idea of what she is doing. Of battleships, she has contracted orders for three, each of 14,800 tons, or larger than the United States battleship Indiana, and with a speed of 18 knots, and for two of 12,300 tons, with a speed of 19 1/4 knots. The latter two are the Fuji and the Yashima. Both are completed, with their crews on board, and are waiting in English waters ready to sail at a moment's notice.

   "Then she has four armored cruisers building, each of 9,600 tons, and with a contracted speed of 20 knots. Two fast protected cruisers of 4,360 tons, with a speed of 23 1/2 knots, complete the list of large ships building or just completed in England for the Japanese, although there is a contract in course of preparation which calls for one other armored cruiser of 10,000 tons.

   "But these do not constitute the entire preparation the ambitious Japanese are making to take care of themselves in the event of trouble. They have four torpedo boat destroyers of 30 knots speed, and similar to the British destroyers of like speed, building at Yarrow, four others just like them at Thorneycroft, and one more at Schiehau. Then work is being rapidly pushed at Normand on four torpedo boats, at Schiehau on eight and on four more of the same type of vessel at Normand.

   "Add to this list the two cruisers now building in this country, two more in

France and two in Germany and you can readily see that the Japanese government isn't letting the grass grow under its feet as far as a navy is concerned."

   "In what stages of progress are the new vessels?" Mr. Cramp was asked.

   "Various stages," he replied, "but the work on them is going steadily ahead. Two of the first class armored cruisers can be launched this fall. As I said, the battleships Fuji and Yashima are ready to go into commission. One of the 14,800 ton battleships is an exact duplicate of the English battleship Jupiter."

   Mr. Cramp declined to express an opinion as to Japan's intentions toward this country or to say whether he thought the activity displayed by the Japanese in building up a powerful navy had any especial significance in that direction. "The Japanese are ambitious," was all he would say.

   Japan is not the only country, according to Mr. Cramp, that is having powerful warships constructed. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co.'s yards have 40 such vessels under way, including a first class armored cruiser for Chile, two fast protected cruisers for China, one for Portugal, three for Brazil, two armorclads for Norway, with several cruisers for England. Many of the other English shipyards are engaged in similar work.

   "In fact," said Mr. Cramp, "this country and Russia are the only ones which seem to have been lulled into the belief that they have all the navy necessary."

   Mr. Cramp smiled when asked what the United States ought to do under the circumstances.

   "I've given you facts as I have found them," he replied. "It will be better to let your readers draw their own conclusions."—New York Herald.

EXCLUSION OF CHINESE.

Hawaiian Government to Issue No More Residence Permits.

   SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5.—The news that Hawaii had virtually excluded the Chinese is confirmed by Honolulu advices brought by the Australian. When the annexation proposition was made to the United States, one of the principal clauses was that Chinese immigration should cease. As a start in this direction the Hawaiian government has decided to issue no more six months' residence permits to Chinese or to execute any bonds for contract laborers to arrive.

   The German ship H. F. Glade arrived in Honolulu on July 26, with nearly 200 contract laborers. They will supplant the Japanese on the sugar plantation. This crowd consisted of 115 laborers, twenty-five women and forty-seven children. The nationalities are mixed, there being many Poles and Austrians, as well as Germans. The contracts show that the men are to be paid $16 a month the first year, $17 the second and $18 the third, in addition to the regular food and lodging given by the plantations.

Cortland Police Court.

   Emmett Card of East Homer was in town yesterday afternoon and in the evening Officer Gooding arrested him on the charge of public intoxication. This morning he pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned until 2 P. M.

   Benjamin Cheney, a farmer residing west of the village, was apprehended shortly after 6 o'clock last evening by Police Justice Mellon, who at that time was standing at the corner of Main and Tompkins-sts., when Mr. Cheney, driving a double team attached to a platform wagon, turned the corner from Main-st. to Tompkins-st. As the team started to go around the corner on a trot, a small boy stepped from the curb directly in front of the team and horses and wagon passed over him.

   The boy, who proved to be a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Winslow of 130

Main-st., was picked up by J. B. Stillson, apparently none the worse except the scare. The boy walked down home. Police Justice Mellon apprehended Mr. Cheney on the spot and that gentleman stated that he did not know that he had run over the boy. He said he did not see the boy. The boy received a bump on the head which swelled considerably, but as yet no serious injuries have been noticed. Mr. Cheney was allowed to go on his own recognizance until Saturday.

Gone to Waverly.

   Most of the firemen of Cortland are in Waverly to-day attending the annual convention of the Central New York Firemen's association. Both the D., L. & W. and Lehigh Valley roads ran excursions, special trains leaving Cortland at 7 o'clock this morning. The members of the Orris, Water Witch, Emerald and Hitchcock Hose companies and Excelsior Hook and Ladder company, accompanied by the Cortland City band, went over the D., L. & W., while many went by the Lehigh.

A Slight Blaze.

   Fire was discovered in an out house on the premises of Joseph Collins on River-st. at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. An alarm of fire was sent in, but before any of the firemen who had remained at home from the convention at Waverly could respond the fire was extinguished and word sent to headquarters that the service of the department was not needed. The building was destroyed. The origin of the fire is not known.

Judge A. P. Smith.

Grand Army of the Republic Notes.

   At the meeting of Grover post, No. 98, G. A. R., Major A. Sager presented the post with a cast of General Grant, and Capt. J. W. Strowbridge presented the American flag owned by the late Judge A. P. Smith.

   Samuel N. Holden has been elected a trustee of the Cortland Monumental association in place of Judge A. P. Smith, deceased.

Wright-Eaton.

   A pretty home wedding occurred last evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Wright, 93 Elm-st., when their only son, Mr. Leland Wright, was united in marriage with Miss Emily Eaton. The house was prettily decorated with palms, sweet peas and draperies. The ceremony was performed at 8 o'clock by Rev. W. H. Pound, pastor of the Congregational church, in the presence of the immediate relatives and friends of the bride and groom. The bride was becomingly attired in a dress of white tulle. After congratulations were over an elaborate wedding supper was served. The presents were numerous and appropriate.

   Mr. and Mrs. Wright left last night for a two weeks' wedding trip to be spent with friends and relatives near Auburn and Moravia. On their return they will live with Mr. Wright's parents at 93 Elm-st.

   Those present from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Patten and son

Frank, Mr. and Mrs. John Patterson and Mrs. Edward Patterson of Moravia, Mr. and Mrs. Dey Sellen and daughter Edith, Miss Nellie Young and Mr. Earl Young of Genoa, Misses Lulu Kinney, Gertrude Gardner and Cora Houghton and Messrs. Louis Bean and A. W. Chapin of McGrawville, and Miss Grace Wright of Groton.

Property Transfers.

   There is some movement in real estate in this vicinity, in spite of hard times, with a promise of more sales to come. Mr. L. M. Loope sold yesterday for Mrs. Theodore Cornwell and Mrs. H. P. Gray a part of their lot, 180 Main-st., to Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt. This, with a part of a lot that can be taken from Mrs. Hyatt's Maybury lot, will make one of the finest building places on Main-st. Mr. Loope has also sold the Gallinger property in the north part of the village to Mr. P. Dalton, and the Doubleday farm of 100 acres on East river to Lewis A. Clark.

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—D. E. Shepard, Drygoods, page 4.

   —Ice cream and cake will be served in W. C. T. U. rooms Saturday evening, Aug. 7.

   —The Baraca Bible class of the First Baptist church will picnic at Little York to-morrow afternoon.

   —Flowers, fruit and delicacies for the sick from the Fourth ward for the King's Daughters may be left with Mrs. Relyea, 11 Blodgett-st.. or Miss Hale, 99 Pendleton-st., on Friday, Aug. 6.

   —A washout on the line of the D., L. & W. near Stroudsburg, Pa., this morning delayed traffic for a number of hours. The New York train due in Cortland at 6 A. M. carrying New York mail did not reach here until 12:30.

   —Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Tuesday, Aug. 10. Consecration service at 2:45 P. M. led by Miss Jeanette Bryant, followed by a business meeting. The program will be the last of the series of the carpet sewing social.

   —In connection with Mr. D. H. Crane's communication in another column it ought to be said that two of the members of the Republican town committee were not present at the meeting referred to, viz., Messrs T. H. Dowd and George S. Sands, who were represented by substitutes, G. H. Garrison and D.D. Lovell.

   —By request a concert will be given at Library hall, on Monday evening next by Miss Katherine Ray Colvin and Mrs. Anna Baum Beckwith, Miss Helena H. Hazen, Mrs. Mary Bouton Swift and Miss Augusta D. Adams. These young people have appeared in similar concerts here on one or two occasions before, with marked success, and the admirers of their former entertainments will turn out in force.—Marathon Independent.

Salvation Army.

   To-night Lieutenant George Palmer will bid good-bye to his many friends in Cortland and proceed on Friday to take charge of the corps in Amsterdam. There will be an ice cream supper in the store under the Salvation Army hall on Port Watson-st. from 5 to 9 o'clock this evening. After the supper is over the lieutenant will give his farewell address. He will be greatly missed in the work in Cortland and especially by Capt. Waldron and Cadet Clark, who are to remain. The officers of the army wish to invite every one to come to his farewell meeting.

Officers Elected.

   The Phebe Helpers of Memorial Baptist church held their annual meeting and election of officers Aug. 4, 1897. The society has been organized eight months with Mrs. Willis Stevens as president. Their reports showed the interest felt by average attendance and work accomplished during the year, the total earnings amounting to $123.

   The officers elected for the ensuing year are:

   Pres.—Mrs. J. V. Chatterton.

   Vice-Pres.—Mrs. W. Stevens.

   Second Vice-Pres.—Mrs. Geo. Allport.

   Sec. and Treas.—Miss Emma Briggs.

Cincinnatus.

   CINCINNATUS, Aug. 3—The Oregon Indian Medicine Concert Co. are in town for a two weeks' stay. Their first entertainment was given Monday evening and enjoyed by the many who attended. They give an entire change of program each evening. No admission is charged except on Wednesday and Saturday evenings when an entertainment for more than two hours is given. The company is under the management of Dr. Edward Raymond.

   Ex-county Clerk S. K. Jones of Cortland was in town this week.

   Ira Dodge spent a part of the past week in McDonough.

   Gregory Wick, the photographer, spent Sunday at his home in Norwich.

   George Havens and daughter Elizabeth of Afton spent a part of last week with Mr. and Mrs. James Harvey.

   Mr. and Mrs. Weeks of New Jersey visited Mrs. Weeks' parents, Rev. and Mrs. E. Rogers the past week.

   B. R. Corning was in Cortland Tuesday.

   The W. C. T. U. will meet with Mrs. P. D. Perkins on Thursday afternoon of next week at 2 o'clock.

   The annual school meeting of the union school was held Tuesday evening and was attended by a larger number than usual. S. S. Beckwith was chosen trustee for three years in place of A. G. Crittenden. The trustees were empowered to raise by tax $1,000 to defray the expenses for the coming year. This is $500 less than was required for the year just past and as $156 of this will be used to pay the remaining indebtedness incurred when the school building was repaired it is expected that next year the amount can again be cut down. We never had as good a school as we have had since the academy was changed to a union school and the prospects were never brighter than they are for the coming year. Prof. Lemuel Brown, who has been engaged as principal, is already here working for the interests of the school. His assistants will be Miss Mabel Howes of Cortland, who gave such excellent satisfaction last spring term, and Miss M. Morse of Triangle.

Elm Stump.

   ELM STUMP, Aug. 4.—The farmers are very busy finishing up haying which the rainy weather of the past week interrupted and much of the hay was entirely ruined.

   Miss Edna Price attended the funeral of her aunt, Mrs. Charles Sprague of Blodgett Mills last Saturday.

   Mrs. Jane Moore of Marathon was a guest at Mr. George Sherman's several days last week.

   Mrs. Emmett Lang and brother, Mr. Jim Darling, were called to East Virgil last Thursday to see their father, Mr. Joseph Darling, who was very seriously ill.

   Mr. and Mrs. Irving Price and Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Lang visited at Mr. W. B. Kinney's at Homer hast Saturday.

   The annual school meeting occurred last night. There being but three present at the meeting in the Reynolds district it was appointed to be held at the schoolhouse one week from last night or Aug. 10. In the Wood district Mr. Merton Lang was elected trustee for the ensuing year.

   Miss Matilda Dickinson of South Cortland has been visiting at Mr.

Timothy Smith's the past few days.

   Miss Pearl Lang visited her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Darling, at East Virgil last Saturday and Sunday.