Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-22
TRIBUTE TO SMITHERS
Paper Read BY His Nephew
Before the Historical Society
MANY INTERESTING FACTS GIVEN

LII ~ VI lliE N'bl-EblNAll.uJ kltlNi
COUNTgAN REVIEWED BY HIS
NEPHEW, WqLLlAnI r. SMITH
ERs. OF DOvER-sOCTETY PRE-
PAIRING FOR IT'S ANNUAL MEET
ING.
AT the nesting Of the Delaware His
sorical Society last evening William T.
smithers. Of Dover, read an interest
ing paper on the late Hon. n. b. smith
ers, Of Dover, who was considered on
Of the best lawyers in the state.
The paper stated that when 8 years
old Mr.. Smithers had already started
to study Latin, and was quoting Virgil,
while mcst oAlldr-n were reciting nur-
sery rhymes After being educated in
the schools at Dover and other places
he entered Lafayette College BY tha5
time his great intellect had developed
considerably, and he had not besn long
at college before one OF the professors
openly Acknowledged that he could net
teach Mr.. smithers Latin, as the
scholar alrs ady had much knowledge
of it. MIR. Smithers was graduated from
Lafayette College when 16 years old,
and .ater That college and also Dickln-
son conferred on him the degree ca
Doctor Of Laws.
Mr.. smith.ns was first admitted to
practice law in Cumberland county,
Pa, and later removed to Dover, where
he was admitted to the Kent county
bar, and began the practice Of the Jaw.
He soon assumed the front rank in his
profession. He never owned a shingle
nor was there ever a sign in front OF
his office. All his clients came to him
unsolicited He was Always eloqusnr
and forceful, and his arguments before
a jury were convincing. It was often
said of him that he never knew how
j 10 charge for his services. He never
p to charge for his services. He mover
desired large fees, or he could have
be,n wealthy, but he only wanted Z
] competency.
D Mr. smithers was always grea
scholar and particularly loved Latin
He made a translation of Latin
rhymes, which is pronounced by critics
to be the finest translation ever givel
L. he public When Bret Hartes poem
e OF the Heather Chinee" appeared, Mr.
r smiuhJgs was quite taken with IT, an'
!, he translated IT into Latin. In a hu
o mcrous mood he sent the translation
a 10 a friend. saying that the origna
j. had been found IN some old ruins. Tn
= translation was shown to other per
sens, and before long am accusat.o
/. was made in a leading Now York pape
d that Halte had stolen the poem froi
n the Latin. When the accusation wa
~ made Mr.. Smithers considered that th
joke had gone far enough and he i'm
mediately had published the true stor
/. Of the transiatiin.
lie When 26 years of aga Mr.. Smither
< was offered The Wing nomination fo
Congress and declined. In 1916 he wa
excited clerk of the House Of Repress "a
tativos and reelected two years late
is lie was a few years later again offere
ID the nomination for congressman, an
D. declined again. Mr.. Smithens stood
e. favor Of anti-s,avery aud prohibition
lA The Legislature in 1Sl7 passed VIII.
- would now be known as local optic
lie law. New Castle county took adyai
ce tage OF 1t, but Kent and Suessx coui
nd ties did not. The constitutionality
lu the law was attacked in New Cast
\ county, and Mr. Smithers defended
he but without effect. The next Leg,
d. llature adopted another local option az
a which had been drawn by Mr.. Smic
IS ere 1t was also attacked, and defen
I'd by Mr.. smithers, and he won Q.
case, thus vindiceting the legality
re the act.
an The sketch next went into the poll
nd cal life Of Mr.. smithers, speaking
ID the various national conventions he q
,or tended. and also Of his career in co
M gress, to which he was elected in 49,
m lie had been appointed secretary
lze state by Governor Cannon. Congr
$50 nam Tempe, a Democrat, who h
been elected, died before he commenc
INC his term. and a special election "
,et called, at which Mr.. smithers "
chosen. His public life cndd in is
when he was secretary of state uns
Ih9 Governor Marvel. Thus hrs public
w. reer ended ia the same onic in VIII
,en IL commenced.
be At the conclusion of the paper
'he smithers was given a rising vote
the thanks for his kindness in prepar
d" and reading such an interesting paI
city Solicitor Conrad and Profee
william "A. Reynolds, spoke briefly
,u- Hon. n. B. Smithers, and gave so
ned persona, recollections.
bus Librarian Clurad reported the
ven erf,f di1finrr Tho mast month ~ "a W