Thursday, June 25, 2020

THANKSGIVING DAY ORIGIN AND CONTESTED WEDDING IN HOMER



Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, November 24, 1897.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Thanksgiving Day Origin.
   The common opinion has been so long held that its celebration was instituted by the Puritan fathers at Plymouth in 1621, that tradition will resent any new claim otherwise at once. The Albany Times-Union, which is a paper well reputed for historic accuracy, has just come forward, however, with an article which seems to unsettle the generally received belief on the subject. As these are interesting facts and important dates given by our contemporary the pertinent statements are subjoined as follows:
   "Aside from its religious or social aspect Thanksgiving presents an interesting historical study. Despite the fact that the Dutch proclaimed a Thanksgiving day on Manhattan Island for Dec. 20, 1620, and that this was observed down until 1703, most historians persist in giving the Plymouth colony the credit of establishing Thanksgiving in 1621. But New York can well dispute this proud distinction. For some reason or another there was a break in the New York custom from 1703 until 1755, when Gov. DeLancey restored the observance of the day and it was continued down until 1760, when there came another break and meanwhile the continental congress took up the custom. It was in 1777 that this congress proclaimed Dec. 18 as a Thanksgiving day for the Saratoga victory over Gen. Burgoyne, and that date was continued until 1784. Five years then elapsed without any national Thanksgiving day being proclaimed. In 1789, a proposition to proclaim one was defeated in congress by certain representatives, who held that it was unconstitutional and an usurpation of state rights. President Washington, however, then took up the matter, and on his own authority proclaimed Nov. 26 of that year as Thanksgiving day, and it was the selection of this date which led to the adoption of the fourth Thursday in November as the national holiday, and it is for this reason that a toast to his memory is always given at Thanksgiving dinners. No other Thanksgiving proclamation was issued by a president until 1796. On account of religious diffidence, Jefferson refrained from this custom, but the governors of the states yearly issued local proclamations. Then followed another lull in presidential proclamations until 1815, when Madison issued one on account of the declaration of naval peace with Great Britain. Another presidential interregnum followed until Lincoln revived the custom, which has lived unbroken."

LOOTING THE HOUSE.
Relic Hunters Attack Andree's Prison, Carrying Off Bricks and Doors.
   NYACK, N. Y., Nov. 24.—The stone house, Andree's prison at Tappan, recently purchased by Charles A. Pike, has been robbed by relic hunters to such an extent that Mr. Pike proposes establishing a guard day and night.
   Part of one of the doors of the house was taken away and hundreds of bricks have been stolen and sold for large prices.
   Mr. Pike has been obliged to put up a fence 15 feet high, but even now the thieves scale it to get relics.

UNITED STATES LEADS.
England Fears Our Hustling Style.
CONTRACTS SECURED IN LONDON.
Heavy Decline In Old England's Export Trade—German Officers Settle Their Difficulties According to the Code. Countess of Lathom Killed.
   LONDON, Nov. 24.—Rt. Hon. Charles T. Ritchie, president of the board of trade, made an important speech before the chamber of commerce of Creydon, taking as his theme the decline of British exports during the last 10 months, upon which he hung a grave warning against American competition, now "ousting British trade."
   Mr. Ritchie, after declaring that the Dingley tariff and the engineering trade dispute were mainly responsible for the recent decline of exports, and after pointing out that England had no weapons against the tariff, said there was a great deal of talk in commercial circles about the serious competition of Germany.
   He thought they were too apt to overlook a much more serious competitor, the United States.
   "The facts are serious," he continued, "and call upon us for the exercise of all our powers to enable us to maintain our position in the commercial world.
   "There is no doubt the United States are executing orders which ought to be executed here. As we all know, an American firm obtained the contract for the Central Underground railway (of London), as its bid was lower than those of the English concerns, and it could deliver the supplies three months ahead of the British tenders. Many important continental orders have gone to America.
   "The same is to be said of Egypt and Japan, where the Americans are doing work that Englishmen should have done.
   "America's successful competition is due to her enterprise in embarking capital, but it is more due to the freedom her manufacturers enjoy of employing the best machinery and working it in the most economical manner, untrammeled by the restrictions which have hampered manufacturers here."

DUELS IN THE ARMY.
As a Result Two Officers Will Probably Die.
   BERLIN, Nov. 24.—A sensation was caused in this city by the report that two duels had been fought with army officers as the principals.
   The first report came from Colberg, Prussia. It is stated that Captain Von Haine and Captain Yon Ostrowski had fought a duel there and that the latter had been dangerously shot. It is alleged that Haine had seduced his victim's wife.
   The second duel was fought at Bremen, and the principals were Lieutenant Siegmund of the Seventy-fifth regiment, who mortally shot Lieutenant Schoenfeld of the same regiment.

Death of the Countess of Lathom.
   LONDON, NOV. 24.—The Countess of Lathom, while returning from a shooting party, was thrown out of a trap and killed near Wigan, Lancaster.
   The countess was formerly Lady Alice Villiers, second daughter of the fourth Earl of Lathom in 1860.

Two Charges of Abduction.
   Fred Davis of Homer, N. Y., was arrested at Homer yesterday by Constable Fred Bowker on the charge of abduction. He is charged with abducting the 15-year-old daughter of Frank Hodges of Syracuse, formerly of Homer. Before Justice Dowd, he pleaded not guilty, and gave bail in the sum of $500 for his appearance for examination Friday, at 10 A. M., his father, Hiram Davis, signing the bond. Henry A. Dickinson appeared for the prosecution and W. J. Smith of Homer for the defendant.
   The examination of Charles Phillips, who is charged with abducting Lillian Miles, the 16-year-old daughter of Mrs. Emma Miles, is in progress before Justice Dowd to-day. Enos E. Mellon is the attorney for the prosecution, and W. D. Tuttle is looking after the interests of the defendant.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Proceedings of Cortland County Lawmakers and Financiers.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION.
   Mr. Lee offered the following resolution which was, on his motion, made a special order for Wednesday morning.
   Resolved, That pursuant to Chapter 225, laws of 1896, giving boards of supervisors power to revive the distinction between town and county poor, that from and after Jan. 1, 1898, each town shall support its own poor.
   By resolution introduced by Mr. Tuttle, the county treasurer is authorized to borrow money on the credit of the county in case there should be a deficiency in the amounts appropriated for any of the several funds.
   The Homer Republican and Cortland Democrat were designated to publish the election notices for the ensuing year.
   The chairman appointed Messrs. Hammond and Holton as the committee to settle with the outgoing superintendent of the poor.
Thirteenth Day, Wednesday, Nov. 24.
   Board reconvened at 9 A. M. All present.
   On motion of Mr. Lee, his resolution in reference to town care of the poor was laid over at the pleasure of the board, to allow the equalization committee to complete its labors.
   At 11:45 by unanimous consent the rules were suspended to receive the report of the equalization committee, signed by five members of the committee, Messrs. Smith and Hammond not signing, and is as follows:


AFTERNOON SESSION.
   Mr. Childs, chairman of the committee on equalization, asked unanimous consent that the report be considered immediately. Mr. Hunt objected, and the report went over under the rule.
   Mr. Hunt offered a resolution that the board of supervisors adjourn until Friday at 10:30 A. M. The ayes and nays were taken with the following result:
   Ayes—Messrs. Corning, Smith, Lee, Tuttle, Brown, Surdam, Hammond, Hunt. Bingham, DeLong, O'Donnell, Holton, Greene—13.
   Nays—Messrs. Crane and Childs—2.
   The board then adjourned until 10:30 A. M. Friday, when the report of the equalization committee will be taken up.

BENEFIT ENTERTAINMENTS.
Afternoon and Evening of Thanksgiving Day at Opera House.
   The Clair Tuttle Comedy Co. disbanded in Cortland yesterday. Members of the company are left without the means of paying board bills while in town, or of purchasing tickets to leave town. The result is that they have decided to give a benefit entertainment on Thanksgiving afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and evening at 8 o'clock, at the popular prices of 10 and 20 cents. The program will consist of high class comedy and vaudeville, and twelve specialties will be introduced by clever artists.
   Among the specialties will be illustrative songs with beautiful stereopticon colored views taken from life by Bowers and Brooks. Master Artie Burrows, the youngest illustrated song artist in America will also appear with these. In addition, there will be the great Burrows, direct from Tony Pastor's theatre in New York in their laughable creation "That Husband of Mine," also "A Quiet Night's Rest" by Williams and Ray; Al F. Darcy, the change artist and comedian; F. L. Gregory, the king of clubs; Fred Halton, the black faced comedian in the popular and latest songs and dances, concluding with the comedietta, "Senator McFee." There will also be a large number of local hits. Every one is invited. Bear in mind that the prices are only 10 and 20 cents. Afternoon at 2:30 and evening at 8 o'clock. Tickets on sale at Rood's at the Candy Kitchen, 17 Railroad-st.

DIED OF YELLOW FEVER.
F. W. Tabrum—Formerly a Civil Engineer on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R.
   Word was received in Cortland this morning of the death last week in Costa Rica of Mr. F. W. Tabrum, who as civil engineer for Contractor A. H. Jacoby spent about ten weeks in Cortland with headquarters at The Kremlin, while superintending the work on the Erie & Central New York R. R.
   Mr. Tabrum was an Englishman about 35 years of age and unmarried. His home was in Pittsburg, Pa., and he had not a relative in this country. He came to Cortland Aug. 6 to do the engineering work upon Contractor Jacoby's portion of the new road. As has been previously stated in The STANDARD Mr. Jacoby had a contract for a portion of a new railroad in Central America. Four weeks ago last Saturday Mr. Tabrum sailed from New York for Central America to make preliminary arrangements for Mr. Jacoby's following to begin the work. Word comes that he suffered an attack of the dreaded yellow fever and died last week. No further particulars are given.
   Mr. Tabrum made many friends while in Cortland, and his death apart from all friends in that far off country has cast a gloom over all who knew him here.




BREVITIES.
   —Thanksgiving to-morrow.
   —County correspondence will be found on the second and third pages.
   —As to-morrow is Thanksgiving and a legal holiday, no paper will be issued from this office.
   —New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham Bros. & Miller, Thanksgiving, page 4.
   —The outgoing trains this afternoon were loaded with Normal students going home to spend Thanksgiving.
   —The office of the United States Express company will be closed to-morrow from 11 A. M. to 5 P. M., and will be open from 5 to 7 P. M.
   —The Normal closed this noon until next Tuesday morning for a Thanksgiving recess. The public schools close tonight and will reopen on Monday morning.
   —The regular meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary society of the Presbyterian church will be held as usual in the chapel on Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.
   —It will be noticed in our Homer letter to-day that a franchise was last night given by the Homer board of trustees to Mr. F. H. Morse of Pittsburg to pipe Homer for natural gas.
   —To-morrow being a legal holiday, the postoffice will be open only from 7 to 10 A. M. and from 5 to 7 P. M. One complete delivery will be made by the carriers. The money order department will be closed all day. The last mail will close at 7 P. M.
   —Track laying on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. was resumed east of Solon this morning and will be pushed hard till Cincinnatus is reached. Enough rails are already here to lay the entire distance, and enough ties have already come to make a good long start, and the balance of them are on the way.
   —Those who raise eggs complain that the hens are standing all around doing nothing, while the price is going up constantly. What is wanted is a union hen, which will do a fair day's work for a fair day's feed and no kicking. These hens that lay lots of eggs when the price is way down are no good. It is time there was a new breed found.—Ithaca Journal.

HOMER.
Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.
   HOMER. Nov. 24.—The union Thanksgiving service will be held to-morrow morning at 10:30 in the Methodist church. Rev. Loren Eastwood of that church will preach the Thanksgiving sermon. The usual Thanksgiving service will be held at the Calvary Episcopal church to-morrow morning at 10:30. The rector, Rev. L. J. Christler, will conduct the service. Music by vested choir. All are welcome.
   The Salvation Army corps will hold a special Thanksgiving service in their rooms over Zimmer's barber shop Thursday night at 8 o'clock, A cordial welcome will be extended to all who attend this and all other services which are in charge of Capt. And Mrs. Brice.
   Mr. Oliver C. Murray arrived in town last evening and left this morning for Syracuse where he will join the Cascadilla football team which is on its way to Watertown to play a Thanksgiving game with the Watertown team which has been styled the champion of northern New York. Oll has proven himself to be a most clever player and holds his place as tackle on the Cascadilla team in a way that is an honor to his team.
   Do not forget the senior entertainment in Academy hall this evening at 8 o'clock. The small admission of ten cents for adults and five tor children will be charged. The drama of "'The Courtship of Miles Standish" is a very effective one played in five acts, and as one of Longfellow's work it is a leader. All The characters are represented in a correct and most pleasing manner which cannot fail to entertain all those who attend. Besides the above production there will be several other numbers on the program, consisting of drills, music, monologues, etc.
   The annual inspection took place in the rooms on Wall-st. of the Willoughby Babcock post, No. 105, of G. A. R. H. B. Greenman of the Grover post, No. 98, of Cortland, was inspector and was accompanied by seven comrades from that post. Mr. Greenman complimented the post on its prosperity and the condition of its books and on its condition in general and thought that they should feel proud. After the inspection a campfire and chat was instituted and several good remarks were made by different comrades. The evening was so enjoyably spent that no notice of time was taken and it was necessary to close the meeting to enable the Cortland delegation to get home on the last street car. The G. A. R. rooms at this place are now situated on Wall-st. in snug and comfortable quarters in the bank building.
   Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Wakefield, who reside on the Scott road, left for Syracuse this morning where they will spend Thanksgiving among relatives.
   For some weeks past Mr. Morse of Pittsburg, Pa., has been in town and the surrounding country leasing land with the permission to bore for gas, oil, mineral water, etc., and has been very successful in making such leases, so much so that he applied for a franchise to lay pipes to distribute natural gas about the town of Homer should success crown his efforts in boring. At a meeting of the board of trustees last evening held in E. Hyatt's law office the application was considered and at last it was decided for the best good of the public that the franchise be granted and it was so voted by the board of trustees last evening.
   Mr. Fred Davis of Cherry-st. and Miss Frances Hodges, aged 17, were united in marriage Monday evening by Rev. Jesse A. Hungate. To-day Mr. Davis is out on bail having been arrested by the bride's father, Mr. Frank C. Hodges, on the charge of abduction. As we understand the facts in the case it appears that early last June Mr. Hodges, who was at that time living with his family on the corner of Cuyuga and Cherry-sts., had considerable fault to find with his daughter Frances and is said to have finally driven her out of the house and told her never to return. She went to the home of Harmon Davis and was given shelter and it was not long before she and Fred were very good friends. During this time the father of the girl moved with his family to Syracuse and would not allow his wife to even answer Frances' letter, and would not consent to her marrying Davis. Finally an officer made a visit to the Hodges family in Syracuse to obtain the consent for the marriage of his daughter to Davis from one of the parents and finally the mother consented, but the father objected. Davis, on the advice of counsel, was married to Miss Hodges as above stated and the father on hearing of the same at once had a warrant out for Davis' arrest on the grounds that the girl was under 18 years of age and that his consent was not given. Mr. Davis soon obtained bail and will he given a bearing before Justice T. H. Dowd of Cortland.

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