May 12, 2022
212 YEARS AGO
Poem – What art thou, Death; that we should fear the shadow of a shade? What’s in thy name that meets the ear of which to be afraid? Thou art not care, thou art not pain, but thou art rest and peace: ‘Tis thou canst make our terrors vain, and bid our torments cease. Misfortune’s sting, affliction’s throes, distraction’s poisonous breath; the world itself and all its woes are swallowed up in death.
May 12, 1810
May 5, 2022
150 YEARS AGO
The Daily Papers – For years past the people of Buffalo have received the New York daily papers several hours in advance of the people of Cooperstown. Under the new arrangement of the “newspaper express train,” we now receive those papers the same day they are printed — and one day in advance of the U.S. mail. This shows what private enterprise may accomplish. Mr. Beadle has the New York papers each day, on the arrival of the first stage from Fort Plain.
May 4, 1860
April 21, 2022
187 YEARS AGO
A dreadful accident occurred at Amstadt, Austria — Linsky, the celebrated legerdemain performer, gave, in the presence of the family of Prince Schwartzburg Sonderhauser, a grand exhibition in which he distinguished himself by an extraordinary display of his art. Six soldiers from the garrison were induced to fire with ball cartridges at Madame Linsky, the young wife of the conjurer. They were, however, instructed, in biting the cartridge, to bite off the ball and keep it in the mouth, as they had been shown to do in a rehearsal. Madame Linsky was for a time unwilling to perform the part allotted to her in this trick; but by the persuasion of her husband, she was induced to consent. The soldiers were drawn up before the company, took aim at Madame Linsky, and fired. For a moment after the firing she remained standing upright, but the next moment she sank down saying, “Dear husband, I am shot.” One of the musket balls which had not been bitten off passed quite through her abdomen. The unfortunate woman never spoke another word and died on the second day after receiving the wound.
April 20, 1835
212 YEARS AGO
Just received and for sale at the Otsego Bookstore – The “Alcoran of Mahomet” (Ed. Note: a version of the Koran) Price in 1 vol. 2 dollars; in 2 ditto, bound in calf and neatly gilt, with a copious preliminary discourse, and abounding with large explanatory notes, 750 cents. Likewise Spelling Books, Murray’s Grammar, American Selection, American Reader, Art of Reading, American Preceptor, Dwight’s Geography, &c., &c., &c.
March 31, 1810
212 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Martha P. Graham’s recipe for a crimson dye — To two gallons of poke berries, when they are quite ripe, add half a gallon of strong vinegar, made of the wild crab apple, to dye one pound of wool, which must be first washed very clean with hard soap. The wool, when wrung dry, is to be put into the vinegar and poke berry juice, and simmered in a copper vessel for one hour; then take out the wool and let it drip awhile, and spread it in the sun. The vessel must be free from grease of any kind.
March 23, 1811
212 YEARS AGO
So long as our republican system of government prevails, so long will the people be industrious, prosperous, independent, and happy; but as soon as they become shackled by the chains of aristocracy they will become indolent, thriftless and miserable.
March 17, 1810
212 YEARS AGO
Having seen and read a new publication entitled “Letters of Abbe Salemankis, to a Friend in Ireland,” I recommend the same to every American who feels an interest in the welfare of his country. In these letters are represented in a brief style, the effects which war systems, commercial wealth, bank companies and usurious loans produce on society. The American people will remain free no longer than while they read and reflect. There are men in every country who wish the people should be ignorant of their true interest.
March 10, 1810
210 YEARS AGO
Humanity! The ship Alknomac, Capt. Hicks, from Sligo, was cast on shore on Martha’s Vineyard about the middle of December last. Commodore Rodgers, in the President on a cruise, made a harbor there the same evening; and to his credit be it said, and particularly by Irishmen be it ever remembered, he generously gave the passengers, in number 80, two dollars each, and also offered them any further assistance they might require until they arrived at New York, their port of destination. The gratitude of some of the passengers induced them immediately on their arrival to acquaint the subscriber with the circumstances and never did he give publicity to an act of humanity and good will with more satisfaction.
February 29, 1812
210 YEARS AGO
Two ingenious mechanics in Montpelier, Vermont, are competitors for Bonaparte’s premium of one million of francs ($187,400) for the best improvement for spinning flax. Their machine has been in operation 6 months; and it is ascertained that with suitable variations it will spin flax or hemp, from the coarsest rope yarn to the finest cambric, four times faster than can be done on the ordinary wheel. An improvement possessing almost similar advantages has been made by a Mr. Bouier of Schaghticoke. A citizen of Massachusetts has lately deposited in the patent office, drawings, specifications, &c. of a machine for cutting files. This machine will perform the labor of six or eight hands per day. It will cut with the greatest accuracy.
February 15, 1812
110 Years Ago
At about 8:30 o’clock last Thursday evening, while a double rig from the livery of Dr. Hamilton at Delhi was being driven from that village to Oneonta, the wagon was struck by a light engine at the Ulster & Delaware crossing between Sherman Lake and West Davenport. Both horses were killed and the wagon entirely demolished. All three occupants of the wagon, Emery Young of Calicoon, Henry Young of Scranton, and Carl Bartholomew of Delhi,
were injured. Emery Young sustained a fractured skull, and though the men were at once taken on the engine and hurried to Oneonta, he died at about 9 o’clock as he was being lifted from the ambulance. Bartholomew was
badly bruised, but his injuries were not serious. Henry Young, who was hurled nearly 40 feet on impact, though painfully bruised, was able to be about the city the next morning. The engine was apparently running rapidly as portions of the demolished vehicle were carried more than fifty rods from the crossing.
December 1911
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
Home & Vicinity – Frank A. Robbin’s Circus & Menagerie drew a big crowd to Oneonta on Tuesday. The company met with delays in getting here from Delhi, where it showed the day preceding, and it was not until between twelve and one o’clock that the street parade occurred. The best feature of the tent performance was the trained elephant exhibition.
Last September, a bay mare valued at $200 was stolen from the barn of Andrew J. Burdick of Clifford, Pennsylvania. Nick Crandall, a notorious character, was arrested and convicted of the theft and sent to prison for two years and six months. He had disposed of the horse but would not disclose to whom. Recently Mr. Burdick was informed that the horse was in Oneonta, and on coming here he found it in the possession of Lafayette Stanton, who bought it of Charles Knapp of Mt. Vision, who procured it from Crandall. The horse has been identified by Burdick, but legal steps will be necessary before he obtains possession of it.
August 1886
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
Home & Vicinity – A horse driven by Mrs. Eugene Parish ran away last evening on Elm Street, a bolt working loose and allowing the thills to drop against its heels. The buggy collided with a tree near the front of G.H. Shearer’s residence, and Mrs. Parish was thrown several feet, striking the ground heavily. One rib was fractured and serious bruises were sustained. Besides, her system received a severe shock. She was taken into Mr. Shearer’s house and Dr. Manchester summoned. This morning she is reported to be in as comfortable a condition as possible under the circumstances. The wagon was quite badly demolished.
August 1886
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
210 YEARS AGO
Wisdom for the Merchant – Are you a merchant? Enter on your day book everything you let go on credit at the moment you dispose of it; never put it off till another time. The memory is treacherous and you may forget the number or price. Post your books every Saturday. Look frequently at your accounts. He who looks at his books often, understands his accounts and turns to them with pleasure; while the man who posts his books but once a year, and turns to them but seldom, always does it with reluctance; he hates to settle an account, and had rather lose a few cents than draw of a bill.
August 3, 1811
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
It would be difficult for the lover of wild and picturesque scenery to imagine a more delightful trip than that afforded by a ride at this season over the New York, Ontario, and Western railroad between Sidney Plains and Middletown. The road winds its way through the wildest regions of Delaware and Sullivan counties, traveling up mountain sides, crossing gorges, and now and then darting through tunnels; then, after reaching Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, runs for many miles along the shore of the Hudson River at a point where the view is the most desirable. Altogether it is a ride worth taking, if for no other motive than to view the matchless scenery to the eye along the way.
July 1886
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources
courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
210 YEARS AGO
With what contempt does the freeman of America glance at the silly attempt of such things as emperors and kings to induce them to join their sanguinary play, which sends thousands in an hour to their long home; while the Americans are infinitely better employed in cultivating their fertile fields and extending their settlements into a vast wilderness, raising flocks and herds of cattle and sheep, and all kinds of grain – making their own ploughs, wheelbarrows and carts, and clothing themselves richly from their own wool, cotton and flax, for the surplus of which the emperors and kings and things in Europe are quarreling for the pre-emption.
July 27, 1811