Beautifully engraved certificate from the First National Bank of Marathon Check issued in 1890's. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of the Peck Memorial Library. This item is over 102 years old. The Cortland Democrat, N.Y., independent, is a newspaper, whose editor has sense, wit and ambition, Ed. L. Adams is its editor, and he is fast making his paper noted in causing people to inquire as to the size and whereabouts of Marathon. His paper is largely quoted, as its paragraphs are unusually pointed, witty and close- fitting. Almost any man can write a long article, but it takes a good man to let go, when he has said enough." Mr Adams connection with the New York State Press Association has made him widely acquainted among the newpaper men of the state and he enjoys the personal friendship of many prominent writers. A contemporary editor recently wrote a sketch of Mr. Adams, in which he said:" He is manifestly a character and a leader. Everybody loves Edgar, partly because he is full of wit, full of ideas, full of energy and life is an allround good fellow and partly because he is just lovable." How Marathon would survive without Edgar I. Adams is a problem. He has dipped into various branches of literary work--humorous, pathetic, political and just plain news items. He has, we believe, refrained from poetry. His readers can, therefore, look back over his career and forgive many of his sins. As a humorous writer he has in his time pleased such raucous critics as the once famous "Brick" Pomeroy, who praised his humorous work; and, away along in the twenty first century, we will say, when obituary writers or rather historians, set forth the annals of the truly great and good, it is not improbable that the name of Edgar I. Adams will shine forth in letters of burnished gold with such contemporary humorists as George Ade, Wu Ting Fang, Borge Jailey of the Houston Post, Chauncey Depew, E. Tracey Sweet of the Scranton Tribune-Republican, Irvin S. Cobb and others of the present day who are helping to brighten life with their wit and wisdom. At even a still more remote period, when some enterprising mahatma is pawing around among the spooks in search of a convival spirit to drive away the blues, we hope Edgar may be found in his little sanctum in Marathon, buried in his paper--The Independent--for somebody must read it, you know. In the meantime, he is publishing a newspaper worth, among other considerations any farmer's cordwood and turnips in payments of arrears on subscription."