The daily gazette., 1882-11-13
RETURN pAy N SUSSEX.

RETURN UA n AN HAHSEAs
How the Ceiebration on Last Thursday In
seorgetown Appeared-Checring Gov
ernor-elect Stockley.
Sunday STAR
GEoReETowN, DEL, Nov. lO.-"Return
Day'' in Sussex, as ID ordinarily Is, is worth |
n hundred mile ride to witness; as IL was /
Yesterday, II is thing the like OF which is
not often seen IN lifetime. Sussex is un- |
like the rest of the world. She clings 70
primitive customs, and the ways OF goou |
olden times crops out here ana there Wher-
ever you 20. So 1t is with Return Day. IL
has Leeu the big event in every campaign In
suasex longer than the most hory grand
father can remember. 1t Is the day OF DAYS
| for thousands. Usually OF that time "de
| fodder,s in dc shock" and the fall work well
nigh completed, and the custom has been
| for everybody, far and near, to flock into
| Georgetown, where the official vote VIII be
| computed and the final formalities OF the
election gone through with; not so much, OF
course. to witness anything having to do
with the Board of Canvass, as to join in the
\ general iolliacation spirit which runs ram
pant.
This was particularly the case yesterday
| A larger crowd was In Georgetown than
that which gathered here at the Fourth OF
July celebration three years ago. Neither
Senator Bayard nor the "New Constitu-
ton" could draw such concoursc. Inc
day was blessed with as bright autumn
weather as carly November ever brought,
I and almost with the dawn came stream Of
people by all the roads leading into town.
Vehicles Of all kinds, drawn by horses,
mules and oxen, brought people of all
classes and conditions. Wagons, drawn by
six and eight horses, gaily decorated with
flags, garlands, ribbons and sleigh bells,
/ and loaded with Sussex county's yeomany
5 were numerous. So 1t was that with the
T quota made up by special trains at least
! 5000 people thronged the streets by mgt
| noon. ,
About that time the town band, with the
wagon festooned by the fair hands OF George.
u towns ladies, started up the Milton road
!, with fare Of martial music to meet the
pageant which had been arranged, and
y escort it into town. Now all is sexpectation
c In little while the procession enters th'
e town and moves through the streets, while
), people cheer and guns boom. II is move
spectaclc to be sure. boat In bright, new
u paint. mounted on wheels, rugged like {
; ship and labelled the "Old Constitution
l. the crait profusely decorated, with blue
Il hen draped In ribbons and a dried c0or
skin suspended from the mast. Six men OIL
horseback In front and l20 mounted men
!, In the rear, all decorated and giving back L
II the crowd cheer for cheer.
h But who is this on the quarter deck o
r. the mimic ship, bowling to the multitsd
-, who enthusiastically applaud and salut
. him9 Why that is the Goyesnor-elect-th
81 genial "Charley" Stocklcy, and he look
" happier at the tribute paid him than he dit
le when he heard the result OF the election
4. Through the cheering multitude the proces
sion passes, and such furore Ia raised a
has not often been witnessed, and when tn
9, ship is drawn into the square the peopl
N flock upon all sides to shake hands with tn
J. new Governor, and at length he is lifted o
i, brawny shoulders and carried into tn
Court House above the heads of the crow,
IL which cheers louder and louder, and fnall
le when he disappears up stairs where the in
rs spectors are slowly reading of the returns
II they dlsperse and amusc themselves on
y way and another.
The day is one Of solid enjoyment. Rougl
! enjoyment to be sure, but none the les
n pleasant and there is 4 heartiness about
q that always characterizes the Sussex people
Il The stalls for the sale of peanuts, cider an
!, more substantial comforts for u hungr
~ man do driving business, Everybody Is /
Us the best of humor, and the people took thei
Is tipple at the hotels and eat their dinners |
their wagons with zest that seems addc
n to by the event. A live raccoon, during th
afternoon, is let loose and climbs one OF th
~ trees. He is shaken down, and meets wit
ay a warm reception, for he is dispatched 1
less than no time, amid much amuscmen
Along toward evening the "Old Constitl
:, ton" is escorted to the Milton road, "a salu
W is fired, and as she departs a dense crow
n surges around the depot, where the train
I'D are speedily filled, and everybody who can
m leaves pleased with what has taken pac
or Bon fires light up the streets in the twiligl
but gradually the enthusiasm dies out wi
icy their fickering glare. At 0 O'Clock the q
the town is nodding itself to sleep "Rctu
ra- Day" is over and the crowd has gone.
ant The day, as | said, is Sussex mstituto
inc It is entered into eagerly by both part
e and the fact that it only comes once in T.
her years makes it all the more pleasant. I
cry fact that it is rare adds to its interest. I
of boat used on this occasion was furnished
f a the young Lewes pilots