Evening journal., 1908-08-06
GOVERNOR LEA
ENTERTAINS
Gives Reception to Officers Of
Forts Dupont and Mott and
Of Organized Militia
AT HIS COUNTRY HOME

Amid the beautiful natural surround
ings Of The Orchards, with its
picturesque view ana the fragrance OF
wild flowers to add their charm. Gov
ernor and Mrs. Preston Lea yesterday
lafternoon entertained the officers OF his
military stan, of the Organized Mill
tia of Delaware and of Fort DUPONT
and Fort Mott, their wives and some
other guests. It was one of the most
delightful of the many pleasing recep-
tions the Governor has given to the
men associated in the military arm OF
the State. and at the fort it was
enjoyed by the army guests who shar-
ed I'm the charming hospitality of the
Governor and Mrs. Lea.
The Wilmington officers of the Or
ganized Militia, their wives and other
guests went to The Orchards, the Gov
ernors country home near Delaware
City, in special cars that left Fourth
Eand Market streets at 2.4O o'clock. SAM
uel s. Hoff, superintendent of the Will
mington City Railway Company, was
in charge of the cars and looked after
the details of the trip. AS the mer-
curry dropped. with a storm impending,
the weather became cooler and the trip
was most enjoyable. A few minutes
after the Wilmington party arrived
at The Orchards the storm broke, ani
rain literally fell in sheets. So CO.
lpious was the downfall that the view
of the Delaware river from the Gov.
ernor's pretty residence was obscured
The cars went on TO Delaware Cits
and after the storm had abated they
returned with the officers of Forts Du-
Port and Mott, and Of the provisional
battalion of the Organized Militia ol
Delaware, now on reserve duty at For;
DUPONT Some other guests went from
Wilmington in automobiles
Received the Guests.
Governor and Mrs. Lea we're assisted
in receiving by General l. Pusey Wick.
ersham, Colonel J. Ernest Smith anC
Colonel George w. Sparks, Of the Gov.
ernor's staff. The flower -flanked We.
randa Of the Governors residence wal
draped with a large American flag, anC
the state and regimental colors wer,
unfurled within the hallway. The Gov
ernor and Mrs Lea received on tn
! veranda, just after the guests ascendei
the steps from the grass -carpeted law
! studded with its rruit-laden trees.
z Aside from the formal receiving q
I the guests by Governor and Mrs lie
the reception partook OF an air of in
! formality, in which the utmost socia
J bility prevailed. During the afternoo
the First Infantry Orchestra discours
? ed sweet music, and an elaborate lunch
, con was served by caterers from vii
mington. Regular Army officers com
mingled with the officers Of tn
Organized Militia in a manner betolS
ening that the assignment OF the Della
ware citizen soldiers to Fort DuPon
has resulted in many friendships tina
will be enduring In the course Of th
afternoon many Of the Fort DuPon
officers, from Colonel J. S. William
down, took occasion to speak to IN
Governor in complimentary terms o
the efficiency Of the Delaware militia
men under their observation.
There was a picturesque contrast c
; military uniforms during the Afternoon
, The members Of the Governors mill
, tary retinuel were bedecked in the.
l full dress uniforms lavish with gol
! epaulettes and braid, while the officer
I Of the Organized Militia who are nc
in the Fort DUPONT service were i
fatigue uniform. The. officers Of th
, Organized Militia who are at Fort Du
Pont were in their olive service uni
forms, and the regular army officer
of Fort DUPONT and Fort Mott as
> compliment to the Delaware soldier
who had no other uniforms availabl
wore khaki service uniforms so a
not to make a conspicuous contra,
with the militiamen. This really eS
T plains why the artillery officers al
; not appear resplendent in their IN
= dress uniforms. Following the pleas
T. ing social afternoon. the receptio
being from to o'clock. the guesi
we're returned to the fort and to w,
mington I'm the special cars. Auto
Il mobiles, carriages and wagons frol
e Fort Dupont conveyed the guests froi
= the Governors home to the cars.
o Some of the Guests.
= Anon the guests were General
T. lPusey Wickersham, Colonel George v
O Sparks. Colonel ]. Ernest Smith an
. Colonel Evan G. Shortlidge of the Go,
e ernor's staff; Colonel II. c. CavanauRl
u. s. A.. retired, who is attached
the Governors staff; Major Edward
Bradford Of the general staff; Color
t John S. Williams. commanding the az
- tillery district of the Delaware; Mai,
10 Adelbert Cronkhite. artillery inspect'
o of the Department of the East; Maj'
a Charles A. Bennett. commanding Fo
l. Mott: Captain Goodfellow, CAPITA
/ Glasgow. Captain Waldron, CAPITA
j. Shortlidge. surgeon; Lieutenant Wa
CONTINUED on Second PaEe)