The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 11, 1901.
NEW YORK LETTER.
Hotel Life in the Metropolis—Trucks and Truck Horses—Fear of Kidnappers—Winter Bathing.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
New York, January 7, 1901. The newspapers announced last week that another big hotel was to be erected on Fifth-ave. by the Astor estate. To those who have in mind the larger number of big hotels in New York and who have never had occasion to seek accommodation in one of them, such an undertaking seems rather hazardous from a financial point of view. It is a fact, however, that it requires strategy, tact, and as strong pull is likely to be useful, to secure good rooms at any of the first-class hotels from the early autumn weeks until the first days of Spring turn New Yorkers to the country. There was a time, not so long ago either, when many of the hotels complained of poor business, but now, although there are many more hotels in proportion to the size of the city than there were then, there does not seem to be enough to accommodate the people who desire to live in them. The man who unexpectedly has to search for hotel accommodations, finds if only a first-class hotel satisfies him that it is extremely difficult to obtain a room. Hotel life year by year becomes increasingly luxurious, and prominent members of society, who formerly entertained exclusively at home, now give their receptions and dances in rooms especially appointed for such affairs in the new hotels.
Waiting along the East river front after nightfall one is likely to see a great number of men riding along on big horses that have their harness on and a blanket thrown over their back, truck horses that the drivers are taking to Brooklyn for the night, where rent is cheaper than in Manhattan. These horses go to Brooklyn for the same reason that countless numbers of men and women go, viz: to sleep. But the question naturally suggests itself, where are the trucks? Many of them are to be found arranged in lines along wharves at a right angle to the shorefront, but in most instances they are left on the farm, the broad strip of land lying between the track of the street railroad and the bulk-head line. In the morning the truckman brings his horse over from Brooklyn, hitches it to his truck and begins the business of the day, quite as though the truck had been in his barn all night. He has saved the cost of housing the truck and also the ferriage on it. But while trucks are thus allowed to stand in some parts of the territory under the jurisdiction of the Dock department, no trucks are now permitted to be left any where in the city's streets.
Something like a year ago, New York had a kidnapping case, which excited universal alarm and indignation throughout the city. Since the Cudahay boy was kidnapped the terror which had to a great degree subsided, has revived and according to the police, it is stronger now than ever before. Some families whose great wealth might make their children the object of such a crime have taken extreme precautionary measures and in almost every home where wealth and children are found the children are more vigilantly guarded than usual. Parents have consulted detective bureaus and in one or two instances the bureaus furnished men to keep an eye on the children; of course it is not necessary for a poor boy to bother his head about kidnappers, but to the prospective young millionaire who would like to run about as other boys do, but who cannot, because he is tied to the apron strings of a fat nurse maid, life is something of a burden. As a matter of fact there is no great occasion for alarm. Kidnapping has never been a popular crime among professional criminals, and the laws of New York discourage it to a large extent, the penalty being very severe. The average wealthy citizen,, however, does not by any means rely solely upon the law to protect his children and to show the precautions some of them take, it is said upon excellent authority that one anxious father who had occasion recently to engage a nurse maid for his youthful heir, called in an expert in criminology to examine the prospective nurse and to make matters even more secure, took her to a clairvoyant.
In a certain part of Brooklyn known as Bath Beach there is said to be a little colony of bathers whose members at this season of the year every day take a dip in the ocean with all the ardor shown by ordinary people in the heat of summer. Winter bathing is not a new sport by any means, and in years gone by there has usually been at least one venturesome person who has taken a bath every morning in the bay in winter. One man in particular, who for several years never failed to take a daily bath in the ocean, was discovered by a newspaper reporter (report does not say whether or not the man was bathing at the time he was discovered) and as a result this bather soon became a ''famous'' New Yorker. Most of the bathers take a swim of one hundred yards or so then come out, for exhilarating as the exercise is, it does not do to stay in longer than the time required for each swim. Even to one accustomed to it numbness will begin creeping over the limbs before long and the good effect of the bath is lost when that occurs. Winter swimming has always been popular among the life-savers and a swimming contest to take place among the men of the Coney Island station is announced to take place the latter part of this month.
THE YEAR 1901.
No Eclipses Visible in America—Holidays and the Season of Lent.
A little study of the almanac for the coming year of the new century comprises the latter part of the 125th and the 126th year of American Independence. It is the year of 6614 of the Julian period and the 5661-5662 of the Jewish era. The Jewish new year 5662 begins at sunset Sept. 13, 1901.
There will be no eclipses of either the sun or moon that are visible on this hemisphere during next year.
The holidays of the year will fall as follows: Memorial day, Thursday, May 10; Independence day, Thursday, July 4; Labor day, Tuesday, November 5; Christmas day, Wednesday, December 25.
The lenten period begins on Ash Wednesday, and in the coming year it will fall on February 20. The Paschal moon is full on the 8th of April and this brings Easter Sunday on the 7th of April.
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| James M. Milne. |
THE BEST GRAMMAR WRITTEN.
Dr. James M. Milne's New English Grammar a Valuable Work.
(From The Elmira Gazette.)
The Milne family for many years have played a distinguished part in the educational matters in New York state. Dr. James M. Milne for several years was principal of the State Normal school of Oneonta, N. Y., and is a gentleman of rare scholarship and extensive experience as to the actual needs of the school room. He has just issued his English grammar which an eminent educator has pronounced the best text book of its kind ever produced. The subject is treated from a philosophical standpoint, and the pupil is led by ingenious and original processes to the discovery of the laws of language rather than being compelled to commit to memory a large number of rules. The most striking feature of the book is the collection of an enormous number of concise and eloquent sentences from the masters of English prose and poetry. These selections of themselves produce an interest in language in the youthful mind, and are suggestive creators of great thoughts and noble sentences. The principle of the book is that "Grammar must be learned through language." It is a surprise to an experienced teacher to see how many of the difficulties of learning language disappear by using the methods of this book.
The scholarship of Dr. Milne has enabled him to teach English grammar in a manner so different from the methods of his predecessors that little will be unlearned in studying the grammar of other languages, a philosophical harmony with the genius of language being carefully preserved. The book is remarkably clear. Its definitions, rules and statements are strikingly simple, lucid and comprehensive, and are easily within the grasp of any pupil in the grammar school grades. Every grammatical fact is shown by means of illustrations, and the pupil is almost ready to give the law involved before he reads it in the text following the examples. Dr. Milne's technical knowledge of Latin, Greek and German, his wide familiarity with literature and his practical knowledge of the difficulties which heretofore have confronted students of English grammar have enabled him to guide the pupil along an easy path. In this book there is certainly a royal road to learning. Over sixteen hundred illustrative sentences are employed. No illustrations of false syntax are given, a fatal error in many grammars, as too frequently the child learns from imitation to remember the false rather than the true. The English verb is treated in an exhaustive manner, as this most important part of speech needs more scientific treatment than it usually receives. Everything about the book is plain and practical. No theories are found there except those that have been thoroughly tested.
The book has been issued by Silver, Burdett & Co. of Boston, and is printed with large type on a fine quality of paper each page presenting a neat appearance. The book contains nearly four hundred pages, and is substantially bound in a handsome cover. It sells for only seventy-five cents and one would naturally suppose that twice that amount would he very reasonable. The book has met with an enthusiastic reception on the part of the most conservative and critical teachers and already three editions have been issued.
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| Benjamin B. Odell. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The Governor's Message.
Although Governor Odell was not inducted into office with a thundering salvo of artillery and a wild flourish of trumpets, the wonted accompaniments of every official act of that conceited bashaw, the late spectacular gubernatorial "Me,'' yet by his message to the legislature he has made himself the paramount subject of discussion, at least throughout the length and breadth of the Empire State. It has been at once amusing and instructive to note different estimates of the governor, called forth by the message. Some who hitherto have regarded him as the political penumbra of the peccable Platt, now view him as an angel of light with political healing on his wings. Others who had regarded him as a partisan benefactor politically generous in heart and hand, now are viewing him as a dictatorial autocrat, a grim and dread destroyer armed with a political battle-axe seeking friendly victims for political decapitation.
The governor should not be taken too seriously. It should be remembered that political promises and political performances are more frequently unknown strangers than close friends. The message is simply a political feint to gain a firmer footing, a mere couching of the political lance, from which little yet can be told of the nature on the result of the coming political tournament. It will be recalled that [former governors] Morton, Black and Roosevelt alike were prophets of economy and reform, but became high-priests of partisan extravagance. Odell had to outdo Roosevelt in pious promises. Roosevelt, it will be remembered, too pledged himself to the abolition of the Fish and Game commission, but ended by simply kicking out the Platt-appointed members of the commission to make room for some of the Rough rider's ardent worshippers. Odell sees in his plans set forth under the cover of retrenchment a fit excuse to bring about the longed-for exodus of the hard-hated Roosevelt official sycophants.
Let not consternation seize the Platt contingent. A past-master in politics sits in the gubernatorial chair. His task it is to kill Roosevelt as a presidential possibility. He must out-reform the Reformer for the purpose of wooing from him those who professedly see something higher in polities than the political loaves and fishes. When that is done then will "the boys" be his peculiar care. Have patience. Bide a wee. Watch how far the governor will carry the machine legislature along his marked-out pathways of reform.
Governor Odell, however, does well even to acknowledge the wanton extravagance of Republican methods during the last three state administrations. He does well to confess the truths set forth by the Democratic party in charging the commissions inaugurated under the Republican partisan rule, as costly, unnecessary and ever dangerous. He does well to iterate the Democratic demands for their abolition and for retrenchment [of] governmental expenses.
He does well to have that hope and faith, expressed by the late Governor Flower nine years ago, in his earnest desire that "the state of New York would no longer find it necessary to levy a direct tax for state purposes." He should have added that had the Republicans carried out the practices of Democratic economy, no direct tax would have been levied for state purposes during the last two Republican administrations.
Let Governor Odell but carry out his promises and bring to some avail his recommendations, and he will not only be accredited honor, but will be given hearty support.
Let him inaugurate a new political economy in all branches of the state government.
Let him abolish all expensive honorary commissions or blend them into practical commissions or substitute for each of them an efficient official.
Let him keep the greedy hands of the favored few out of the rich inheritance tax and let it be gathered into the state treasury with strict economy.
Let him use his wealth of influence in carrying out his recommendations for enacting laws for the better protection of employes [sic], for the payment of a just tax by all kinds of corporations, for the betterment of the country roads, the abolition of grade crossings and the better control and supervision of public utilities.
Bold and radical as are his recommendations in the eyes of politicians, they are none too radical for the general public. Opposed as he may be by some of the beneficiaries of the present system of wanton waste, or by those who hope to take at an early day the place of these beneficiaries, the people will stand back of the governor and will unite with him in calling a halt on the prodigal waste and thriftless extravagance which, in recent years, has characterized the conduct of governmental affairs.
Let the governor but prove that we are mistaken in his attitude, that he is sincere in his professions, that he is not wearing a political mask, that he is standing in his own strength, and that his professions are but the gateway toward their prompt performance, and no one will outdo the Democrat in awarding him hearty commendation, in granting him fitting honors and in making ample amends.
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| George W. Dunn. |
Col. George W. Dunn.
A Binghamton newspaper of Tuesday published an interview with Col. Geo. W. Dunn, chairman of the Republican state committee, in which the colonel is made to appear very ungentlemanly. With all due respect to our contemporary, we believe the reporter misrepresented and misquoted Col. Dunn.
We have known the colonel many years, ever since the campaign in which he was elected sheriff of Broome county, and although we have differed with him politically, we are glad to bear testimony to the fact that we have always found him one of the most genial of men, and a gentleman who treats his political opponents with that courtesy due from one to another. We really wish Col. Dunn was a Democrat, but as that is an impossibility we, at even this late day, congratulate him upon his elevation to the responsible head of the great Republican party in the Empire State. We are sure that while the colonel will make a vigorous fight against the Democracy at all times, he will wage his warfare as becomes an honest general.
Another of Willet's Young Men.
J. M. Belknap was born on a farm in Wayne Co., Pa., in 1871. After passing the usual schoolboy duties, baseball, etc., he taught the district school one season, where he earned money to take him through one year's schooling at the Hancock, N. Y., Union school and academy, going into the twelfth grade. Having a mathematical turn of mind, his attention was there set toward electrical engineering and he secured employment with the Wightman Electric Co. of Scranton, Pa., to learn the manufacture and handling of electrical machinery. He staid [sic] there until the depression of 1892-3, said company vaporized, and Mr. Belknap came to Willet in 1894.
Any one with an eye for beauty and business will surely be impressed with the surroundings at Willet, and Mr. Belknap decided to cast his lot with the people there. He rapidly found employment with the assistance of Morel Morey and A. C. Green, and in 1895 he was married to Miss Antoinette Salisbury, daughter of George Salisbury, one of his employers and a sound business man of Upper Lisle, N. Y.
In the spring of 1897, at the suggestion of some of the prominent farmers near Willet, Mr. Salisbury in company with Mr. Belknap built and equipped a cheese factory, which was duly named the Belknap factory by said patrons. W. E. Beardslee, now the leading creamery man in the town of Willet, was engaged by Mr. Belknap to assist in starting the enterprise, and Mr. Belknap took the dairy course at Cornell the following winter, where he earned a certificate of proficiency in dairy husbandry.
He is still making a fancy article of butter and cheese about one mile east of Willet village, and being a Methodist and Prohibitionist, will always be found working for the best interest of the community in which he resides.
A New Temperance Scheme.
We protest against using the name of Cortland as the originator of every fanatical scheme that is concocted as a remedy for this or that evil. Not but that Cortland stands ready to aid any worthy cause, but its citizens "believe in using legitimate means instead of wild freak schemes to further this end. The following article from the Owego Gazette is founded upon a brief item emanating in the brain of an imaginative local reporter, instead of at a mass meeting as asserted. The Gazette's comments upon the proposed legislation are full of common sense.
Temperance workers in different parts of this state have endorsed a new plan to solve the drink problem. They propose to send a bill to the legislature this winter compelling every man who drinks intoxicating liquors to take out a license costing not less than $5 a year, and requiring that the names of license-holders be published in the papers once every six months, so that the public may know who has a legal right to drink. A mass meeting was held at Cortland Saturday night, at which plans were made for the introduction of the proposed bill.
This is a brilliant scheme. The bill has about as much chance of passing the present legislature as one to regulate the number of cups of tea women of fifty years and over shall drink each day would have, or one prescribing the number of plugs of tobacco a man should be allowed to consume in a given period of time. If the bill is to be one to license drinkers at the bar, it would no doubt stimulate the private bottle industry to an unheard of extent.
HERE AND THERE.
The weather is very fitty. We get a little snow, a thaw, a freeze, and the same conditions are repeated. It keeps everybody guessing about sleighing, which is pretty thin at the present time.
Sidewalk navigation was rather difficult Wednesday morning.
The week of prayer has been generally observed in our city churches.
By the will of the late Robert Purvis the city hospital will receive $400 from his estate.
The greatest bargain sale of the season all next week in the Mahan building, Court-st.
The firm of Mitchell & Strowbridge has been dissolved, Mr. Mitchell continuing the business at the old stand.
The Cortland Y. M. C. A. basket ball team defeated the Syracuse team Wednesday evening by the score of 21 to 19.
The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will meet this afternoon with Mrs. Birdlebough, 73 Homer-ave., at 1 o'clock.
A business men's gymnastic class under the Wanger system is being conducted at the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium by F. W. Stoker.
Cortland manufacturers send as much or more freight to western points as is sent from the city of Scranton, which has fifteen times our population.
A tire on one of the driving wheels of the switch engine in the Lackawanna yard broke last Friday, making it necessary to send the locomotive to Syracuse for repairs.
The melodrama, "The Bowery After Dark," with all its special scenery and electrical effects will be the attraction at the Opera house next Thursday evening, Jan. 17.
Our readers will universally sympathize with Mr. Mills G. Frisbie in his financial loss caused by the fire which destroyed his out-buildings last Thursday night, the particulars of which are given by our Scott correspondent.
Christmas decorations, which had been left in the First M. E. church, caught fire Sunday evening from a torch in the hands of the janitor. Some excitement prevailed for a time, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.
According to the Cortland Standard Justice Kelley now transacts his official business in the post-office at McGrawville, as that is the only spot in that village which bears the name McGraw, which is also likely to be changed soon to McGrawville.
Sheriff Overton arrested Amos Tryon Saturday on the charge of assault and battery, preferred by his wife Ellen R. Tryon. He was taken before Justice Kelley at McGrawville, giving bail in the sum of $200 for appearance before Justice Kelley to-day.
Mayor Brown doesn't propose to run any risk of losing his grip on the police board, and has therefore surrendered his pharmacist's liquor license, the law seeming to prohibit any who has an interest in the sale of liquor from serving on a police board.
Hon. A. S. Draper, a former superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York, but at present president of Illinois university, will lecture in Normal hall next Tuesday evening, on the ''Responsibility of the Teacher for the Inspiration of Pupils.''
At the annual meeting of the First Baptist church held Monday evening, the financial reports were submitted, and they showed a most satisfactory result for the year. The following trustees were elected: L. W. Peck, W. W. Bennett and E. H. Wilson for three years to succeed themselves, and M. H. Foley and E. Jay Hopkins to fill vacancies.
The story ''John Topp, Pirate,'' which has been running in the Democrat for several months, and which has been read with intense interest by hundreds of our readers, is concluded with this issue. Next week will appear the opening chapter of another serial entitled ''Arms and the Woman.'' We are sure the readers of the Democrat will be pleased with this new serial, as it is a strong production.
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