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| Francis Patterson. |
The McGrawville Sentinel, Thursday, June 23, 1887.
STORY OF BLIND MR. PATTERSON AND HIS PENSION.
WASHINGTON, June 20.—The subject of pensions has generally but little interest for anyone but individual pensioners and their families, but the payment of the longest back pension ever paid by the government to Francis Patterson, a blind beggar of Elmira, N. Y., is interesting enough to form the plot of a novel. When he was a soldier in the union army during the war, one day while on picket duty, Patterson became suddenly blind. He wandered around helplessly for some days, and being missed from camp, he was classed as a deserter. On his return to Elmira his wife and children abandoned him on account, probably, of his disposition to drunkenness. For eighteen years he has been begging about the town led by a trained shepherd dog, his only friend. Now the possession of $13,322, the amount of his back pension, and the security of $72 a month during his life time, has caused his family and former friends to rally around him to that degree that he is in danger of being reduced to returning to his former partnership with the dog, through their avarice and greed. He applied for a pension some years ago, but the difficulty of explaining away the charge of desertion caused the delay.
The American telephone company are unpleasantly conspicuous at present through the publicity given the former life of its vice-president, T. W. Tyrer. Mr. Tyrer has lived for several years in Washington, and has been largely interested in the North Washington improvement company. Some enemies of his and the company have published these statements in order to break down Tyrer and the company. The latter seem able to stand the assault, as an investigation by a committee of the stock holders develops no fraudulent transaction, but Tyrer will probably go to the wall, as the charges against him are true. Mr. Tyrer does not deny having served a term for forgery. Man's vengeance on men is relentless and once a discovered criminal, always a criminal, and though we are told of the joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, there is but very little belief on earth in his repentance, and he is told that God will forgive him, but man cannot. The chances for the prevention of crime are constantly retarded by its being almost an impossibility for a man who has once been convicted of a crime, to return to the association of honest people. So long as Christianity withholds its confidence from those who have erred, so long will our prisons be more than half filled by those who are serving their second and third terms.
The proposal, to utilize the revenue marine by appointing graduates of the United States academy to the vacancies in that service, is again under discussion. As it now stands the graduates of the academy are given $1,000 and relegated to private life, with the exception of a few who stand at the head of the class. They are appointed to such places as may be vacant in the navy at the time of their graduation. The idea is, that the revenue marine service offers a field of usefulness for the other graduates. It might be considered that a young man with a fine education and $1,000 in cash, was well equipped to begin the battle of life without the government which has already educated him, being obliged to find him a salaried position.
But it is not entirely a question of the young man's interest. In the case of the sudden need of a navy, trained and skilled officers would be wanted to command it, and it is exceedingly doubtful if many of these young men after having pursued for a number of years private business would be found efficient officers, and it is still more doubtful if any would be able or willing to sacrifice personal interests to the call of their country's government. The secretaries of the treasury and navy, to whose jurisdiction the matter belongs, are mute on the subject, but officers of experience and judgment like Commodore Schley and Commodore Walker, express themselves cordially in favor of the scheme.
The president held a reception in the east room on last Monday afternoon, the first since his return from the Adirondacks. There were not many persons present, but those who were, commented on Mr. Cleveland's improved appearance since his vacation, Mrs. Cleveland being still away. She has been paying a visit to a friend and schoolmate, Miss Kingsford of Oswego, N. Y. The president takes his customary afternoon drive to Oak View, and his dinner on his return to the White House at seven alone, with the memory of his bachelor days for company. How pleasant the present must appear in contrast to the past.
Five men appointed under civil service rules have declined the positions offered them. Their reason is the smallness of the salary, $1,000 a year. It being inadequate to the requirements of the examination, stenography, expert penmanship and, the higher branches of mathematics were some of the requirements. Those who pass do not have a very high reward for their efforts, while those who fail have the comfort of knowing that they are still eligible for the presidency.
Statistics of Cornell's Senior Class.
ITHACA, June 22.—Statistics of the senior class of Cornell university show some very interesting facts. The oldest member of the class is thirty-seven, the youngest nineteen. The tallest man is 6 feet 6 inches, while the shortest is 5 feet 2 inches. The lightest man weighs 104 pounds and wears a No. 4 1/2 shoe, and the heaviest tips the scale at 198 pounds. The swiftest half-mile runner trips along with No. 11 1/2 shoes. The religious statistics are: Presbyterian, 13; Methodist, 9; Congregational and Episcopalian, 8; Baptist, 3; Hebrew, 2; Catholic, Mormon, Unitarian, Lutheran and Reformed, 1 each, while 15 express no preference. There are 40 republicans, 13 democrats, 2 prohibitionists, 2 mugwumps, 3 independents, 1 anarchist and 1 liberal. The average yearly expenses $520—lowest, $200; highest, $1,350. Average age, 24.
CORTLAND NEWS.
SUPREME COURT CASES.
The two most interesting cases during the first week of this session of the supreme court were a slander case and a case for damages. The first was that of L. S. Hayes, the political editor of the Monitor, against S. H. Strowbridge, who at the time the suit was brought was editor of the now defunct Cortland News, for slander in an article published during last fall when Caleb Hitchcock was running for the assembly. Mr. Hayes attacked the proposed village charter very sharply, and in reply the News attacked Mr. Hayes, without apparently investigating the facts sufficiently. At any rate the jury brought in a verdict for plaintiff of $900.
The second case is that of a Mrs. Rice, a resident here, against the village fathers for damages sustained from a faulty sidewalk. A verdict was brought in for her of $1,950. Drs. Nash and Bradford were the physicians who examined the case and testified as to the injuries she had sustained by striking her head in falling. The case was nearly settled at one time, it is said, for the sum of $200.
MAHAN'S MUSICAL CONVENTION.
Mahan's musical convention for this year must be called a brilliant success. The chorus tickets were raised a little in price. In numbers it was perhaps a little less than same a year ago, but the quality of the work done has never been equaled. In distinctness, enunciation, in time and in character of the music, it and its leader have been highly complimented. The leader Carl Zerrahn of Boston is German in speech, manner and music. The Lotus Glee club gave the most universal satisfaction. The club is composed of four student-like young men from Boston, who have sang together until their voices blend like an instrument. They have no accompaniment, but there is never a hint of a false note or a shade off in time. One very neat rendering was a negro solo sung with the other three voices imitating a banjo. The first tenor was a falsetto, a voice just like a girl and seeming just as easy in the highest notes that soprano is ever called upon to give. On both concert nights the houses have been good and the financial part must be satisfactory.
Grace Episcopal Church in year 1900.
On Saturday afternoon at 3 P. M. were held the ceremonies of laying the corner stone for the new Grace church. A crowd gathered about the foundations of the building as the hour arrived. Printed slips had been prepared giving responsive readings, singing, and order of the exercises. Bishop Huntington of Syracuse conducted the ceremonies. There were also present the pastor, Mr. Arthur, the former pastor, Mr. Robinson, and the pastor of Christ's church in Binghamton, Mr. Quinelle. The address given by the bishop was particularly appropriate to the occasion, liberal, earnest and hopeful for the future. The edifice will now be rapidly pushed to completion.
THE CORTLANDS DEFEATED.
The ball game on Saturday afternoon between the Athletics of Syracuse and the Cortland club ended with our boys on score behind. The Athletics had a number of professionals but the home club lost the game only by a slip in the last inning. A man on third base led off while the ball was in the baseman's hands. He was put out and lost the one needful score to tie the game. It was a good game, considering the rough grounds. Score, 13 to 12.
NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.
The [Normal] class which graduates next Tuesday—commencement day— numbers 46 students.
Miss Carrie Halbert entertained a company of students and class-mates at her home in North Main street on Monday evening.
The Cortland boys seem to have gained possession of the idea that the McGrawville club is afraid to play the third game of ball.
On Saturday afternoon last the banks in Cortland for the first time observed the Saturday half-holiday in accordance with the new state law.
A new electric light in front of the Catholic church made its appearance on Saturday evening.
The Masons of Homer have arranged an excursion to Cazenovia Lake on Friday next, June 24. One dollar covers the expense from Cortland.
K. C. Arnold, who has been for several years one of the proprietors of the Arnold house, died quite suddenly at his home in Truxton on Tuesday morning.
All along Clinton avenue and the new Railroad street are scattered with iron pipes used for the water mains. So these streets are soon to be supplied with city water.
The Randall yard is beginning to look its best now. There are many very interesting trees and exotics to be seen. The oldest century plant is now probably nearly one hundred years old and may blossom any summer.
Cards have been received announcing the marriage of Mrs. Catherine R. Doud to Count S. Freufanelli Cibo in Foligno, Umbria, Italy. Mrs. Doud was Miss Reynolds of Cortland, widow of Reuben Doud of Racine, Wisconsin.
An excursion to Oneida Lake under the supervision of Vesta lodge, I. O. of O. F. is one of the features of the glorious Fourth. The fare for round trip by way of E. C. & N. railroad has been placed at $1.25. Tickets may be obtained of C. E. Bickford of telephone exchange.
The Cortland Wagon company proposes to erect another new building this summer similar in size and appearance to their others. It will be used this fall to finish cutters, and during part of the year when they manufacture buggies they will store them there in order to carry a larger stock than they have ever done and fill orders immediately.
EDITOR'S EASY CHAIR.
—Colonel D. S. Lamont arrived in town last evening.
—Minnie Mudge visited friends in town this week.
—Morgan Gilbertson is at present working in Nichols' hotel, Homer.
—Second hand lumber wagon for sale. Enquire of Warren & Carr.
—Thomas Ransom of Valparaiso, Ind., formerly of this place, is visiting relatives in town.
—A miscount made our edition of papers short about 25 last week and Cincinnatus being the last place for which we made up the mail we were obliged to send half-sheets to some of our subscribers there. We shall endeavor to not let this occur again.
—The Athletes play ball with the Otselic ball club at DeRuyter the Fourth of July for a purse of $20; A. B. Gardner has a horse in the running race and Clate Gardner is to run in the foot race. Bring home all the glory, boys; a whole reed is better than a broken one.
—The editor sampled some of S. N. Mudge's ice cream recently and is willing to say that it was the best he has eaten this season. (O, he has had some before.) Mr. Mudge keeps cream for sale by the dish, quart or gallon every day at his residence, corner of Clinton and Center streets.
—The Athletes played ball at Truxton last Saturday with the club of that place, and had a complete walkaway. Gross made two two-baggers, and Parker and McElheny a three-bagger each. Palmer made another of his brilliant plays in left field. The score stood as follows:
Dr. Van Hoesen scored the game with all his accustomed vigor. The Truxton club plays a return game here Saturday.
—Joseph Gardner had been working in Henry Hammond's barn recently until Tuesday of this week when he sustained an accident that will lay him up for a few days. He was on the first floor receiving boards from above that Mr. Ackerman was handing down. While in stooping position a board came down from above and on partially raising the end of it hit him just above the right temple. He was knocked insensible and in falling struck so that the other side of his head also received a bad bruise. He was immediately taken home and did not regain consciousness till 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
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