davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
CbiIdren,s Day.

As previously announced, Sunday
was observed as Children's Day in the
Methodist Church-the season of sing
ing birds and blooming flowers. The
decorations for the occasion were very
beautiful and appropriate. On the fa-
cade over the pulpit arch were the
words "Children's Day" in large let
ters composed Of various colOred rose
buds set in broad band of lockwood.
The arched recess formed a pleasant
rest for the eye, with the scriptural
passage in Illuminated letters, Suffer
Little Children to Come Unto Me" In
front of the pulpit an open Bible was
pillowed in Il bed Of roses, while to the
front and either side there were beau
tiful vases, rustic stands and boquets of
roses. These, with hanging baskets
suspended at the proper places
for effect, presented a very attractive
scene. The singing and SER
mon by the pastor, Rev. J. b. Quigg,
were in harmony with the day and Oc-
casion.
At night there was again Il full
house Notwithstanding the heat that
had increased as the day advanced.
The exercises consisted Of singing, re-
spOnsive readings and an address by
l.. Ely Quigg, of Flushing, l.. l., son of
the pastor. The school was under the
management of John II. HOllecker, the
Superintendent, who read the various
lessons to which the children responded
in clear and wcil-tined voices. The
singing was well executed and varied
two or three times by songs from the
infant school. The address of Mr.
Quigg, which occupied nearly n hall
hour, and addressed more to the par
cmts than to the children, embracing
many points ON thc proper relationship
existing in the period of growth be
| tween the parent and child was well
prepared, thoughtful and creditablC
production.
At the Presbyterian Church the dee
OratiOns were modest in quantity but
tasteful in their arrangement in vase,
| aud baskets about the chuncci with q
beautiful boquet in each window
Rev. Dr. Umsted preached sermon tc
the children, the baptismal ceremony
child-bcing part Of the morning
service
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
A Forrest Bully.

On the authority Of his brother we
stated two weeks ago that Jack Dar-
rell, Of the Forest" was on his good
behavior, which was welcome news 90
the many who knew him by name if
they do not III person, bat " jacks re-
form seems to have been of short dura-
ton, for he was in this town On Satur-
day himself, with all his "raform left
at home. 1t does not apparently take
much Jersey lightning" to edge up
the deviltry in Jack, for early in the
afternoon he came across old "Clate "
Cleaver on the street and finding in
him man who had no rights he was
bound to respect" " he forthwith set to
work to knock him down just for the
pleasure it gave him. "Clate" cot
away from him aud went into J. b.
CoOper's store, getting pretty mad by
this time at the treatment he had re-
ceiVed but left in a few minutes saving
what he would do with his wood-saw
if he had it. In a few minutes after
Jack came into the store and asked if
" Clate" CleaVcr was there lie was
told he was not. He came IL second
time with the same question and re-
came the third time Mr.. Cooper said ::
Haven't | told you two or three
times that he was not here, and if he
was, he was disturbing no one :" Jack.
still doubling Mr.. Cooper, let him
know with some very broad curse
words that if he took up for this nigger
he was no better than he was himself.
Mr.. Cooper stepped to the door and
called to the police (who are said never
to be near the place where wanted and
when Jack found he was about to be
lodged in the lookup his belligcrencv
departed and he begged to be let off,
and under the promise that he would
leave the town at once for home. Mr..
Cooper relcnted and the police let him
go.
His dOings here ON Saturday were of
II piece with those ut Dclancy's Il few
days before. A gentleman residing Il
few miles distant in passing, reined up
his horse for little halt Darrell. who
was one Of the crowd of several around.
called out to him to pass on, that he
was not wanted there. The gentle
man, who hardly knew him, wanted
to know what was the matter, when
Darrell used an offensive expletivc
with the mcnacing remark, You
needn't take it unless you want to. q
The parley was ended by the gentle
man remarking, - will take anything
from man like yOu," and driving
| away.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
An Improving Farm.

In our issue last week in speaking of
the successful work Of Kidding ground
of stumps by Mr.. O'Brien, of the Allan
TIC Dynamite Company, we stated that
N. +. Wilds had bought 100 lbs of the
explosive. This was successfully used
on Thursday and Friday last at "Sun-
nyside," near town, belonging to Mr..
w. and occupied by Eugene Grow.
The 100 pounds was used but the esti-
mate failed to be sufficient in quantity
as about thirty stumps were left, but
they will have to come out. as Mr..
Wilds' idea of improved farming will
not leave them in the ground one day
longer than is convenient for their re-
moval. We need not say that the
dynamite method has the hearty an
proval of the owner and occupant and
the interested endorsement of the
spectators who came to see the expau-
slVe force of the giant powder in flying
stumps and the showers of debris
around the central pillar of smoke, but
it brought II satisfaction to every
farm hand, horse and mule that had
had their shoulders jerlled by the sud
den contact of the plow with the un-
yielding roots.
"Sunnyside," by the way, is grow
ing more and more in importance as
one of our prominent country seats.
The work of Improvement was well
begun by the preceding owner and has
been carried along rapidly under IA
careful and systematic plan during
the past three years under the new
management. The price paid for it by
Mr.. Wilds, $4,000, 1881 acres, was
thought at that time by many people
to be high, but at these figures he has
found it good Investment even while
making considerable outlaws for i'm
prOvements, and it could not be pur-
chased under very large advance
above the original figures even if it
were for sale, which it is not, for the
controlling idea of Mr.. w. in the pur-
chase more than an Investment was a
comfortable and eligible home near
town for his sister, and such it has
been made in all its details The
dwelling, n large rOomy, brick edilice,
has had all done for it from cellar to
gaTret that could be done in the line of
the painters brush and er-hanger's
art; the kitchen and dairy department
as well as the barn, stables, wagon
houses, &c, are all of the most conve-
nient kind, and the lawn no longer has
the sedge suggestive of aban-
dOnment and neglect-growingu up over
it, but instead, has beautiful, even
carpet of green, pleasant for the eye to
rest upon. The whole place is charac-
teriZed by neatness and that thriltiness
that is the usual accompaniment of
success. The farm is divided into
eight fields, seven of them having run
ming water through them, the desirable
feature of which is known to all stock
raisers. There are some meadow lands,
heretofore Improbable, that by judi
ciOus tiling are being reclaimed and
will in year or two be cultivated in
the same crops as the upland There
are on it 1000 peach trees, young and
old, and besides several acres each in
apples, pears, blaclberTies and grapes.
Mr.. Wilds, outside of banking hours,
has given for the past several years q
great deal Of attention TO agriculture,
in cleaning the best opinions of the
noted agricultural contributors to the
farm journals of the day and applying
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
Delaware College.

The annual examination and COM
mencemenC exercises Of Delaware Col
lege have been going on all the week.
On Sunday the bacalaureate sermon
was preached by DR.. Jahu Dewitt
Miller, of Philadelphia. On Monday
at 7.20 p. NJ. the reunion of the Delta
Phi Literary Society occurred, followed
at P. NJ. by the society's anniversary.
J. l.. WolcOtt, Esq, of Dover, delivered
the OratiOn. On Tuesday at . p. NJ.
the annual meeting of the Trustees was
held, and i'll the evening the reunion
and anniversary of the Athenpn Lit
erary Society occurred, the Grafton de-
livered by the Rev. Waldo Messaros.
of Philadelphia. The commencement
exercises proper took place to-day, be-
ginning at i A. NJ. with the usual ad-
dresses by members Of the graduating
classes, after which the degrees were
conferred and the prizes awarded. A
business meeting Of the Alumni AssO-
citation will be held at 7.30 p. NJ. and
the Alumni banquet will follow at s.
The Committee on Examinations is as
follows: Hon. Charles b. Lore, $.
MinOt Curtis, DIR. N. II. Clark, DR.. c.
Elton Buck, Hon. b. II. Biggs and DR..
David l.. Mustard.
The members of the graduating class
are as follows: John Nivin. Il. f.
Pilling, Charles w. Cullen, J. Harvey
Whiteman, Victor B. Wooley, Misses
Elizabeth Lee Hearne, Margaret w.
Blandy, Ida Simmons and Grace d.
Chester. The latter is of st. Louis,
Mo, and has been awarded the vale
dictory. r. f. Pilling, of Delaware,
refused the second honor, the saluta-
tory, on account of the first honor be-
ing given to lady not in the regular
course.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
A pleasant Occasin,,-

What was commenced as a Joke sew
eral weeks ago with Presley Spruance,
Recorder Of Deeds, at Dover, ended on
Saturday in very pleasant reality to
the parties concerned. The county
officers are quite set Of jOkers among
themselves and many pleasantries are
continually arising. The new Re-
cOrder had hardly got warmed in his
seat before he was informed that they
were coming to Smyrna in body some
day to dine with him and that they
wanted things set in apple-pie order on
the occasion. Finally Saturday was
fixed upon as the day and Mr.. and
Mrs. Spruance joined in the prepara-
ton heartily for the State occasion, -
and how well it was done no one who
knows Mrs. Sprnance's skill in the cul-
mary art need question. They took
the express train from Dover and were
in this town by nine o'clock, putting in
a full day, with one or two exceptions
remaining for supper and going home
on the last train after night. They
were: Joseph Burchinal ProthOn-
itOr; G. j. Hall, Clerk Of the Peace
VIM. ii. Hobson, Clerk of the Orphans
Court and Court of ChunccIy; J
Frank Wilds, Register Of Wills; james
9. Robinson, Sheriff of Kent county
Vim. II. POstles and Henry Il. Johhsou
ESD, guests. Lawyers Massey, VOL
cott and Kenney, who were expected
to form part Of the company, We're de-
tanned by special business from coming
They took advantage OF the time tC
| visit various places Of interest, bu
| were careful not to cheat thc eating
hours Of any time, for well they could
not, with such u m,AH spread bciOr,
! them including all the dciiracics from
! deVilcd crabs up or down from whcl
ever point the scale may be run
! Among the several places visited were
the public school building, Taylor
machine shops, the Methodist an,
Presbyterian churches, and while quite
expressive IN regard to the dillcrcn
objects seen, nothing called forth tina
full chorus of praise as did BclmOn
Park, which was also visited Du.in:
the afternoon Mr.. Iygcrt came ia con
tact with them and " Whilerecoguiziagth In,
Tact that they were good pedestrians b,
! proilered Il hack a. Il cnanLc in lhci
mode OF procedure, which was rcadil,
accepted and they were driven 1,
RothwelI's Landing 10 see the phns
phale works, which of course rs prao
teal men, thev could not fail to be in
terestcd in this large establishment
which has done 50 much to fertiliz
our lands. A season Of pleasant 81
cial chat after a hearty supper brOugh
train time near, when they started 70
the depot, thus ending II day that wa
as pleasant to the hosts as the guests
Uncle Joe Burchinal designated thi
the first semi-annuai vista straw
berry tcstivai-and extended an invi
tatiom six months hence to the sam
board when the turkey, with his con
cOmitants,' are ripe.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
FOr the smyrna Tim
Letter from CLAYTON,

VIM. Fowler who is engaged sketch
ing the peninsular towns for itbo-
graphic purposes has been stopping
with us for several days and has shown
us us Il result u very correct, pains
taking drawing of Clayton that should
commend itself to the citizen residents
This has already seemed to be a fore
gone conclusion when we consider the
subscription list as shown US. 4 mat
ter Of special interest is the mappinp
out of the Bayard estate and the uni
tormity Of what will become familiar
streets, embracing such as Dickinson.
Reed, Rodney, Bassett, running north
and south, and Caldwell, lIazlett.
KirkwOOd, Smyrna Avenue, Delaware
Avenue, east and west. These are all
names selected with good tilste-siell-
ers of the Declaration OF Independence.
statesmen, solid men" men of the
past, and Railroad, with Delaware
Avenues running parallel between ON.
two near towns, would strike us as
being most appropriate.
Joe Thompson caught genuine
snapper at HOilecker's mill pond last
Friday, remarkable rs weighing 80
pounds. Fat as he was, we found in
poking at him with Il cane he could
startle us and make for himself IA wide
berth by the electric agility of mis-
movements.
Is " Anonymous" out of his mind or
what? We fail to discover point.
sound or sense, SO uncertain it is
senile, in his reference to us. While
he gathers feeble sparks from our
live Goals, he is welcome as we'll to
pick up the crumbs us they fall
from our table.
Strawberries ut this writing are near
ly gone.
A good wetting is desirable for small
fruits.
The dry spell with the heat which
set IN on Sunday, was most uncOmfor-
table, aud only partially broken bv the
short blow Of Monday evening.
james Cummins, Charles Dulin and
James Lccompt, claim IA good crop of
corn, knee high.
Green Peas of good quality are sell
ing here to-day, ut $1.25 per bushel.
John +. Hudson reports The local de-
mand for lumber as being quite active.
Our building and loan association is
in very healthy condition.
Vague reports of damage by light
ming, comes from the Eastern Shore.
Henry Phillips, Curtis +. Mapes, c.
Kaufman and i. Yale, of New York
commission houses are registered mt the
Bingham House. LEAR.
Clayton, Del., June Is, 1885.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
Kent County Bible Society.

The Kent County Bible Society,
which is Auxiliary to the American
Bible Society, is about to commence Il
thorough canvass of the County for the
purpose of supplying with Bibles all
Families and individuals who may be
in need. This is thought to be advis-
able now in view of the fact that it is
several years since acanvass was made,
and there are probably many cases of
destitutiOn of the Word owing to the
changes and increase in the population
and the disposition of many to neglect
to buy Bibles when without them un-
less they are carried to their doors.
In the prosecution of the work of
this canvass, the Society earnestly So
licits the hearty cooperation of all the
friends of the Bible.
If any church or local organization
will undertake the canvass of n speci-
fled district, their services will be
gratefully accepted by the society, and
its President will gladly correspond
concerning the particular requirements
of the work.
AS it will be necessary however, to
employ cOlpOrteur to do what cannot
be done in this way, the Society asks
al individuals and churches Interested
In this matter, to aid now by liberal
contributions of money; these
to be sent to the Treasurer, John
l. Jakes, Wyoming Del, or to be hand
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
tut WIt I0WIVTWI
Letter from KenIOm.

On Sunday afternoon our town was
startled by the cry of fire. 1t seemed
that some small boys had applied Il
lighted match to some straw within n
few feet of the Rev. Mr.. Thompson's
stable. A lot of men answered the
call and soon eXtinguished the flames.
which would have been impossible u
few minutes later.
Every week there are one or more
passengers who fail to change cars at
at Clayton and are brought down this
road much to their chagrin. We are
inclined to believe the mistake is
caused by their own stupidity, for as
we have seen and learned from others
the railroad officials doubly notify ali
passengers occupying the hind car and
having tickets for all points on the
main line To change cars at CLAYTON.
We hope the trouble can be remedied
without changing the present arrange
ments, for it is very convenient for all
persons on this road to have a car to
run through to Philadelphia.
DIR. Pearce came home to-day.
Strawberries will be scarce after to-
day. The estimate now is less than
Qne-fOurth ola crop.
Wheat begins to ripen.
Children's Day was celebrated in
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
Dynamiting Big Stunps.

Some thirty or forty persons went
owe 7 to the farm of 3. +. &. ROthWell
near town, on Saturday, attracted by
curiosity to see the effect of dynamite
on same immense white oak stumps i'm
one of the fields. They were as tough
and strong as when the trees were cut
and offered that resistance which the
explosive courts and which delights the
dynamitcr. The chief test was stump
which measured five feet across its top
with immense roots the size of ordinary
trees. The proper boring was made
and q cartridges, 2 pounds, inserted
under its centre A much less duan-
tity would have answered, but the de
sire was to blow the big stump to
pieces otherwise it would be as much
in the way out of the ground as in it.
Considerable amusement was eXper-
fenced by the visitors in getting ut
safe or, rs some had it, respectable :"
distance, though some found at dis
tance of 300 feet falling roots and Jumps
of. dirt coming down uncomfOrtably
near to them. With such n charge the
stump was of course torn to fragments
and pieces weighing $50 pounds thrown
irem $50 to 200 feet inthe air. Ofcourse
all the spectators were pleased, us much
with seeing the stumps that would
have been an obstruction to field cul-
ture for twenty years removed, as in
the qualification in seeing the wonder
ful force Of this explosive. The vaiu-
able farm Of Mr.. Rothwell (which has
passed under editorial revision on for
mer occasion) is growing more and
more valuable in using all the avlable
| prOcesses for deNeloDment.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
On His Travels West.

A. L. Hudson and party, whose de-
parture for the West on a pleasure trip
was noted in our last issue, arrived in
Louisville, KY, on Saturday. In pri-
vate note he says:
g After being on the cars 10 hours we
reached Luray Cave the day after leaV
ing home, Tuesday We left there for
the White Sulpher Springs, stopping
awhile at Staunton, visiting the Deaf
Dumb and Blind Asylum, the Lu-
matte Asylum, passing from there up
the Shenandoah Valley. l was very
much disappointed in the appearance
of the country, as I had heard and
read of the fertility and beauties of the
Shenandoah Valley. l would not give
my home farm in little Delaware for
1000 acres of the best land l saw from
Washington TO Luray Cave. The land
is very rough, hilly, bushy, broken and
full Of pines. The wheat is Il mere
nothing. don't think the crop will
average five bushels to the acre. The
land we passed through yesterday
(Friday), was very rough and broken,
mostly along the different rivers
Greon, kaHawha, Ohio, &c. After we
passed Ashland and entered Ken
tucky's blue grass lands, it was ii beau
tiful country, corn standing knee high
all over, some tobacco fields and many
blue grass fields and beautiful cattle.
II was splendid country all the way
to Louisville" From the last-named
place Mr.. Hudson and his party left
the first of the week for st. Louis.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
Personal.

AT the Commencement of New Wind
sOr College, June 11th, the honorary
degree of Doctor of Divinity was con-
ferred on Rev. J. T. Umsted. pastor of
the Presbyterian Church, of Smyrna.
Miss Mamie Townsend, of Baltimore.
is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Rev. J.
Quigg. l.. E. Quigg left yesterday
alter three or four days visit
" home"
Mrs. Fannie Cox and children. of
Plainiield, N. j., are on a visit to her
father and mother, MI. and Mrs.
Robert Hill.
Mrs. VIM. N. Gray and Mrs. Frank
Rickards, of Milford, are visiting, Mrs.
Lydia Riley. o. " ''''
Miss Name Keim, of PottstOwn, Pa.
IS a guest of Mrs. Frank Evans.
Miss Maggie Slaughter, of Ingleside.
Md, IS the guest of Miss Minnie Clem.
ent.
Miss Jennie Stevenson. of Marvdel
IS visiting Mrs. Herman Roe.
James G. Jamison and wife, of New
Castle, are visiting Mrs. Amanda
Spencer, the mother of Mrs. J.
Miss Jane Kitchens, of Lewes, is the
guest of Mrs. HOugh,
Mrs. and Miss Bolton, OF German
town, are visiting Mrs. Louis PeeIIev
Mrs. John Fairchild, of Newark
sister of the late Thomas Carrow. IS
visiting Mrs. ii. r. Carrow.
John Evans and VIM. Miller. of VIII
mington, are visiting friends in town
MISS Mollie Caldwell went 10 dover
yesterday to attend the wedding OF
Elkton. ~ - 'A0''7' oi
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
School Examinations.

The examinations at the public
schools, of this town, will commence
next Monday and end on Friday.
Monday will be occupied all day in the
examination of the department under
the immediate care of the principal. L..
Irving Handy. Tuesday, those of
Miss Spruance and Miss Storm We'd
nesday, Miss Mcdowell and Miss
DOughten; Thursday, Miss Hough
and Friday, Miss Parrot. The com
mencement exercises will occur on
Friday evening at the Town Hall, with
an oratiOn by Rev. VIM. S. Robinson.
on Education" after which diplomas
will be awarded to the graduating class
by the principal. 1t is earnestly de-
sired that the parents and friends of
the school will give these exercises as
much Of their presence as possible.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
a Poor Strawberry Crop.

The strawberry crop is nearer Il fail
ure in this vicinity this Summer than
we think has ever been the case before
since it has been classified among the
money producing crops. 1t is not
rated about aquarter Of anaverage crop.
The only persons we hear of approch-
ing any where near full crop are John
c. StOckly and VIM. =. Cummins, and
they we hear mulched their patches
last Fall, which is doubtless the cause
for the difference. The trouble with
most Ofpatches was they did not bios
som as usual. This was from one Of
two causes; what is called the crown"
(which sends up the blossom stock in
early Spring either did not form last
Fall because Of the prOtracted drought,
or was killed by the excessive cold OF
the Winter. What blossoms there
were would have made at least half
of an average crop, but the yield has
been further greatly icssened by the
dry weather OF the past two weeks.
Our local market that is usually sup
piled in seasan at from 4 to cents
per quart has ranged this crop from 6
to 10 cents. Many growers who have
looked forward to the strawberry crop
and picllers ditto, to enable them to
meet certain demands have been sadly
disappointed. Judging from the
amount Of berries that have come up
the road they must have had differ
ent experience from this section in the
yield of berries. 1t seems to promise
the same way with the peach.
Smyrna times., 1885-06-17
10 Whom 1t May Concern.

Having noticed an article in the
State Sentinel of the 18th inst, in ref
erence to a Cultivator COntestn at
the Kent County Almshouse, between
a " NJ Harris and a Mr.. TAILOR and
believing it to have reference to our
firm and Little Diamond Cultivator we
take this means of denouncing the arti-
Gle, as no contest whatever was made bv
us or any of our agents, neither did we
know anything whatever of the contest
until we saw the above referred to
article; but we take this means of saw
ing to the public that we stand ready
to meet any wheel cultivator in contest
for superiority in all points, in anv
rowed crops, from those Just coming
through the ground to any heighth
that can be worked with any wheel
cultivatOr. GEO. w. & S. TAYLOR.
Smyrna, Del., June II, 1885.