davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
A PlTABLE SPECTACLE.
Three Sons Nearly Perish With Cold While
Their Father is on a Spree.

thSh 10 Ou CpICCs
A pitabe sight of a father reveling
late at night in a drunken spree, while
his three yOung sons sleep in the bot
tom of wagon without covering, the
thermometer registering 90 degrees
above zero, was called to the attention
of the night watchman, Policeman
Charles Jones, about three o'clock last
Friday morning.
George Gardner, of Cedar Swamp, ="
Thorougfare Neck, came to town on
Thursday night with his three sons.
While here he got with a crowd of as
sOciates, who soon had him imbibing
freel y and before late hour he was in
bad, intoxicated condition. The boys
were anxious to go home aud begged,
pleaded and interceded with their
father to leave. The hour was late and
they had nine or ten mile drive ahead
of them. The father was feeling ''to
good" to leave and he refused all re-
quests. The boys knowing their de-
pendence upon their father were
obliged to make the best of the circum
stances, and they all laid down in the
bottom of the open wagon and went to
sleep. About three O'Clock in the
morning, Policeman Jones, then on
his night watch, was attracted around
to the Chester House yard, where the
team YVES hitched. As he entered. John
Stevens, of Clayton, one of the num-
Der, demanded of Policeman Jones his
business there. The latter with his
official authority wanted to know what
the men were doing there that time of
night. Stevens resented by replying
with an oath that at was none of his
business. At this curt reply, Officer
Jones grabbed Stevens and pulled him
out of the yard, and would have taken
him to the Lookup had not his pris-
oner promised to go straight home.
On going in the yard, he found Mr..
Gardner in the condition as above
stated and his three sons nearly per-
ished with cold, sleeping in the bottom
OF the wagon. He covered them up
the best he could with horse blanket.
and made Gardner unhitch his team
aud take them home. This the latter
obeyed, but nothing is known of the
cold drive they had on their journey
home.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
Dance at the Opera House.

Another very delightful dance was
held at the Opera House last Monday
night. 1t was another one of the COM
plimentary affairs given to the young
ladies of town, and it is unnecessary to
say that all entered in for an enjoyable
evening. Watkins Orchestra, still
growing in favor, furnished the music,
and it was excellent throughout the
evening. An addition was made to
the orchestra by the appearance for the
first time of Mr.. w. G. Anthony with
the cOrnet. One of the cornets took
the alto part and it gave splendid
tone to the music. The floor was in
In fine condition and the dancers were
as merry as any gathering since the
series of dances were inaugurated.
During the evening a wholesome re-
past of sandwiches and coffee was
served. Those present outside of the
usual Smyrna dancers were: Mr.. James
W. Anthony, Miss Eunice Anthony,
Mrs. Geo. w. Dame, Mrs. Lillian
Cloak, Mrs. j. w. Watkins, Mrs. Mary
Boyd, Mrs. M. X. d. EldrIdge, Mrs.
James d. Wilds, Mrs. j. r. McCaus-
land, Mrs. E. Harry Beck, Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry s. Anthony, Mr.. and Mrs.
j. Harvey Speakman, DIR. and Mrs. j.
Allan johnson and others. There
were about twenty couples on the
floor, the most largely attended of any
yet given.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB.
Meeting of the State Executive Board Here
and Their Visit to the Club on
FRIDAY,

The weather of last Friday afternoon
being so pleasant there was a splendid
turnout of the members of the Twen-
tieth Century Club of Smyrna. In the
early part of the afternoon, the State
Executive Board held its regular
stated meeting. The Board was com
posed of the following: Mrs. E. p.
Warner, Mrs. Horace Belts, Whining
ton; Miss Ella Marshall, Mrs. Henry
Ridgeley, Dover; Mrs. Jonathan Will
lis, Milford; Miss Lizzie Cahall,
Bridgeville; Mrs. L. Irving Handy,
Newark; Miss F. b. Stevenson, Fell
ton, Mrs. Cook, Seaford.
By the time the business of the Ex-
ecutive Committee was over, the hour
for the weekly meeting of our local
Twentieth Century Club had arrived.
After the president, Mrs. j. Edwin
Hoffecker called the club to order, aud
after the preliminary opening, the fol
lowing program was interestingly car.
ried out:
Quotations on Music.
Paper: "Oratories and the Opera" ..
..............M Miss X ltherine Beckett
Piano Solo ..........M Mrs. j. Allen johnson
Paper: The Orchestra, ".... ......
................M Miss Eliz lbeth Hall
Vocal Solo. ........ Miss Lydia Moore, Phila
At this point in the program, Mrs
Ella Marshall, of Dover addressed The
meeting aud she was followed in turn
by Mrs. Horace Belts, ofWIlmington,
Mrs. Jonathan Willis, of Milford, anC
Mrs. E. P. Warner, Wilmington.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
Pastor Hill on Influence.

A well-flled auditorium greeted
Rev. G. A. Hill at the Methodist
church, Sunday morning His text
was the passage relating to Aiken's
theft of a wedge of gold and his punish
ment by death therefor, the point
being that for his sin, not only him
self suffered but the whole family were
stoned to death with him. His sub
ject was personal influence that no
one lives to himself or dies to himself,
but no matter how circumscribed ones
Influences may be, each has an inhu-
ence that may tell for veal or woe to
all eternity. The object of the speaker
was to enforce on his hearers the fact
that they each had an influence, some
times by example where least expected,
and that many were the arbiters in
the eternal destiny of others, where
they were not conscious of exerting an
Influence. The subject was elucidated
with the speakers usual forcefulness.
with apt illustrations from biblical and
historical facts.
like audience greeted him at night.
and the sermon was no less direct and
to the point. Mr.. Hill is holding
meetings nightly this week with the
double object to revive and quicken
his membership, aud bring the impen-
ltent to a knowledge of their danger
GUS condition in rejecting the mercies
of God, that cease to be mercies when
pardon is not sought through the
atOnement of Christ.
At the initial meeting on Monday
night there was a ready response to
the request of the pastor for altar prep
aratlon, that must have been gratifv-
ing to him. 1t is the membership of
the church who have the greatest in
terest in its permanent advancement as
well as the Strengthening of the com
munity in goods morals. Heurged on
the membership the importance of per
sonal effort and earnest prayer. aud
said that he would meet them in
prayer, morning, noon and night lin
his closet pleading that God will pour
out his spirit on the community.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
January Mysticus Amicus.

The January Mysticus Amicus of
the Smyrna High High School, was is
sued from our press the past week and
1t contains a we'll written article on
Slavery in ale Nations" by Miss
Gertrude o. Smith, '97; Miss Alivan
Severson, '99 tells of "The Blight of
Idleness"; Miss Eva G. Vickers, '96,
discusses 'Public Education in Della
ware; Miss Adah J. Vickers 80, fol-
lows with an interesting essay on
"Old Time Schools and School-mas-
ters"; Miss Lulu NJ. Beck '99, takes
mp subject of more recent origin and
writes of president McKinley's Visit
to Atlanta" and the speech that has
made him popular throughout the
South; Miss Mary Durborough Grove
'O1, contributes an essay on "Good
Nature; Miss Lizzie NJ. Revis tells of
the ''Trees Familiar with the Ameri-
can Forests; and the Literary De-
partment closes with an article from
the pen of Miss Flora August Hollett
700, entitled "Lnherited Wealth" Be-
sides the above the editorials take up a
serious retrospect of school days gone
by and especially applies the merging
from "schOol life into life's school" to
the class of '99, now on its last term
before Commencement. The locals are
bright and spicy, aud the alumni notes
are in close touch with the old students
and graduates of the school.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
BuIIdOzed Once too Often.

Harvey FAIRIES, the hostler at the
Delaware House, who appears as some
what of bully with his associates in
town, got under the influence of liquor
on Saturday afternoon and wanted to
kick up fight. He thought he had an
easy victim in Homer johnson, a col
ored boy, but before he got through
with the meelee, he came out with a
broken leg and was carried home to re-
pent at leisure.
Inc colored boy was on his way
after basket of coal, when he was ac-
costed by Harvey FAIRIES. The latter
tried his best to provoke the colored
BOY into fight, until the latter be-
came so exasperated that he struck
faries over the head with his basket
lnis was enough for FAIRIES and he
grabbed johnson by the throat to
choke him. The boy wrestled away
from his strong grip and set ont on a
Wild chase down the street. his assa;l-
ant following close after him until
tney came to Bailey's Lumberyard.
Johnson being closely pursued, turned
and picked up stick with which he
struck Farles severe blow. Jumping
on Faries' he gave him a good thrash.
ing, the result being that FAIRIES CANA
ont OF the meelee with a broken Loo
He was taken to DR.. Moore who re-
duced the fracture. FAIRIES is now un-
dergoing long seige in bed. WAITING
for the bone to knit.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
PRESBYTERIAN Entertainment.

The Presbyterians gave a musical
and literary entertainment i'll the
Opera House last Friday evening be-
fore large audience. With the ex-
ceptiOn of Miss Marley and Miss
Moore, all those who took part were of
local talent. The program was as fol-
lows: Piano solo, Mrs. Marion Cover
dale; solo, Mr.. j. Edwin Hoffecker: !:
reading, Miss Marley; solo, Mr.. w.
H. Brady; banjo solo, Mr.. Isaac
Beatty; reading, Miss Marley; solo,
Miss Elizabeth Counselman; piano
duett, Misses Edith and Alice Beck :;
piano solo, Mrs. Marion Coverdale; :;
solo, Miss Lydia Moore; reading, Miss
Marley; piano and violin duett, Miss
Edith Beck and Mr.. w. p. Garrett; !;
quartette, Mrs. J. r. McCausland.
Miss Laura Bell, Miss Mary LeFevre,
Miss Hettie Megear; banjo solo, MI.
Isaac Beatty: reading, Miss Marley;
solo, Miss Ethel Cooper; duett, Miss
Elizabeth Counselman and Mr.. J.
Edwin Hoffecker. The committee in
charge wish to extend thanks to those
who contributed to its success. The
net proceeds amounted to about $4J.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

The matter of most concern to the
State at large at this time is the cleo
tion of U. S. Senator. The response.
bility rests with the Republicans be-
cause they have the majority in the
Legislature, but among their oppon-
ents there are six men who do not
want to vote for a candidate so capable
as George Gray because he is not for
silver coinage at 16 to 1. The division
among the Republicans seems we'll
nigh irremediable. The Union Re-
publicans have found the 'Regulars"
or the Dupont branch of them, so dom
lneering as to claims, or treacherous
as to practice, that they have lost
hopes of anything like fair compro-
mise, and made up their minds, it
would seem to ''stick" to Addicks to
the last. And, this conveys a mean
ing beyond the senatorship-it means
that Kent and Sussex counties where
they have an unqualified majority, will
be held on to, and that the office seek
ers of New Castle county who are so
hot" after Office, can get them with
their own strength. The Union Re-
pnblicans have in themselves the ele-
ment of State organization, and they
will abide by it, though the result on
State ticket may be defeat.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

The American Asiatic Association,
organized in New York last June to
look after American interests in the
"open door" in Chinese trade, has
been actively at work, according to
the New York Journal of Commerce,
and has accomplish practical results.
The Presidents reference in his mes
sage to our right to trade freely in
every port of China has furthered
greatly the objects of the Asiatic As
sociation. The determined attitude
of England and the United States
seems, in fact, to be staying the par
tition of China and the extension of
the ''closed- door" policy.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

EXPERTS estimate that the difference
between the value of our exports last
year and of our imports would not be
far from 5000, 900, 600; that is to say, it
would be found that we sold to other
countries that much more than we
bought of other countries. The close
ness of this estimate is made apparent
by the official figures which show that
the balance in our favor for the year
was only $54, 900 less than $500, 900, 600.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

measured against Gladstone. 1t is
Gordon. Or, rather, it is what Cor
don stood for in the Soudan-whieh
Kitchener is reverently trying to fulfil
which Is measured against what
Gladstone failed for there. And in
such trial Gladstone must give place to
Gordon.
Gordon stood for expansion and i'm
perialism. He wanted to extend the
civilizing power of Great Britain to the
Soudan States. He wanted to stop
slavery and all the other infamies of
the alien Dervish rule. He undertook
to do the work, and he succeeded
splendidly. He gave the Soudan
settled and inst government, suppress
sed slave-raiding, promoted education
and industry and made of tribes a
nation. That was his policy, and it is
that policy which Lord Kitchener is
going to re-establish and carry to COM
pletion. Gladstone, on the other
hand, opposed expansion and imperial
ism. His policy in the Soudan was
one of scuttle. He believed in with
drawing from that region and letting
the Dervish slave-drivers have their
will. He would send the whole British
Navy, if necessary, to lombard Alex
andria, and the whole British Army, if
necessary, to slaughter Egyptians;
but he would not send one regiment to
save Khartoom and the whole Soudan
from anarchy aud to save from
martyrdom the noblest Christian war
rior of the age.
That is the contrast that is invoIun-
tarily and irresistibly drawn in British
minds to-day. 1t is not meant to as
sail the memory of Gladstone nor to
deny his rank as one of the greatest
statesmen in English history. But the
relentless judgement ofhistory already
fixed, that in his Soudan policy-not,
let us say, through evil wish, but
through hesitancy or fear or mistaken
counsel-he made one of the few great
blunders of his great career. He was
wrong. Gordon was right.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
Improvements TO Str. Brady.

For the past two weeks the Str. G.
f. Brady, of the Brady Steamboat
Company has been undergoing a splen-
did change under the painters brush
of Mannering & Williams. 1t is now
nearing completion and makes a beau
tful appearance. Indeed there is no
boat of its class on the river that is
nicer equipped in every way. or makes
a better appearance than this boat that
plies between Smyrna and Philadel-
phia. Besides making fOnr-inch ad-
dltion to the guard rail, and widening
the berths of the Captains and Pursers
state-rOOms, the boat has been painted
througout. The outside is finished in
white and Tuscan red, tue decks all
painted in light lead color, the guard
rail in black and the hull in dark green.
The saloons and dining room look
pretty in its crystal white with pale
blue and gold trimmings. The kitchen
is in white enamel and blue, the state
rooms are all finished in white, and
the pilot house and engine room are In
oak finish, and the freight house in
drab and robins egg blue. The engine
rooms are indeed beauty in cleauli-
ness. All the machinery parts that
could be painted are in Tuscan red, the
other parts are highly polished, while
the sides and ceilings of the room are
in drab and light green. The Purser's
office is also beauty in its white, gold
and blue effect. A handsome rug will
be placed on the floor, and all the Of
flee fixtures will be stained in oak.
This Office is for the use of A. Homer
Smith, of this town, the purser of the
Str. Brady. A like improvement has
been made in Captains quarters.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

WHEN great men makes mistakes
nations often suffer as the conseouence
Gladstone was Familiarity known the
world over as the "Grand Old Man. -
but the New York Tribune, in n finely
drawn contrast between him and Cor.
don. who was equally single minded.
says:
Comment is made in England
sometimes regretful, sometimes scorn.
full in tone, upon the fact that while
with difficulty 800, 900 has been raised
for a memorial to Gladstone, 5000. OOC
has been raised with the utmost ease
for the Sirdar's College and similar
schemes in the Soudan. Some ask il
Kitchener alive is six times as great as
Gladstone dead, and others if single
day of military slaughter counts fol
SIX times as much as sixty years of dis.
tinguished civic services. Such COM
ments are ill.founded. They altogether
fail to touch the root of the mat.
ter. 1t is not Kitchener that is to be
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

VIZ give elsewhere an incident of
happenings in the Legislative halls at
Dover, that has more than a passing
interest to the people of the county.
1t brings squarely before us the ques-
ton OF Local Option. In the New
Constitution that instrument provid es
Tor four distinct sections of the State.
Sussex county, Kent county, rural
New Castle and the city of Will
mington-that any one or all of them
can have the question of local option
submitted to the people for their de-
clslon for or against, when a ma
Jo1ity of the members of the Legisla-
ture sign a petition to this effect. This
was done last week for Kent county.
and subsequently, for Sussex county.
a-N 1t IS presumed a law will. be
enacted which will be voted for at the
next general election. If so, this will
add very much to the interest of the
next political campaign.
Inc unanimous action of the mem
bers OF the Legislature in signing this
petition, Though four of them after
wards, under a pressure, removed
their signatures from it, removes the
question from the arena of politics and
puts it on its merits as to whether the
sale of liquors is good or bad for a
community. Under the old constitu.
ton this could not be done, because
the decision of the courts were on
record that the people had no right to
referendum on economic or moral
questions-that validity was only
through legislative enactment. Now.
every man, without regard to party OF
church affiliations is enabled to ex-
press his individual views as he be.
lieves will be for the public good.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
COLORED TEACHERS MEET.
Their Sixteenth Annual Institute Opened in
the Opera House this Morning.

The Sixteenth Annual Institute of
the ColOred Teachers of Delaware
opened a three days session in the
Opera House, Smyrna, this morning,
with about forty in attendance. In the
absence of w. H. o. Ennis, president
of the Institute, J. H. Warren, of
Camden, the vice-president of the or
ganization presided. After music aud
prayer, Congressman-elect John H.
Hoffecker welcomed them to town in a
neat speech in which he told of the
great progress of this country in the
last fifty years, and the progress that
had been made in education, espe-
cially with the colored race. His ad-
dress was responded to by Prof. NJ. M.
Beamer.
The rest of the morning was taken
up in assigning the different teachers
their homes while in town. The day
sessions are free, the white folks are
cordially invited to be present.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

UNDER the cold Dispensation" GER
tain papers profted largely in the dis
position of plums to the faithful in the
way of printing for the State. which
was done at big round prices. The
chances of others to bid with them last
week, showed a wonderful change in
in the prices. A difference of from one
hundred to two hundred per cent. be-
tween now and then, is rather "dom-
enpious." "
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
CHESWOLD.
Local Happenings and Personal Mention In
and About Town.


and About Town.
sperial Correspondence to the Times
CHEswoLD, Jan. 30.-The roads were
good on Monday and there was some
activity hauling railroad ties, piling.
grain, &c, to this point.
Rev. Edwin Gardner preached for
Rev. Robert Roe, at Kenton, last
Sunday, and his Cheswold morning
appointment was filled by Mr.. Har-
rington, of the Wilmington Confer
ence Academy. Rev. Gardner filed
his Bethel and Cheswold appointments
in the afternoon and evening respec-
lively, and has resumed his revival
services, holding them each evening
this week at Cheswold.
Personal. Miss Ida Murray, OF New
ark, Del, has returned home after a
visit to Mrs. Will Ford. Mrs. Matte
Gray has returned to Baltimore from
visit to Mrs. Hannah Shahan. Miss
Florence Cullen, of Dover, is visiting
her sister, Mrs. E. F. Jones. Miss
Jennie Barcus, of FELTON,, has returned
home from visit to Miss Laura Bar
cus.-Miss Lulu Boggs has returned
from visit to friends in Philadelpb;a
"nu wilmington. REX.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
Smyrna Town Council.

At the regular meeting of the
Smyrna Town Council last Friday
evening all were present except Presi-
dent j. Q. Robinson, and DIR. L. G.
Moore. In the absence of the presid
ing officer, Councilman j. w. Denney
took the chair. The following bills
were allowed: Z. w. & b. II. r.. Co.
freight. $94.6j; Philadelphia & Trans
portation Co., freight, 15 cents; j. b.
Cooper, supplies, $l.8J; Smyrna Call.
printing, $3.50; N. s. Pratt, shells.
$l.50; Constable Pratt, making an ar
rest, 9s cents; Thomas Jefferson, sup
plies, $3.10; Total $l0903. On mo-
ton an order was drawn IN favor of the
Town Treasurer for 800 with which
TO purchase revenue stamps for checks
as he needed them. With the excep-
ton that the Alderman was requ ested
TO enforce all ordinances, the Council
transacted no other business, and
soon adjourned.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

PERSONS familiar with the actions of
our courts know how in the past, JUS
tice has been thoroughly under the
dominion of party politics. and if the
two commissioners bill equalized the
personnel of the jury and gave Justice
chance above politics, it deserved a
better fate than be killed. The bill we
understand has been recalled.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

The effort that was made few weeks
ago to blot out Smyrna Circuit and di-
vide it between two other places, one
to include a parsonage at Blackblrd,
we are pleased to learn, did not sue
seed. Smyrna Circuit has a history
dating back into the past century, and
to thus ruthlessiy brush it aside, looks
akin to sacrlege. True, the necessi-
ties of meeting modern demands has
made many changes in the map but
this was never contemplated before.
Friendship" church in Thoroughfare
Neck, and Severson's in the Neck of
the same name, were both, as congre-
cations, opposed to the change, and
hence it did not go into effect.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
No Senator Yet.

There were three ballots taken for
United States Senator to-day and re-
suited as follows:
J. E. Addicks-l4.
Hon. Geo. Gray-15.
H. A. Dupont.
Jonathan S. Willis-4.
John A. NicholsOn-4.
Levi Bird.
L. H. Balls.
Necessary for choice, 25.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01
PUBLIC SALES.

Friday, Feb. 10. - Stock, Farming
Implements, &c, of H. J. Smith, at
his residence, four miles from Sm,r-
ma, on the road leading from Mas
sey's Chapel to Blackbird Mil
Thursday, Feb. 1G Stock, Farming
Implements, &c of Isaac Il. otaats,
near Taylor's Bridge, in BlackLnd
Hundred. W. A. Hukill. Auc.
SATURDAY., Feb. IS Horses aud Mules,
at the Smyrna House. Smyrna, Del,
at , o'clock p. m, by q. W. Hurd
b. Y. Weldon, Auc.
Smyrna times., 1899-02-01

THE SMYRNA TIMES is published at Smyrna
Del every Wednesday afternoon.
The TIMES is an independent paper devoted to
the welfare of the town it represents and the
State of which it is a part. 1t also gives the
items of importance of the Eastern Shore OF
Maryland.
ROBT. D. HOFFECKER,
Editor and Proprietor.
ROBT. d HOFFECKER, JR.,
Assoc'a ate Editor
ERMS-SUBsCRIPTION-Sl so per annum. II
paid strictly in advance slOO. No paper is
discontinued until all arrears are paid up
except al the option of the publishers.
ADvERTISEMEVTS-TH SMYRNA TIMES is the
business medium not only for the town il req
resentS but for the outlying district Of which IL
Is the centre, embracing the towns of Clayton
KentGn, Cheswold. leipSic, &c. A rate o. 81
cents an Incl for frst insertion and rs cents
for each subsequent ins rliOn will be charged
or transient advertising Locals and Reading
Notices, 10 cents per line per issue. A special
reduction on all semi annual and yearly adver-
tiSementS.