BIBLE AND CONSTITUTION, BENHAM RESPITED, ABOUT TRAMPS, AND PREACHED TO SIR KNIGHTS

 

Dr. Mary Walker.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, December 29, 1899.

BIBLE AND CONSTITUTION

SHOULD BE REVISED, SAYS DR. MARY WALKER.

To Expunge All References to Polygamy and Concubines in the Former and to Religious Liberty in the Latter—Petition to be Sent to Congress by Dr. Walker Asking for Revision.

   Dr. Mary Walker of Oswego, who is spending the week in town, handed to The STANDARD for publication the full text of a bill which she expects soon to send to congress for introduction to revise the Bible and the constitution of the United States along the lines which she indicates in the bill and for reasons there stated. The bill is as follows.

   WHEREAS, All religious bodies claim the Bible as their standard, that book being the same as was revised by order of King James of England; and,

   WHEREAS, Rights and liberties to worship God according to dictates of individual conscience are clearly guaranteed by the constitution of the United States in accordance with the understanding of such Bible; and,

   WHEREAS, Every member of the house of representatives has placed his hand on said Bible, and solemnly sworn to support the United States constitution and, therefore,

   WHEREAS, A large number of people belonging to religious denominations outside of the Mormon church have sent petitions to the house of representatives asking to have a duly elected Mormon prevented from taking his seat because of his religious belief, when such religionist bases such belief and life on the same Bible as said petitioners; and,

   WHEREAS, Equality before the law in all rights and duties is one of the cardinal principles of a Republican form of government, therefore,

   Resolved, That it is the duty of the members of the house, under their oath of office, to seat Representative Elect Roberts, and then proceed to revise the Bible, and to amend the religious liberty clause in accordance with Bible revision of 1900: Be it enacted, etc.

   Sec. 1. That the standard Bible as handed down by King James of England, and officially recognized by the republic of the United States of America as the religious guide of the people, shall be so revised as to expunge all things relating to polygamy and concubinage.

   Sec. 2. That the religious liberty clause in the constitution of the United States shall be so amended, as to read in accordance with the revision of the standard Bible as revised in 1900, by act of congress, ratified by three-fourths of the United States in legislature assembled.

   Dr. Walker appears to ignore the fact that it is not because of Mr. Roberts' belief in Mormonism or because he is a Mormon that congress is being petitioned to deny him admission to the house, but because he is believed to be a violator of the constitution of the state of Utah from which he comes, and as a lawbreaker and a criminal is ineligible to a seat in congress. The purpose of the committee of the house which is now taking testimony in the matter is to find out whether these charges are true or false. If true, he probably will not be seated under the constitution, and if false he probably will be seated under the constitution. Congress shows no desire to interfere with Mr. Roberts' religious liberty or belief. The Mormon church has stated that polygamy is not one of its tenets, and polygamy is unlawful under the constitution of the state of Utah. Consequently, if the congressional committee finds that he now has more than one wife with whom he is living in the relation of husband and wife and that he has married that wife since the constitution of the state was adopted he cannot fall back upon religious belief to defend himself. And it is equally clear that if congress finds such a state of affairs to be true Mr. Roberts is a violator of the constitution of the state from which he comes, which would of itself make him ineligible.

   It is safe to say that congress will not attempt to prevent Mr. Roberts from being seated simply because he is a Mormon. It is contrary to the constitution, as Dr. Walker says, to consider that matter at all, and no one will venture to put forward any proposition for seating or unseating a member which could be construed as an entering wedge along those lines. There have been Mormons in congress before, but they were not polygamists, and if Mr. Roberts is denied admission another Mormon who is not a polygamist will doubtless be sent. If a law abiding Mormon could be rejected, simply because he is a Mormon, some other man could be rejected because he is a Protestant, or a Catholic or a Jew, or because he is a Methodist or a Baptist or an Episcopalian. It is ridiculous to think of religion cutting any figure in the Roberts question, especially as Mormons themselves denounce polygamy.

   As to the revision of the Bible referred to in Dr. Walker's proposed bill, it looks to us as though the doctor was trying to get some fun out of the question and was trying to make a burlesque of the whole thing.

 

Howard C. Benham newspaper sketch.

BENHAM RESPITED.

Governor Roosevelt Grants an Extension of Sentence to Feb. 10.

   ALBANY, Dec. 29.—The first official act that Governor Roosevelt preformed yesterday afternoon on his return here was to grant a respite until Feb. 10 to Howard C. Benham, the convicted Batavia uxoricide, who has been sentenced to die in the chair during the week of Jan. 2. Justice Hooker at Buffalo, before whom motion for a new trial has been made on the grounds of newly discovered evidence, made the request for the respite, in order to secure further time in which to review the evidence and reach a decision.

 

Reserved Decision.

   BUFFALO, Dec. 29.—Attorneys for the prosecution in the Benham case finished their arguments against granting the convicted wife murderer a new trial yesterday and Justice Hooker reserved his decision.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

   New Yorkers are waking up to the fact that the motormen on electric cars should have the front platforms enclosed against the storms and winds of winter. A law is to be introduced in the New York state legislature to compel the traction companies to make this just and proper provision for the protection of their employees. The eastern metropolis is, however, a little slow in getting about it. Almost everywhere else such humane regulations have been enforced for a number of years.

 

ABOUT TRAMPS.

Niagara Courier's Comments on Mr. Mantanye's Tramp Theory.

   The Niagara Courier of Dec. 23 says:

   Hon. W. J. Mantanye of Cortland, one of the state prison commissioners, has given his opinion in an interview published in the Syracuse Post-Standard, of the operations of the law regarding tramps. He disapproves of the present law as applicable to counties that have not made special provision for sentencing tramps to the county jail and to work. He says the law is not a success, as it requires tramps to be sentenced to the nearest penitentiary, involving liberal fees for justices and officers, sometimes amounting to from $10 to $25 in each case. Tramps have come to know of this law and they flock into this state as cold weather comes on, and often ask to be sent up until spring, when they go forth on a summer campaign of beggary. The state pays for penitentiary charges, but this really falls upon the tax-payers of the state. St. Lawrence, Oneida, Tioga, Orange and some other counties have provided to care for tramps by making them work under the sheriff, and they are pretty careful to avoid those counties. Work doesn't agree with them. Mr. Mantanye advocates the re-enactment of the law that for fifty years was successful, requiring tramps to be sent to the county jail, and compelled to work. He is a lawyer of standing in Cortland, and enjoys a wide acquaintance in the state. We know him to be a gentleman who has become well informed on this and kindred subject, that come under his observation as a prison commissioner. We presume he will press the matter upon the attention of the legislature, several of its members having served with him in the last constitutional convention.

 

Visiting Prison Commissioners.

   Hon. Wm. R. Remington of Canton and Hon. John G. Dorrance of Camden, state commissioners of prisons, arrived in town this morning and are at the Cortland House. They came from Elmira, where they have been inspecting the state reformatory and will remain until Saturday, engaged with Prison Commissioner Wm. J. Mantanye in completing the annual report of the commission of prisons to the legislature. The three commissioners mentioned constitute the committee of the commission on annual report. They also inspected the county jail this afternoon and met several members of the board of supervisors who were in town.

 

PREACHED TO SIR KNIGHTS.

Commanderies Attended Service at Grace Church Wednesday Night.

   The festivals of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist are sacred to Free Masons everywhere, and are usually commemorated with appropriate ceremonies by that fraternity. This year the latter was observed in public by both the commandery of Knights Templar and the Masonic lodge. By invitation, the fraternities of Cortland, Homer and vicinity, in full regalia, attended divine service in Grace church in this village on Wednesday evening last, Rev. Amos Watkins officiating. For the convenience of all present, the church's full service was printed in pamphlet form and the large audience joined most heartily in the same. Mr. Watkins selected for his text, 1 Kings v, part of the first verse, "For Hiram was ever a lover of David." His discourse treated chiefly of the origin, progress, achievements and beneficence of the order of which he is an honored and esteemed member. His remarks were scholarly, convincing, instructive and his applications full of truth and wisdom, not only to those of the mystic circle, but to outsiders as well. He was listened to with rapt attention and his efforts are the subject of general praise and commendation, especially among the members of the craft.

   The musical part of the service was particularly beautiful. Mrs. G. H. Smith presided at the organ and Mr. George Oscar Bowen was a conspicuous acquisition to the choir.

   After the service the Masons retired to their banquet hall in the Hopkins block where light refreshments were served, in the course of which several impromptu speeches were made. Before the close of the festivities a goodly purse was made up which will be presented to a local charity in place of the customary New Year's offering.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The sleighing could not be improved upon the paved streets. Off the pavement it is a little rough, but the wheeling is not bad.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—F. D. Smith, Skate time, page 7; F. Daehler, Happy New Year, page 7; Glann & Clark, Cut prices on winter shoes, page 7.

   —Ladies' night at the Tioughnioga club will occur on New Year's night instead of on the following Wednesday night. Cards will be in order and Darby's orchestra will play.

   —Mr. A. D. Wallace of the Brunswick hotel has sold to Frank M. Miller of New York City his black and white English setter ''Grouse'' for $100. This dog is thoroughbred and registered and was considered one of the best trained dogs in Central New York.

DR. MARY WALKER IN CORTLAND, TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS IN SECOND DISTRICT, AND FILIPINO INSURGENTS ROUTED

 

Dr. Mary Walker.

B. H. Roberts.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 28, 1899.

DR. MARY WALKER

TO PRESENT A PETITION TO CONGRESS REGARDING ROBERTS.

Not Personally a Believer in Polygamy, but Convinced That He Cannot Constitutionally be Deprived of His Seat Because of Polygamy and the Mormon Religion—Arguments to That Effect.

   Dr. Mary Walker of Oswego is spending the week in Cortland as a guest of Dr. L. A. Strowbridge on Monroe Heights. She is about to present a petition to congress favoring the seating of Roberts of Utah, the text of which she has given to The STANDARD for publication, as follows:

   GENTLEMEN—With the sacred right of petition, your honorable body has been asked to do an act, outside the authority of the constitution of the United States. This was by people not understanding that you are restricted from any overt acts against the rights and liberties of conscience—and you are not empowered to decide for other people's conscience—in religious matters, that are contained in that instrument, which our forefathers shaped and sharpened, as a peace menace, among the various religious sects that then existed, or that should thereafter exist. They saw the injustice, not to say the absurdity of all religious bodies to bring their authority from the same Bible, and then assuming to dictate to other sister churches, to the extent of hanging Quakers, the most unobtrusive of all religionists.

   You are petitioned to "prevent Elect Representative Roberts of Utah from taking his seat." This is solely upon his "religious belief," according to the ''plurality of wives that are sanctioned in the Bible," as they are also in the branch of Mormons, to which Mr. Roberts belongs.

   King David had ten concubines, and yet he put the man Uriah who had but one wife at the head of the battle to be killed and then took his widow for his wife. King Solomon, David's son, and the wisest man who lived, had his oldest brother killed because he wanted a fair maiden for his polygamic wife, in the face of the fact that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. We are told by clergymen who are not Mormons that every word of the Bible is inspired, and an example to us. The logic of such an assertion, in the face of the fact that there are people who live higher lives than such "examples," is remarkable. If the Bible was still all divine after King James' council revised it, is it not about time that there should be another revision, and expunge what the living up to by one sect openly, and many other sects covertly, is now believed not to be for the best interests of all people. There should be an amendment to the religious liberty clause in the constitution defining that such liberty must come inside of the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and Christ's sermon on the mount.

   If the petitioners regarding one man were to make the above a question, something of vital interest might result, but as it now stands, it is a one sect persecution of a mild Nero type.

   It is a notable fact that the Mormon church is the only religious body that teaches the importance of the retention of all woman's nerve force in the interest of her prospective motherhood as did the mother of Christ. The question arises—why are all the crimes on the calendar so frequent in all states except Utah? Does the freedom from exhaustion of the mother, previous to the external existence of a child, have any relation to the child's best interests?

   It is not in your province as a body to decide, (whatever your personal opinions may be,) against the seating of a member on religious grounds, whom the votes of men and women have sent, who are qualified to vote for such member. His election is evidence that a large body of people have faith in his principles. But if he was the only communicant of his church, who had not abandoned that part of the "Bible plurality of wives," deserting all but one of them he is entitled to his religious exponency, through constitutional rights.

   Our forefathers saw that spites, jealousies, greeds, and other motives that had no other outlet and could be used to the disadvantage of individuals, were the basal reasons for sect persecutions, and they dealt with the question of "religious rights of conscience," in terms not to be misunderstood. We have no right to assume anything regarding consciences of other people.

   Congressman Elect Roberts cannot be prevented from taking his seat, even if every member of every denomination in these United States roll in their ponderous petitions. Public sentiment, however strong against "confessed wives, and acknowledged children," is powerless to prevent the seating of a man, who has the honor to acknowledge all his marriages, and all the living results, as was done when the Bible was written. No Mormon has ever been charged with being guilty of breaking up other men's families, or putting his children in childless negro families to be brought up as negroes, and to marry negroes (?) here in Washington. The Mormon church has many virtues that ought to belong to all sects. Every effect is but the legitimate result of cause.

   While in Salt Lake City, I gave a lecture of nearly two hours length to a large assemblage of children, and none of them went to sleep, or became uneasy, notwithstanding the fact that my subject was not one to children. (Comment is unnecessary regarding strong nerves and little comprehensive brains.)

   No state or the United States congress can make any discrimination regarding religious sects that will stand the United States constitution test. If there has been an unconstitutional precedent consequent on either ignorance or bravado, it is too unsafe to follow. Gentlemen who would be guilty of deciding against an elect member, because of a clamor from other people regarding religious exponency, are erecting a gallows upon which they may find themselves unexpectedly ascending by a concerted action upon a different basis, not now apparent, but will be an opening door to ignoring the United States constitution; undermining the very foundation of this government which must be prevented by effectively stopping religious controversial oppression.

   The low social status of the founder of Mormonism has nothing to do with the "religious rights" of the followers. There are those who know that religious beliefs, and the exponency of them, cannot debar Mr. Roberts of his seat, and are advocating an "emergency act" to meet the case, not knowing that the constitution of the United States must be amended, and that any change must be general, and not a special law regarding any church tenets, and that a large number of the state legislatures must ratify the same before it could be effective. Still farther, no state can ratify anything in conflict with the Constitution of the United States, since it cannot discriminate to the disadvantage of any particular religious sect. Not one state would so display its ignorance in its legislature, as to do so, until the Bible is revised and morals put on a universal basis.

   When Africa is annexed, and sends a woman to the congress who has several husbands, she cannot plead religious belief for her polygamy, and an act might be passed by congress, (perhaps?) and be ratified by a sufficient number of states to make it effective, or congress might decide ineligibility, without an amendment to the United States constitution. (There are arguments on both sides.)

   If we had a monarchy already fully established, the dealing with this question would be as easy as was the refusal of the emperor to receive S. S. Cox, as minister to his court, because his wife was a Jewess. Uncle Sam gracefully accepted the ultimatum of Mr. Emperor, and sent a minister whose wife's presence would not encourage his Jew subjects. This government receives in good fellowship foreign ministers, and consuls, whose government sanction and whose rulers practice polygamy, and who do so themselves. Not only this is a fact, but the usurping power in colonies where the people practice polygamy is also a fact.

   This government has paid millions to purchase active polygamists, and has also paid the price of blood and death of its soldiery in the double payment for such people, who practice polygamy on a far lower scale of humanity. If there is one standard of marriage that is higher than another, it is that which squarely acknowledges marriage, and all the living results of marriage. Marriage is the regulator of social evils, and a plurality of wives, with wives' consent, is far above the widespread marriages with but one acknowledged and open marriage, and other covert relations.

   While I argue that Mr. Roberts ought to take his seat as representative from the state of Utah, personally I am not a believer in polygamy, and would not live in such a relation, whether the marriages were all open, or whether one was acknowledged and others were covert. Science must, and will in time, make monogamy the rule that will need no legal enactments to prevent polygamy. Ostracism is not an argument that will convert to one wife, but calls forth defiance on one hand and the worst of deception on the other.

   Convinced against one's will and belief is like spiderwebs, while science's logic is a cable that the winds and tides of social life cannot sever. There is no mistaking the fact that faithfulness to one wife and one husband is the highest condition of marriage, and with rational living and all the excellences that the polygamists set forth, the best of results to families and state must be the legitimate outcome. But trampling on the very foundation of our government, and ignoring religious rights, is the work of ignorance of what the constitution of the United States really is, or of utter disregard of results.

 

Teachers' Examinations.

   Uniform examinations for the year 1900 in the Second school commissioner district will be held as follows:

   Jan.11 and 12 (first, second and third grade and Normal [School] entrance) — Homer.

   April 12 and 13—Truxton.

   Aug. 9 and 10—Truxton.

   Nov. 8 and 9—Homer.

   KATHARINE E. COBB, Commissioner-elect.

 

John L. Lewis Lodge Election.

   At the regular meeting of the John L. Lewis lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., the following officers for the year 1900 were elected:

   Noble Grand—N. P. Meager.

   Vice-Grand—E. E. Spalding.

   Secretary—Charles Miller.

   Treasurer—A. J. Bosworth.

   Trustee. Three Years—J. R. Brow.

   At the next regular meeting, Jan. 2, 1900, these officers will be installed and on Jan. 4, 1900, installation of camp officers will occur.

 

INSURGENTS ROUTED.

Americans Capture Filipino Trenches Near Montalban.

ENEMY CHASED INTO MOUNTAINS.

Rebel Loss Must Have Been Quite Severe. Four Americans Were Wounded in Engagement—Unsuccessful Attempt Made to Surround the Filipinos.

   MANILA, Dec. 28.—Colonel Lockett with a force of 2,500, including artillery, yesterday attacked a strong force of insurgents entrenched in the mountains near Montalban about five miles north-east of San Mateo. The enemy were completely routed, the Americans pursuing them through the hills, amid which they fled in every direction.

   Four Americans were wounded. The Filipino loss was large, resulting from a heavy infantry and artillery fire for three hours in the trenches.

   It is supposed that the insurgents were those who were driven out of San Mateo on the day General Lawton was killed. They numbered probably 1,000.

   A dozen lines of insurgent trenches covered the steep trail through the hills and likewise the valley below, along which the Americans passed. The main attacking party consisted of the Forty-sixth volunteers, infantry, a troop of cavalry and artillery, Colonel Lockett commanding in person.

   The rest of the command operated from remote points in an endeavor to carry out Colonel Lockett's plan of throwing his lines around the enemy and thus cutting off retreat. The nature of the mountainous country made it impracticable to execute this movement successfully.

   After the insurgents began to run there was a vain attempt to use artillery.

 

PANAMA CANAL.

Gigantic Corporation Organized to Purchase Property.

   TRENTON, N. J., Dec. 28.—The Panama Canal company of America with an authorized capital of $30,000,000, was incorporated here. The object of the company, as shown by the articles of incorporation, is to acquire by purchase the ship canal of the Campagnie Nouvelle du Canal de Panama and the railway across the Isthmus of Panama; also to construct, equip and operate said canal and railway and the various enterprises connected therewith. The company is further empowered to operate ships and steamship lines, carry mails, passengers and merchandise, operate telegraph and telephone lines, maintain wharves, warehouses and generally to engage in any business advantageous to the company's business.

   The articles also empower the company to enter into arrangements with any government that may seem conducive to the company's object, including the obtaining of rights, privileges and grants. The capital stock is divided into $5,000,000 first preferred stock with 5 per cent non-cumulative dividend and $10,000,000 common stock.

   The incorporators are: William P. Chapman, Jr., New York; Henry W. Clark, New York, and Francis D. Pollak of Summit, N. J.

IS MARS PEOPLED, AMHERST ALUMNI, AND FIRE BUG IN PREBLE, N. Y.

 

Ernst Haekel.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 27, 1899.

IS MARS PEOPLED?

Such a Claim Advanced by a German Scientist.

   "Is Mars inhabited?" has been asked very often during recent years and has engaged the serious attention of many astronomers and especially of M. Camille Flammarion, a noted French scientist and author.

   Some new light is now thrown on this subject by Professor Ernst Haeckel, an eminent German philosopher, in a book entitled "World Problems." After pointing out that men have been studying the heavens for more than 4,500 years and have only been studying themselves for the last half century he says we may safely assume that the many fixed stars whose light requires thousands of years to reach us are suns and are surrounded by planets and worlds similar to those we know. We may also assume, he holds, that thousands of these planets have arrived at the same stage of development as our world, and it naturally follows that on them the same conditions of life prevail as on this earth, and there is no valid reason why human beings should not live there as they do here.

   Professor Haeckel takes care to explain that there are doubtless many planets, the temperature of which is such that life, as we understand the term, cannot be sustained on them. He thinks it very probable that there are types of animals and plants on some planets which are not to be found on the earth. According to him, it is very likely that the biogenetic process exists on Mars, Venus and possibly some other planets of our system, as well as on plants of other solar systems, but plants on these planets have reached a higher stage of development than has been reached by animals and plants of this earth.

   If we assume that Mars is inhabited—and Professor Haeckel seems pretty well satisfied that it is—we must assume, he holds, that the men and women whose home is on the planet are not such as we, but of a far higher type. They may resemble us exteriorly, but they are free from our physical defects and excel us in strength and gracefulness. It is in the intellectual sphere, however, that their superiority is most clearly shown. If there are human beings on these planets, says Professor Haeckel, it is extremely probable that they far surpass ordinary men and women in intelligence.

 

Edward Hitchcock, Jr.

AMHERST ALUMNI.

FIRST ANNUAL BANQUET HELD AT SYRACUSE.

Forty-one Men Assembled to Greet President Harris and Dr. Edward Hitchcock—Old College Well Was There in Miniature—Toasts Drunk from Water from the Genuine Well at Amherst—An Enthusiastic Gathering—Fine Responses from All the Speakers.

   The first annual banquet of the Amherst Alumni association of Central New York was held at The Vanderbilt at Syracuse last night and was a most delightful affair. This association was organized in Cortland on June 9th last, the initiatory steps for its formation being taken by the local alumni. This was its first of the banquets, and this was the first alumni association to extend a welcome to the new president, Dr. George Harris, though the St. Louis association was in session in St. Louis last night and greetings between the two associations were exchanged.

   Added interest in the gathering was aroused by the presence of President Harris and of Dr. Edward Hitchcock, beloved by every Amherst man old and young, who had come from Amherst especially to be the guests of the new association on this occasion.

   The arrangements for the banquet which were very complete were made by the officers of the association and the executive committee all of whom were reelected for the coming year as follows:

   President—Giles H. Stilwell, '81, Syracuse.

   Secretary—Rev. John T. Stone, '91, Cortland.

   Treasurer—Lewis C. Merrell, '99, Syracuse.

   Executive Committee—the three officers and Prof. W. K. Wickes, '80, Syracuse; Prof. T. J. McEvoy, '97, Cortland.

   At about 9 o'clock the men began to assemble in the parlors and an hour was spent in an informal meeting with the new president and in renewing old days and old friendships. Shortly before 10 o'clock the dining-room was thrown open and forty-three Amherst graduates and under-graduates were seated at the tables. The classes represented ranged all the way from '39 to 1903, from Right Reverend Frederic D. Huntington, bishop of central New York, who was sixty years out of college last June, to two freshmen who have completed one term of their course. It was an enthusiastic assembly. Dr. Hitchcock referred to the youthful association as the new baby, and President Harris remarked that new babies frequently make the most noise in the night as those nearby some time learn  to their sorrow, and perhaps the guests of the hotel in the vicinity of the dining-room took that view of the case last night as they heard the music of the college mandolin club, representatives of which were present, the college songs sung by the whole company and the bursts of laughter and cheers that were frequent.

   The tables were spread in royal purple and white, the college colors, and adorned with bouquets of the same shades. At the foot of one table stood a model six feet high of the old college well, from which every Amherst man in the seventy years of its existence has drawn water. There was a bucket and a chain in the well house and Prof. W. K. Wickes of Syracuse, who acted as toast master, had conceived the happy idea of sending to Amherst for a case of water from that same well from which the toasts were drunk. Prof. Wickes said he sent to Dr. Hitchcock for the water and imagine his horror when the package came, to find the address in Dr. Hitchcock's well known handwriting on one side of the case and on the other side the label "Holland Gin." Dr. Hitchcock declared, as soon as he could he heard, that somebody had been putting up a job on him.

   The menu was an elaborate one, was admirably served, and the midnight hour was approaching when President Stilwell rapped for order and introduced Prof. Wickes as the presiding genius of the evening. That gentleman was an ideal toastmaster, combining in just the proper degree wit and wisdom. He was in his happiest vein and with an excellent toast list in his hand this part of the evening could not but be replete with enjoyment. The speakers and responses were as follows:

   "Amherst Ideals of Theology," J. T. Stone, '91.

   "Amherst Ideals of Law," I. T. Deyo, '79.

   "Amherst Ideals of Scholarship," F. D. Blodgett, '93.

   "Amherst Memories, Old." Dr. Hitchcock of Every Class.

   "Amherst Ideals, New," President Harris.

   "Amherst Bells," Bishop Huntington.''

   While all the responses were of a high degree of excellence, the chief interest of course centered in the last three speakers. When Dr. Hitchcock so truly called "of every class," [he] surprised his boys last night as he rose by putting on his Turkish fez so familiar in the old gymnasium, by blowing the same old whistle in the same old way and by producing the identical rollbook that generations of college students have come to know as they knew their own names and slapping it vigorously upon the palm of his left hand as he has done thousands of times in the gymnasium when he was ready to bring order out of chaos with the well known exclamation: "Young  GENTLEMEN"—when all of this came upon the vision and ears of the assembly last night with one involuntary spring every man was on his feet with a yell that pretty nearly took off the roof, while the breakdown—"Who was Doc? First in war, First in peace, First in the hearts of his countrymen," was executed, regardless of table china, floors, or hotel guests, in the same manner as fifty classes have done it in days gone by and are still doing it to-day in the Amherst gymnasium—for of all the men in the Amherst faculty past and present, no one has quite so closely touched the heart of every student as Dr. Edward Hitchcock. He is always loyal to his boys and the boys have the most kindly and affectionate feeling for him. His response last night was characteristic and was greeted with the warmest applause.

   President Harris was listened to with keen interest. To nearly all but the under-graduates present he was a stranger when the company came together last night, but as he spoke of the affairs of the college, of the problems to be faced and met, of the changes that must necessarily come in an up-to-date institution of learning, of the methods of discipline employed and of some of the recent incidents of life in the college every hearer must have felt his confidence going out to the man and have been assured that the trustees had made no mistake in their selection of the new president and that all the good things that had been said of him were well founded. The applause which greeted his remarks, though perhaps different in kind from that accorded to Dr. Hitchcock, the true and tried friend, was none the less sincere and hearty and was intended to assure President Harris of the loyal and earnest support of every member of the Central New York Alumni association.

   The last speaker was Bishop Huntington. His theme was "Amherst Bells," suggested by the fact that at his summer home at Hadley he is within hearing of the bells of Amherst. This led him to a train of reminiscences of Amherst in the days (sixty years ago when he was in college, and during the intervening years. He spoke of the high ideals of character always impressed upon Amherst students. His words were serious and impressive, but there was a humorous turn to them every now and then which added to their force. His remarks were a fitting close to the toasts of the evening, and all tended to increase the interest and loyalty of the graduates for their alma mater.

   It was after 2 o'clock when the toasts were concluded. For nearly an hour longer the company remained in the dining-room grouped about the piano singing college songs, listening to the mandolin club and talking of the days gone by.

 

 

 

"Remember the Maine."

   "Remember the Maine," the only one of the many Spanish-American plays launched during last season which still continues on the road, comes to the Cortland Opera House next Monday. Some really clever plays dealing with the late war were launched, but as the authors relied wholly on patriotic sentiment to support the play after the war and the consequent decline in interest in its incidents, the public ceased to produce the coin of the realm in paying amounts. Mr. Carter was shrewd enough to foresee this result, and he therefore conceived some astonishingly clever scenic effects, which will carry the play, and produce good financial results for some seasons to come. The chief among these effects is the much talked of battle scene, a representation of the struggle between the American and Spanish navies in the harbor in Manila. In this scene Mr. Carter has accomplished seemingly impossible results. Giant warships, fully equipped discharge volleys and burn and sink each other in close conformity to the details as told by official reports of the event. The interpreting company is the same that was seen here last season, and includes Miss Evelyn Selbie, Mr. Charles Mestayer, J. Hooker Wright, Anna Thomas, Grant Foreman, May Stoddard, M. W. Douglass and other clever people. Prices 35, 50 and 75 cents. Sale opens Saturday at 9 A. M.

 

Died in Dryden.

   Mr. George Hatch died in Dryden yesterday as a result of locomotor ataxia. His age was 52 years. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 1 o'clock at his late home 2 miles east of Dryden.

 

PAVING ASSESSMENTS PAID.

The List of Those Who Have Paid Up Grows Steadily.

   The list of those who have paid their paving assessments up to date is constantly growing. At present the record is as follows:

   Tompkins-st.—Wesley Hooker, $296.56; W. H. Shankland, $403.25; Sarah I. Sturdevant $294.78; Dr. F. D. Reese, $214.38; Miss Hubbard and Mrs. Apgar, $294.78; the Blanchard estate, $ 266.73; Mrs. Jenny Ball, $237.26; Mrs. Jane M. Foster, $294.78; Mrs. B. F. Tillinghast $438.63.

   Port Watson-st.—Mrs. Sophia A. White, $225.97; E. A. Fish, $274.15; C. L. Kinney, $285.80; Mrs. Ida Y. Smith, $290.78; Laura E. Byram, $234.28; Stanley M. Bierce, $295.76; Freer estate, $246.74; F. J. Doubleday, $456.255.

   Lincoln-ave.—Robert Lang, $355.53; Delos Bauder, $192.30; J. C. Gray, $205.21; John Miller, $155.02; H. T. Dana, $282.96.

 

SILVER WEDDING.

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Scott Celebrate Their Twenty-fifth Anniversary.

   At Union Springs, N. Y., Dec. 22, twenty-five years ago, occurred the wedding of Mr. Eugene H. Scott and Miss Joanna L. Lowry. To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of this event Mr. and Mrs. Scott invited a number of their friends to spend last Friday evening at their home, two miles west of Cortland. About twenty-five were present and a very delightful time was the result. The guests were cordially welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Scott and the evening was spent in a social way and with music until the supper was served. The supper which was an elaborate one was prepared by Mrs. Scott and was served by her two daughters, Misses Maria and Virginia.

   Numerous gifts of silver, suitable for the occasion, were brought by the guests and valuable reminders of the event were received from relatives at a distance who were unable to be present and from members of Mrs. Scott's bible class in the Presbyterian Sunday-school.

   The ceremony twenty-five years ago was performed by Rev. J. C. Long at the home of the bride in Union Springs. Mrs. Scott's maiden name was Joanna L. Lowry and she was a daughter of James and Maria Shaw Lowry of Union Springs. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Scott lived for nearly two years at Union Springs and then removed to their present home in Cortland, where they have since resided. They have two daughters, Misses Maria and Virginia Scott, who are living at home with them. Mrs. Maggie Scott Hornbeck, a daughter of Mr. Scott by his first wife, resides at Slaterville Springs.

   The guests who were present last Friday evening were: Rev. J. T. Stone, Mrs. T. D. P. Stone, Mrs. Harriet Parker, Miss Parker, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Webb, Mrs. J. L. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Walworth, Miss Walworth, Mr. and Mrs. James White, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sanders, Mrs. J. H. Parker, Mrs. Backus, and Mr. and Mrs. Adelbert C. Scott of Slaterville Springs.

 

To Enlarge His Stable.

   Messrs. McNeil & Schellinger, two well-known and experienced carpenters and builders of the town of Truxton, informed a STANDARD man last week that they had been awarded the contract to erect an addition 30 by 46 feet in size to the livery barn of Earl C. Johnson, proprietor of the Truxton House. A hitching barn 30 by 46 feet in size will also be erected on the east side of the main building for the accommodation of the public. The interior of the old barn will be entirely remodeled, and when finished it will be one of the handsomest and most complete hotel and livery barns in the county. Work will be begun as soon as possible.

 

FIRE BUG IN PREBLE.

Well Laid Plan Would Have Succeeded Had It not Been Discovered.

   Last Saturday evening Mr. Alonzo Allen who lives near Preble went to the village to attend to some business and on his return home as was his custom he went to his mill to lock it and see that all was right. He went in at one door and through the mill and secured the door at the east and returned to the door he entered but stooped and looked around to see if there was anything he had overlooked. It being dark and having no light he saw a light shine from under a barrel which stood by the side of an oil barrel about half full of machine oil. On examination he found an old coat of his rolled up with some papers saturated with kerosene oil and with two sticks lying cross them and the empty barrel turned over the whole pile. In the center of the saturated coat and papers was a lighted wax candle that when the candle had burned down would light the oiled papers and thus evidently, kindle a fire that would destroy the mill and other property within reach. The matter was well planned and had Mr. Allen neglected to have looked around to see that all was right would have been successful.

   Mr. Allen is a man held in the highest estimation and the great question among his neighbors and friends is what enemy has he who would do such an act.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Dr. P. M. Neary has removed his office and residence to 17 Tompkins-st., directly across the street from his former residence.

   —On Thursday, Dec. 28, at 6 P. M. the Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. will serve a gymnasium banquet to the members of the association.

   —The Holiday dance given under the supervision of the assembly will be held in Red Men's hall Friday evening, Dec. 29. Darby's orchestra of ten pieces will furnish the music.

   —Mr. Samuel Parsons is in town looking after the interests of his directory of Cortland and Cortland county for 1900. It is Mr. Parsons' intention that the directory shall be better than ever before.

   —The marriage of Mr. John Scanlon and Miss Mary E. Roach was solemnized this morning at St. Mary's church, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin officiating. The newly married couple started on the 9:20 train for a short trip to Lyons.

   —If you desire to take advantage of The STANDARD'S clubbing list on periodicals do it this week, as the subscriptions will be forwarded on Jan. 1, and the clubbing rates withdrawn except on the New York Tribune and New York World. Subscriptions for these can be received at any time.

   —The employees of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. all contributed to make up a purse of $20 which was sent as a Christmas gift to Mr. Olney P. Chrysler, the motorman who was on the ill-fated car that was in the collision with the milk train several weeks ago. Mr. Chrysler has never fully recovered from the injuries received upon that occasion.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Warren Tanner & Co., Clearing sale of jackets, page 6; Choral Society, Redpath Grand Concert Co., page 5; M. A. Case, Our New Year's greeting, page 6; W. J . Perkins, Cough balsam, page 4; L. D. Garrison, Candies and fruit, page 6; Dr. G. H. Smith, Special price on dental work, page 4; F. D. Smith, Skates, page 6.