Smyrna times., 1903-04-22
CHESWOLD.
Heavy Rains and Damaged Fruit Crops
Have a Tendency to Depress Farmers.
Bethel Mite Society Hold Meeting.

Have tendency to Depress Farmers.
Bethel Mite Society Hold Meeting.
Special Correspondence TO the lines.
CHEswOLD, April 20.-The heavy
rain of last week coming as it did on
the already saturated earth was week
of gloom for our farmers. The blues
showed itself visibly and audibly in
various ways according to the make
! up of the man. Some of them seeing
they could do nothing at home went
out to look up trouble and coming in
contact with a neighbor or it may be
two or three of them, catalogue of it
was soon summed up for the year
High priced and independent labor
a generally short fruit crop, a short
wheat crop, and the uncertainty of the
tomato and cantaloupe crops are
among the list as made out. One
farmer, however, we found who looked
at the question philOsOphically, said:
ooh it's no use to worry. It's beyond
our control and we will not know the
difference next Christmas. At this
writing the skies are cleared, hope is
restored anu we hope next Christmas
will, as predicted, find every faithful
tiller of the soil with fat pocketbooks,
good cheer in every home and the
troubles of the spring time thing of
the past and forgotten.
Since our last letter growers here are
talking quite a lot about the dead
bloom in strawberries. Frost Satur-
day and also Sunday mornings was
quite in evidence in some spots. A
few take the view that the crop will
undoubtedly be shortened
The Mite Society of Bethel Church
met at the home of Mrs. Jennie Gar
rison April eth, which was incidental
ly made use of as a reception for the
new pastor, Rev. A. W. Goodhand and
family. A large company of the
Bethel people met there to greet them
and splendid social and enjoyable
evening was spent. Ice cream and
cake were served. This event may
read little stale because it escaped
the reporter last week.
Our w. c. T. U. meets Thursday
afternoon of this week with Mrs. J. H.
Bishop.
Under bright skies church goers
were out in force Sunday morning.
New gowns, new hats and new suits
were in evidence. Pastor Goodhand
preached two stirring discourses. In
the morning on "True qualification
for service, in the evening on ''The
interceding Christ" In the Sunday
school Miss Ethel Hardcastle recited
a temperance poem with good effect.
A few friends of Mr.. and Mrs. W. S.
Hardcastle made lively times in their
home last evening celebrating their
10th marriage anniversary. Refresh
ments were served.
A case of the ''Cuban Itch which is
really small pox in mild form having
developed in the business centre of our
town, our people are aroused to action.
A meeting of the citizens was held last
evening, the result of which DIR.
Smith, E. S. Garrison, James Brown,
J. Hermon Anderson, S. B. Cooper,
H. r. Loose, and A. 7. Hoffecker con-
stituted local board of health to act
in conjunction with the State Board of
Health to prevent further spread of
the disease. The board organized by
appointing E. s. Garrison, chairman,
and II. r. Loose, secretary. Notices
will be posted at every entrance to the
town and any infected person entering
will be summarily dealt with. DIR.
Smith is prepared to fumigate every
infected house in this community and
all necessary steps toward stamping
out the disease will be put in exc
cution.
Personal. Mr.. and Mrs. P. L. Bar
Gus are visiting their daughter, Mrs.
George McNamee, Chester, Pa.-Mrs.
Charles Clark of Downs Chapel, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Clark, Jr., of
Smyrna, have been guests of Mr.. and
Mrs. Cantwell. Mr.. G.. Garrison of
KentOn was in town last Saturday on
his way home from trip to the Della
ware Breakwater. Mr., and Mrs.
Daniel Keith of Hartley were callers
on old Cheswold friends to-day
Little Edwin, son of DR.. Gardner, a
former pastor, is visiting his grand
mother, Mrs. Luln Gardner.