davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

seriously to curtail receipts. The
three leading candidates for Speaker
used to use stimulents sometimes to
excess. Two of them are now total
abstainers and have been for some
years, while the third only uses wine
in moderate quantity at his dinner.
| can count u dozen Senators who
used to tipple who have not drunk a
drop in two years, and there is not q
Senator, with perhaps an exception or
two, who is not prudent and most
temperate i'll the use of liquor. Nearly
all of them do not touch anything eX-
cept light wine at dinner 1t is so
with most of the public men. There
has grown up sentiment that man
is a fool who uses liquor immoderately,
and that he is better off without any of
it. Three years ago | saw one Of the
most brilliant members of the Senate
staggering drunk in front of Wizards
Hotel. The other day saw that he
left his champagne untouched at din
ner. Said he: Il haven't touched
alcohol in any form for three years. l
woke up one morning realizing that
pretty much all the temperance lee
turers have said was true, and simply
said to myself that l have had enough.
And | have. l have never seen the
time from that day to this that l have
not had a repugnence for liquor"
Garland, the learned lawyer from Ar
kansas, is a teetotaler. Said he: l
was passing by the cemetery near my
home one day, and 1 saw the graves of
a dozen brilliant men who began life
with me, every one of them FASTENED
to his end by whiskey. l made up my
mind that had drunk my share, and
stopped In the social entertainments
here, less and less wine is used, and
the number of guests who refuse it
is constantly increasing. In the old
days a man used to fire up with rum
before he started off in speech, and
politics and rum used to mix well.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
Death Of Miss Eta Smith.

On Saturday evening, as the sun was
sinking behind the Western hills the
Pickering spark of life went out and
Eta Smith was no more. She had Gre
ated an unusually large share of pub
lie interest because of her youth, her
attractions of character, loving and
lOvable disposition, and because they
saw in the unequal contest with that
rcmOrseless destroyer of youthful
hopes and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
that death would soon claim her for
his own. The final struggle, COM
mencing with the early Autumn, alter
mated between hope and fear until the
exhausted and emaciated frame told
too plainly that the battle was nearly
over. The last days were those of
Christian peace in the midst of patient
suffering nOught else to disturb but the
severance of loving ties.
The funeral took place yesterday
afternoon which was largely attended
despite the very Indictment weather
The services were conducted at the
house, participated in by Revs. Gordon
NanBurkalow, Rigg and Martindale
the three last making addresses.
When the last demonstrations of af-
lection were ended, which were of un,
usual warmth, and the casket closed
the novel and interesting spectacle
was presented of six Young ladies step.
ping forward 60 ace Dis pail bearer:
who, assisted by the undcrtakers
placed the casket in the hearse anC
lowered it in the grave at the cemetery
They were: Misses Elva CarrOw
IIettic Megear, May Primrose, Emma
| Weldon, Lizzie Beck, of this town, anC
Miss Charlie Smith, Of Wilmington. II
assuming this responsible position they
were complying With particular re
quest Of the bcrcavcd. \ quartettt
who sang very swcctIy during the ser
vices at the house, " / would not liv,
Away" and I'VE shall sleep, but no
forever" also sang when the remains
had been lowered to their last restin;
place, The Sweet BY and By" which
amid the demonstrations of grief an,
under II covering that had been erect
ed over the grave to protect from tn,
pitilesS storm, closed scene wher,
sincere affection and striking incident.
are blended such as the grave rarel,
closes upon.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
Marriage of a Srnyrnian in
KANSAS.

The Wellington (Kansas) Democrat
of the Doth ult., contains the following
wedding notice of one of our young
men, Glenn Spruance, son of Presley
Spruance, of this town, who went West
to seek his fortune some three years
ago. The TIMES extends to the young
couple the congratulations of the
numerous friends of the groom of this
town. The notice above referred to
reads as follows:
At the residence of the brides par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. f. Marsh, in this
city, last Tuesday afternoon, Mr.. Glen
Spruance and Miss Ollie Marsh were
united in marriage, Rev. S. Price
officiating. The contracting parties
belong to the best society in this city.
The groom is q young man in every
way worthy the hand of the fair young
lady, belonging as he does to one OF
the leading families of Delaware and
being recognized here as one of ouI
most solid young men. The bride is
known, respected and admired by all
The wedding was quiet affair, being
witnessed by but few outside the home
circle Of the contracting parties. The
young couple were the recipients of 8
number of nice and valuable presents
among others the parents of the bride
making a most substantial one, house
and lot in this city. The Demo
crGt wishes the happy couple much 10,
and a prosperous life journey"
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

Mrs. M. A. Cummins went to Berlin,
Md, Monday to attend the golden
wedding of Mr.. and Mrs. Drickson.
Miss Mamie Hendricks, of North
Carolina, is teaching the school at
Green Spring.
Jacob Lienburger, who has been in
the meat business at Townsend, has
sold out and gone TO Philadelphia.
A. Lee Cummins has gone to Toledo,
Ohio.
VIM. +. Clement, of Philadelphia, son
of J. +. Clement, of this town, has con-
nected himself with the we'll known
house of e. r. Artman & Co., OF
Philadelphia, dealers in wood and will
low ware, oil-cloths, carpets, &c. He
will see especially after the Delaware
and Maryland trade of the house.
A. b. Roe, of Greensborough, Md,
was in town yesterday and made the
TIMES Office visit. Mr. Il. has been
a Director of The National Bank OF
Smyrna for several years in which re-
latiOn he still continues.
John Cosgrif, wife and daughter are
visiting Middletown for a week or so
Miss Mollie Wells, of Delmar, is
| hOlno Oh u WISH 10 ner mOJhef Mrs
Frank Wells.
Robert Clyde, who was merchant
tailor here some six years ago, now
resident of Philadelphia, is visiting
friends in this town.
Isaac b. English, of Macon, Ga.
arrived in town to-day on visit to hi
relatives after an absence of ten years
Willard G.. Pierce, Secretary ans
Treasurer of the Philadelphia ant
Smyrna Transportation Company ha
been confined to his house for weel
past with malaria.
Mrs. Rachel Graham, widow of tn
late John H. Graham, had a surpris
visit on Saturday evening her Sis
birth day by a number of her friend
who left as testimonials Of respect
number of presents including purs
of money,
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
The SMYRNA Library.

At the oath annual meeting of the
Smyrna Library Association, on Thurs
day evening last, the following officers
were elected: President, III. G. Budd
Vice President, Rev. w. i. Gordon
Recording Secretary, w. o. Hoffecker
Treasurer, w. Polk Cummins; Cores
pOnding Secretary, L. l. Handy Trus-
tees, Jas. II. Groves, VIM. A. FAIRIES
and VIM. H. Baggs.
The annual report showed that $50
volumes had been purchased during
the year making the number of volumes
in the Library 2,49l. The Treasures
report showed receipts during the year
amounting to $2O9.S4 and expenses
amounting to S139 leaving a balance
in hand of 1904. The book account
including two shares of stock $40
Legacy of VIM. p. Megear $40; dona.
ton of Dan1 B. Cummins 800, showed
a total of $500, from which after deduct
ing expenses left a balance due book
account of $175.93.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

The cold weather of the past week
ended the anxiety about the ice-supply,
which in the face of all the prophecies
about a mild Winter, and the fact that
the time had already passed when the
crop was usually gathered, was begin
ming to cause some concern. This
anxiety prompted one or two persons
to fill their houses week or ten DAYS
ago with ice only from two to three
inches thick, but all the rest have got
splendid, clear ice five and six inches
thick. The work commenced on Sat-
urday, but Monday was perhaps the
busiest day ever witnessed in the town
in ice-gathering. The larger part of it
was hauled from the Duck Creek pond,
the proprietor, Robert Denney, cutting
the ice and loading the teams at %
| cents a load. He had a nicely con-
structed platform from which it was
pushed right into the wagons. Those
gathering by this arrangement had only
to furnish teams and place in the
houses. A team,-wagon, horses and
driver, cost from $500 to $500 per day
thewages ofthe other workers was$1 .25.
The following persons have filled
their houses: w. Frank Jefferson,
Chas. Smith, .; L. Thomas Clayton,
John Winter, 3; VIM. II. Carr, VIM
A. FAIRIES & Bro, ID. J. Cummins, John
H. Bewley, w. w. Tschudy, John c.
Bailey, Robert Hill, DIR. VIM. Daniel, T.
b. Megear, Geo. d. Stevenson, Josiah
d. Evans, John Mustard, w. Polk
Cummins, Geo. w. Cummins, and
others in the country.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

vastly inferior to Christmas. Nothing
is more calculated to dampen the
spirit and quench hilarity as the dis
covery that one owes more bills than
he had calculated upon. 1t creates II
rather hopeless, discouraged condition
of mind, even though he may be per-
fectly able to meet the unexpected
obligations. But to those who cannot
afford to meet them the discovery is
something more serious and depress-
ing. 1t means the carrying of worry
ing little debts and the painful nagging
and "dunning" of small creditors, un-
til by weary process of saving con-
irving and planning the hated Obliga-
tions are liquidated. And they are
liquidated thus painfully only to be re-
newed and the same process repeated
the next year, and so on to the end of
! the CHAPTER,
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
Election ofBanlz Directors.

Fruit GrOWerS' National Bank.-The
annual election of stockholders of the
Fruit Growers National Bank. of this
town, was held yesterday and the fol-
lowing directors were chosen for the
ensuing year: John ii. HOifecker, r.
c. Johnson, \. l.. Hudson, G.. II. Ray
mOnd, Samuel Roberts, +. II. Harper.
Thomas James, w. w. Tschudy. n. f.
Wilds. The new Board organized. G..
II. Raymond was elected President and
John II. HOliecker, Secretary. The
active officers are n. f. Wilds, Cashier :
S. G.. Wilds, Teller; Charles +. Moore,
BOOkkeeper. a dividend of 3 per
cent. was declared payable on demand
and five thousand dollars added to the
surplus fund out of the profits for the
last six months.
The National Bank Of Smyrna. The
election at this bank was as follows
Directors-Jas. b. Conner, A. b. Roe,
w. c. Satterlield, J. +. Collins, J. f.
Denney, 4. +. Sudler, J. L. Tygert
VIM. Hutchinson, J. c. Bailey, w. G.
Hill, J. NJ. Voshell and d. J. Cummins
The new Board organized by electing
ID. j. Cummins, President; w. NJ.
Bell, Cashier; o. B. Voshell, Teller
and BoOk-keeper; Eugene Davis,
Assistant BoOk-keeper and Teller.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

THE Smyrna Library Association in
the twenty fourth annual report of the
officers in another column shows the
institution to be in a most satisfactory
condition. The history of village and
town libraries is usually unsatisfactory
to the patrons, lapsing or falling into
disuse as they too often do in a few
years, but after nearly quarter of a
century ours is reported to be in con-
ditiOn never more prosperous, wit h
2,491 books on the shelves, all the cur
rent expenses liquidated and money in
the treasury, after purchasing new
books amounting to $175.93. While
the Library has from the start been
self-sustaining, the needed supply Of
new publications must of necessity, n
part at least, be the work of benefac-
ton, in which particular the institu-
has been especially fortunate this yea1
in the legacy of VIM. P. Megear and
the donation of Daniel B. Cummins, Of
Philadelphia. Mr.. c. has made sew
eral previous donations of similar
sum, thus showing the high regard he
still retains for his native town.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

The skating was splendid on the
mill pond on Monday, but the number,
some two or three dozen, in COMPARE
son with as many hundreds that
could be found there durings the skat-
ing mania some fifteen and more years
ago was a striking illustration of how
everything in the way ofsport or pleas
ure is governed by fashion or popular
impulse. Intrinsically, as Il source of
individual enjoyment the pleasurable
movement is the same now as then,
but there is not the impulse ofgay com
partnership to cause an Obliviousness to
the cold.
At night an equal or larger number
Of boys and men enjoyed full even
,ing's sport of skating by moonlight.
Two men, Preston and Garrett; were
unfortunate enough to run into the
cutting where the ice gathercrs had
been that day and got good ducking.
After swimming about awhile they got
out and made hasty tracks across the
the fields for home with their wet
clothes freezing ON them. The rain Of
yesterday put Il stop to the sport.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

THE magnificent railroad scheme, an
outline of which is given in another
column under the head of "a Truck
Line" is one of vast agricultural inter
est to this Peninsula, especially the
lower part of it, if carried out accord
ing to the programme laid down.
While the primal object seems to be
for the trade on the other side of the
Chesapeake bay, the same benefits
must inure to the vast acres in the lower
part of the Peninsula, SO splendidly
adapted to trucking. Nor will they
alone receive all the benefit, but the
Delaware Railroad being the trunk
line must have similar advantages OF
shipping and travel likewise afforded
it from the completion of this scheme.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
Cold Weather.

Cold as it appeared to those who
were compiled to be out on the streets
during the past several days, the
weather has been mildness itself COM
pared with that reported from other
parts of the country. The lowest regis
tered by the thermometer here Sunday
was 50 above zero. Monday the lowest
mark was just one degree higher. All
through the West the mercury sank
far below zero. In Dakota and Iowa it
stood on Saturday at 32' below, in
jamestown, Dakota, 4S' below, in Chi
cago, 29o; Omaha, $40, and Pittsburg
30 below. The South felt it the most
keenly, the thermometer falling in
Atlanta to zero and in Charleston to
12', and reported in some places the
severest weather felt in fifty years
The telegraph has reported much
warmer weather throughout the West
the last day or two.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

ditures? If the State enact law
against the publication and sale of OBJ
scene literature, does anybody make
point against the law that it restricts
the expenditures of the citizen? A
prOhibitOry liquor iGW is Il police reguld-
ton against disorder, immortality and
crime. 1t is q idlU for the general good.
AS to the objection that it would not
do to lay violent hands upon the traffic
by legal enactment because of the vast
amount of capital invested in it, l
have only to say that such point in
favor of its protection makes a strong
appeal to partisan, but to a statesman
and tOUer Of human lCeLfdre it is ,COrSe
than the most idle UdpOring. The Con-
gress of these United States could well
afford to appropriate from the National
funds enough to buy out the whole
business, from the slum groggery to the
| gilded saloon, and the distilleries and
| breWeries from coast to coast, paying
every dealer in cash at market prices,
! then make a national bonfire of the
stock i'll trade, and in ten years would
be more than repaid for the investment
in actual cash returns, to say nothing
of the peace and prosperity that would
characterize the people in all our
borders. A deputatiOn Of brewers
waited upon the English Prime Minis.
ter not long since to remind him that
any further restrictions to the liquor
traffic in the realm would result in
serious falling Off in the nations reve-
nue.. Mr.. GladstOne's reply was that
of statesman. Gentlemen said he,
you need not give yourselves any
! trouble about the revenue. The ques-
ton of revenue must not stand in the
way of needed reforms. Give me a
sober people, not wasting their earn
ings, and | shall know where to obtain
the revenue would carve these noble
words on the dOor-posts Of our halls Of
legislation. | would burn them into
the desks of our lawmakers, until the
words of light and truth would photo
graph themselves upon the brain O.
every Representative and Senator
both Of the States and the Nation. Oul
national revenue is more than half re
cieved from the liquor trade alone
yet, with a sober people, the prosperity
to the nation as Il result of the sObricty
would soon solve the question of reve
nue.. 1t is amazing to note the com
mendable amount of patriotism these
brewers and distillers feel. God pity
the nation when it must look to such ;
source for money to pay its debts!
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

The temperance sentiment since the
women, especially have taken hold of
it with such earnestness. is taking
root not only in the different States
but even among the political leaders
in the National capital. A Washing
ton correspondent of a leading daily
paper makes the following astonishing
report of the changed condition of
Washington society in the past few
years:
"There has been a very great and
very noticeable change here within a
few years in another respect, and ii
may be partially due to the increase
of business representation here or to
the damands that business makes
This change is in the use of alcoholic
liquors. A striking illustration of il
was to be noticed during the canvass
for the Speakership. Not single glass
OF liquor was set out by any of the
candidates. I did not see a singl.
member of Congress under the in
huence of liquor during that canvass
nor have / since The bar-keeper
and the hotel proprietors say that tn
decrease in bar-tippiing is so great a
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

THE announcement is made that
Senator Eli Salisbury has sold his
paper, the DelGwarean, to his nephews,
John f. and John p. Salisbury, who
took charge of the paper on Saturday
after getting out the last issue. We
may look for no radical change in the
policy of the paper, as the young men
above named have had the partial edi-
torial management several years and
the change of proprietors is doubtless a
simple business arrangement. The
Delocarean will in the future as in the
past sound the key note of the cam
paign, and merit the distinction of
being the recognized organ of the party
in the State.
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09

THE Philadelphia Times in speaking
of the new year being the the time to
consider the generally overlooked
local paper" says:
at is the most useful and the least
compensated and appreciated of all the
agencies which stamp the impress of
progress upon villages and inland cit
les. Without the local newspaper local
towns are, as a rule, thriftless and
tend to decay. 1t is common for small
great men to speak with contempt OF
the local newspaper. In that they i'm
itate greater men in speaking of greater
journals which offend by manly criti-
cism but the village newspaper makes
more great men out of less material
more bricks without straw-than any
other factor in politics, and it is the
one ladder on which men climb tC
local distinction as the beginning Of
wider fame"
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
THE storm which commenced weston.

THE storm which commenced yester-
day morning, first snow, turning to
rain near noon heightened to gale
as night approached. During the
night bricks were blown from the tops
of several chimneys and several signs
blown down, chief of which was that of
the Smyrna House.
IT is said to be q we'll know fact
among horologists that no watch will
keep the same time with two people.
In this they are not entirely unlike the
people who carry them; no man or
woman either is Just the same with one
individual as another, though the Cir
cumstances may be exactly alike.
GREENsBURY L. BELL, of Milton,
Sussex County, has leased the Alley
mills of Henry C. Murphey for the en-
suing year, commencing January 1st.
Mr.. Bell is represented as a young man
of practical experience and energy.
Mr.. Murphey will hereafter confine
his attention exclusively to farming.
WIN. A. DEvNIsH gives notice that
he is agent for the Christian Herald, an
illustrated weekly religious paper, pub
lished in New York, that he can fur
nish for $3.50 per year. Sample copies
free. Can be found at the factory of
Geo. w. & S. Taylor's during the day
and at his residence two doors below
at night.
LEMUEL T. JOHNSON, for a number
of years a resident of Raymond's Neck
moved last week to farm near FELTON,
belonging to Mrs. Richard Harrington.
Mr.. J. was popular in the meek" and
besides recognized as good farmer.
He is succeeded on the farm he left,
belonging to VIVA. Denney, by the
Clement brothers from Willow Grove.
TIE law requires the County Asses
sOrs to complete their annual assess
ments by the first day of January, and
within ten days after completing" it
they shall "pOst in at least five of the
most public places in said hundred OF
assessment district an alphabetical list
of the persons assessed, with the sepa-
rate sums of their real, personal and
poll rates"
THE people of Kenton in the bleak
Wintry days are relying largely on the
iron horse to bring them when they
want to come to Smyrna, us they can
thus save themselves a cold ride and
come for the trifling cost of nineteen
cents. The one place is thus only
suburban to the other, and there is nc
reason why the communication should
not be frequent.
THE Young Mems Reading Rooms
Association will meet i'll its rooms this
evening. Every member of the Asso
citation should be present. Some are
in favor of keeping the rooms open tc
members not only in the evening bu
during the day. Some desire to organ
ize literary or debating society t.
meet in the associations rooms
Others desire such society to include
ladies. These and other proposition
are likely to come up for discussion
this evening; and, therefore, a full at
tendance of members is desirable. Tn,
executive committee will meet at tn,
close of the meeting of the association
Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-01-09
Wild Geese in the Delaware

A large number of white wild geese
called by some Canada geese and by
others Brandt, have been spending the
Winter thus far in the coves along
Bombay Hook and especially that near
Collins Beach. 1t is no uncommon
thing for them to spend the Winter or
a part of it in the Delaware Bay, but
heretofore they have confined them
selves mainly to the Jersey side in the
waters that make up into its marshes.
In the past eighteen or twenty years,
Mr. Benson, in charge of the light
house tells us, he has not seen them so
numerous in our waters as this Winter
They are hard to come up with by
sportsmen, and it cannot be successful
ly done only by Il little deception.
When the ice is breaking up the gun
ners get in boat which is covered
with ice, the men themselves being
covered with sheets and carrying them
selves in a reclining position. One
manages an oar in the rear for direct
ing the course of the boat and thus
they can sometimes float right among
flock. The hapless birds that have
mistaken the craft for an ice-hoe, pay
for their credulity usually by the loss
of several of their number.