TOPICS IN THE TROPICS

Cortland House, corner Groton Ave. and N. Main Street

The Cortland News, Friday, February 9, 1883.

Topics in the Tropics.

   D. Eugene Smith, who sailed from New York on the 16th of January, landed at Kingston, Jamaica, January 23. He had no opportunity to write THE NEWS last week, owing to sea-sickness. We have been permitted to extract the following from a letter to his father:

   "We have had a pleasant passage for three or four days past. My sea-sickness has gone, and I am getting used to the miserable diet and routine of shipboard. I am very well and sit here in my summer clothes in the cool of the morning while the steamer is rounding the end of the island of Jamaica. We expect to be in Kingston in two or three hours, where I shall mail this in order to get it on the afternoon mail boat for New York. I understand there is no other mail for two or three weeks, and as I cannot write at length until to-morrow, you probably will not hear from me in a fortnight. We passed Cuba yesterday and I had a view of it for several hours. It is all very strange to me. Palms, cocoanut-trees, and the like, and mountains which have none of that smoothness of outline which we usually see, but a ruggedness from the very base. These things are all new. It is very warm even here at sea. Yesterday afternoon it was so hot we suffered considerably. No telling how hot it is ashore. I will write again in Kingston, where I expect to stay about four days, and then off for Sooth America.''

   Later.—Since putting the foregoing in type we have received a letter from Mr. Smith, which will be found elsewhere in this issue. It is exceedingly interesting.

Letter from D. Eugene Smith.

Kingston, Jamaica, Jan. 25, 1883.

   On the sixteenth instant, at 3:45 P. M. we left the Atlas Company's pier on North River [Hudson] and, with the thermometer at zero, and the snow blowing about the deck, we sailed through great masses of floating ice out of the harbor.    Exactly one week later, we, the passengers of the "Ailsa," were eating fresh oranges under the huge palms of a tropical garden in Jamaica, while the mercury was at an even hundred. It is as warm as the “heated term” of July and August at home, and only in the early morning or late afternoon can we venture out with any comfort. And while, in reading this, it may be impossible to imagine such weather in January, it is equally difficult for us to believe that there is really snow in New York State. And when one of our passengers, a New York merchant, showed us a cable dispatch this morning, at the end of the business part of which were the words "freezing here," it was almost a surprise to us.

   One would naturally expect to find an English city as the capital of one of Her Majesty's provinces, but such is not the case, for Kingston is fully as much Spanish as it is British. The two languages are spoken every where, although ours has the decided preference; while the lower classes speak a kind of mongrel patois which is quite unintelligible to a stranger. The majority of the people are negroes, while a large proportion of the remainder have that swarthy complexion which betokens the Spanish blood. It is a strange old city, with narrow, unpaved streets, no sidewalks, sewers above ground, and old Spanish cannon half buried which stand on the street corners like the white-washed stones in Cortland.

   The mass of the people are ignorant, and are the pictures of indolence. You ask one a question and he hesitates and says, "Wall, mass'r, I—I don't jess know." The reply has become a by-word with us.

   I was walking yesterday with a gentleman who had remarked the general know-nothingness of the lower class, and he suggested that we ask a policeman about the recent fire, saying that we might expect the usual reply. We knew the statistics already from the American Consul, but my friend said,

   "Can you tell me, sir, how many houses were burned?"

   "Wall, no sah, 1 don't jess know."

   “Well about how many?"

   "Wall—now, 1—I, wall, I don't jess know how many was burned."

   "Do you think there were a hundred burned?”

   The policeman looks wise and thoughtful.

   "Wall, yes, I tink dere was—'bout a hundred."

   "Now weren't there two hundred burned?" continued my companion.

   "Wall—yes, I guess dere was as much as dat."

   "But I have heard," continued my friend, "that there were between seven and eight hundred houses burned."

    "Wall—now I think, I guess—yes. I b'lieve dar was 'bout seven er eight hunderd burnt."

   It illustrates the general know-nothingness of the lower class. As a result it is impossible to gain any information in passing through the streets. Even the guides and cab-drivers are wonderfully ignorant.

   It is very interesting to watch the people work. We go driving after breakfast, and as we pass out into the country we meet the people bringing their goods to market. The women, barefooted, with only a dress and a turban, apparently, in the way of clothing, carry huge baskets of bananas, yams, oranges or other products, on their heads, balancing them with wonderful nicety. Those who can afford it have a donkey which they lead, and on the back of which they hang two huge baskets filled with fruits for the market. They are mostly negroes, though occasionally a Spaniard is seen, with his broad hat and his pipe, looking like the original of some of Reinhart's pictures in Harper's.

   The market-place itself is interesting. It is a fine brick and iron building, so artistic and clean as to seem very out of place in this city of filth. Here a friend and I go every morning before breakfast, and eat fresh fruits, many of which are never seen in America, and of which only the oranges and bananas are known as far north as New York. The oranges, of a flavor wholly unknown to me before, large and sweet, cost from three-quarters of a cent to a cent each, while the best bananas can be bought at two for a cent. Small, dried up, sour apples cost two cents each down here, while potatoes cost about twice what sweet potatoes cost in Cortland. In their stead they use yams, which resemble them, but are from eight to eighteen inches long. I have seen no lemons, but limes are used instead, and answer the same purpose; they resemble a small green lemon.

   The women do the market work, and also carry brick, mortar and boards. These they always carry on the head. When not engaged in these occupations they are taking care of babies in some shady corner, an employment for which there seems to be a surprising call in Jamaica.

   I have been endeavoring to frame in my mind a description of a Kingston house, but as they are all so different, it seems quite impossible. The city residences are small, one or two stories in height, and usually shut in behind high brick walls, a feature decidedly English. The suburban homes are much more attractive. They have large yards, and are reached by avenues leading from the road through imposing gateways—more English style. These suburban residences, to which are attached plantations often-times, are called "pens." They are fenced from the road by walls, fences or hedges. In some cases I have seen the American barbed wire used, which seems very out of place here. Often the hedges are of cacti, which, it kept trimmed, make a neat and most secure barrier. Woe to the man who attempts to scale that fence!

   If I attempt to give the typical features of a Kingston house, I will describe it thus: the lower story is of brick, often with arched underpinning so as to allow the air to circulate freely under the floor. The windows of this story are shaded by heavy green blinds, over which is sometimes a green portico; the windows, usually concealed by blinds, when visible are seen to be filled with glass painted white. The second story is often of wood, though in half the cases, perhaps, of brick. This has a broad balcony around it, which is concealed by green blinds, and so forms a very cool room, or suite of rooms. Often this balcony is on the first floor as well. Indeed, to describe it to Cortland people, I may say that if the architectural style of the "Cortland House" were maintained, and it were reduced to the ordinary size of a two-story residence, and heavy green blinds were placed all about the outside of the balconies, and the cupola were removed, it would very much resemble a Kingston residence.

   These houses, in the city, are surrounded by cool gardens, shaded by palms, mango, banana, fig and lime trees. Through the kind introduction of a Cortland lady, formerly a resident of Kingston, and the courtesy of some Spanish gentlemen whom I have met, I have been enabled to visit several of these homes, and have found them very pleasant, and much more comfortable than one would believe possible in this broiling temperature.

   The scenery about Kingston is very grand. The mountains rise to the height of between seven and eight thousand feet from the sea, and are covered with plantations of coffee and other tropical products. As seen from the approaching steamer, they present the finest mountain view I know.

   The Kingston fire of last month has made a loss of about $6,000,000, but it has not hurt the appearance of the town. One scarcely notices it. The marks of smoke are wholly wanting, owing to the dry state of the timber I suppose, and it more resembles dilapidation from time than from fire. The walls are standing, and they have only to put the wood work in to restore them to their natural state. Aside from the money lost, it would have been a grand thing for Kingston if the fire had consumed the whole city, walls and all, so it could be rebuilt.

   Just now the town is suffering from a peculiar plague in the shape of myriads of flies. They attribute it to the attraction of the burnt fish and meats in the fire. It is certainly very annoying, and at the same time interesting for a transient traveler.

   I leave Jamaica to-night for Savannah-la-Mar, Savinilla, Santa Marta and Carthagena. Thence I go to the isthmus, and I do not know yet where else.

D. E. S

Kingston fire 1882: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1882_Kingston_Fire.png

Kingston, Jamaica: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kingston,_Jamaica

CORTLAND'S ROMANOV

The Cortland News, Friday, February 2, 1883.

Cortland’s Romanov.

   When but four months old, Mr. John Gaffney, who lately and for some time past has been an employee of the Cortland Wagon Company in the capacity of contractor in the paint department, was, with an older brother, after the death of his father in California, brought from there to Syracuse by an uncle, and placed in the Orphan's Home. This was done without the knowledge or consent of his mother.

   While a mere lad he left Syracuse, and, shifting for himself, has so successfully fought the battle of life as to gain an excellent reputation as an intelligent, earnest, honest and willing worker, with none of the vices that characterize the young men of to-day.

   His mother for twenty years has had no knowledge of the whereabouts of either of her children. Having meantime come into possession of a goodly share of this world's goods, she desired to know more about her exiled boys, and if alive, to help them should they be in need.

   Knowing, from hearsay, that his father was dead, and supposing his mother, also, to be, one can imagine John's surprise, as well as joy, when a gentleman upon entering his department one day last fall told him that his mother was waiting without to see him. As he expressed it, "It went through me like an electric shock."

   After getting acquainted with her son, she returned to her home in the valley of the Sacramento, not, however, until he had promised to go to California and make her home his own. Last Saturday morning, Mr. Gaffney left for his new home, where we trust he will find happiness and prosperity.

Adam Forepaugh Circus Poster

B. R. Carpenter landscape painting

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The district schools open next Monday, Feb. 5.

   J. C. Carmichael & Co. will soon remove to the third store of the Standard block.

   Workmen are engaged in putting the rooms for the postoffice in shape for occupation [Standard block].

   Mrs. Middaugh is erecting a house on Prospect street, which is intended for a boarding-house.

   During the month of January the Cortland postoffice issued 207 money orders, calling for $1,941.97, and paid 154 orders, amounting to $2,131.31.

   The Water-Witch Engine Company will enjoy a dance at Taylor Hall on the evening of the 13th inst. The supper will be given at Firemen's Hall from 6 P. M. to 2 A. M. Dance tickets, $1. Supper, 25 cents.

   Mr. Asa H. Wilcox, a well-known resident of Cortland previous to 1853, and until 1865 of Marcellus, and since then of Syracuse, died in that city on Monday, Jan. 29, of paralysis of the brain. The remains were brought to Cortland on Tuesday for burial. His age was 65 years.

   Adam Forepaugh, the great circus manager, intends to favor this section with a visit the coming season from his great show. He sends us an advance courier in the shape of a large magnificent colored lithograph by the famous artist, Matt Morgan, representing an oriental pageant entitled “Lallah Rookh's Departure from Delhi."

   State Superintendent Gilmour has sent his check for about $4,200, the amount necessary to pay the miscellaneous bills and the teachers— Profs. Hoose, Stowell and Sornberger, and Misses Rase, Cole and Saunders and Mrs. Halbert—who taught in the Normal school during the term when it was "closed" by the Superintendent. The remaining bills will be paid when there is sufficient money in the treasury to meet them.

   The winter term of the Y. M. C. A. evening schools closed last week. Classes were taught civil government, bookkeeping, penmanship, and three grades of arithmetic. Forty-five pupils registered. The following persons taught classes: Rev. J. A. Robinson, Miss Hattie Burdick, Messrs. S. J. Sornberger, E. D. Mineah, J. A. Jayne, and A. W. Smith. Though there were of necessity several changes of teachers, the term was a successful one.

   The owners of driven wells in Marathon who were recently sued by Andrews & Bro. under the Green patent have nearly all decided to defend. Messrs. Duell & Benedict have been retained by the following named defendants: A. G. Smith, T. L. Corwin, R. R. Maybury, Lyman Tiffany, A. C. Rohbacher, C. D. Meacham, Edgar Meacham, Benjamin Jones, David Hunt, Perry Gardner, Wm. Gardner, and the Marathon Agricultural Society. The defendants are well known as men of the highest standing and respectability, and evidently mean business. Messrs. Waters & Tuttle are attorneys for the complainant.

   Mr. Howard C. Webb, late of the Homer Republican, has been engaged as telegraph editor on the New Haven, Conn. Daily News.

   The Cortland Wagon Company has purchased a tract of timber land just west of Walden, and will erect a large saw-mill.—Bing. Rep.

   Mr. Luther White, dentist, has just finished for the upper jaw of a lady customer a solid gold plate, which is an exceedingly beautiful specimen of skillful workmanship. When a woman comes at us with that kind of jaw we shall stand and take it.

   Mr. Alonzo Bowen, of Homer, better known as "A. Bowen, business," was arrested Tuesday for drunkenness. Justice Bierce discharged him. He was re-arrested on the charge of vagrancy, and the justice committed him to the county poor-house.

   Sheriff Borthwick has made the following additional appointments: For undersheriff, Austin L. Dickinson, of Freetown; deputy sheriffs: John Connie, Truxton; Wm. Shirley, Homer; Aaron Perry, Cincinnatus; Edwin Burdick, Scott; Sherman L. Wood, Freetown; Michael Cahill, Cortland.

   Mr. A. Mahan keeps the instrumental pot boiling in his usual lively manner, the organs and pianos for which he is agent making abiding places for themselves in households innumerable. And his sewing-machines can be found all over the country; their buyers play the game of  “holdfast" when once they get possession of them.

   Mr. Dwight Miller has lately put a new large [horse-drawn] omnibus on the route between Homer and Cortland. It is a strong, well built, handsome looking vehicle, and is the work of the Cortland Omnibus Company. Two of the loveliest landscape paintings we have ever seen ornament the sides, and are testimonials of the skill of our townsman, Mr. B. R. Carpenter.

   Things are getting more and more lively in the lower part of the town. On Monday three fights occurred, in each of which several persons were engaged. No serious damage was done to any of the participants, more's the pity. Another argument in favor of a special police force. We hope that the trustees will recommend, at the next election, that special policemen be appointed, and thus give the people a chance to decide whether order or disorder shall prevail in our streets.

   A meeting of the local board of the Normal school was held on Monday evening, at which the resignation of Miss Emily E. Cole from the principalship of the primary department was accepted and the appointment of Miss Mary L. Roberts, of Binghamton, to that position, was recommended. For eleven years Mist Cole has had charge of that department, and her administration has been characterized for its fidelity to the interests of the school; for able, earnest, unceasing effort to promote the advancement of her pupils; in short, she has been a remarkably successful teacher. Miss Roberts has, for the past five consecutive years, been principal of Ward school No. 2 of the city of Binghamton, and first assistant for the two and a half years previous. She is thoroughly acquainted with the most advanced theories and practices of normal school work. The highest educational authorities of Binghamton recommend her as the most successful teacher of primary work they ever knew.

Chicago.

[located between South Cortland and McLean, N. Y.--CC editor]

Correspondence of THE NEWS.

Jan. 29, 1883.

   Mr. Fred Frost has purchased 14 acres of land of Mr. Charles Baldwin. Consideration, $700.

   Miss Mary Hunt has been engaged to teach our school next summer.

   Prof. I. B. Haskins' school closes Feb. 9.

   Mr. Warren Davis is at work for the Bangs Bros., Cortland.

   The postoffice at Chicago will doubtless be discontinued this spring.

   There was to have been a spelling match at the Chicago school-house, last Friday evening, between the McLean and Chicago schools, but through fear of the results, the McLean school chose to stay at home. Our scholars hope they will not call it a tie as they have chosen to before. The school was spelled down by Roscoe Lamont, of Cortland.

   Mr. Judson Gager has been confined to the house, most of the time, for the past four weeks. Having cut one of his fingers, he caught cold in it, and dressed it with green salve, and it is thought it was poisoned by the same. He is doubtless laid up for the winter.

OBITUARY.

   In Norwalk, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1883, Mrs. Nancy Arnold, wife of Dr. Ira Babcock, aged 72 years.

   By the death of Mrs. Babcock there passes to the "better country" the last of a family of seven sisters, daughters of the late Philip Arnold, an early resident of East Scott. Mrs. Babcock was well known to many in this vicinity, her girlhood and a portion of her married life having been spent in this county.

   Soon after her marriage to Dr. Babcock she accompanied her husband to Oregon, whither they were sent by the American Board of Missions. Here they labored for some time among the Indians, only leaving the country as their lives became endangered by the hostility of the natives, which soon after their departure terminated in a massacre of the few remaining whites.

   On their returning voyage Mr. and Mrs. Babcock remained some time upon the Sandwich Islands, where was born to them their second daughter, Harriet Newell. Afterward they resided at different periods in Scott, also at Avoca and Bath, Steuben county. From the latter place, about twenty-five years ago they moved to Norwalk, Ohio, where they have since resided; Dr. Babcock being well known as an eminent physician and surgeon of northern Ohio.

   Mrs. Babcock was the mother of five children, four of whom are now living. In August, 1882, in company with her husband, she visited her native county for the last time; spending a few days in Cortland with her niece, Mrs. Henry W. Beal. In October following, she had a severe attack of hemorrhage of the lungs, a disease to which she had been subject for the past ten years. From this she partially recovered, and on New Year's day went to the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Cheney, where she was taken violently ill, and from which she was not removed until her death.

   At an early age Mrs. Babcock became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose interests and institutions she ever held sacred, adorning her Christian profession by her daily life. Peculiarly amiable in disposition, with a word of comfort for the sorrowing, and encouragement for the weak, Mrs. Babcock's life, if not perfect, was at least worthy of imitation by many. A large circle of friends mourns her departure, but she has "fought the good fight, she has kept the faith" and has gone to enjoy an inheritance incorruptible, we trust, in the Kingdom of God.

Com.

The Ice Harvest.

   ALBANY, Jan. 29.—The ice harvest along the Hudson river is now drawing to a close. It is conceded that the yield will be nearly three million tons, one of the largest harvests, if not the largest, ever taken from the Hudson. Not as many new houses were built last fall as the previous one, still those contracted are quite large and increase the storing capacity in the neighborhood of 200,000 tons. The ice gathered is from eight to twenty inches thick, and owing to the low condition of the river when it froze, is clear as crystal. The housing, this year, cost from four to seven cents less per ton than last year. Notwithstanding the cry of a short crop last winter, 100,000 tons remained unsold at the beginning of the year. Nearly 50,000 tons of this was gathered in 1880 and held for a good market, but little ice being stacked.

Recommended:

Lallah Rookh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lallah_Rookh

FOUND

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH360

Dreamland Beach, Bali

Bendugal, Bali

FOUND.

     To date the search for missing Malaysian Flight MH360 has not received any formal help from the government of Indonesia. Search team requests for information have gone unanswered. It's no secret that Malaysia and Indonesia don't get along. Conspiracy theories have formed and circulated with the speed of light. Indonesia shares a land border with Malaysia. Indonesia's total population is more than 238 million and it is the fourth most populous country in the world. Where are the radar reports? Why the silence?

     Indonesia is an archipelago comprising over 13,000 islands—and one of these islands holds a big secret. This morning the Guardian reports that the flight crew and passengers of missing Flight MH360 are safe on the ground at the Royal Tan Resort in Bali. It claims that the passengers and flight crew agreed unanimously by straw vote to a change of flight plan after the plane was airborne. The pilot of Flight MH360 proposed a Bali vacation with all amenities which, he said, would last only one month and then passengers and crew would fly to Beijing. The billionaire sponsor of the 'surprise vacation' and the Indonesian government promised that relatives would be informed of the off-schedule, one-month delay of flight. However the passengers and flight crew were misinformed and are now being held by the Indonesian government as virtual captives in a tropical paradise. Relatives have not been notified.

     The Guardian article went on to reveal that the Royal Tan Resort is a hedonistic nudist resort. No rules, no clothes, no cell phones, no means to communicate with the outside world. According to the Guardian, the missing crew and passengers all appear to be content and they are enjoying themselves at the resort. The plane’s captain has organized a nude volleyball league, while several Chinese passengers (men) have applied for permanent visas. Older vacationers are playing mahjong in the shade, while the younger men and women play the Chinese version of hopscotch on colorful numbered mats. The Guardian promises a video of these activities.The weather is fine.

     Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country. It would be embarrassing for its elected leaders to admit their part in this incredible hijacking and “cover-up” involving the passengers and flight crew of Malaysian Flight MH360, a nudist resort near Dreamland Beach, and the eccentric billionaire sponsor. How will the relatives of those missing on Flight MH360 react when they discover the truth?

     Behind the scenes is the Chinese billionaire, Dr. Hu Nu, an investment tycoon who owns hotel property throughout the archipelago and who is a major benefactor to Indonesian elected officials. If you are wondering why Indonesia’s government and Dr. Hu Nu would conspire to hijack a plane’s passengers and crew and hold them captive at a nudist resort on Bali, look no further than today’s date on the U. S. calendar.