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| Murray Hall. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 25, 1901.
A REMARKABLE LIFE.
STRANGE CAREER OF A NEW YORK POLITICIAN.
Has Posed as a Man Nearly All Her Life—Had Voted Many Years—Sickness in New York—The Once Famous Castle Garden Now an Aquarium—The Drinking Habit Among Women.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
New York. Jan. 21. This is the strange story of a woman who for more than thirty years masqueraded as a man, her true sex not being known or even suspected until her death last week at the age of seventy. The woman for many years kept an employment bureau in Sixth-ave., and she was known to almost every one in the district. She was of small build, spare and active, and took an interested part in the masculine pursuits. She was quite competent to hold her own in such manly attainments as swearing, chewing tobacco, etc., and in drinking bouts her ability to keep her end up with the boys was never questioned. Stranger still, perhaps, was her marriage; at the time of her death she was a widower, her wife having been dead about two years, but the precise date or place of her marriage has not been discovered. They had an adopted daughter, now about 22 years old and rather prepossessing in appearance. The woman or man as one prefers, was a well known figure in the Jefferson Market police court, where she often appeared as a bondsman, furnishing bail in amounts varying from $500 to $5,000. At one time she was arrested for giving straw bail and on the way to the police station, she insisted upon having a drink and treating the policeman. She was bailed out, but instead of going home she went out and became drunk, which resulted in her arrest on a double charge of disorderly conduct and assaulting a policeman. Among the politicians the woman was very popular, and well known, having been for a long time a member of the Tammany club in the district in which she resided. She was an active worker, well versed in all the tricks of ward politics, interested in every detail of organization and a voter in the district for years. It is said that with a certain Tammany state senator she had a ''pull'' and did not hesitate to use political influence, either to advance her interest or obtain revenue for an injury. She left a will, and in it was a provision that certain lots in Westchester county should go to her dear beloved daughter.
From time to time some one starts a story to the effect that New York women are becoming inveterate cocktail drinkers, and that the tea rooms of prominent hotels are noted for groups of maids and matrons who imbibe unlimited quantities of intoxicating liquors served under the guise of tea in china cups. Within the last week or two, there has been a repetition of this story, started by a very reverend Bishop, who asserted among other things that within the past fifty years drinking had steadily decreased among men but increased among women to an alarming extent. During the hours when women are to be found lunching in the fashionable dining rooms of the city, there is no evidence as a rule of any alarming increase in the drinking habits of the fair sex. The greatest amount of wines and liquors are consumed by the groups of flashily-dressed women who patronize the "all-night" restaurants. At these resorts the women drink quite as much as the men, and night after night they are on hand to repeat the performance in the various "gardens" where the German-American citizens congregate, the favorite beverage of the nation is invariably drunk by the wives, as well as by the men, but this practice can scarcely be termed intemperance, as no more domestic or peaceful gatherings than these could be found in any home. There is, however, no great danger of the drinking habit ever gaining great ground among women, because nothing is more fatal to natural beauty and freshness of complexion than a "bracer," and the average New York woman knows it.
Some three or four years ago, the old building at the Battery known throughout the country as Castle Garden, where all immigrants were formerly landed, was converted into an aquarium. Previous to its being used as a building for the reception of untilled [sic] foreigners, it was a concert garden, and beneath the very walls where now fishes from all parts of the world are gathered, the wondrous voice of Jennie Lind, under the management of the late P. T. Barnum of kindly memory, first enthralled astonished New Yorkers with its sweetness. The aquarium is an attractive place for young people as well as adults, and on fair days, teachers of public and private schools may be seen bringing their pupils in troops. Often times they bring their luncheons and spend a good portion of the day seemingly never tiring of observing how the fish swims and how little the water is disturbed by the movements of the fish through it. The aquarium is maintained at the expense of the city, and no pains have been spared to make a complete and varied collection of every known piscatory species.
Grip, smallpox and diphtheria seem to be contending for supremacy in this city, and the greatest of these is grip. Both in the number of deaths reported and in the general spread of the disease, the past week has been a record breaker for the grip. The disease has spread very rapidly, and the only point affording comfort to the health authorities is its comparative mildness. In a great city like New York the death rate is increased by the number of those who are so unfortunate as to lack proper nourishment and are consequently not able to combat an attack of the disease. The number of these is not small, as the records show, and while the resulting deaths swell the death rate, they do not indicate a decrease in the general health of the city. A prominent physician is quoted as saying that during the time immediately following the holidays, there is always an outbreak of the grip, due primarily to the fact that most persons during the Christmas season eat and drink much that is unwholesome and then they are just in the condition that makes them fall easy victims to the grip. Whether this is the true explanation or not, it is a fact that among those who do not have the means to enjoy themselves in the usual holiday fashion, the number of cases of influenza is not great.
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Nathan Lewis Miller. 
Orris U. Kellogg.
MOTION IS GRANTED.
INJUNCTION DISSOLVED IN MARATHON CASE.
That Village Has the Right to Construct Lighting Plant—Judge Lyon Gives Some Good Advice to All Concerned—Act of 1894 Not Applicable to Case in Question.
Justice George F. Lyon gave some very good advice to the people of Marathon and to the members of the Union Electric Light company of that place at supreme court the other day.
O. U. Kellogg of Cortland made a motion to vacate an injunction which County Judge Eggleston of Cortland county granted, restraining the village of Marathon from putting in a municipal electric plant, which injunction was granted on the ground that under the statute of 1894 the village was obliged to buy the plant of the Union Electric company and could not erect a plant of its own. Nathan L. Miller of Cortland opposed the motion.
At the argument the court suggested that it would be better for both the Union Electric company and the village that the Electric company should accept a fair price for its plant, and that the village should pay a fair price, as otherwise with a municipal plant the electric light of the Electric company would be practically of no value and the village could afford to pay the lighting company a fair price for such materials as the village could use in constructing its plant.
The court asked the attorneys if the differences had arisen out of the late bridge controversy at Marathon. It granted the motion and dissolved the injunction, holding that the village of Marathon had the right to construct a separate plant and was not compelled to purchase the plant of the Union Electric company.
It appeared upon the argument that the act of 1894 which provided that in a village owning its own water plant the Board of Water Commissioners should, in the advent of the electric plant, purchase by condemnation any existing street electric lighting plant, was repealed prior to the village of Marathon acquiring the water plant. The court held that the act of 1894 was, therefore, not applicable, but that the general village authorities might either purchase the existing plant or put in a separate municipal plant at the election of the village.
OBlTUARY.
Hubert R. Maine.
Hubert R. Maine is dead. A young man of promise, one who enjoyed the highest esteem of the entire city, who possessed fine business qualifications, of a quiet and unassuming demeanor, loved by his comrades and idolized by his bereaved mother, has passed into the life beyond, leaving a vacancy in the household and in social circles of Cortland that will be keenly felt.
Mr. Maine was taken ill with typhoid fever early in December, and after an illness of about four weeks it was apparent that other difficulties prevented his recovery, and his physician, Dr. S. J. Sornberger, after a careful diagnosis, found what is known as tuberculosis of the peritoneum, and on January 9 he was taken to the hospital, where an operation was performed by Dr. Jacobson of Syracuse, assisted by Drs. Sornberger and VerNooy. This operation disclosed the fact that Mr. Maine's lungs were affected by the tuberculosis. Last week still another difficulty presented itself, the bowels being paralyzed, and this seemed to baffle the skill of his physicians, who found that the patient was not strong enough to withstand another operation. The end came quietly at 1:40 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Maine realized his condition, and while he was troubled at the thought of leaving his widowed mother alone, he was reconciled to his approaching death.
Hubert R. Maine was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Burdett Maine, and was born in DeRuyter, December 12, 1872. When quite young his father died, and being ambitious, he with his mother moved to Cortland twelve years ago, Mr. Maine having secured a position in the Second National bank. He was advanced gradually to the rank of head bookkeeper, and his work was always faithfully and conscientiously performed.
He was an attendant of the Presbyterian church, and was a member of Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. &. A. M.; Cortland chapter, No. 194, R. A. M.; and of Cortland commandery, No. 50, K. T.
The funeral will be held to-day at 12 o'clock noon, and the remains will be taken to DeRuyter on a special train leaving at 1 o'clock. Services will be held in the Congregational church at that place at 2:30 o'clock. The Masonic fraternity will have charge of the burial service.
Frank C. Melvin.
At 12 o'clock Sunday night Mr. Frank C. Melvin died at his home 118 North Main-st., at the age of 39 years. Mr. Melvin was the manager of the local branch of the Standard Oil company, and was a valued member of the First Baptist church. He was also a member of the Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., and of Cortland chapter, No. 194, R. A. M.
The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, the Masonic fraternity attending in a body.
RAILROAD MYSTERY.
MAY POSSIBLY MEAN ANOTHER OUTLET FOR CORTLAND.
Twelve Miles of New Railroad Has Caused Much Guessing—A Gigantic Scheme is Suspected—May Connect Cortland with Auburn Branch of the New York Central.
A railroad only twelve miles long is creating a great deal of curiosity and gossip in the neighborhood of Marcellus, and the knowing ones predict that Cortland may benefit largely from the scheme. This road has just been laid through Marcellus, and it apparently starts nowhere and ends nowhere.
But this isn't the most curious thing about it. Nobody seems to know who is building the road, whether it is to be a trolley or steam line, what it is to be used for or what connections it will make. Everybody is guessing.
At present the road starts at Marcellus Station and runs south crossing the Nine Mile creek several times. The grade is perfectly level and in order to bring this about there has been a vast amount of cutting away and filling in. A half dozen costly and heavy bridges have been built.
The line extends through Marcellus Falls and Marcellus village and then continues on toward Marietta. But nobody will venture to say where it will end.
It is said that only 12 miles have been contracted for and this will bring the road at a wind up in a woods near Marietta.
According to the Syracuse Journal a sentiment prevails, however, that a gigantic scheme is on foot and that the backers of the project will not divulge their plans for fear of opposition.
The franchise for the present railroad is for a trolley line, but this is thought to be only a cover for the real intention.
The perfection of the grade, the excellence of the ties and the weight of the rails give the impression that the road is intended to be used for powerful locomotives. Already the road has cost about $200,000.
Frank Mills, the great seed raiser, made arrangements with a Syracuse bank when the work was first started and the money has since come from this source. It is said that Mr. Mills and Chicago capitalists are behind the scheme.
The most favorable opinion that prevails is to the effect that the real promoters of the enterprise are the New York Central Railroad company and that it is the intention to extend the line to Cortland and connect with the Lehigh Valley railroad. At Marcellus station the tracks would be connected with the Auburn line. This would give the New York Central direct connection with the Lehigh Valley in that section. Such an undertaking would be about the only paying venture.
Another theory is that a syndicate is behind the scheme and it is proposed to develop the lands along the line of the road. It is conceded that the Nine Mile creek furnishes one of the best water powers in the state and it is thought that this stream will be utilized by the syndicate.
Highway System.
In many localities towns are changing their method of working highways from the old system to the money system, and wherever the latter is adopted it is giving great satisfaction. If any towns in Cortland county desire to adopt a money system, it is necessary that petitions be circulated at once, if a vote is to be taken at the coming town meetings.
Meteor in Seneca Lake.
One of the largest meteors seen in this part of New York state in recent years fell into Seneca lake, between Earls and Angus, a few minutes before 9 o'clock last Saturday morning, according to several farmers who live in that vicinity. The meteor burst not more than a second later after it struck the water. The concussion was distinctly felt in Geneva by persons who were on the street at that time.
The first news of the fall of the meteor and its subsequent explosion was brought to that city by William Gifford. a farmer who lives about half way between Earls and Angus. He said: ''I heard a loud whirring that became a roar. I looked up just in time to see directly in front of me and high in the air, but fully a quarter of a mile away, a huge ball of fire, apparently five or six feet in diameter, dropping from the sky. When I saw it the meteor was a little north of my farm and almost in a direct line, between me and Dey's Landing, on the east side of the lake. As it struck the water, less than a mile from shore, there was a terrific explosion that knocked me off my feet. The concussion broke several panes of glass in the house and my wife said that it shook the building.''
David Thomas Walker, a farmer who lives about half a mile north of Mr. Gifford, said that the meteor passed almost directly over his head, and nearly blinded him. "Its light" he said, "was brighter than that from an electric arc light."
HERE AND THERE.
The hospital rummage sale is continued this week and is proving a grand success.
City Chamberlain G. J. Maycumber has received a large amount of taxes the past week.
Oh, we'll have base ball fast enough next summer. The signs of the times all point that way.
The journal of the proceedings of the board of supervisors have been distributed the past week.
G. F. Dann, who has for some time has been the retail selling agent for the Standard Oil company, has sold out to G. F. Jones.
Several members of the Cortlandville grange visited Homer grange Wednesday evening and enjoyed a very pleasant social occasion.
Nearly everyone of our many correspondents reports an unusual amount of sickness, measles, grip and typhoid fever predominating.
Electors in the several towns in Cortland county are reminded that the annual town meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 19.
The "sleeping beauty" in the window of Glann & Clark's store Tuesday and Wednesday drew considerable attention from pedestrians.
Smith Job, who resides at No. 42 Madison-st., fell from his bicycle Saturday evening in North Main-st. and broke a bone in the left leg.
Cold weather did not prevent the Delphic fraternity of the Normal school from enjoying u sleigh ride to Little York last Saturday night.
The Normal basket ball team wasn't in it for a minute with the Y. M. C. A. team last Saturday evening, the score being Y. M. C. A. 37, Normals 6.
Hon. Henry A. Dickinson has introduced in the legislature a bill amending the charter of the city of Cortland along the lines predicted in the Democrat last week.
There are many men in Cortland who have lost their grip and are mighty glad of it, too. Most of them have tried doctors to help them lose it and some of them have paid the doctors.
The ground hog or bear, which ever you choose, the Candlemas day animal, will soon be due. Meanwhile reserve all bets on prospective weather until shadow or no shadow day has passed.
Conductor John J. Van Wagenen, who is known by nearly every one along the line of the Syracuse & Binghamton railroad, has been for the past week very ill with typhoid pneumonia and it is feared he will not recover.
Another grocery store for the city is sprouting and will be in full bloom about February 1, when Messrs. Ellis Middangh and J. J. Moore will open in the Graham building in the room formerly occupied by Mrs. W. W. Gale.
Cool bracing air is a fine health tonic, but deliver us from taking it in homeopathic doses from the top of a tall pole with the thermometer ten degrees below zero, after the manner of the Home Telephone company's employees last Saturday.
The Republican town convention for Cortlandville will be held in the village hall at McGrawville on the 2nd of February, at 2 o'clock, to nominate a town ticket. The district caucuses to select ten delegates each to attend the convention will be held January 26 from 7 to 9 o'clock.
On Wednesday evening next the Bartenders' Union of Cortland will hold a dance in Red Men's hall. McDermott's orchestra will furnish music, and the floor committee will consist of T. J. Murray, M. T. Roche, Robert Crabb, W. J. McAuliffe and P. H. Dowd.
Pedestrians will be overjoyed to learn that the bicycle of this year will be some pounds lighter than the model of last year. If one must be collided with it is better that the machine which does the colliding should belong to the middleweight rather than to the heavyweight class.
Let's see about this weather: Saturday was a stinging cold day; Sunday ditto, which in newspaper parlance means the same; Monday warm rain; Tuesday cold; Wednesday warm. Perhaps we ought to appreciate such a variety, but we confess we are not in an appreciative mood.
The recently appointed school board met Monday evening, but as four members were necessarily absent no permanent organization was effected. Geo. J. Mager was chosen temporary chairman for the evening, and with the exception of auditing a few bills no important business was transacted.
Cortland is up-to-date in every thing but the possessor of a Thimble club. It is strange that, with all its lodges, its clubs and other fraternal organizations, no one has thought of a Thimble club. Every town between Cortland and Binghamton has one, and we fear this city will be deemed oldfogyish if a Thimble club is not formed this season.
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