The daily gazette., 1879-09-08
FIRST EDITION,
&Eoa0HrowA
,oukrx SEAT OF siJsi

GEoRGETOwN, Sept. 6.-"Between the
Indian River, that Of the Ocean tastes"
and the rich farming dIstricf extending
south from Bridgsville, lies this Queerest
Of Delawar- towns. The location is as
near the centre Of Sussex county as could
have possibly been fixed upon unless
surveyor had dragged bis chain aud lev
elled his Compass tor that purpose. You
cannot get out Of the county, 60 in what
direction YOU may, inside of twenty
miles and every town Of importance in
the county, Is Just sixtsen miles away.
The town is peculiar in itself and
many of the social features about it can
be found in none of its neighbors in the
Blue Hens brood. An air pervades the
streets, which beguiles the visitar into
the belief that the hamlet jolted into the
rut of dullness very long time ago and
has been wearing the rut deeper year by
year. There is a positive expression on
everything that calls to mind the Gus
toms and modes vi life in the palmy
days Of the great Clayton when he got
that memorable fee that slipped through
his fingers after all and kept another
man In luxury . year or more. The
people generally live quiet, peaceful,
honest life and have a way about them,
that while perhaps uncultured among
the lower class, is hearty and pleasing to
| u stranger. go
As l walked through the Court House
corridor, the other day, the couplet that
George Alfred Townsend, ,himself envolv-
ed among the splattterdocks down here,
penned with lot Of other quaint things
good while ago, recurred TO me:
$50 are the years repeated as tell an
ancient few. t,sr r.IrF
Since Lewes lost the Court House, soon
after ninety-two."
Itwas really in 1901 that the Court
House was taken from Lewes, aud with
it came Georgetown. There was no VIII
lage at all then; it has all grown since.
1t lives In legend that there was woh-
| derful difficulty about moving the Coun-
| ty Seat, almost as great In proportion as
the contest over Court House removal in
New Castle county. But it came forIall
that, and was built 10 the middle ofwhal
had been corn field year or two be-
fore. But what change day! A
town has sprung up, whose Inhabitants
live comfortably, some elegantly; the
C ,untry around has improved like a
marvel in every direction and bright
and a prosperous sky of advancement
bends benignly overhead.
Georgetown of to-day is not the place it
was a score of years ago. 1t has chang
ed Tor the better with rapidity that is
not often noticed. 1t has gone with
giant strides toward the period behind
which it had dropped SO far. To-day it
has all the features of Of progressive
town dwelt in by progressing COM
munity. 1t has three churches: MethO-
dist, Presbyterian aud Episcopal, and
good school system. Two newspapers
are published here and the people like
them both. The Journal is run by Col.
w. Fisk Townsend who has been good
newspaper man for years aud is printing
| a much better paper than ever before.
He now devotes his entire time TO his
paper and inspires it with a vim and
snap that renders lit perusal decidedly
interesting. lI. pl yHLE
Willard S. Pride has established the
DeldUdre Inquirer and with his effort,
has brought a new era into Sussex coun-
ty journalism. 1t is among the best
local papers in the state. Mr.. Pride
used to be up in Wilmington, where he
is well knoan. His friends will be
pleased to know that he has completely
recovered his health. L.[.-..-
The other day took drive with DR..
Charles ii. Richards out through the
country behind sleek An6 feet.
footed Sussex county nag. The fore
noon grounds" of country doctor with
pressing practice are usually extend
ed, you known, and this jaunt toOk us
far but through the county. During the
ride saw much thIt impressed me fav-
orably, and with my kind friend point
ing out and explaining in his clear and
comprehensive way, had little difficult
ty in seeing she real condition of things
in the county now, or in marking that a
great CT auge for the better had taken
place during the past few yeaS.
About six or eight years ago new
era drawned on Sussex county. Pre-
vious to that the county had been held
back by a varity Of circumstances II
was Isolated, In great measure, from the
rest of Il e state lack of means Of com.
munication hindered advancement, and
in 90 many instances, ignorance and
re ic :, dwarfed and beat down en-
tightening influences. .-t.a
At length men like Charles G. Stock.
ley began to entertain all idea that Sus-
sex county was great field for enter
prise If the proper means were
employed and the proper attention raid
At length the junction IL Breakwater
Railroad was run down to Lewes
: through the eastern part Of the county
. and, no sooner was it done than thu
prospects of things began to brighten
Farmers wakened up and with goot
means of sending their crops to market
took more of an interest in agriculture.
real estate began to improve and as thu
gradual demand for Sussex county farm.
Set in prices went up to better figure
than before new indu tries were open
: ed and new enterprises entered upoI
Q along the railroad line and there was {
y general improvement the county over
e But this was only the beginning Of thu
Q end the section had plenty If room fol
II progress and long way to advance be
|. fore il stood ON equal footing with othe
l. parts.
All along The road were neat looking
farms the fences around which did no
look as though thy hadjbeen there long
lr and the houses seemed new ana SUD
=, staIstial. Nearly all had look o
Dr. thrift as though the people were hard
10 working and held in view the idea o
r, advancement. Said the doctor when w
a. had got out in the rich land on the roat
s. tow ard Seaford and Bridgeville ''Lool
on all sides of you and you will see tina
the country is as new one anu IL