Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-07-27

/ DELAWARE AS SEEN By A SrRANGER--Mr.
SPoFFoRD. of the Editorial corps of the Gin
cinnati Commercial, visited our town during
the recent Commencement season, for the pur-
pose of reporting for the Journal with which he
IS connected From his letter of Tuesday we
copy his impressions of Delaware. which it will
be observed are quite favorable:
The town Of Delaware, the county seat of
the county bearing the same name, though it
has been settled for nearly fifty years, has none
Of that seedy appearance which some of our
old Ohio towns exhibit. It has quite frt sh
and lively appearance, both in the business
quarters ard those devoted TO private residen-
ces- The buildings of the citizens present nu-
merous evidences of the prevalence Of good
taste. large majority of them are new
Delaware has just taken step forward in pro-
gress by the introduction of gas, which now
lights the principal streets and is furnished at
So per thousand feet. The buildings of the |
Ohio Wesleyan University overlook the vii /
Iage from an eminence, and half a dozen ehur- /
ches afford choice of worship to the leading /
religious denominations. The all absorbing |
census has not yet been completed in Delaware I
and estimates OF the population vary from
4 600 to 5000 souls
To walk through a rural village at about
the hour Of sunrise, gives an old ha5ittte of
cities new sensation The rays of the sun
were just gliding the spires OF the churches as
We set out TO make the circuit OF the town.
The fresh cool morning air stirred the leaves
of the trees with gentle undulations, and the
drank the glittering dew from the
fields of springing clover. As We pass through
the streets devoted to dwellings, We are struck
with the neat aspect which pervades the en-
closures. Almost every house has front-yard
and side-yard filed with shrubbery and flowers
= an evidence of taste which cannot be 10 high
y prized, and is far too rare in our utilitarian
owns. Just now the flowers are richly re
sarding the pains bestowed upon them The
'oses and the pinks have gone, it is true, but
'nly to give place TO more spleHdid successors.
The stately dahl a and tiger lilies are mingled
With the more modest petunias and verbcnas,
while the brilliant and snowy phlox is contrast
d with delicate geraniunas and golden mari
,olds. A little distance, loom up the tall {
lollyhock and staring sun-fower, and the rich,
eep hues of the tiger-lily, now in lis prime of
oveliness. bring to mind the lines of Tennyson:
s'Heavy hangs the broad sun flower
over its grave in the earth SO chilly,
Heavily hangs the hollyhock, :
Heavily hangs the tiger lily" :
Now we are at the very outskirts of the vii {
age, and before us rises a stately forest of oaks,
While from grassy and terraeea knobs near by.
ise a number of country villas, of hewn stone,
whose graceful architecture would do credit to
flifton or Mt. Auburn, and attests the taste ,
nd wealth of their proprietors At the other
ide Of the village, and on grounds belonging
o the University, is the Sulphur Spring of
Delaware The water is highly priced by I
hose who are fond of such condiments in their c
rink. 1t is not uery offensive in odor, and !
aste of portion OF tumbler full, gives US !
Mid impression Of White Sulphur and Blue
lick combined; but nothing save a stern sense i
f duty could induce us to repeat the dose.
Returning to the American House. after an is
ours varied rambIe, the uniqte impression
re gather of the town is one Of agreeable sur a
rise that so much elegance Of Improvement, '
ombined with such naturul beauty. exists in a T
illage which has made SO little noise in the :
ord as Delaware.