Smyrna times., 1895-08-21
snme Imnressions of Smyrna


to the Smyrna Times"
Aunt Neal Demby says the annex to
the main building of her residence
don't leak drap," although the stars
peep unObstructed through the roof.
Somehow one cannot disconnect these
old turbaned Aunties living in their
dilapidated cabins content to exist in
the present, but really living in the
past from being epitomes of much that
is worth listening to of events happen
ing years ago. They know who were
the Grants in intellect of these other
days. The cOurtly grace of the rich
drawing room receptions, did but re-
fleet the wealth of ancestral heritage,
that fair women and gallant men |
moved about in with imperial dignity. |
In those days the fierce struggle for |
existence did not, as it does now, de- |
mand every instant of time in the mad |
rush for the will'o-the-wisp dollar,
leading through steaming quagmires OF
trade, and iarred with the pulsatiOns |
of machinery, with the SCOT and CRIME
of strife, garnishing the polish OF the
marble steps of their grand Railways.
The exquisite charm of dreamingly
passing the heat of the summer sOlstice,
relieved of that anxiety that falling
like pail upon the hurried pleasures
of the nowadays seashOre resorts,
which chaperoned by the spirit of trade
says again and again, now then, back
to your work, work, work.
Pretty Belmont, rose-hedged and
fragrant with the breath of Towering
shrubs and with the cool wind sweep
ing through the wide porches senti-
nelled on either side by gables sug-
gestive of Colonial days, is the one spot
about Smyrna that seemingly places
check upon improved changes and
clings to its past.
All else is giving away to new,
startling, aud up-tO date improvements.
The insufitrable newness of Western
towns makes one tired of looking at
them. So much Queen Anne in front
and Mary Ann behind becomes
monotonous. In some of the western
towns they carry their ideas beyond
| the edge of extremes for novelties.
For instance, you can see pOrtly COun-
cilmen riding about in dOg-carts and
the chief of police with pick and shovel
| mending the streets. This IS economy
| with q vengeance. The visitor east in
the towns, contemporary with the for
nation of the States themselves. sees
the best displays that can be made
pleasing, the bright c0lors Of the new
in contrast to the sOmbre hues of the
old.
The Raymond Block" in your town
is not, to use the stereotype expression,
the finest south of Wilmington, but
equal to anything in Wilmington itself
The heavily corniced double facade
relieved bv the bright yellow rubbed
walls and the deep red of the window
architraves becomes vision in white
by the pronounced projections of the
Colonial gabled roofs. The whole
effect is certainly very fine, completely
changing the aspect of historic "fOul
corners"
The CaVender residence is on the
{ lines of strength and massiVeness, ant
, no improvement will larry the year:
! better than the renaissance of which
2 the heavily pillared cOtOrie pdrche is q
r fine example Of. TO get at it right thu
] | contrast must be made with the i'm
a provements called for by the enterprise
| of trade, and the rich tastes displayed
t | by people of means and leisure who il
? | pleasing themselves add to the desir
t ability aud attTacliVeuess of tow
and SmyrIa has more handsome resi-
a dences, more refined taste in reaching
for effect that most other towns cOul'
4 emulate. The noise and jar of cit,
F., being absent, the cool, well shade,
s streets becomes dOubly inviting in sun
) mer, aud the profusion of flowers riva
d with the tasteful toilettes of her daugh
i ters for supremacy. From Long Branc
e and Cape May to the buttressed tower
e of the hotels at St. Augustine
Florida. the cosmopolitan pOpulatiO
e possessed of wealth could find, 70
d either extreme of heat or cold, just a
/; much comfort in Smyrna as either {
r. these places afford. The advantage
d of Smyrna for a rest resort are nc
!. taken heed of because not advertised
IS A town by the sea and by the city S
r, favorably situated as she is, full
10 equipped with all the modern cor
d veniences and possessing above all
e cultured and intelligent resident popI
l. lation, is far and away the place mo:
d desirable for those who in seeking re!
d and quiet are willing to pay for i
IS This is one of the advantages. Smy
9, ma has in improving itself drifted int
S. a Peninsula resort free from all the il
'. convenientcies attending more prefer
r tiOus ones.
y, There is one phase in political ecoi
y, omy that is not generally thought @
* and that is in times of great trade {
D, other depressiOns, people become res
D | less and want to CHANGE They see
to get as far away as possible fro
stagnated trade and spend their tin
q and money in places Offering them tn
change in the best manner, Smyrr
properly handled is capable of dOir
IN this, to her profit, in an admiral
Mt manneri and it thus depends entire
b. upon the effort put forth in making Il
NJ. charmingly improved town more wild
ly known through the press. J. B.
Is. Wilmington, DEL, august, 1895.