BOUND VOLUMES, February 27, 2014

200 YEARS AGO
Maple Sugar – The sap begins to run – farmers, look out. It is all important that every effort should be made to obtain a national supply the present year, from our own resources. One of the principle obstacles heretofore has been the loss of sap, trouble and inconvenience, from the awkward machines for catching it, or buckets which are too expensive. To remedy both, make your troughs of white birch bark, holding from eight to twelve quarts; a squaw will make 150 in a day; the ends are warmed a few seconds by the fire to prevent cracking; then folded so as to be entirely tight; the ends meet at the top, and are tied by a string of slippery elm, run through and tied outside. A man may easily carry about fifteen or twenty, being of different sizes. Another important matter is to scrape the snow off the surface six or eight feet round the tree, so as to expose the roots to greater cold, by which means seven to ten days extra running is obtained.
February 26, 1814

175 YEARS AGO
Political Parties – Nothing is more common than to hear those who call themselves “no party men,” but who in reality are the slaves and tools of party, running out against parties and party discipline. Such men are political hypocrites, who endeavor to gain a character for candor, by affecting an independence and moderation which they do not feel. They are watermen, looking one way and rowing another. And, the proof of it is that they always go as far with their own party, as who goes farthest. No man at all acquainted with human nature can expect a free government to exist without the existence of parties. Where men are at liberty to think and to express their thoughts, they will think differently upon the same subjects; and this difference of opinion, aggregated and combined, is party. Those therefore who condemn the existence of parties condemn the existence of freedom. Parties are the natural fruit that springs from the rich soil of liberty.
February 25, 1839

150 YEARS AGO
The War News – It is not too much to expect that the banners of General Sherman may wave over the city of Mobile during the first week in March! The defenses of that city, on the land side, are not reported as being very formidable; and we do not believe that Johnston can spare the men necessary to materially hinder his progress. At the last accounts, General Sherman was within 105 miles of Mobile; while Farragut awaits the sound of his guns in the bay, ready to repeat his New Orleans exploit. Success to these brave officers of the Army and Navy! The first news of this expedition is from rebel sources: “They tear up the railroad and bridges as they go. Sherman meditates no retreat. They are marching rapidly in close columns; General Lee’s cavalry hover upon their flanks, to pick up stragglers.”
February 26, 1864

125 YEARS AGO
Cardinal Manning has spoken recently of the evil effects that are being wrought in the United States by our lax divorce laws. He said he feared that the American freedom of divorce has done much to break up domestic life, and added that he thought “American morality is going to seed.” It certainly looks like it. The number of divorces in the United States in 1867 was 9,937; in 1886, 25,535. The total over 20 years from 1867 to 1886 was 328,716. The number of divorces granted in New York in the 20 years was 15,355. The state in which the greatest number of divorces was granted was Illinois with 36,072.
March 1, 1889

100 YEARS AGO
A friend of The Freeman’s Journal informs us that in departing from the D.A.R. reception last Saturday, she was compelled to wear a pair of Arctics one size too small, because one of the daughters had gotten away with hers. It is a very delicate situation that such a complication should arise at a reception held in honor of the Father of our Country, a man of truth. The Freeman’s Journal has agreed to act as mediator and will therefore receive, without revealing names or asking questions as to sizes, any Arctics, galoshes or other feminine footwear that may have been taken recently by mistake, and will endeavor to dispense the same to such persons as may prove ownership.
February 25, 1914

75 YEARS AGO
Work is progressing steadily on the construction at Doubleday Field. Erection of the steel work for the grandstand is underway, and the work of building temporary bleachers in right center field and on the right field foul line has started. The left center field temporary bleachers have been practically completed.
March 1, 1939

25 YEARS AGO
Bail was set at $5,000 last week for the man accused of stealing baseball memorabilia from the Baseball Hall of Fame on Valentine’s Day. David J. Zimmett of St. Mary’s Pennsylvania was charged with third-degree grand larceny for taking one 1933 All Star Game ticket stub, three All Star baseballs and a total of seven All Star rings valued at $3,925. Zimmett, 43, was traced to his home in Pennsylvania where the items were recovered after Hall of Fame library employees discovered his name and address in the library’s visitor registry.
March 1, 1989

10 YEARS AGO
Bassett Healthcare has received the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence, Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Association. Bassett becomes one of only 103 hospitals nationwide to demonstrate the required highest standard of nursing care and joins the ranks of Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts General and other prestigious institutions. Among New York hospitals, only St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse and Bassett, have been recognized as Magnet hospitals. “Magnet designation publicly recognizes what we have long worked toward,” said William F. Streck, Bassett’s President and CEO. “Our nurses are among the highest quality, most professional and compassionate nurses in this country.” The hospital met the highest standards on 14 criteria.
February 27, 2004