SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST, AND LISTEN FOR THE BELL

 

Lord Salisbury.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, November 14, 1899.

SITUATION IN FAR EAST.

Diplomats at Sea Regarding Russia and Japan.

JAPAN AND CHINA TO BE ALLIES.

"Open Door" Policy of the United States in China Has Created Intense Satisfaction in British Official Circles—Russia's Naval Strength.

   LONDON, Nov. 14.—Careful inquiries made here reveal nothing extant in diplomatic circles to justify the alarmist view taken by a section of the press regarding the situation in the Far East. That a serious denouement is so close at hand, as is indicated by advices from Shanghai during the last 24 hours, is regarded as incredible. For a long time it has been known here—and it was asserted in press dispatches two months ago—that China and Japan were closely allied, but neither British nor American diplomats in London believed that this alliance is of an offensive nature.

   At any rate it can be asserted positively that if Japan and China contemplate aggressive action against Russia, Lord Salisbury is not aware of their intrusion, and it is scarcely probable that those powers would decide upon any definite course without at least consulting Great Britain, who in the nature of things would be their ally, whether active or passive.

   However, while the foreign office officials have no information tending to confirm recent sensational reports, they have come to regard the Eastern problem as so difficult in respect of getting accurate information that they would be surprised at nothing. They have endeavored to take precautions against everything.

   In the words of the British official who discussed the situation with a representative of the press, "while reports of a rupture between Russia and Japan are easy of creation, and while they are able to constant reiteration, so long as the diplomats of the press continue to view the Far East with such serious attention it is certainly palpable that if Japan really means to strike a serious blow to Russian control, she must do it quickly, for very soon Russia will be far stronger than she is now."

   Discussing the bearings of Russia's new naval estimates upon this question, the official asserted that these certainly indicated the intention of the czar to increase the Russian fleet in Chinese waters, which, if done on the scope outlined in the estimates, would leave Japan but little chance.

   "Another phase of these reports which has astonished me," said the official, "is the suggestion of Chinese co-operation. Thus far no nation has been able to arouse the Chinese sufficiently to get them to combine in military enterprises. If Japan has done this or even believes she has, then she has accomplished more than Great Britain or Russia in a century of effort."

   The action of the United States government in requesting assurance from foreign governments regarding the "open door" policy in China has created intense satisfaction in British official circles.

 

Fireman's Hall, Main Street, Cortland, N. Y.

LISTEN FOR THE BELL.

IT WILL BE SOUNDED WHEN METEORS CAN BE SEEN.

The Fire Bell Will Notify Cortland People When They Can See the Meteoric Shower to the Best Advantage—Maybe To-night and Maybe To-morrow Night.

  The great meteoric display, which it is expected may be seen from the earth occurs only once in thirty years, and no man, woman or child of age and reason should fall to see it if it is a possible thing.

   An arrangement has been made by which the firebell in Cortland will be sounded when this meteoric shower can be seen, either to-night or to-morrow night. The following will be the signal. Ten single taps in succession, a wait of ten seconds, followed by two taps. It is expected that the meteors can be seen best between 1 and 8 o'clock in the morning, and the signal may be expected between those hours. The shower may be seen and the signal sounded to-night, possibly not till to-morrow night, and if the shower does not appear on either of these nights, there is a remote possibility that the occurrence may be noted Thursday night.

   At any rate, when the signal above indicated is sounded, the meteoric shower can be seen in the northeast, and people who do not see it will miss a notable event.

   The above arrangement was authorized by the board of village trustees last night upon the request of A. J. Murray, secretary of the Cortland Science club.

   The board did but little business at its meeting. It was expected that Engineer Allen would be present with the tables of local paving assessments on Lincoln-ave. and Tompkins-sts. for the board's action, but Mr. Allen had sent word that other pressing engagements would prevent his being in Cortland last evening, but be would be here to-day. When the board adjourned, it adjourned until this evening to meet Mr. Allen.

   On motion of Trustee Thompson, seconded by Trustee Sprague, the chief and two assistant chiefs of the fire department were authorized to have the bunkers' room in the enginehouse recarpeted and repapered.

   On motion of Trustee White, seconded by Trustee Wood, P. Sugerman was directed to raise to grade his cement walk opposite the Empire hall block.

   No other business was transacted, but the board spent an hour and a half in talking over informally sidewalks, crosswalks and the police force. It had come to their notice that there were no night officers on the street the morning of the Gillette livery stable fire on Orchard-st. It was stated that when the fire broke out, not far from 4:30 A. M. some of the officers had left their beats and gone home, leaving a signed statement at the enginehouse saying that they went off at 5 o'clock. It is the custom for each officer when he goes on duty to sign in a book kept for that purpose the hour he goes on, and then when he goes off to note that time in the book also and sign his name to it. The president was authorized to confer with the members of the force in regard to this matter, and the drift of the talk was that a repetition of the affair of Friday morning might result in a general turning over of the force. One result of the talk may be a rearrangement of the time schedule of the men on duty during the night, so that police will be on duty until daylight, instead of 5 A. M. as the present schedule indicates.

   Night Captain Gooding stated to a STANDARD man to-day that within a few days a new arrangement has been made among the night policemen by which one of them remains on duty until 6 o'clock A. M.

 

Salvation Army.

   Service this evening in the hall on Port Watson-st. conducted by Capt. John Clark, late of England. All are very cordially invited to come and hear the captain relate some of his experience in crossing the ocean during a very heavy storm. All those who know the captain will be sure to come and those who do not had better avail themselves of this opportunity.

 

To Pump the Water.

   The E. & C. N. Y. R. R. is putting a two-horse electric motor into its water tank near the [railroad] junction to pump the water for filling the tanks on the engines. The power is to be taken from the trolley lines.

 

"Two Old Cronies" To-night.

   Wills Brothers played almost to standing room at the Opera House last night. They appeared "In Atlantic City," and the audience was well pleased. It was a musical farce and all the parts were well sustained. Among those deserving of special mention were the Littlefield Sisters in song and dance and general specialties; Frank and John Wells in character parts, in which they were well supported by Mr. Leslie. Miss Tilson also did some very clever singing and was warmly applauded. To-night the company appears in "Two Old Cronies."

 

THE WILL OF MRS. BOLLES.

How It Was Made and the Bequests That Were Contained in It.

   The last will and testament of the late Mrs. Henry A. Bolles has been opened and read, and will soon be offered for probate before the surrogate.

   The will directs in the first place that all debts shall be paid. The sum of $200 is directed to be set aside in trust for the care of the family lot in the Cortland Rural cemetery.

   To Dr. Charles W. Parker of Chicago is bequeathed a number of books and $4,950 in money. Miss Viola Louise Parker, daughter of Dr. Parker is to have a quantity of banded china ware and $50, Henry B. Parker, a son of Dr. Parker, is bequeathed a watch with the letter K upon it, and to this son and his brother Grosvenor is given the cabinet and its contents together with a collection of shells. The farm, on the hill east of Cortland known as "Mount Pleasant," consisting of 103 acres is given to Hon. Franklin P. Saunders of Cortland. Frank M. Ingersoll of Cortland receives the china closet and contents, and Mrs. Ingersoll is bequeathed a number of dishes and a number of other articles. A bequest of some jewelry and other personal articles is made to Miss Martha Roe of Cortland.

   This will directs that in case the personal property on hand should be insufficient to pay the outstanding debts, and provide for these bequests of money, real estate shall be sold, and in the event that real estate is sold, that situated in Homer shall be sold first.

   All the rest of the property, both real and personal is bequeathed to Mr. Fred M. D. Ingersoll, a son of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Ingersoll above referred to, a clerk in the office of the United States Express Co. This last bequest, it is said, amounts to a value in the neighborhood of $15,000. It includes as real estate the house and lot on Railroad-st., two houses and lots on Venette-st. and a house and lot in Homer. Hon. S. S. Knox is named as the executor of the will.

 

A FINE ENTERTAINMENT

Given by Mr. Frye at Normal Hall—Monologue of Rip Van Winkle.

   The Normal [School] entertainment course was opened last night at Normal hall under most auspicious circumstances. There was scarcely a vacant seat in the hall, and the entertainment was first class. Mr. Edward H. Frye, the monologist, had expected to give a reading of David Harum, but at the last was restrained by the copyright of the book, the publishers withholding their permission for the public reading of the work. Instead he gave a monologue of Rip Van Winkle which has been his specialty for the past three years and upon the success of which he has made his widespread reputation. Mr. Frye's rendering of this was capital, entering well into the spirit of the story and the play, bringing out the characters in a highly realistic way and setting them out distinctly and individually before his audience. The hearers were delighted and were very enthusiastic.

   At the end of the last part of Rip Van Winkle, Mr. Frye said that he had now finished the entertainment, for which the audience had paid an admission fee and for which he had been paid for coming to Cortland. The audience, he said, would probably all leave the hall at once, but still if any of them cared to remain in their seats a little longer, just a few of them, he was about to recite to himself a chapter from David Harum, and if they chanced to hear him he didn't see now he would be to blame for it. This announcement was greeted with applause, and it is needless to say that not a person left his seat at this time. Mr. Frye then told the story of David's horse trade, which the audience enjoyed very much indeed.

   The next entertainment will be given at Normal hall on Dec 13 by the Ariel sextet. If the other entertainments are to be as excellent as this first one the course will indeed be considered a fine one.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The C. A. A. minstrels meet for rehearsal this evening.

   —H. D. Rockefeller's fruit and oyster house has been connected with the telephone exchange.

   —Dillon Bros.' dancing school this week meets in Empire hall Friday night instead of Thursday night.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Buck & Lane, Andes stoves, page 7; W. J. Perkins, Bottled comfort, page 8.

   —The Tioughnioga club will give a dancing party in the clubrooms to-morrow evening. Dancing will begin at 8:30.

   —A special communication of Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., will be held Tuesday evening. The third degree will be conferred.

   —Mr. Fred B. Lampman of 16 Pearne-st. is to-day passing out the cigars among his friends, and with a broad smile at the same time says "twin boys." Consult the column of vital statistics.