The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-21
DELAwan.,s aEyL ALoeIns.
In THIS state FrmIy Tr EDITIONS Cou.t Il
Politics a~ IN Society.

IN THIS state Fem Is Tr EDITIONS Count In
Politics s~ IN Society.
No resident Of great State such as Now
York can easily guess the feeling OF local
loyalty and OF almost clannish rride common
throughout the tiny co nmOnweath OF Della
ware. When Wilmington Is left out ~ account
the remainder Of the state Ia peorled chiefly By
n rural community. native to tho soil aui de-
scendad from ancestors often settled for two
centuries within the bounds OF the State.
There are many families still holding lands
under seventeenth century patents. lands
that have descended from father to son all
those years without the passage Of title deeds
II is only n few years since a Delavarean
about to remove TO the West sold a
piece OF land that his ancestors had
purchased from an Indian chief. as tho
representative OF his tribe. Long descent In
Delaware Is confined TO no elf-constituted
upper class. but Is the hoast OF all sorts OF
people. There are many ancient churches In
Delaware, and probably every one includes
within its congregation some families de-
scended from those that took part In organic
ing the church. Rural com munlties through
out the State are curiously immobile. Sur
names arc few. and the region from which
man comes is easily guessed from his name.
Family traditions are iealously treasured. and
family traits reappcar generation after Ecner-
alton. There is n numerous family In the
northern county famous from the fact that
nearly all its male members have red heads
and heavy red boards. The characteristic Ia
said to belong oven to distant branches OF the
family in the West Long descent though so
common. is highly priced. and even whore a
family has sunk into dsrepute. the fact OF
respectable ancestry Is held to make its mem
brrs little better than Just evory day now
Corners whose conduct is no worse.
Neighbors In Delaware have tenacious mem
cries. and old family scandals are whispered
about for generations An old gentleman OF
bam eess life and excellent name never dared
to become candidate for public office because
Il was recalled that he had been born out
OF wedlock. Genpalogies are carried In the
heads Of hundreds. and old ladies often know
the intricate family relationships OF half the
community. According TO tradition. the Du
Fonts who have been making powder Tor
century, used TO r"m-nber with satisfactt N
that an early Bnynrd had been halter. Every
community has local traditions of this sort.
and every man lives with the kno yr,ge that
his family history Is known to all who have
good memories.
Every man WHO'S locally prominent Is known
personally or Is reputation all over the state.
aud most men have acuuain'ances from one
end OF tho state To- the other De!awhrennS
inter twHnty years absence g. back to Dela.
ware md mud ncqunintanrr- evrrywhere. Not
merchants and the like are thus known, but
known III what consttuleI the society OF
dozen villages many miles apart. \ good
dancer among men Is sometimes famous
over half the little state, and the
name Of , rsiiSTniGs belle is known now in
ture is not published in the newspapers. The
State Is so small that tho Ireshytcrians have
hut one p;eshytery, the Methodists but one
conference. the Erlsc"palana hut one do
ccse. At the moctinES of all those bodies,
therefore all pa Is Of the state nrn represented
and solidarity l. promoted. The same men
thar tn " part in ",,psiR-tical gatherings are
often brought together In titles, in the state
Medical Convention and In other stated meet
conditions they come to have a very shrewd
estimate NJ one another characters.
Delaware L. mu"h ruled by tradition Its
political traditions are curious. Each party
cian to the Senate. M mere rich man. no I'M
educated or inexperienced man. is sent to the
Senate from Delaware. The member OF Con-
gross is almost invariably q lawyer u business
man or u wealthy farmer. He isusua'ly man
Of unblemishrd reputation. and a. q rule he
senator. Til" Governor is usually well-to-
do farmer who has been roputahly active In
politics. He has the appointment 81 the Judges
AMI a. many county officers, aud ha always
counties have the Governor the Congressman.
and the S"nntur> ~ nearly us may he in rota-
tlOr. The Congressman steps down at the end
of his second term and makes way Tor some
he IL too old t. serve longer or until his party
Loses power. D"awareans arc fond 81 boast:
ing that her representation in the United
State senate Is not only equal numerically to
that Of any other state. but, on the average.
NOR" than equal in other ways to the repre-
sentaton Of many greater States. In fact,
there is nothing NJ which nelAwarei s so proud
as her record III the United states Senate.