The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-14
ITEMS FROM new CASTLE.
Correspondence OF the REpUsLrcAy.
NEW CASTLE, April lith.

The end Of a pleasing little romance
will end thie evening when Miss Sophia
B. Rodney will become the bride of Pro.
fessor Hay, of Girard College, Philadol-
phia.
Years ago when Professor Hay was
principal Of the New Castle schools, he
formed the acquaintance Of Miss Rodney.
Friendship grew stronger and ripened in
to love. But fate deemed it SO that they
were to remain single. Bnt they met
again and the renewed acquaintance will
terminate in wedding this evening
Only the immediate relatives OF the con.
tracing parties will be present
The ceremony will be performed by Rev.
f. M. Munson, ID. d. rector of Imman eI
Episcopal Church.
There was war in New Castle yesterday,
but it was not between the Spanish aud
Cuba1s. 1t as-between two women Of
Bull Hill. 1t is needless to say that foul
names were called and foul blows deliv-
cred.
james J. Mahoney has accepted posi-
tion In the grocery store OF Thomas j..
Gravel.
Mayor Evan G. Boyd, who was reelected
Mayor for term OF three years was sworn
in by Magistrate Julian ID. Janyier.
Councilman Oryid A. Porter took the
oath of Office from Mayor Boyd.
A movement Is on foot to have one or
two of the present po!ics force removed
and new men appointed In their place.
Officers Tobin and Harrington have
made efficient officers during the six years
they have been on the force Officer Pal
mer has been on the force only seven
months or So In that time he has made
good record. No complaints arc ever
made about the latest addition to the
force.
The subject Of umbrellas was discussed
here at length yesterday. Some one had
given his experience in the umbrella fac.
tory which was formerly hero on the
Frenchtown lane, now the site of four
dwellings owned by Captain Riding
Agenteman who has worked in umbrel
la factories said: More than one-half of the
umbrellas used in this country arc produc-
ed in Philadelphia and the distinction of
the Quaker City in this respect Is no now
thing for it has passed almost into u pro.
verb throughout the United States that
when the Quakers como to town it is 60
Ing, to rain"
Very few persons have any correct idea
of the extent of the mbrella business in
tho United States. 1t amounts in yoar,
taking the retail figures, TO $25,0000oO.
There are In this country 500 umbrella
factories having an invested capital Of S.
000G00, OF which moro than S3 n0),OOO is in
the city of Philadelphia alone. New York,
Massachusetts,, Maryland and Ohio are the
other States which ara largely represented
in the manufacture Of umbrellas, while all
the States are represented. though uneven-
ly. in their salo.
For many years some Of the beat u,n brel.
las We're imported aud the rats of duty
upon from England, and tho rate Of duty
upon them prior to 1890 was 30 pnr cent
ad valOrem if covered with silk or alpaca
and 40 per cent If covered with any oth her
material, cotton or linen included. Under
the tariff of lS00-the Mckinley bill, so
cal!ed-American umbrella manufactur-
ers were favored by an increase in the
duty of por cent, the rate upon silk and
alpaca covered umbrellas being 81 por
cent. and on those covered with other
material 45 per cent.
Siuue then the importatlOns Of English
umbrellas have :declined, though this
change is not to be ascribel wholly to the
workings OF he tariff, but rathar to the
fact that American. made umbrellas are
decidedly cheaper and quita IS sJrvice.-
able as those imported from o;hor aOun-
tries. Moreover, they have the additional
advantage of being lighter and less cum.
bersome, and are not constructed to msa.
of hard and continuous
usage, as is the general custom abroad;
for the number of those who liNayi cnrry
is materially larger en- the other
side than it Is here.
The American plan ia to, carry um-
brellas only when 1t is raining. or seems
likely to rain, and it isl matter OF com.
mon observation in American cities that
thero are more men who neglect or are un-
able to get umbrellas on rainy days than
there are mon who carry umbrellas when
the weather Is fair.
This condition is exactly reversed in
most European cities, where it is no un-
common thing TO see many umbrellas
carried on bright clear day. The average
rainfall in inches Is 25 in London, % in |
Paris, "a in Berlin, 20 in Vienna, II in st.
Petersburg, and A in Glasgow.
The average in New York is about 40 |
inches, but the number OF days in which |
here Is some rain is larger abroad than 1t !
8 here.
The shad fishermen are still making
arge catches. About 5000 shad wcro
brought ashore here yesterday. The price
wrs slipper hundred
Garden seeds, rakes, hoes, etc, Stoops.
Miss Anna Rodney has returned home
rom Washington after stay of two
weeks.
Several of the men who were at work in |
he Delaware Iron Works during the pnst
month have secured employment in Viii
nington.
A summer car was run ovor tho trolley
Dad yesterday. The ride was pleasant
Architect +. L. Rice, of Wilmington,
las prepared plans FOR Mrs. Phillips
Iouse. 1t will be three story frame with |
ront and side porches. 1t will be erected
N. Sixth street near South After "A while
he mud hole thoroughfare will Do the
rettiest street in the city.