The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
GENESEEANS HONOR WILCOX.
SPEECHES AND SONGS FOR NEW
IORk'S NEW POSTMASTER.
Folks From up Rochester Way Learn the
Needs Of the Mall ScrNice--Seth Low
: Pleads for More water for This city
Martin LttlctOn on Country Joys,

Martin LittlctOn on Country JOYS
The Society of the Genesee turned its
seventh annual dinner. held at the Hotel
Aston last night, into festivty Of honor
for Postmaster William Il. Wilcox, who
succeed. himself as President Of the society.
As Mr.. Wilcox explained when II came his
turn to speak. he wasn't born in the Genesee,
but he got most of his education there.
The speakers praised Wilcox and the
post Office. the Gencsee octette sang original
songs on Wilcox; 1T was a Wilcox jolly all
around
So Charles A Moore. presiding as toast
master. introduced the guest of honor as
first speaker Of the evening
' Mr. Wilcox. after preliminary flourish
concerning Rochester and vicinity, said
that he doesn't believe that all the best
blood Of the country comes TO the city.
Touching on the New York Post Office.
which. he reminded his hearers. is second
IN the world for size, and in some depart
nent- transacts more business than any
other, Mr. Wilcox said;
~The facilities afforded Us have not been
IN proportion TO the increased business OF
fhe office. and to-day. alt hough this city
is foremost in the Use of all things modern,
We are stll far behind in facilities afforded
for the important business which comes
30 close to every nhabitant OF the city.
Mr. Wilcox compared the horse and
wagon wav of Transporting mail to Western
stage coach methods. He IL for pneumatic
tubes branching all over the CITY and COM
nunicating with Jersey City 80 that the
railroad lines which terminate there could
ship their mails on to New York without
delay The subway, also, should be pressed
into service This method would take
outgoing mail from the main office to the
Grand Central station in seven minutes
Now it takes nearly an hour. ,
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Nillooxs tax
a member at a front table rose and moved
That New York have new post office.
~Farred The chorus rose. and sang a
song whereof this was the chorus:
iung back my letters to me- 10 me.
Ifur hack my letters to me.
Borough President Martin w. Littleton,
IN touching up the subject OF the country
hoy said that the rustic youth ia brought
up on the doctrine that everything which
is comfortable ia evil and everything that
tastes good will probably make him sick,
The question * often asked said Mr..
Ilttleton, why so many country boys
90 to the city. Out of the abundance Of
an experience filed with stupid gloom
let me answer. because they want to get
out of the country.
The city folks say that country life is
stimulus 10 high ideals. Let me tell you
about country ideals. You drift along
through the long, lean summer into golden,
whitening autumn. and the white. wicked
winter, and the soft. malarlal spring
until you have spirit Of unsatsfed long
ing Don't be fooled into believing
hat YOU are 10 become a poet. You are
simply hungry Don't be fooled into the
belief that You are about To become
prophet You are simply bilious.
Anyhow MIR. Littleton thinks, II doesn't
make much difference whether man was
countrr boy or city boy he'll get there
il its in him
ANY Mayor Of New York city that has
got iron in his system must have steal,
said Toa-tmaster Moore in introducing
seth Low.
Il notic, in one Of your songs the line:
Where tho waters shall he fee, - said Mr..
Low "Now. I'll be much obliged if you'll
ask your Gene=ee Valley friends in the
Legislature 10 see that this IS true for the
city of New York There's "A general i'm
preston outside of New York that the only
use We have for that commodity is in the
watered stock Of home manufacture and
the watered TX Of foreign origin. By the
way, understand that our new postmaster
II 80 busy Just now with the valentine mail
that he hasn't time to read the postal cards.
Think of the things that old Post Office
building has seenl When II was put up
there IN City Han Square, Trinity steeple
lowered above the other buildings And
now Trinity is dwarfed by your skyscrapers.
And one wonders if a people Is able to main
tain high and pure ideals OF faith and mo-
rality and beauty when its towers of COM
mere top it, towers Of religion
Il answer yes. Those who say no do
not know New York. The old Post Ofiue
j. q living example When II was placed
there TO mar the finest park in the city thirty
or forty years ago, the civic ideal was so
dead that there was no protest On no
consideration would the city permit that
to-day
And the busy octet gave the Columbia
Mayor James G Cutler of Rochester told
Of man from little Western town called
Chicago, who said:
Rochester? oh, yes. | go to New
York every month or so, but. I've never
seen Rochester. You see l always travel
by New York Central.
Rochester is the third city Of the State
in size and the first in morals When asked
TO explain why Monroe county cast suCh
n tremendous majority for Roosevelt
say it is because the standard Of morality
IS 30 high that even the Democrats vote the
Republican ticket"
In Introducing John G.. Miburn. one Of
the Committee of Nine the chairman said:
III Milburn succeeds in regulating police
conditions, it is time to think OF sending
him "a ambassador abroad
Il can safely say" said Mr.. Milburn.
~that no measures men can devise will
reform the police Of this or any other city.
II Is a matter in the last analysis not of
any measure or legislation, but of men and
how men do their work. And II has never
vet been demonstrated that legislation
oon take the place OF human ability and
integrity"
u The souvenirs represented bundle Of
letters wrapped for forwarding whereof
the top letter was addressed to Mr.. William
il. Wilcox. Smyrna, n. Y. and was Cross
matched with forwards" TO all the places
where the postmas has lived. A half
tone Of his birthplace at Smyrna decorated
he official menu. AT the head table, be-
sides the speakers and President Morse,
were Postmaster John s. Graham of Roches-
ter. Nathaniel S. Odds Of Rochester,
John w. Vrooman Postmaster George d.
Roberts of Brooklyn. DR.. Rosster johnson
and President Walter S. Logan Of the Sons
OF the Revolution.