Smyrna times., 1903-02-04
SMYRNA BOYS GATHER At
NEW YORK DINNER PARTY
IT WAS HELD AT THE MORGUE" AND
DESIGNATED A ''BEEFSTEAK DINNER"
The Dining Room ResembIed a Barn and
Goods Boxes Were Used For Tables, SOme
Happy Speechmaking IuduIged In.


Goods Boxes We're Used For Tables, SOme
Happy SpeeChmaking InduIged In.
William H. Stayton, Esq, former
Smyrna boy, of the well known law
firm of Stayton and Campbell of New
York City, late lieutenant in the
United States navy, one of the organ
izers of the Delaware Club in New
York and one of it's first presidents,
wishing to get the Delaware boys
better acquainted, invited them to an
informal "beefsteak dinner" given at
a well-known resort called The
Morgue."
The boys about twenty five in num-
ber, mostly former Smyrna boys, got
a surprise that made them twenty
years younger. We arrived a little
late and found them in room that
resembled a barn, cleared for country
dance. The "boys" sat in half cir
Gle, in front of small boxes that did
the duty of tables, not a knife, fork,
spoon or dish was in sight Each had
large towel across his knee, and his
hat on his head. No one was allowed
to remove his hat, unless he was enter
tanning the others in speech or song
1t resembled some of the rehearsals
that the White Rose Ministrels had
some twenty years ago in the Smyrna
Town Hall. 1t was as Jolly q crowd
of ''blue hens chicks" as ever stole
into a Delaware barn to fill up on
wheat. At the head of this laughing
crowd of 'yOungens" sat the host, on
the left MedfOrd II. CahoOn, Esq,
and on the right f. ID. Cahoon. Then
followed Will Dickson, Will Ransom,
Charlie Patterson, George Richards,
J. K. Voshell, S. $. Voshell, and
Doc Marshall. 1t made one see the
peach orchards in Delaware, and, for
a night, we were boys again.
They arose, removed their hats. and
with tear-dimmed eyes sang "Dela-
ware, My Delaware, an original ode
composed by Med Cahoon.
Will Stayton welcomed his guests
in a speech that made the boys proud
to be sons of Delaware. Then Med
Cahoon, "the Depew of Delaware. g"
took them home again to his nativ e
State.
"SiguOr Blitz" Ransom and His Tricks.
Will Ransom was introduced as
"SignOr Blitz, sleight of hand per-
former who visited Smyrna when we
were boys. How we used to hustle
for old iron aud dry bones to carry to
Mustard's tan yard to exchange for
the twenty little Indians that the
Government had stamped OH bits of
copper so that we could get in the
Hall to see the signor. We could not
crawl under the circus tent in this
case. Ransom surprised us all, and
for an hour he delighted the ''boys
by his very clever work. Then speeches
were made by ed" Cahoon, Doc
Marshall, the Voshell boys, Jack Wei
don and S. S. McGonigal Will
Dickson and Tom Start both sang.
and the others either had to make q
speech, sing a song or dance a Jig. 1t
was JOY to see and hear these digni-
fed lawyers, doctors and newspaper
men forget what they had become and
once more play truant, go down to the
pond Gin the good old summer times
and make "beef' of each others cloth
ing. 1t was a joyful dream, but we
had to wake up, say goodbye and
face the stern realities that the chang,
ing years had brought to us all.
The Present at the "Beef Steak Dinner"
Letters from Virgil Gordon, George
Carter and Harry Blades were receiv
ed, regretting that they could not be
present. The following Delawareani
were present: H. D. Appleby, Will
liam Bancroft, I. G. Burton, A. S
Burton, E. D. Cahoon, NJ. H. Cahoon
X. E. Cochran, A. n. Cosden, w. L
Dickson, W. d. Hawkins, J. Kerbin
Dr. j. II, Marshall, S. L. McGonigal
L. A. Half, G. V. Patterson, G. NJ
Richards, W. A. Ransom, John Ran
som, II. r. Robinson, W. J. Rash
DR.. W. H. Rogers, s. H. Stayton, T
3. Start, J. X. Voshell, S. S. Voshell
j. V. Weldon. DIR. J. l.. Whiteman.
The annual dinner of the Delawar,
Society will be given at Sherry's Of
February 10. The Governor of Della
ware and other prominent men of tn
State have promised to be present.