LOW ELECTED MAYOR, DEMOCRATS NON EST, GINSENG ROOTS, J. H. BROWN, AND WASHINGTON LETTER

 

Seth Low.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Nov. 8, 1901.

LOW ELECTED MAYOR.

FUSION WINS ALL ALONG THE LINE IN NEW YORK.

Tammany Losses Its Grip on the Metropolis--$5,000 Verdict Over 5-Cent Fare—New Blue Diamond—Here's a Skyscraper—Preacher Stricken Blind in a Car—New Hotel to Rival Waldorf-Astoria.

   New York, Nov. 6.—The result of the election in New York yesterday was not a surprise to those who were in touch with the leaders of either party, though it was not expected that the Fusion ticket would make such a clean sweep in city and county as it did. Seth Low, formerly president of Columbia university and four years ago the Citizens' Union candidate for mayor of Greater New York, was elected the second mayor of Greater New York by a plurality ranging anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000, defeating Edward M. Shepard of Brooklyn, the Democratic nominee.

   The campaign was an exciting one, and the vote, though somewhat less than the presidential election a year ago, was the largest ever polled in a municipal contest in this county.

   In addition to the canvass for mayor public interest largely centered in the nomination by the Fusionists of William Travors Jerome for district attorney and Mayor Robert A. Van Wyck by the Democrats for justice of the supreme court.

   Both the candidates for district attorney and justice of the supreme court were voted for only in the territory contained in New York county. Returns received up to eleven p. m. indicate that Jerome had been elected by a comfortable plurality, and that Mayor Van Wyck has been defeated, the latter running behind his ticket from 15,000 to 30,000.

   Returns also indicated the complete triumph of the Greater New York Fusion ticket, Charles Vincent Fornes, the nominee of the Citizens' Union and the Republicans for president of the board of aldermen, defeating George M. Van Hoesen, the Democratic nominee. Edward M. Grout for the past four years Democratic president of the borough of Brooklyn, the Fusion nominee for controller, has also defeated William W. Ladd, jr., the Tammany candidate.

   Charles W. Morse, formerly president of the Ice Trust, has organized a syndicate to build a twenty-two story office building for the Bank of the State of New York, of which he is a director. The cost of construction will be $3,500,000 and the value of the land will bring the investment represented near to $5,500,000. The new skyscraper will be the largest structure of its kind in the world, measured by floor space.

   R. H. Webber of Tenth-ave. cooked a batch of crullers in a new kind of oil Tuesday and as a result, a large part of the neighborhood was poisoned with ptomaine. Roosevelt hospital had the busiest day in its history, and the efforts of all the physicians for dozen blocks around with stomach pumps and emetics were required to save the lives of those who had eaten pastry. No fatal cases have been reported up to the present time, but there were many serious ones.

   President Percival W. Clement of the Rutland railroad and a few of his associates in Northeastern railroads have secured a big site on the 5th ave. line, between 38th and 50th sts., and will soon erect a $2,500,000 hotel which will rival the Waldorf-Astoria. It will be conducted on lines similar to the Holland House.

   The Rev. Charles Herald, who since his ordination in 1889, has been pastor of the Bethesda Congregational church in Brooklyn, was suddenly stricken blind Monday afternoon while in a trolley car on his way to consult an eye specialist. An operation performed at the Long Island college hospital yesterday afternoon removes what hope had been entertained that he would again see, it being discovered by specialists that the left eye was so affected that the immediate removal of the iris lens, the essential part of the eye, was imperative.

   A new blue diamond rivaled in size and color by only two stones in the world, passed through the custom house yesterday. The stone weighs 22 1-2 karats and its foreign value is $70,000. The price to be asked for it here is $190,000. The big diamond is owned by a French syndicate. It is said that a Fifth avenue jewelry house proposes to sell it to an American millionaire R. R. magnate who is looking for a Xmas present for his wife. The diamond came from the Golconda mines in India, about the only section of this world that produces tinted diamonds. It is about an inch and a half long and an inch wide. It is cut, but comes unset. Experts say that though this is not absolutely the largest blue diamond in the world, it is the finest in point of color and that even the Hope jewel cannot compare with the wondrous azure of its flashes.

   Eugene LeZinsky. a dry goods and commission merchant, last week obtained in the supreme court under Judge Fursman a verdict for $5,000 against the Metropolitan Street railway company, because he refused to pay a five-cent fare twice over and was ejected from the car. Pretty heavy damage for five cents.

 

DEMOCRATS NON EST.

REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE PRESENT.

Judge Eggleston Has Over 1870 Plurality—Dickinson for Member of Assembly Runs About a Hundred Behind—Dr. Ball Has Highest Vote on the Democratic Ticket.

   The Democrat has no rooster to present to its readers with this issue, for the reason that on Tuesday it was taken ill with a serious attack of colic caused by an overdose of Republicanism. We had carefully trained old chanticleer to put up his most thrilling crow for "Billy" Wingate but Dick Duell and his Democratic allies in the Fifth ward were too sickening a dose for the rooster. We expected to have  him whoop for McCarthy, and for McGuire in Syracuse, and for Shepard in New York, and for Bissell in Buffalo, and for Parker in Albany but everything seems to have gone over to the enemy.

   The Republicans elect all three aldermen in this city, E. M. Yager having 137 majority in the First ward, Geo. F. Richards in the Third by 51 majority, and Robert Pettigrew in the Fifth by 54.

   Judge Eggleston's plurality in the county is very near 1900, Henry A. Dickinson for member of assembly running about one hundred behind him, and Dr. Greene for coroner polling the smallest vote of any Republican candidate on the ticket.

   In Syracuse Jay H. Kline, Republican, defeats Jas. K McGuire for mayor by 1,425 plurality.

   Seth Low, the fusion candidate for mayor in Greater New York, is elected by nearly 40,000 plurality, and the entire fusion ticket is also elected.

   Albany, Troy, Buffalo and Schenectady elect Republican mayors, Utica being the only city remaining true to the Democratic faith.

   Below will be found the vote in Cortland county by districts: 

 

 

VOTED FAVORABLY.

The Taxpayers Vote for the School Appropriation by 24 Majority.

   The special election held on Wednesday to vote upon the proposition to raise $19,500 for the enlargement of the Central school building was an event of more interest, except to a few politicians, than the election of the day previous. The result was a surprise to a majority of the people, even some of the strongest supporters of the proposition having doubts as to a favorable vote. The people, however, may be depended upon to provide ample school facilities for the education of all children.

   The proposition was carried by 24 majority the vote in the several wards being as follows:

                         For    Against

First ward        44       52

Second ward   72       57

Third ward      61       56

Fourth ward    60       50

Fifth ward       41       30

Sixth ward      36       45

Totals,           314     290

 

Ginseng root.

Heavy Sale of Ginseng Roots.

   Mr. E. D. Crosley of Scott has just shipped to a firm in Cincinnati, O., seventy-one pounds of dried cultivated ginseng, for which he received $9 per pound. This was grown on less than two rods of ground in four years from wild roots reset [replanted]. Think of it! A total of $639 from less than two rods of ground in four years. One of the firm came on personally to make the purchase.

   Mr. Crosley has received an offer from an enterprising firm interested in the culture of ginseng to deliver a series of lectures throughout every county in the state. Mr. Crosley stated to a Democrat representative that he has given the raising of ginseng a personal study for the past four years, and he has now nearly a half acre set out. An acre is valued at $40,000. He ridiculed the statement made by the Cortland Standard that the price of ginseng would be less within a few years, because "so many" have begun raising it, and remarked that the writer must have been indulging in a "pipe dream," when prophetically predicting this calamity.

   Mr. Crosley has been engaged of late in ascertaining the space of land used in raising ginseng throughout the whole world, and says that so far as he can learn there is less than 25 acres now under cultivation. He further says that recent developments show that there is no prospect of price decreasing within thirty years, as 450,000,000 Chinamen alone are anxious to secure this root, and are using it continually. Good roots for re-setting are worth 25 cents each, and seed is bringing $80 a pound. Mr. Crosly sold more than $2,000 worth of seed this fall, besides his roots. A pound of seed contains about 8,000; the roots weighing less than eight ounces are reset.

   Mr. Crosley has consented to write his personal experiences in the culture of ginseng for the benefit of the Democrat's many readers and for the information of those who are just starting in this industry. It will shortly appear.

 

J. H. Brown of Harford, N. Y.

 

 

Washington Letter.

(From Our Regular Correspondent.)

   Washington. Nov. 4.—President Roosevelt has found the combined pressure of Senator Platt and Gov. Odell more than he could resist, and as a result it has been given out at the treasury that George N. Whitehead, now collector of customs for Porto Rico, will be appointed to the Appraisership of New York in the place of Wilbur F. Wakeman, the present incumbent. As indicated in these letters some weeks past, Senator Platt came to Washington for the express purpose of getting Mr. Wakeman's official scalp. On investigation, Colonel Roosevelt found Mr. Wakeman had sinned only by a failure [of subservience] to the New York boss and he advised the senator that he found no cause for removing him.

   About this time Secretary Gage endorsed Mr. Whitehead for the place and Senator Platt joined issues with the secretary of the treasury and wrote to the president, endorsing him also. Still the president stuck to his colors, but Platt came to Washington again and so did Odell, and both represented that the discipline of the New York machine was at stake, and that it was essential to the best interests of the organization that Wakeman be made an example of. The matter determined by the president giving in as above stated.

   Although the address of Secretary Wilson, delivered at Dysart, Iowa, on Saturday, has been heralded as coming pretty straight from the White House, it is a very weak production. It goes back to the old-fashioned Republican doctrine that the United States ought to practically build a wall about its shores and conduct its International affairs along lines that the Chinese boxers would adopt if they could. The secretary holds up as a sort of economic millennium the time when, economically or otherwise, the United States will produce everything it uses in its own territory and appears to forget completely that only a few months ago the late president made the sage remark that "we must not expect to sell everything and buy nothing."

   It is thought here that Mr. Washburn of Minneapolis is rather coming to the support of Representative Babcock of Wisconsin in his fight against the steel trust. In a recent interview Mr. Washburn says that steel rails can be made and sold in this country at $17.50 per ton, and that figure would give a larger percentage of profit than the millers can make on their flour; but they are sold at $28 per ton, and that the trusts pays a handsome profit on a capital stock that is more than half water, and in order to enable the trust to do this, Congress maintains the duty of $7.80 per ton. In conclusion, he says "If this is not robbery, I would like to find a stronger word to characterize it."

   There are rumors afloat that the Democrats will invite Admiral Schley to head their next presidential ticker, but they are regarded as mere rumors by all of the Democrats I have met in Washington. As a matter of fact, no one knows what Admiral Schley's politics are, or if he is in sympathy with any of the traditions of the party beyond what may be inferred from the fact that he is a Marylander. It is intimated that the rumors have been started to hurt Schley, as it is well-known that the insignificant little presidential bee that got into Admiral Dewey's bonnet injured him. The indications are that Admiral Schley has too much good sense to even listen to the siren voice of political ambition.

   A prominent Democrat senator recently called my attention to the fact that the old law which prohibits anyone from sailing, as an American ship, any vessel which was not built in the United States, is still in vogue. He claims that were this law repealed most of the alleged necessity for a ship subsidy bill would disappear and that American commerce will resume its normal proportions, ''proportions which have absolutely atrophied under a law enacted in a vain attempt to divert unearned profits to a few Maine shipbuilders.''

   When Rear Admiral Crowninshield retires from the head of the bureau of navigation, he will also retire from his rear admiralty and become once more a simple captain. His appointment to the European station will necessitate his promotion to the rank of admiral by the president and the confirmation of his appointment by the senate. It is by no means impossible that he will encounter too many friends of Admiral Schley in the senate, to permit of confirmation, in which case, he will be compelled to take a ship in the squadron of some other officer to whom he would be subordinate or to apply for his retirement.

   A Washington correspondent tells of the meeting between the president and Peter Dunne, author of the famous "Dooley" letters, at the national convention in Philadelphia. Shortly before Dunne had written his "Alone in Cuby" in which he had made Dooley portray Roosevelt as writing the story of the Cuban war as if he had fought it all by himself. When Colonel Roosevelt met Dunne he said "By Godfrey. Mr. Dunne, I would rather meet you than any man in this hall. You gave me the worst roasting I ever got, and my wife has read it to me seventeen times when she thought I needed discipline, but it was the best thing you ever wrote."

 

HERE AND THERE.

   Election day weather was not bad. And now a heavy rain would be acceptable.

   The consumption of coal has been light thus far this fall.

   November 28 is the day designated as national Thanksgiving.

   The annual shower of meteors is due next Wednesday night.

   Several wells and water troughs in this locality were dry last week.

   The poles of the Home Telephone company are receiving their first coat of white paint.

   Say, but wasn't "Sandy" mad when his pot of white paint was capsized by a teamster in Main-st. Monday, while "Sandy" was up a pole?

   Marathon Grange will during the winter hold its meetings in the afternoon instead of the evening.

   Prof. D. L. Bardwell of Binghamton will speak at the Y. M. C. A. meeting Sunday afternoon at 3:15 o'clock.

   The Democrat has become, through its many able writers upon the subject, a reliable authority on ginseng culture.

   A. H. Watkins, J. H. Seeber and Theo. Schiele were elected Tuesday evening trustees of the Homer-ave. M. E. church for terms of three years.

   The Church Protective Union will meet as usual next Monday evening at the W. C. T. U. rooms at 7:45. All members are urgently requested to be present.

   On Monday evening next a meeting of temperance people will be held in G. A. R. hall for the purpose of forming a Prohibition Alliance. Fried cakes and coffee will be served, the latter being furnished by E. M. Mansur. All temperance people are invited to be present.

   The Cortland lodge of A. O. U. W. is becoming one of the strongest secret organizations in the city, its membership increasing rapidly and steadily. Last Friday evening 34 candidates were initiated, the ceremony being very impressive because of a degree team from Onondaga county having charge of the initiation. Visitors were present from Homer, Truxton, DeRuyter and Cincinnatus.

 

MATT TAIBBI ON BACKDOOR GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP

 

SCHLEY INQUIRY ENDED, ADMIRAL MELVILLE, LI HUNG CHANG, OLD DAYS IN SOLON, AND CORTLAND COMMON COUNCIL

 

Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, Nov. 8, 1901.

SCHLEY INQUIRY ENDED.

Celebrated Case Is at Last Brought to a Close.

LEMLY MADE FINAL ARGUMENT.

Said He Never Believed Schley Guilty of Cowardice, but on Occasions in the Santiago Campaign He Exhibited Unsteadiness of Purpose and Disobeyed Orders.

   WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.—After sittings covering 40 days, and with a record which when completed will cover about 2,000 pages, the Schley court of inquiry yesterday at 3:45 p. m. adjourned its last public session. To Captain S. C. Lemly, the judge advocate, had been assigned the duty of making the closing argument in the case, and soon after he had completed his speech, Admiral Dewey, bringing his gavel down upon the big flat table, said:

   "There being no further business the court is adjourned."

   As was the case when Mr. Rayner spoke, the attendance was large. There was only one session during the day. It began at 2 o'clock and the entire time was devoted to Captain Lemly's address. He read his speech in clear and distinct tones and was given careful attention. The speech in the main was an analysis of testimony, but occasionally a conclusion was drawn and frequently there was criticism of the course pursued by Admiral Schley. Speaking of Commodore Schley's conduct, Captain Lemly said:

   "From my knowledge of the man, having served under his command on two services, I have never believed nor do I claim from the evidence, that personal misconduct—or to call a spade a spade, cowardice—was exhibited by Commodore Schley in any part of his career as commander-in-chief of the flying squadron. But I submit, with regret, that in the passage from Key West to Cienfuegos, while at the latter port en route to the southward of Santiago, without settled destination in the retrograde movement, in the return to the vicinity of Santiago and in the affair of May 31,  the commodore exhibited unsteadiness in purpose and in push, and failure to obey orders."

   This statement was made toward the close of Captain Lemly's remarks. After adjournment the members of the court, Admiral Schley and counsel lingered for a time about the hall in which they recently have spent so much of their time, and there were many affectionate words of farewell spoken. Admiral Schley, as usual, was called upon to receive the greetings of a number of admirers and a hundred or more people waited at the door of the building to bid him adieu.

 

Rear Admiral George Melville.

WAS UNDERSTOOD.

Admiral Melville Explains a Point With Pat Simile.

   Admiral George W. Melville, chief engineer, United States navy, generally makes himself understood when he says anything, says the New York Times. In a company composed chiefly of young engineers he was recently recounting some of his arctic experiences when he commanded the boat's crew of the ill-fated Jeannette expedition which escaped from the wastes of the Lena delta. After he had described the terrors and hardships of that experience and told how it was often impossible to make a progress of more than a mile or two in a day of exhausting labor a gentleman present ventured to remark that he should think the crew would have moved faster than that if for no other reason than to keep warm.

   Admiral Melville shook out his leonine locks, snorted and said: "Gentlemen, you no doubt think it great fun to go sledding on arctic seas and perhaps fancy that it bears some relation to sleighing in Central park. Well, let me tell you that much of the sledding I have described was fairly comparable to a trip from the Battery to Harlem over the tops of the buildings. If you will look out of the windows of one of the upper stories of a "skyscraper" and take the general topography of [New York] city from that point of view, and plan an excursion in a straight line in any direction you will understand what it means to drag a boat over the irregular ice masses of the polar sea."

   That illustration gave a better idea of arctic exploration than could have been gained from hours of description.

 

Li Hung Chang.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

One of the World's Great Men.

   Li Hung Chang, whose death is reported from Peking, was one of the great men of the world. He was not only the ablest and most enlightened of Chinamen, but in statesmanship and diplomacy he was a match for the ablest men of other nations. For many years he was virtually the ruler of china, and for more than a quarter of a century he was the leader of the progressive party. He it was who favored the construction of railroads, who invited foreign capital, who welcomed machinery, who encouraged the development of the natural resources of his country. He had traveled much, had observed closely, and was quick to see the advantages that the people of nations much younger than China possessed. Behind him were centuries of civilization; upon every side were strenuous opponents of advancement, who argued that what was good enough for the fathers was good enough for the children; accordingly his fight for reform, for the introduction of improved methods of business, for the adoption of time-saving and money-saving devices absolutely indispensible to the people of the white race, was always a hard one for him.

   He could manage the common people, or rather ignore them, but the court and all the Chinese officials of high rank were against him. But gradually he obtained his way, and now China has warships and a well-drilled army, canals, railroads, steamships, printing presses, telephones, and telegraphs. No other man since the world began did so much as Li Hung Chang to lift an entire nation from darkness to light. Though mercenary, avaricious, cunning, and unscrupulous; though often suspected of personal intrigues against the interests of the court; though frequently reprimanded and degraded from official rank, it was always necessary for the emperor and empress of China to call upon Li Hung Chang when negotiations were under way with foreign powers. He was the only man able to cope successfully with the trained diplomats of European nations.

   There have been many conflicting statements as to the year of the birth of the "Bismarck of Asia," but he settled all doubts himself when he said with much pride that he was born in the same year as General Grant. That year was 1822. At the time of his death, therefore, Li Hung Chang was nearly 80 years of age. The place of his birth was the village of Hwei-Ling, in the province of Ngan-Wei in the Yang-Tse valley, and not far from the famous former capital of the empire, Nankin. He was the second of five sons. The father was the owner of a small farm. But he had a literary degree, belonged to the educated class, and had a boundless ambition for his sons. Accordingly they were sent to the village school. There Li Hung Chang displayed a marvelous memory and extraordinary devotion to his studies, and made rapid progress. At the age of 14 he was sent to Ngan-King, the capital of the province, to try the examination. He passed triumphantly, received the congratulations of the examiners, and on his return home found the village in gala attire. In due time he passed the second examination and secured the master's degree, and then the third examination and secured the doctor's degree. Meanwhile the family had been starving itself that the boy might continue his studies. His second examination was in the famous compound of Foo-Chow, over the gate of which is the inscription, "Let none but able scholars enter here." Some interesting particulars of the examination have been given as follows by a writer in the New York Tribune:

   There Li entered, passed a second gate, gave his name, family, age and place of residence to a mandarin at a little box office window, received from another a supply of official writing materials, and was then led to his cell. There are 10,000 of these cells in the Foo-Chow "examination halls." Each is 7 feet high, 3 feet wide and 4 feet long. There are two broad shelves, one to sit on and one to write on. That is all. Into one of these cells each candidate is locked for three more days and nights; released for a second recess; and finally confined for a third period of three days and nights, care being taken that be shall have a different cell each time. In such circumstances the candidates write essays upon philosophical themes, and upon these essays depends the conferring of the degrees. Li underwent this ordeal, and his name was soon posted on the "Drum Tower" as one of the successful candidates. For the third and final examination he went to Peking, where such are always held, and came out of it in triumph with a doctor's degree.

   With his doctor's degree and a mandarin's button of the fourth grade, Li Hung Chang became a member of the great Han I.in college and apparently settled down to a literary and bureaucratic life. But when the Tai-Ping war broke out, he was on a visit to his old home. At first he hesitated [as to] which side to take. Should he assist in the restoration of the Ming dynasty, (the true Chinese dynasty,) or remain loyal to the Tartar government? It was a hard question for he was not a Tartar himself, but a true Chinese. His decision, however, was in favor of the existing government. When the rebels invaded Ngan-Wei he organized a local militia and moved against them. He was a giant in stature and strength, he was a natural leader of men, and he had great military ability. His military successes were immediate and important, and after driving out the rebels he offered his services to the viceroy of the province, was advanced rapidly, and soon had the rank of taotai and commanded a division of the imperial army. His division was the only one that was successful, and the imperial government soon extended the authority of its commander. In 1861 he was made footai, or military commander of the province of Kiang-Su, then the seat of the rebellion. When Gordon came, the general recognized his great abilities, gave him a free hand, and soon the conflict, that seemed as though it would run on for years, was ended.

   There has always been great controversy as to the comparative merits of the two men, Li Hung Chang and Gordon, and the part that each played in suppressing the rebellion. It is well known that the Chinaman took all the credit for the victory in his report to the emperor, but it is also true that he offered to Gordon the equivalent of $150,000 as a reward for his services, which Gordon indignantly refused. Li was treacherous too, and slaughtered the leaders who had surrendered upon Gordon's promise that their lives should be spared. The Englishman tore his commission to tatters and left the country boiling with indignation. But Li was honored by the emperor. First came the Order of the Yellow Jacket, and Li was permitted to adorn his person with a garment which only the emperor himself had worn. His next promotion was to the governship of Nankin; he was made a noble of the third class and received the Order of the Two-Eyed Peacock Feather.

   In 1871 he was viceroy of Pe-Chi-Li, the province in which the imperial city, Pekin, was situated. Nominally he had no higher rank and no greater power than the viceroys of the other provinces, but actually he was the most powerful man in the empire, the head of the dynasty alone excepted. He practically controlled the foreign affairs of China; and he was the real head of the war, navy home, and colonial departments.

   When the war with Japan broke out he found his country, through neglect of his counsel, ill prepared for the contest, and one disaster after another followed. The clamor against him was great, and yielding to it the emperor deprived him of his yellow packet and peacock feather and put another in command of the imperial forces. This did not improve the situation, indeed, matters grew steadily worse. At length his former dignities and offices were restored and he was ordered to conduct the negotiations for peace. In these, he had to deal with Marquis Ito, the ablest of Japanese statesmen, and in him found his match. Then, too, he had the losing side, and a treaty greatly to the advantage of Japan was inevitable. But the aged statesman managed well, though his acts were criticized ferociously by his countrymen.

   His adroit management of the Chinese side of the case during the recent invasion of China for the protection of the missionaries, and during the negotiations that followed, was the climax of his diplomatic career. A very old man, and sadly broken in health, he nevertheless displayed all his great ability, and was very watchful of the interests of his country.

   When General Grant returned from his tour of the world he said that he had met four great men. These were Beaconsfield, Bismarck, Gambetta, and Li Hung Chang. Of these he did not esteem the Chinaman least. Upon Grant's arrival in China the highest honors were paid by the direction of Earl Li and they were soon firm friends and constant visitors. Li Hung Chang said that [he] had never met but two really great men—Grant and Gordon. Statuettes of them and of them alone adorned the audience room in his official residence at Tien-Tsin. In 1896 Li Hung Chang made a tour of the world to represent the emperor of China at the coronation of the czar of Russia and to discuss questions of state with foreign rulers. In London he put a wreath on the statue of Gordon; at New York he paid a similar tribute at the tomb of Grant.

   Some residents of Cortland crossed the ocean with him as he came from Liverpool to New York on this trip and had the opportunity of meeting him personally and of observing him from day to day and their recollection of the man is especially vivid at this time, especially the younger members of the family to whom he will always remain a marked figure in the world's history.

 

Charles Grandison Maybury.

OLD DAYS IN SOLON.

DOINGS AND SAYINGS OF SOME OF THE EARLIER SETTLERS.

Peter Madden, the Tailor—Royal Gilbert, the Mason—The Wallace Family—James Gorman and Thomas Dodd—Popular Attorneys Who Came from Solon—Starting a Fire With Powder.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   SIR—Your correspondent desires to continue in this letter a few more reminiscences of the settlement of the Irish people in Solon. William Griffith was a prominent man among them, and when Father Welch made a visit he usually made his home and headquarters with the Griffith family, and meetings were held there before the church was built in 1854. William Gilbution, or Billy, as he was called by his neighbors was a locksmith, and he could do a very fine job in metal work. His eldest son John, when he came of proper age, was apprenticed to Mancil Webster of McGrawville to learn the boot and shoemakers' trade. Mr. Webster carried on quite an extensive business in that line for several years. I think John is still one of the stable citizens of the Corset city.

   Peter Madden was a tailor by trade and a more jolly Irishman could not be found among all of them. He was called upon by the townspeople in the early fall and winter to come to their homes and make suits for the older boys in the family. He would often stay for a week or two in one place. This writer can see him now in his mind, setting on the board, plying the needle with a quick nervous jerk of the thread, singing some song of the Green Isle that was dear in his heart's memory. If one asked him a question which he could not answer, he would say, "the dearme knows." Every one had a good work for Uncle Peter.

   A name not previously mentioned, and one who came in at a little later date, was an old man by the name of Wallace. He was a master hand at mixing and preparing mortar for stone or brick work, also for plastering. He was employed for two summers for that purpose, when the Hatheway mansion was built in 1844 and '45. The plastering and marble finish on the walls was done by Royal Gilbert, a resident of West Cortland. Mr. Gilbert was a tall, strong, large frame man, and he had a peculiar call, which he made, when he wanted more mortar or finishing plaster. He had a voice which could be heard distinctly throughout the building or grounds and when Wallace heard the "I—oor," it was laughable to see the old man fill his hod and start on almost a trot for Gilbert's apartments.

   An amusing incident occurred in connection with the Wallace family in the fall of 1845. When he and his wife left Ireland a few years before, they left a young son who was an indentured apprentice to a tradesman. So he was left behind until his time had been fulfilled. One day a young rustic-looking youth dressed in light colored trousers and sailor jacket buttoned close to the chin came into the Hatheway grounds and made known as best he could, that he was looking for Wallace. He was pointed out to him at the mortar bed. As soon as the recognition took place, there was a most joyful meeting between father and son as he proved to be. Mr. Wallace lived a few rods west of the Hatheway house on the main road. The son was then anxious to see his mother who was over at the corners doing work for a family. The father at once started to find her and to impart the joyful news of her son's arrival. Mrs. Wallace was a much larger person than her husband. She was soon observed on the run from the corners toward her home, where the son had gone. A few rods behind was her husband also on a trot. She would run a few steps. Then she would stop and turn around to ask the husband some question regarding the good tidings and he would cry out—"Run, mum, run. Your son has come, your son has come," which was repeated by the father every time the mother in her eagerness would halt for more particulars. The race and other demonstrations greatly amused the workmen employed on the stone mansion.

   James Gormon had a small farm on the road from Solon Corners to Cheningo, about one-half mile north from the summit of Cheningo hill and on a piece of ground located down in a basin well sheltered from winds. He had probably the best pear and plumb orchard in Solon. The pears from Jimmy Gormon's ranch were the finest in the town. Mrs. Gormon went by the name of Biddy, and she and Jimmy had plenty to do to keep the boys from stealing the ripened fruit in its season. It was said that they often took blankets and slept in the orchard to watch for the marauders, and yet it was said the boys would manage to get in their work with such quietness, that the sleepers were not always awakened. There was a young man in the neighborhood by the name of Trass, usually called Joe. One night Jimmy and Biddy surprised some fellows and in the hurry to get away they left a bag marked U. S. Then Biddy said "now I surely know the [thief] thafe, U. for Joe and S. for Trass." On training days [presumably days when passenger trains passed by—CC ed.] Jimmy was always on the ground early with a full load of luscious yellow bell pears and they sold rapidly.

   Thomas Dodd, usually called Tommy, was an English resident. Mr. Kelly once asked Tommy to take a drink with him at Warden's bar, the hotel proprietor. Kelly remarked that an Englishman is just as good as an Irishman, if he only behaves himself. It was said that Tommy was fighting mad in a minute.

   James Dougherty of the firm of Dougherty & Miller, attorneys of Cortland, was a Solon boy and from his high standing as a lawyer I am sure the old town may feel it an honor and delight to own so gifted a son. His partner, Mr. Miller, I am informed was also one of Solon's sons. Another honored name among Cortland's high standing legal men is Riley Champlin, Esq. This writer well remembers the father and his brother Randall with whom he attended district school more than half a century ago.

   Another incident and we will close this chapter. William Griffith had a number of children and among them Anna, I think, was the second daughter, a bright young girl of about 15 years. One Sunday afternoon in summer the family were all absent except Anna. As the day drew near its close, she set out to start a fire, which nowadays is so quickly and easily accomplished. But possibly matches were not invented at that time, in fact none surely were at hand. She took a small bunch of flax toe, sifted some powder over it, then took a steel and flint and struck a spark of fire into it. When it flashed into flame, she picked up a copper powder flask and pressing the spring which releases the powder, at the same time holding it so that the stream of powder would run into the flame. The result was a terrific explosion, which was heard a long distance away. The palm and ball of the thumb received a terrible flesh wound. Otherwise she was not injured. It was most fortunate that she was not killed instantly. Not being used to handling powder, she did not stop to consider what the result might be from her careless act.

   C. Z. M., Winona, Minn., Oct. 30, 1901. [sic]

   [Initials misprinted above do not exactly match Charles Grandison Maybury, who wrote this letter for the Cortland Standard—CC ed.]

 

HALLEY AND MEEHAN

Have an Alleged Assault Case Tried in Police Court.

   The case of The People vs. James Meehan, who runs a peanut stand on Main-st., and who was charged with assault in the third degree upon Frank Halley, a shoe polisher. Halley claimed that Meehan assaulted him in the Squires block where they both live last Wednesday noon, and struck him several times. Meehan, on the contrary, claimed that he did not strike Halley, but that he was struck by Halley. The case was tried before Acting City Judge W. D. Tuttle, who decided that there was no cause of action shown. E. C. Alger appeared for the people and Thos. H. Dowd for the defendant.

   The parties to the action were cautioned as to their future relations toward each other by the court, while the attorneys gave advice that will be likely to preserve order among the block residents.

 

CINCINNATUS, N. Y.

   CINCINNATUS, NOV. 6.—An iron bridge was put across the creek near the depot Monday. It is a neat structure 25 feet long and 18 feet wide.

   Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bouton of Marathon were guests at F. M. Benjamin's part of last week.

   Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith were in Sidney over Sunday.

   Mrs. G. J. Holmes left tor Kingston Monday where she will remain for some time.

   Robert Hayes went to Buffalo Thursday to meet Mrs. Mary Murray who was on her way from Saginaw, Mich., to Pittsburg, Pa.

   Miss Clara Warner was home from the Cortland Normal over Sunday.

   Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Cook and Mrs. Bertha Newland visited in Otego part of last week.

   Floyd Baldwin and George Angell were guests at A. R. Baldwin's on Sunday.

   Ed Hutchinson of Truxton visited at Hotel Bennett Sunday.

   The Ladies' Aid society of the M. E. church meet with Mrs. John Foster today.

   George Gilland has bought the stage route between this place and South Otselic and took possession Monday.

   Clarence and Howard Fralic will next year occupy the Chester White farm now worked by E. E. Kenyon.

   The Junior Christian Endeavor of the M. E. church will hold a popcorn social at the church Friday night.

   A meeting of the lot owners of Cincinnatus Cemetery association will be held at the store of Corning & Haskins next Tuesday evening.

   The vote cost here Tuesday was the lightest in years, there being only 193 votes. The only interest manifest was in the proposition to construct an iron bridge across Otselic river to take the place of the covered bridge. The vote stood 58 for to 50 against.

 

COMMON COUNCIL.

A Short Session Thursday Night and Little Business Transacted.

   An adjourned meeting of the common council of the city of Cortland was held at the office of the clerk of said city on the 7th day of November, 1901, at 7 o'clock, P. M., at which were present Chas. F. Brown, mayor, and E. M. Yager, E. R. Wright, T. C. Scudder and Vern W. Skeele, aldermen.

   The board canvassed the returns of the city election Nov. 5 , and of the special election Nov. 6 , and declared the results, which were in each instance as stated previously by The STANDARD.

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

   Resolved, That an order be drawn in favor of Cortland Savings bank for principal and interest on Main-st. paving judgment bond No. 7, ion sum of $500 principal, and $2.06  interest, total $502.06, to be drawn on lighting contract account.

   Bills were allowed and ordered paid as follows:

 

   The minutes of the present meeting were read and approved. On motion meeting adjourned to Nov. 19, 1901, at 7:30 o'clock, P. M., at the city clerk's office.

   Approved Nov. 7, 1901, CHAS. F. BROWN, Mayor.

 

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Dryden woolen mill is rushed with orders. New machinery is to be put in and other changes made to increase its capacity.

   —The Ithaca Gun company has to build an annex to increase the plant's capacity and the company at the present time is more than 2,000 guns behind in orders.

   —Theodore Underwood, who was tried at Ithaca last week on the charge of manslaughter in causing the death of Fayette Tester at Grotto, was acquitted of the charge.

   —A big record for woodchuck shooting has been made by Lyman Montgomery of Groton. During the summer and fall he has shot and killed fifty-one woodchucks. He is but 14 years of age.

    —Frederic Duane Sturgis, who has been spending the summer at Glen Haven, will deliver this lecture: "Society and Its Criminals" at Moravia on Nov. 27 for the benefit of St. Patrick's church.

   —The sale of reserved seats for the Normal lecture course occurs at McKinney & Doubleday's store tomorrow morning at 9:30 o'clock. The error was made yesterday of saying that it would be this morning.

    —New display advertisements today are—M. A. Case, Drygoods, page 6; C. F. Thompson, Olives, page 5; Opera House, "Vogel Minstrels," page 5; Opera House, "Limited Mail," page 5; Opera House, "Treasure Island," page 5; Mitch's Market, Meats, etc., page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., Drygoods, page 4.

   —Mr. Ira Hatfield, formerly of Cortland, died at 10:15 o'clock last night at his home in Sidney at the age of 74 years. The remains will be brought to Cortland tomorrow afternoon on the 4:38 train for burial, which will occur immediately after the arrival of the train. Prayer will be offered at the grave. No further particulars are yet known.