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| Empress Dowager Ci Xi. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, June 19, 1900.
CHINA DEFIES THE WORLD.
War Declared When Taku Forts Opened Fire.
CASUALTIES WERE MANY.
Empress Dowager Ordered the Forts to Shell the Fleet.
LONDON, June 19.—China declared war against the world when the Taku forts opened fire upon the international fleet. The accounts of what took place are still unsatisfactory, the best semiofficial information being the dispatch received at Berlin from Che Foo as follows:
Berlin, June 18.—Later a semi-official dispatch from Che Foo announced that the Taku forts had been captured after a combined attack by the foreign warships.. Three men on the German warship Iltis were killed and seven were wounded.
The dispatch added that the foreign settlements at Tien Tsin were being fired into by the Chinese.
When the dispatch left nothing had been heard from the German detachment sent to Pekin or from the German legation there.
The unofficial narratives, coming by way of Shanghai, vary widely and bear internal evidence of supplementing the main facts with guess work. One dispatch says that the Yorktown participated in the bombardment. Another asserts that American marines formed part of the storming force of 2,000. A press dispatch from Che Foo, dated yesterday, says:
"The forts on both sides of the Taku are now occupied. The Chinese opened fire unexpectedly. The casualties to the mixed forces were as follows:
Killed—British, 1; German, 3; Russian, 16; and French, 1.
Wounded—British, 4; German, 7;
Russian, 45; and French, 1.
"The Chinese torpedo boats were seized."
The Shanghai correspondent of The Daily Mail, telegraphing yesterday, says:
"The forts began firing in obedience to orders from Pekin, conveyed in a personal edict of the Empress Dowager, by advice of Kang-Yi (president of the ministry of war). Several warships were struck by shells from the 12-inch guns of the forts.
"The heavy Russian losses were due to the blowing up of the magazine at Mandshur.
"Four hundred Chinese are reported to have been killed. The Chinese, when retreating, fell into the hands of the Russian land force."
The Daily News has the following from Che Foo:
"Two of the forts were blown up. The thirty-two warships at Taku aggregated two hundred thousand tons and carried more than three hundred guns.
"The failure of Admiral Seymour's column and its retreat to Tien Tsin, increases, it is presumed, the peril of the legations in Pekin, which is still isolated, although Shanghai forwards Chinese rumors that the legations were attacked by mobs who were mowed down by machine guns, and also that the members of the legations were massacred.
The situation at Niu-Chwang is reported critical. The British consul at Kiu-Kiang has ordered all foreigners to leave Ku-Ling and Nau-King-Chang. The powers are taking prompt action. Four thousand German troops have been ordered to China, 10,000 French troops are waiting to embark at Saigon, capital of French Cochin-China, and from three to five [thousand] more Russians have been ordered from Port Arthur to Taku.
This reinforcement, says the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, is announced in the St. Petersburg Gazette, the government pointing out that Russia is sending so many troops solely for the sake of peace and humanity.
The Brussels correspondent of the Standard, in a dispatch dated yesterday, says:
"Russia has massed 40,000 men, with seven batteries at Kiachta with orders to proceed to Mairmatchin, a Chinese town contiguous to Kiachta and thence to advance along telegraph route to the mongal town of Orga, 200 miles south of Kiachta and seven hundred and fifty miles northwest of Pekin."
The Shanghai correspondent of the Times, under yesterday's date, gives the following description, said to be taken from official sources, of the action at Taku:
"On the afternoon of June 16, in view assembling at the forts and of the facts that torpedoes had been laid in the river and that all communications were interrupted, the naval commanders held a council and decided to send an ultimatum, calling for the disbandment of the troops and announcing that if this demand were not complied with before 2 a. m. of the following day, the united squadron would destroy the forts.
"Shortly after midnight the forts opened fire. The British, French, German, Russian and Japanese warships replied. Two of the forts were blown up and the rest were carried by assault.
"Two British, one American and five Chinese warships are in Che Foo Harbor."
The morning papers consider that a state of war practically exists and that the issue is between western and eastern civilization. The Times says that the latest news indefinitely increases a situation already sufficiently serious.
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| Paul Kruger. |
KRUGER GROWS FEEBLE.
Transvaal President's Health Is Slowly Failing.
OVERTURES TO BOTHA FAILED.
Refused Roberts' Disarmament Scheme, Dynamite and Supplies Sent to Lydenburg—It Is Known the Boers Will Make a Desperate Stand.
LONDON, June 19.—A dispatch from Cape Town says it is reported there that President Kruger is in a feeble condition.
LONDON, June 19.—Lord Roberts, according to a Boer dispatch from Machadodorp, sent a message to Commandant-General Botha on June 13th, suggesting disarmament, and complimenting the bravery of the burghers. It was pointed out that the surrender would be without dishonor to the burghers and would prevent much suffering. Gen. Botha asked for a six days' armistice in order to confer and consider. Lord Roberts consented to five days. Finally General Botha declined to accept the proposition and hostilities were renewed.
The Boer commandoes are retiring on Middleburg, followed by the British cavalry and artillery, occasional shells reaching the rear guard. The Boers are destroying the bridges and burning the veldt behind them, carrying off provisions and cattle and leaving the country barren.
Advices from Machadodorp say that the Boers have abundance of arms and ammunition with dynamite and oxen, and that they are preparing heavy wagon trains for a retreat to the Lydenburg district, where the chiefs, notwithstanding rumors to the contrary, are determined to make a stand.
The Boers continue to work the Barberton mines, says a dispatch from Lorenzo Marques, and there are eight carloads of bar gold valued at 5,000,000 pounds with President Kruger.
Mr. Steyn, in his proclamation declaring the Free State free and independent, says the fact that the army is yet in the field renders Lord Roberts' annexation contrary to international law.
In a dispatch to the War Office from Pretoria, dated yesterday, Lord Roberts says that General Baden-Powell has just arrived there.
The Lorenzo Marques correspondent of the Times, under yesterday's date, says:
"Judge Van Loeuwen, who left Pretoria with a permit from the military governor, is understood to have been the bearer of a verbal message from the British authorities to President Kruger to the effect that, if he would surrender now, he would not be sent out of the country. Van Leeuwen was unable to see Mr. Kruger, but when passing through Machadorp he told State Secretary Reitz. The latter scouted the idea of surrender.
"Mr. R. J. H. Fortuin, head of the Transvaal secret service, is taking to Europe very important secret documents."
CONVENTION OPENED.
Enthusiasm for McKinley—Roosevelt Waves His Hat.
PHILADELPHIA, June 19.—At 12:36 the Republican convention was called to order by Chairman Hanna who made a short address during which mention of President McKinley's name was enthusiastically applauded, Governor Roosevelt joining in the demonstration by waving his rough rider hat. Chairman Hanna concluded by introducing as temporary chairman Senator Wolcott of Colorado, who then addressed the convention.
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| James M. Milne. |
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
Of Both Districts of Cortland County at Homer Last Saturday.
HOMER, N. Y., June 18.—There was a goodly attendance of teachers assembled at the Academy building in Homer Saturday, to bring into being again what has long been a lifeless body, namely The Cortland County Teachers' association. A good many schools had just closed for the year and their teachers had returned to their homes outside the county so that many were not present who would have been had the meeting been held earlier. It was a pleasant assembly and gave evidence that our commissioners and teachers are very much alive.
At 10:30 prayer was offered by Rev. C. W. Negus, pastor of the Baptist church. The president's address, by the veteran teacher and ex-school commissioner W. A. Coon, principal of Marathon High school, convinced his hearers that they were on the right track in forming this association and that they have the right kind of a president at its head.
A greeting of welcome was extended by Commissioner MacDiarmid of the Second district, in which she expressed in sincerest words the hope that the meeting would be an inspiration to the teachers in their work; that it would make them better acquainted with one another and would show them where they stood; in what directions their work was wrong and from the practical things to be listened to the ways in which these faults could be corrected.
Mr. Harry F. Lake of Cincinnatus, not being present to respond, according to program, an eloquent response was made in behalf of the teachers by Mr. Clayton Sanders of South Cortland.
At 11 o'clock a discussion of the graded course was opened by Miss Nettie Pool of East Homer, who gave some of the beneficent results of carrying out this course. It is a stimulus to better work than has been done before its introduction, and the examinations, though sometimes not strictly limited to the syllabus, and harder than those for preliminary regents' certificate, were decided after a lengthy and spirited discussion, pro and con, by the convention, to be about right. After making the ninth grade the pupil was qualified to take the regents' preliminary examination, with perfect ability to pass. The graded course carefully followed, fitted the pupil to be properly classified upon entering high school, in a much easier way than before. This was emphasized by Prof. Tuthill of Homer. A ninth grade certificate after this can be exchanged at the department for the regents' preliminary and this should be understood by teacher and pupil.
"English in the Common Schools" was the subject of a highly interesting paper by Prof. J. O. Lansing of Willet. Pupils should be taught to make sentences, clear cut and definite. This should be a simple classification. What things are and their qualities should be drawn out. One year of this work is sufficient. Correlation, memorizing of good prose and poetry, with feeling and appreciation, can be had in the low grades. Above the fifth and sixth grades, compositions should be written four times a week, and corrections and each part of the sentence definitely accounted for. Free reading should be combined with definite [sic].
Geography was taken up at 11:30 by Miss Helen L. Page and comprehensively treated in nearly all of its branches. A discussion, principally upon objective teaching of relief maps, was led by H. J. Ackles. Their necessity and the advantage and disadvantages of the three kinds, putty, sand and salt were shown. Maps are necessary as soon as the field of study extends beyond the immediately known, and the difficulties presented by the inequalities of the earth's surface [are] obviated by the relief form. Three dimensions and a uniform scale must be kept throughout, taxing the higher powers of the mind. The artist in the child is touched and finds partial expression.
Time pressed and it was nearly noon when Miss Mary A. Dowd read an instructive paper on the "Best Educational Interests of Country Children." No discussion was necessary on this subject and the question of "When shall we have institute?" was settled by a vote of the convention to have it in the month of October, hereafter, instead of spring.
An adjournment was taken at this point until 1:30.
The afternoon session with such speakers as Dr. Milne and Prof. Banta of Cortland, Prof. Tuthill of Homer, Prof. Shea of McLean and Prof. Kenney of Truxton assigned to various topics, was the best part of the day. It was opened by Miss Stella J. Sears of Marathon, giving a very bright talk upon reading, followed by an exhibition of a class of little graders from Miss Fannie Clark's room in the academy to illustrate the phonetic method, clear enunciation and natural expression, which the class did to perfection.
Mr. James S. Shea of McLean, president of the Tompkins and Cayuga counties' association, enthused his listeners on the subject of teachers' associations and gave many valuable points as to the proper manner of organizing and conducting them. The first essential was the commissioner's hearty co-operation. Business principles of keeping accounts should be applied, teachers should be prompt in paying dues and never evade taking part in a meeting. There should be two meetings year and a program made out by the executive committee at an early date. It should not be a "principal's" association, but one of the teachers.
Time was called on Mr. Shea by the president and Prof. Tuthill was called upon to give "Some Mistakes of Teachers." Though not given to making mistakes himself Prof. Tuthill knows when they are made by others. One serious mistake is not to take a professional interest in the work. Professional training is necessary to success, but mere scholarship is not the only attainment the teacher must have. Physical and moral training, most essential and abundant vitality are all important as well as sympathy with the pupil.
"The Teacher and the Patron," by Miss Jessie L. Barnes was tersely given and was followed by Dr. Milne in his usual rapidly flowing and happy vein, on "Sympathy With Children." Education is a leading out, a continual leading. This implies a leader and one lead. That bond between the leader and the one lead is sympathy. Without sympathy there is little or no common ground. This sympathy depends not so much upon knowledge and method as upon the personality of the teacher. Through sympathy the teacher comes to know the child and wins his confidence. The child lives in a higher region than the adult. Too often the process of education is a bringing down of the child from this higher region to the earthly region of the adult. The successful teacher must be sympathetic. He is to stand upon the red cross of opportunity and duty.
Prof. Eudorus C. Kenney brought out some of the extremes of the various school laws which were more humorously received than the speaker intended and when his resolution was offered that the law compelling attendance at institutes, as it stands, should be repealed, it was not seconded.
Last upon the program, having made a change of place with Dr. Milne, came Prof. Banta, so well and favorably known to all the teachers of this county and who is so soon to leave for Binghamton. His subject, "School Law," always brings questions from any teachers' meeting. This one was not an exception.
Prof. Banta first answered all the questions submitted to him upon the subject of school law and then spoke upon "The Best Education." This, he maintained, comes by contact with the best men and women. The best education costs a struggle, it takes time; it is a Christian education. What shall we do with it, the speaker asked, and his answer was to use it.
Miss Blanche Van Patten of Preble spoke on "Responsibilities of the Teacher," making a very able discussion of the subject.
Nearly all present became charter members of the association by paying a ten cent fee and handing their names to the secretaries at the close. As a beginning, this meeting was a very profitable and entertaining one and reflects much credit upon the committee, Commissioners MacDiarmid and McEvoy and the officers in charge.
A BUSINESS CHANGE.
A. Cornell of Binghamton Bought W. W. Gale's Stock.
A. Cornell of Binghamton has bought of Mrs. W. W. Gale her entire stock of ladies' furnishings at 10 Main-st. and is closing out her line preparatory to refurnishing with an extensive stock of new goods. Mr. Cornell is an experienced merchant in this line of trade and is much of a pusher. He expects to make his store headquarters for everything of this kind, and will soon have his new stock here.
Mrs. Gale has conducted this store in Cortland for a great many years, and has had many patrons who have relied upon her exclusively for anything in her line. She retires now because her health for some time has not been the best and she desires a rest. She will still retain her residence upon the second floor of the Graham building over 12 Main-st.
GROTON-AVE. PAVING.
NEW BIDS TO BE CALLED FOR BY BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Warner Quinlan Co. Failed to Sign Contract in Specified Time—Didn't Want Contract and Then Changed Their Minds About not Wanting the Contract and the Board Thought it all Child's Play—Will Begin Again at the Beginning.
The Groton-ave. paving took an unlooked for turn last night when the board of public works by resolution declared all bids received for the same rejected, and that a public meeting would be called July 9 at Fireman's hall to hear pros and cons in the Groton-ave. paving matter.
When awarded the contract by the board of public works the Warren-Quinlan company was by the terms of the award given five days in which to sign the contract, and it did not sign within the five days, hence the action of the board last night. Why the company failed to sign within the time is not positively known. There had been a discussion as to a technical point over the methods of procedure under the new [city] charter.
The latter part of last week the company sent the contract back to the board unsigned, stating that they did not care to execute it on account of a technicality that had arisen. Sunday night Mr. Ellis, who represents the company, came from Syracuse to Cortland and on Monday morning asked for the letter they had written to the board and for the contract, both of which were returned to him. Last night he appeared before the board with the contract signed and asked that it be accepted, which the board did not see fit to do. Mr. Duffey said that he wanted to be fair with Mr. Ellis and the company, but he thought that it looked too much like boy play for the company first to send in word that they did not want the contract and then to get hold of it again and sign it. Mr. Ellis retorted that the letter they had sent belonged to them till the board met, and that his company had a right to it. So far as boy play was concerned, he intimated that the board had done its share of this and that they had been very much inconvenienced by the board. Mr. Duffey asked if the facts in the case did not place Mr. Ellis in the position of being at fault. They, the board, had sat down upon some of the residents of the street in question rather hard, and that too after the residents had petitioned the board in regard to paving because the board thought it knew what it was doing. The time limit for signing had passed before the company had done anything.
City Attorney Kellogg was asked for advice in the matter and he gave as his opinion that as long as the company had not signed the contract within the time specified, the board should advertise over again for bids and start once more from the petition. Resolutions were then adopted declaring all bids for the work off and a meeting to be held in Fireman's hall on July 9, to hear again the pros and cons.
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| A. Sager. |
POULTRY FANCIERS MEET
And Perfect a Permanent Organization for Cortland County.
At a meeting of poultry fanciers held at Fireman's hall Monday evening, June 18, Aaron Sager was elected chairman and Dr. E. M. Santee secretary. Twenty-seven enthusiastic poultry men were present and thoroughly discussed the idea of forming a permanent organization. The following took part on the discussion: A. Sager, Robert McMillen, A. W. Graham, Dr. Santee, W. J. Greenman, G. J. Mager, F. B. Lampman, Thos. Leach, A. W. Stevens, Peter Nodecker, Frank H. Wood, B. R. Knapp, Elmer Williams of Homer, J. D. Clark and others.
The discussion developed much enthusiasm and upon motion the following committee was appointed upon permanent organization: A. W. Graham, Robert McMillen, I. A. Rice, B. R. Knapp, C. T. Phelps of Homer and G. D. Henry of McGraw. Their report recommended the following officers:
President—W. J. Greenman.
Vice-President—A. Sager.
Secretary—Dr. E. M. Santee.
Treasurer—Geo. V. Clark.
The committee also recommended that the name of the organization be The Cortland County Poultry and Pet Stock association; that the following be a committee upon the drafting of suitable constitution and by-laws: G. D. Henry, Robert McMillen, A. W. Graham, G. V. Clark and the secretary; that the board of directors consist of seven members to be selected by the committee on constitution and by-laws and the president, secretary and treasurer ex-officio; that the executive committee consist of the president, secretary, treasurer and one director to be elected by the board; that an honorary vice-president be selected from each town in the county by the same committee; that the vice-presidents, together with the following, be the membership committee: W. J. Greenman, Dr. E. M. Santee, George V. Clark, Peter Nodecker and W. E. Powers. The report was adopted.
Upon motion, the membership fee was fixed at $1 and all poultry and pet stock raisers of Cortland county are made eligible to active membership, all others to honorary membership.
Adjourned to meet Monday evening, June 25, in the same place.
Looking Over the Ground.
As we go to press the directors of the Home Telephone company are in session considering the report of the engineer who a few days ago made a general survey of the telephone field in this city and adjacent towns. It is expected that the plant will soon be commenced and we are assured that when finished will be one of the best, most complete and modern of any in existence.
Stereopticon Exhibition.
There will be a stereopticon exhibition in front of Hotel Brunswick to-night. The managers of the instrument explain that the trouble in the early part of Saturday evening was due to the clogging of the ether saturater. The instrument has been overhauled and will work to-night from the first. In fact it is claimed that the pictures to-night will be much better than were the best of those shown Saturday night.
Funeral of Wilber S. Corwin.
The funeral of Wilber S. Corwin, son of Mr. Dudley G. Corwin, was held yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at his home, 15 Union-st., and was largely attended. The floral tributes were very numerous and beautiful. The deceased had been a carpenter in the employ of his father who is one of the most prominent contractors and builders in this city, and his associates, the other employees of Mr. Corwin, gave a most beautiful pillow of roses with the name "Wilber" in the center.
The services were conducted by Rev. Robert Clements, pastor of the Presbyterian church, of which the deceased was a member. Mr. Clements read appropriate passages of Scripture, offered prayer and also read the following poem by May Riley Smith entitled "Sometime."
A quartet consisting of Mrs. Fred I. Graham, Miss Elizabeth Turner, Mr. J. B. Hunt and Mr. E. N. Sherwood sang with fine effect the chant. "The Lord's Prayer," "Brother, Thou Art Gone to Rest," "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and also the chant, "Thy Will be Done." The bearers were Messrs. Charles H. White, E. S. Bierce, Stuart Dye and Ray W. Hollenbeck. The burial was in the Cortland Rural cemetery.
The following were some of those present from out of town: Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Kinney of Truxton, D. E. Kinney of Utica, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nash of Mecklenburg, Clarence, John, Cora and Mabel Briggs of Trumansburg, and Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Seeber of Marathon.
The members of the family are very desirous of extending their heartfelt thanks to those who so kindly contributed flowers and tendered assistance and sympathy, in this hour of affliction; also especially to those employees of Mr. Corwin who contributed flowers and attended the funeral in a body.
THE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Commencement at Cortland Opera Home on Friday Night at 8 o'clock.
The annual commencement exercises of the Central school will be held at the Opera House on Friday night of this week at 8 o'clock with the following program:
The following is the list of graduates: Mary Lucy Pease, Inez Maud Petrie, Belle Bessie Beeman, Sarah Hernon, Sol. Simmons, Amelia Dunkin Townsend, Bessie Hasbrouck Reed, Lillian Margaret Stebbins, Lulu May Griffing, Bertha Whiteson Simmons, Bertha Louise Locke, Pearl Elizabeth Gordon, Louis Asa Crane, Emil Simmons, L. D. Thomas, William Howard Moyer, Edith May Bunnell.
The class motto is "Per Ardua ad Astra."
The class officers are as follows:
President—Mary L. Pease.
Vice-President—Louis A. Crane.
Secretary—Belle B. Beeman.
Treasurer—L. D. Thomas.
Orator—Emil Simmons.
Prophet—Bessie H. Reed.
Historian—Bertha L. Locke.
Poet—Lulu M. Griffing.
BREVITIES.
—Burglars in Homer again.
—The annual reunion of the One Hundred Eighty-fifth regiment will be held at Long Branch, Onondaga lake, to-morrow.
—There will be no teachers' meeting at the First M. E. church Thursday evening of this week as the lesson of next Sunday will be a quarterly review.
—Dr. and Mrs. F. J. Cheney most delightfully entertained the members of the Normal faculty and a few other friends at their home on Church-st. last night.
—A new medical building to cost $80,000 Is to be erected upon the Cornell university campus the coming year through the beneficence of a friend who for the present prefers to be nameless.
—A quiet wedding took place at the home of William Allen in Willet, June 4, when Rev. J. B. Wilson united in matrimony Charles S. Bull of Cortland and Carolyn Allen Halbert of Willet.—Marathon Independent.
—New display advertisements to-day are— Mitchell & Strowbridge, Fish, page 5; Palmer & Co., Opportunity sale No. 3, page 7; Burgess, Clothing, page 8; M. A. Case, Always ahead, page 6; Stowell & Co., Turkish towels, page 8.
—Some of the most luscious and at the same time immense strawberries seen this year were raised by Mrs. A. V. Smith just west of the village. They are of the Glen Mary variety and a single berry weighed an ounce.
—The Scientific American suggests that if you are afraid of lightning, simply put on your rubbers and stand up so your clothes won't touch anywhere. Whether you are indoors or out of doors you are perfectly safe, for rubber is a non-conductor and you are completely isolated.
—The name of Willard station on the Seneca division of the Lehigh Valley has been changed to Gilberts, in order to prevent confusion with the Willard on the Ithaca division. The new name is in honor of Captain Gilbert, the well known steward of Willard State hospital.—Ithaca Journal.
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