100 Years Ago

in the Hammondsport Herald

From the first issue of the Hammondsport Herald, 1888

The newspapers and periodicals published in this country in 1860 numbered 4051. In 1870 the number had increased to 5871. According to a recent statement the number has increased since that time to 6875, more than a 1000 having been added within three years. Of this number 647 are dailies, 5175 weeklies and 1053 monthlies, etc.

A Duanesburgh (N. Y.) farmer has perfected a new invention for separating different grains that get mixed in growing and it is said to work especially well in separating barley and buckwheat. It consists of spreading thinly the barley and buckwheat on a barn floor, after it has been threshed, and turning the fowls in upon it, when they will pick out all the buckwheat before they will touch the barley. A Duanesburgh farmer lately purchased barley and buckwheat mixed for eighty-five cents a bushel, and by the use of this invention, separated them and sold the barley portion for $1.00 per bushel.

May 16, 1888

A bald eagle measuring six feet and four inches from tip to tip of wings, was recently shot while stealing ducks at Avoca.

The carp in Frey Bros' ponds are three inches or more in length.

Leroy Toby of Penn Yan is manufacturing very strong and handsome grape baskets from paper.

Corporation boss has made a large compost heap of the leaves, sods and other street debris. Next spring it will be spread on the parks. A very pious idea.

Each one of the four fire companies will appear in new uniforms on Decoration Day. After the exercises of the day, the annual firemen's parade and inspection will take place.

The spire of the Episcopal church is undergoing repair. Consequently there were no services there last Sunday.

May 23, 1888

Some new and popular books have just been received at the Hammondsport Library. Spring Haven, by R. D. Blackmore; In the Wilderness, by Charles Dudley Warner; Cast Away of Mrs. Leeks and Mrs. Alestine, by J. Stockton; The Dusantees, by Frank Stockton; April Hopes, by W.D. Howells; and Narka the Nihilist.

One week ago Sunday, the family carriage horse of Randall Longwell of the Valley, was attacked with blind staggers while being driven to church. The animal reared and pitched, breaking the carriage and frightening the occupants. The disease is simple congestion of the brain, and Mr. Longwell knowing this, promptly bled the horse and was soon able to finish the trip, but has not been able to use the animal since.

Hammondsport Glen

Hammondsport Glen is as little known to the outside world at large as was Watkins Glen, to which it so favorably compares, nine years ago. But Yankee enterprise is busy, and measures are on foot to put the Glen in such order as will soon attract the tourist and pleasure-seeker thither, with something of the same eagerness that characterises the visitors to Watkins Glen.

This cleft in the mountain is one of natures grand reservoirs of perpetual coolness. The intensity of summer is entirely forgotten amid its cooling grotto(e)s, the limpid pools and cascades. The distance from the level land above to the foot of the lowest waterfall is about one-half mile. The number of cascades in that distance is fifteen. The fall from the tableland to the entrance to the Glen is four hundred feet. The entrance to the ravine is shadowy and spacious. The cathedral portion of the Glen is formed by the sudden widening of the gorge, and is grand beyond description. As one gazes upward, for hundreds of feet, to the towering, overhanging ledges of rock, seemingly ready to crush to atoms the intruder, a certain adjustment of one's faculties to the occasion seems necessary.—The wind among the pines, above the tumultuous murmuring of the waterfalls and unrelenting grandeur of the enclosure, are so different from the easy-going world outside that one is awed, subdued, filled with profound reverence. "The long, warm, lightsome summer day" is coming, and we prophecy an invasion of the solitary places of the Glen, such as has never been known. For energy and persistency of purpose is being made manifest in the fitting up of this most charming retreat.

Fine Legal Distinctions

Turner's dog had bitten off Hadley's cow's tail, and there was conflict in the testimony as to whether the dog was acting on his own free will, or whether he was obeying the commands of his master. The jury would have been troubled to make a verdict had it not been for the following very explicit instructions of his Honor, the Court:

First—The Court instructs the jury that if they believe from the evidence beyond the influence of a reasonable doubt plaintiff's cow's tail was bitten off by defendant's dog, they should find for the plaintiff, and assess his damages as such sum as they think the tail was proven to be reasonably worth, not to exceed the amount claimed in the petition.

Second—The Court further instructs the jury that if they believe from the evidence that the dog was acting on his own responsibility, and not under the control of defendant then the case partakes necessarily of the nature of a proceeding in rem, and they must find for the defendant and against the dog.

Third—The Court at the instance of defendant's attorney further instructs the jury that a cow knoweth not the value of a tail until after she loses it, and in assessing the damage they have a right to take into consideration all the facts and circumstances in the case; the disadvantages as well as the advantages of a cow's tail; the value to the cow, the information gained by the loss of the tail, and deduct said sum from the total assessment.

The jury retired and returned with a verdict in the words and figures following, to wit: "We, the jury, find for the plaintiff one dollar and fifty cents. Sam Potts, foreman."

May 27, 1988