LAST RITES AT CAPITAL, EDITORIAL, BOARD OF EDUCATION, COMMON COUNCIL, AND AUTUMN DAYS AT THE GLEN

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1901.

LAST RITES AT CAPITAL.

State Funeral Services In Capitol at Washington.

SUBLIMELY IMPRESSIVE SCENE.

Sombre-Clad Civilians, Heads of Army and Navy In Gold Lace and Representatives of All Nations Gathered Around Bier of the Dead President.

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 18.—Yesterday the nation officially and with state ceremony paid its tribute of respect and love to the memory of its stricken chief magistrate. This was almost the closing act in the awful tragedy which has drenched the civilized world in tears. Beneath the great white dome of the Capitol funeral services of state were held over the remains of the dead president. It was eminently fitting that the services should be conducted in that beautiful rotunda, hallowed by the history of the last sad rites of two other martyrs of the cause of the republic.

   The services were conducted in accordance with the rites of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. McKinley was a lifelong member. Consisting only of two hymns, a song, a prayer, an address and a benediction, they were beautiful and solemnly impressive. Gathered around the bier were representatives of every phase of American national life, including the president and the only surviving ex-president of the United States, together with representatives at the Capitol of almost every nation of the earth. Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and all the republics to the southward of the United States mingled their tears with those of the American people. Despite the fact that no attempt had been made to decorate the interior of the rotunda beyond the arrangement made about the catafalque, the assemblage presented a memorable sight. The sombre black of the attire of the hundreds of the civilians present was splashed brilliantly with the blue and gold of the representatives of the army and navy and court costumes of the diplomatic corps.

Scene in the Rotunda.

   No attempt had been made to drape the interior of the west rotunda, and save for the black structure in the center and a small organ, and the floral pieces set against the walls beneath the eight historical paintings, the place presented its usual aspect before the services began. The catafalque was exceedingly simple in design. An oblong platform about 8 by 12 feet and raised but six inches from the floor supported the bier which was the same plain, strong structure that has been used at the Capitol since Lincoln's day for state funerals. New, rich, black broadcloth covered it completely as well as the platform and a small reading stand, and the only signs of ornamentation about it was the heavy black tassels and the artistic drapery of the cloth. The catafalque occupied the center of a circle of perhaps 40 feet in diameter. At that point was placed a circular row of cane-seated chairs and a dozen of such rows sufficed to fill out the space remaining in the rotunda excepting the four broad aisles running toward the cardinal points of the compass.

   As the great notes of Mr. McKinley's favorite hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light," floated through the great rotunda the assembly rose to its feet. Bared heads were bowed and eyes streamed with tears. At the close of the hymn as Rev. Dr. Naylor, presiding elder of the Washington district, rose to offer prayer the hush that fell upon the people was profound. When, in concluding, he repeated the immortal words of the Lord's prayer, the great audience joined solemnly with him.

   Scarcely had the word "Amen" been breathed when the liquid tone of that sweetly pleading song, "Some Time We'll Understand," went straight to the heart of every auditor. The song was song by Mrs. Thomas C. Noyes of this city, and the beautiful refrain was echoed and re-echoed by the double quartette choir.

   The venerable Bishop Edward G. Andrews of Ohio, the oldest bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, then took his position at the head of the bier.

   A gentle breeze through the rotunda stirred the delicate blooms which lay upon the coffin and the "peace that passeth all understanding" seemed to rest upon the venerable mans countenance as he began his eulogy of the life and works of William McKinley. His words were simple, but his whole heart was in every one of them. His tribute to the Christian fortitude of the dead president was impressive. Upon the conclusion of the sermon the audience as if by prearrangement joined the choir in singing "Nearer, My God, to Thee."

   At the close of the funeral services in the rotunda the casket lid was lifted in order to enable life friends of the dead president to have a last look at his features, and that the people whom he loves and who loved him might pass the bier for the same purpose. At 12:30 the crowds began to file through the rotunda and during the six hours in which the body was lying in state it is estimated that 50,000 people viewed the remains.

 

ARRIVED AT CANTON.

Thousands of People Had Turned Out to Pay Last Respects.

   CANTON, Sept. 18.—Thousands of people were at the depot at 11:58 this morning to witness the arrival of the body of the late President McKinley. After Mrs. McKinley, her relatives, President Roosevelt, and the other members of the family had left the train the body was taken from the car through the window by sailors from the Indiana and by a sergeant and details of men representing each branch of the army and navy. As the casket was borne to the hearse which was drawn by four black horses a bugler of Troop A sounded "Attention." Slowly the sailors and soldiers carried the casket through the line of admirals, generals and honorary pall bearers selected for the late president's warmest Canton friends, men who had known him since his boyhood.

 

William McKinley.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

"Let No One Hurt Him."

   "Let no one hurt him." These were the words spoken by President McKinley when, recoiling from the murderous shots of the anarchist Czolgosss. He heard the spectators shout, "Lynch him!" In these words spoke not only the man of large and forgiving nature, but the lawful head of the republic counseling respect for law and order and undoubtedly feeling his responsibility to secure for the one who sought his life that protection and deliberate judgment which characterizes our institutions. In the first moment of frenzy it was in the minds of the onlookers to tear the cowardly assassin limb from limb. This sentiment was doubtless in the minds of a great proportion of the American people when they first heard that in a time of profound peace and political quiet an attempt had been made upon the life of the nation's chief executive. This was but a passing emotion. The president's words "Let no one hurt him," voice the conservative sentiment and sober second thought of the country. Not that there is in any respectable quarter a desire to save the wretch who sought the president's destruction from the severest possible punishment, but an insistence that the punishment shall come through the established forms of law.

   It has been our proud boast that the life of every citizen is as sacred and secure as that of the president. The tragic event at Buffalo indicates that the life of a president is less secure than that of the private citizen, since he is the target for the enemies of law and order. It suggests the necessity of prompt and judicious legislation, both federal and state, for the better protection of the chief executive.

 

APPROPRIATION TO BE ASKED FOR.

For Enlarging the Central School—Proceedings of Board of Education.

   At a regular meeting of the board of education of the city of Cortland, N. Y., held at the office of the superintendent of schools in the Central school building in said city, on Monday evening, Sept. 16, 1901, the following members of the board of education were present: Messrs. George J. Mager, Albert W. Edgcomb, Curtis L. Kinney, Frank P. Hakes, William J. Greenman, Ferdinand D. Smith, William H. Newton and Arthur F. Stilson. Edward Keator, absent.

   The following resolution was introduced by Mr. Newton, who moved its adoption:

   Resolved, That it is necessary to enlarge the Central school building already erected in the Fifth ward of the city of Cortland, and situate on Railroad-st., and designated as the Central school building; that the particular sum required for making such enlargement is $19,500.

   Mr. Hakes seconded the motion made by Mr. Newton for the adoption of said resolution.

   The ayes and nays were called for, and the resolution was unanimously adopted by the affirmative vote of the following members of the board of education: Messrs. Mager. Edgcomb, Kinney, Hakes, Greenman, Smith, Newton and Stilson, constituting more than two-thirds of the members of said board of education.

   Thereupon the resolution was declared to have been adopted by an affirmative vote of more than two-thirds of the members of the board of education of the city of Cortland.

   Arrangements are to be made next week for temporarily fitting up a class room in the north end of the corridor in the second floor to accommodate a few more of the pupils who so far have been unable to gain admission to the schools.

 

Nathan L. Miller.

COMMON COUNCIL

City Attorney's Opinion Regarding Appropriation for the Hospital.

   A regular meeting of the common council of the city of Cortland was held at the office of the clerk of said city on the 17th day of September, 1901, at 8 o'clock, P. M., at which were present Mayor Chas. F. Brown and Aldermen E. M. Yager, E. R. Wright, George H. Richards, T. C. Scudder, Jr., R. S. Pettigrew and Vern W. Skeele.

   An opinion of Nathan L. Miller advising the board as to its power to raise money by tax tor the Cortland Hospital association, was read and placed on file.

   In this opinion the city attorney states that the section of the charter which designates the purposes for which the common council may raise money by tax does not specify the purpose suggested by the petition. His conclusion, therefore, is that the common council has no power to raise money for this purpose. The only provision, the opinion states, of the charter under which the amount could be raised for the purpose specified is the section that provides for extraordinary expenditures to be raised by tax after it has been decided upon at a special election.

   In regard to whether the expenditure could be made through the commissioner of charities, Mr. Miller states that the commissioner could not lawfully pay an excessive or exorbitant sum for the services or care contracted for, and could not, in other words, render a gratuity to the hospital in the guise of a contract for the care of the poor of the city.

   The common council did not discuss the matter very fully after the opinion was given. It was suggested, however, that the cost of a special election was between $600 and $700, and the members were of the opinion that this was rather too much money to pay out to get a $1,000 appropriation.

   Mayor Brown stated that the Home Telephone company had requested the board to fix a time at which it might meet with the common council and the fire board. Mr. Brown also stated that he was of the opinion that the telephone company had a proposition to make in reference to the fire alarm system, and that the proposition of abandoning the old system and introducing a telephone alarm system might be the subject for discussion. Mr. Richards said Elmira is now depending on the telephones for fire alarms with good success. Several of the members also stated that in their opinion a better and less costly system could be maintained by the use of telephones. It was decided to meet the company and the fire board next Thursday evening at 7 o'clock.

   On motion of Mr. Skeele, seconded by Mr. Richards and declared carried:

   Resolved, That of the sum of $710.77, due to the Farmers' and Mechanics' bank on Oct. 1, 1901, for interest on series "B" bonds for paving Main-st., the sum of $540.23 be drawn on the public debt fund, and the remaining sum of $170.54 be drawn on the general city fund.

   The minutes of the present meeting were read and approved. On motion, meeting adjourned.

   Approved Sept. 17, 1901, CHAS. F. BROWN, Mayor.

 

Glen Haven Hotel, Glen Haven, N. Y.

BOUGHT OUT HIS PARTNER.

J. H. Mourin now Sole Owner of the Glen Haven Hotel.

   Mr. John H. Mourin, proprietor of the Messenger House and formerly a three-fourths owner of the Glen Haven hotel, has purchased of Mr. Lewis Thomas the fourth interest in the Glen Haven hotel that was owned by Mr. Thomas, making Mr. Mourin the sole owner and proprietor of the popular summer resort. The consideration for the fourth interest was $8,000.

   Mr. Mourin has already begun to make improvements at the Glen for next year, and already many rooms have been engaged ahead for next season. The past season has been the most successful that the Glen Haven hotel has experienced for ten years, and the coming season bids fair to be even more successful than the present one has been.

 

AUTUMN DAYS AT THE GLEN.

Crowd is Gone, But There are Still Plenty of Visitors.

   GLEN HAVEN-ON-SKANEATELES-LAKE, Sept. 16, 1901.

   The summer season has made its epoch in history—the time has come to say au revoir, perhaps with a gentle pressure of the hand, or maybe a tear, but more generally with a toss of the head, a rippling laugh and a "Well, 'olive oil,' ma chere." Then "ma chere," goes back to town and—forgets.

   There are a goodly number who have learned by experience and travel that the rare days of June, July or August cannot be compared with that rarest of days, a September day at the lake shore.

   Among those who have come down to enjoy the autumnal days, the grandest in the gift of nature as guests of the Hotel Glen Haven are Mr. J. M. Grey, Brooklyn N. Y.; Mr. and Mrs. F. S.Calderwood, Mrs. S. V. Kennedy, the Misses Rogers, Mrs. Farrell, Mrs. McGovern, Auburn; C. E. Fredericks, Mrs. Frank Proper, L. W. Porter, Homer; H. G. Saul, S. K. Wood, Miss M. A. Alexander, J. P. Rule, Miss Nellie Keefe, Syracuse; Miss M. A. Lucy, Boston;  G. W. Grey, New York; Mrs. R. A. Avery, Gloversville; J. Fleming, Malone; Mrs. W. H. Bacon, Bristol, Conn.; J. D. Burrow, Skaneateles; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Aldrich, Cranford, N. J.; Mr. G. R. Ulmer, Sheffield, Ia.; Miss Frances Collins, Chas. Meade, Cortland; C. V. Fuller, Homer; Mrs. Imogene Wetmore, Clifton Springs, N. Y.; Geo. H. Congden and family, Syracuse; T. S. Sullivant, wife and daughter, Miss Leach, Philadelphia.—Optimist

 

W. C. T. U. MEETING.

Delegates Elected to State and County Conventions—Other Business.

   The regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. was held on Tuesday afternoon and opened with devotional exercises led by Mrs. J. L. Marrit.

   In the absence of the president the business meeting was conducted by Miss Libbie Robertson, the county president.

   Arrangements having been made for the county convention and annual meeting to be held at Blodgett Mills, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 2 and 3, the following delegates were elected: Mrs. M. V. Hills, Mrs. Phelps, Mrs. McNett, Mrs. Nottingham, Mrs. Cotton.

   The following were elected delegates to the state convention to be held at Glen's Falls, Oct. 8 to 11: Miss Mary Oday, Mrs. Ella Hillick, Mrs. Edith Cotton.

   SUPT. PRESS WORK, Cortland Sept. 17, 1901.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements today are—Mitch's market. Meats, etc., page 5; C. F. Brown, Drugs and paints, page 6; Buck & Lane., Stoves, page 6.

   —The Normal school and the public schools will be closed all day tomorrow on account of the memorial services for the late President McKinley.

   —The reception for Normal students appointed for this evening at the First Baptist church under the auspices of the Y. P. S. C. E. is indefinitely postponed.

   —The clothing stores and merchant tailoring establishments will close at 12 o'clock tomorrow for the balance of the day. The banks will be closed all day.

   —The meeting of the Sunbeam Mission band of the Presbyterian church arranged for Thursday afternoon will be postponed till some date to be decided upon later.

   —Acting under the direction of J. M. Martin, acting first assistant postmaster general, there will be no mail delivery tomorrow upon any of the rural delivery routes in the United States,

   —When the Normal kindergarten met yesterday three more vacancies were found to exist on account of the non-appearance of three of the former members. Three more names were in consequence drawn, as follows: Pauline Gensheimer, Fred Ames, Helen Gale.

   —In accordance with the suggestion made in the proclamations of President Roosevelt and Governor Odell to close business places and on account of the desire of the employees of The STANDARD office to attend the memorial services for President McKinley, tomorrow afternoon no paper will be issued from this office.