Smyrna times., 1909-12-15
SMYRNA BOYS MEET At
DELAWARE SONS BANQUET
FINE GATHERING AT BELLEVUE
STRATFORD IN PHILADELPHIA
3. A Hazel of Smyrna was Toastmas-
ter and a Fine Programme of
Speechmaking was Rendered.

Speechmaking was rendered.
"For a century and more the old ,
Blue Hen has been sending her |
chicks to other parts of the country /
to open up and develop communities.
To-day the Blue Hen calls her chicks, /
she has need of their strength, their
number and their capital. You have
attained means and material success.
Turn back to the philosophy of living.
Delaware wants your strength, your
forces, yourselves. l voice the sent
iments of the people of our State
and say to you, come back, Della
wareans, come back - With these
words, Robert H. Richards, an eX-
Attorney General of Delaware, con-
cluded his address before the Sons
of Delaware at their annual dinner
at the Bellevue -Stratford, Philadel-
phia, Tuesday night. So elOquently
did he appeal for the mother State
that tears crept into the eyes of gray
haired old men who left the little
Delaware farm more than two score
years ago, while they quickly formed
and streamed down the faces of the
youth who but recently left his Del
aware home to seek fame and fortune
in the neighboring metropolis. 1t
was the eighteenth annual banquet
of the Sons of Delaware commemo
rating the ratification of the Con-
stitution by their native State. On
every hand were things to remind
them of their childhood in the decor
ations, songs, the menu itself and in
the addresses. That they are still
loyal to the little State which gave
them birth was shown by the volume
of applause which greeted Mr.. Rich
ards remarks.
Over 200 Gather at Banquet Table.
But be it understood there was
nothing funeral about the dinner.
Wit and repartee bubbled anC
sparkled, joke followed joke, some al
the expense of Delaware, some a.
New Jersey, but the majority a
Philadelphia herself. Upwards o.
225 native sons gathered around the
banquet board. The guests included
nearly the whole official family o
Delaware. There were Governo
Simeon S. Pennewill, Lieutenan
Governor John M. Men dinhall, Sec
retary of State William Townsen
Smithers, Attorney General Andr e'
C. Gray, Deputy Attorney -Geners
Josiah o. WolcOtt, Chief Justic
James Pennewill and the entire Stat
judiciary, Judges William H. Boyce
Chancellor Charles M. Curtis, Hem
Conrad, Daniel o. Hastings, Victc
B. Wooley, Congressman William T
Heald and Mayor j. Harvey Sprr
ance.
Joke Turned on Benjamin n. Haz
"We are here primarily to hon
Delaware, if we don't do that '
fail in very other point, " sa
Burton G. Moore, the president,
welcoming the guests. "We shou
make tonight a new covenant
stand by, uphold and die for, if ne
essary, the State of our birth. .
then presented as toastmaster
man whom we all honor and 10
although he never found a woma
our bachelor friend, B. A. Hazel
When the applause died, Mr.. Hai
began. ''It's always the unexpect
that happens" "Have you fou
a girl?" shouted son and eve
body laughed. After paying tr
ute to the late Bishop Coleman, n
Hazel introduced his success
Bishop Frederick Kinsman, as
first speaker. His subject was I'D
aware Character. - The Bishop v
followed by ex-attorney-Gene
Richards. Ex-Governor Stokes,
New Jersey, made rattling g
speech which was applauded by eve
body. The program closed with 81
ing "Our Delaware. Among tn
from Smyrna were: Benjamin
Hazel, William A. FAIRIES, Her
P. Hall, W. B. Megear, Frank
Williams, L. Irving Handy, ]. H
vey Spruance. At brief meet
before the dinner the follow
officers were elected: President,
G. Moore; first vice-president,
w. Smithers; second vice-presid
J. Parson Smith; secretary, Will
S. Emerson; treasurer, Leonard
Dill; historian, John W. Grab
Jr.; Board of Governors, Ma
Bryan, DIR. Charles S. Hearne
Hugh c. Bovine.