Smyrna times., 1904-02-24
SMYRNA BOYS GATHER AT
DELAWARE SOCIETY DINNER
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL DINNER OF DELLA
WARE SOCIETY IN NEW YORK CITY.
William A. Ransom a Former Smyrna Boy,
Elected Presldent-TwO Other Smyrna
Boys tiOnOred- Scene on Lake Como.

william A. Ransom a Former Smyrna Boy,
Elected Presldent-TwO Other Smyrna
Boys HOnOred- on Lake Como.
The fourteenth annual dinner of the
Delaware Society of New York was
held at the Waldorf-Astoria on Feb.
18th. TOasts were to be responded to
as follows: ''Our Native State" Gov.
John Hum; 1.-The City of New York,
Thomas G. I. Grain, Tenement House
| Commissioner; "The Delawarean at
Home" Senator j. Frank Alice, of
Delaware; Our Country" Charles H.
Treat, Collector Internal Revenue;
Delaware and the Eastern Shore"
William G. Kerbin, of Snow Hill, Nd;
and Estate Societies in New York."
the Rev. DR.. J. Nevett Steele, Presi-
dent of tina Maryland Society of New
York. At business meeting held be-
fore the dinner William A. Ransom
was elected President, Joseph X.
Voshill, First Vice President, Walter
d. Hawkins Second Vice President,
William H. Stayton Secretary, and
Samuel L. McGonigal Treasurer
George F. Harker and Henry d. APP
pleby were added to the Executive
Committee. Smyrna was honored by
having three of her "boys" selected to
positions of prominence: Mr.. Ran
som, Mr.. Stayton and Mr. Voshell for
merry resided near Smyrna. Mr.. Rau-
som presided with dignity, a delicate
strain of humor running through his
remarks. Bishop Coleman, the chap
lain of the society, was not present,
church duties making it impossible for
him to attend. The Bishops absence
was regretted by all present, as he has
never failed to be present since the
society was organized. He is honored
and loved by all the members, and his
genial spirit has always been one of
the most pleasant features of the an
nual gatherings. Governor John HUM
of Delaware, who was expected to re-
spond to the toast "Our Native State, ;
could not attend on account of sick
ness. His place was taken by Wilson
Lee Cannon, native of Delaware.
Mr.. Cannon in his speech launched a
boom for United States Circuit Court
Justice George Gray for President.
He spoke of him as one of the signers
of the treaty of Paris, which ended the
Spanish-American war, and then said
'He is as well fitted to be president of
the United States as any man on
earth" His declaration aroused much
enthusiasm. Senator Alice, Of Della
ware, was not present, business en-
gagement making it impossible for him
to attend. The program as printed
above was followed.
CasciIian Quartet Recalls Night in Smyrna.
One of the most enjoyable features
of the dinner was the singing of the
"Caecilian Male Quartet" MIR. Will
liam P. Dickson, member of this or.
ganization, was formerly a Smyrna
s boy. The blending of their voices was
, a delight to listen to and to hear the
y first tenor soaring among high CPS and
: the bass artistically touching low DIS
K with perfect assimilation of all voices,
e was pleasure that all enjoyed These
!. gatherings always carry us back to
: bOyhood days, and as 1 listened to the
g singing of this quartet my thoughts
e took me to summer night long ago
!. 1 was standing on the bridge at Lake
It Como watching a comet, the mystic
s rious wanderer of the sky, hu ng like &
i great sword of fire across the heavens
# The town slumbered in silence watched
|. over by tall church towers. Suddenly
e out of the night came the clear, sill.
It very tones of beautiful tenor voice
# singing:
u "when the corn is waving Annie dear"
The tones were clear and sweet, anC
p" when the solo part had finished you
could hear the blending of four male
= voices, clear and beautiful. This was
none other than the old Trina Quartet
u consisfingof four Smyrna boys: Ed.
10 Hoffecker, Willard Pierce, Will Dick
son and Frank Evans. To me it wa
hesweetest music had ever heard,
R. and think so still. have heard thu
greatest tenors of the last twenty years
III but none ever sounded so sweetly al
that voice coming out of the summe
- night.-T. S. s., New York, Feb. 90
1904.