davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

harder. il will whirl faster. But if you
suddenly stop stirring, and begin 10
jerk the stick up and down across the
svirling circles their speed is immedi-
ately lessened by the conflicting motion.
80 when you move your arm steadily
in a direction that does not tend TO 80
against the motion Of the balance
wheel the outside vibration viii make
the wheel move faster. But If you
swng your arm back and forth. as in a
tennis game, across the motion of the
wheel, it's normal rate may be retarded
for the time being 10 as low a. 15u
beats"
It would be impossible. this man says.
TO estimate how much the watch of a
typist or a bricklayer, or a violinist
would gain or lose, because individual
rnannersnls and habits are too import
ant factor. One man naturally works
or plays with spasmodic motions. while
another il slower, and less sudden,
Then too, weariness, the degree of skill
and the emotions all may affect the way
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

a person moves his hands at different
times to do the same thing
The Government had tests made with
wrist watches during the war and ac-
cepted for army use those that varied
not more than two minutes a day
Jewellers now quote this Government
standard for wrist watches, Most wrist
watches, they say. keep somewhat bet
ter time than this, and n few will vary
only u minute week. but rate OF
only q minute a week IS very unusual.
TO our inquiry az 10 whether any
thing can be done Regarding the hard
lot of the modern watch. the expert
sadly shook his head
The wrist watch ia convenient. Men
are coming to prefer it. And SO long as
accurate time is not vital, l suppose it
Is just as satisfactory. What man
loses I'm accuracy when he carries his
timepiece on his wrist he gains in
convenience, SO il really is more than
fashion that popuiarized the wrist
watch
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

Continental Congress in i77<-7G. and
il was TO vote on the resolution before
that body. to make conclusive this great
step for national independence. that he
made the ride that is glorified as one
of those seeming events that changed
the face Of history. Hut his career by
no means stopped there. He auhse-
quently became n lighting Colonel ana
then Brigadier- General of the state
Militia, serving under Washington IN
1871. becoming Major General, and
only quitting the camp and laying aside
his sword because there was greater
need for service In tho councils of the
nation. aud after being assured that
Delaware too. needed his leadership at
home.
Once here again. Caesar Rodney wna
Immediately chosen President of Della
ware. and remained as head OF affairs
for four years. until 1852. when the
State was organized under it's first
Constitution Two years after retiring
from office M President of Della ware.
the highoat gift that the people had
TO bestow ON It's most worthy citizen.
he passed into the great beyond" and
was buried on his own estate. which he
called Poplar Grove, and when was
located on st Jones Neck. in Kent
county. not far from Dover. in October,
1854 He was in his nifty seventh
year, but the achievements In the short
apan OF his active life of thirty years,
probably were greater than those of
almost any OF his contemporaries.
Perhaps these recitals of Mr.. Rodney =
accomplishments will bring 10 tho
understanding the fact that his life
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

trrbed the bodies OF our forbcars, who
had been finally laid away in the old
Churhcyard Of the First Presbyterian
Church of the city. the old editice itself
continued to defy the storms OF
century it's walls of English brick
withstanding. like Gibraltcr, all the
trials and stress of time. ON the
corner below Ninth and Market
streets. our Chronicler would not. were
he TO come again. see the spacious
dwelling that had housed some or our
most distinguished men and women,
and whose last occupant before II hao
yielded to the slow advancement OF
business and the professions UP Market
street was Thomas +. Bayard'
The site of the Ford building. was oc-
Cupied with a squatty building without
grace or charm. plebian in aspect. anu
across the street. the block now ried
SO fun that il seems to be running over
toward the skies, there was h"H"'
script clutter Of buildings houses
stores and stables a fire house, con-
Elorncrate faded group that were Jus.
tbc autipodcs of tno present dufont
t,,ndirg tbot raises its roof thirteen
or fourteen stories into the heavens
nortant business centres OF thc UNI
-. a, Tho period of the world war.
49, TOO was a low. rambling home. q
Ia nf o1d world architecture, with
a.,,,.a piazza al the front and wide
.i.,,,,,..,.s big suuare rooms. after th'
80, ofa,t,,d in Latin countries IN
III, l,s+ century II was the nome q
,,r-,1 wootep one Of our carrier
,.,,.,..-s ~ high repute, and here E''ci
Nf q 4 found it's early h"ad
>,.,a,+,.,s Then there was little taii"'
l,, i, tbe windows ~ which were dl7-
49,, ,,..tcrrs of suitings. md turih't
,fn,c Inv at later period. Lew.
,,tr5 bod his home and law offices ana
tror1 here sailed forth TO try cases ~
~, not on. thing in that hio'k
ia An, famous historian and C"ur
to,ns Chesterfield find that ne han KNOW
,.,,ora v.ert hr here again in the Iesh
hto.,a The old court house thai
Ill. revv when hc passed in III" great
lavond indeed spacious. then. hut nara
~ 70 be appraised as an a0hitectuFH
has,,rv especially those having even
,arttallv developed appreciation q
str,cturaI grrIcc. We may. q course
au recall II " green ston" with daTke'
corp.rs as trimmings. an almost un'
siphtly nile. yct as strong ana n
s+.,,,ch AZ the best builder of his day
co,,ld make il az serpentino and mortar
The lawn slopcd in all four direction.
| from this Temple of Justice, while ~
/ almost interminahle line of stone step:
/ into King street brought the house ~
/ "A convenient proximity 10 the Whining
4 IAN Club across the street. IN latter
days
II one Who had ben sleeping for for
/ =, vea,s &yere indeed to 90 back 10 tn
/ rrar+h ana Market streets section h'
would he IRE etrievably lost and hKe th'
venerable philosopher. ot jefferson
.yraat comedy would look In vain for
familiar object that he knew 81 wei
before he had been lu1.cd lnt" !ons
sumber.
Perhaps no other section OF the cltA
| has been so completely changed. met
/ aphorised. as this coming civic centel
/ Of Wilmington. II has lost its rawness
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

He went on 10 explain that there is
no need TO bewail the good old days
when a watch really told the time In
spite of the way we mistreat our watch
Is. we have Just about good time now
as 80 years ago That is because Of inn
provements in matchmaking. The fiat
hair spring. for instance. that used 70
tangle up every time watch got drop
ped has been replaced by the Breguet
hair spring that doesn't tangle.
We look upon the wrist watch "a a
innovation and a watch set into a ring
is regarded as truly novel idea. Yet
history records the existence OF watch
es like these, and others more unus-
ual several centuries back.
Historical Wrist Watches.
Queen Elizabeth received wrist
watch as New Years gift In 1871.
Whether 1t was "a novelty then is not
noted. hut tho watch is described as an
"arnlet or shalsell OF golde. all over
fairly garnished with ruhyes and dia-
nondes. having in the closing thereof
a ciocke." The Earl OF Leicester made
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

was nlled with undertakings of the very
first moment. and that hia notable
ride Nah hut ore II the innumcrabie
tasks this laR man Of decision aud
action sct himself 10
just passing reference to tho neglect.
almost forgrtfulncss. of the tremcnd
GUS services Of this hero of tho early
DAYS. il all that necd he made here
II IS not pleasant 70 recall that his
body lay p y grave on the old farm.
even unmarked hy q stone. for almost
a century untii the late Chief Justice
Conceys placed a small marble tablet
upon IL Two years later the Stat
Legislature passed meas sure ap-
propriating the almost ridiculous sum
Of $500 toward the erection of suit
able monument" over his grave. and a
like donation from a relative made ,he
work possible and this was unveiled
on October 30. 1889. in the graveyard
or Christ Church at Dover. 70 which
place the ashes Of Della wares dis
tiuKu!shed sigrer had been transferred
fcsS months before Thomas r BAY
ard. the chief speaker Of the occasion.
revealed Caesar Rodney. the man and
statesman TO the people Of Delaware
In mastery address at the unveiling
ceremonies in the state capitol
II Is not a matter Of pride 10 Della
vareans that this last reference to
neglect and seeming ingratitude may
thus be truthfuiiy recorded. but II II
q matter Of great qualification at tins
moment that we see growing into
living thirg Of beauty. as rose IN
folds in the most attractive section Of
our city. its civil centre. square
which gives promise Of great charm.
that shall bear the iliustrtous name OF
Caesar Rodney and thus perpetuate
his memory and great works for all the
future.
The details Of Caesar Rodneys 4 his
tor4c ride have been told many times
in recent years but they lose no in
terest with tho repetitions. and as the
incident IS the outstanding graphic
event Of his career. it may be repeated
briefly for Il will have a new and fresh
interest when the statue nnds its place
in Rodney Square.
The Continental Congress in session
AT Philadelphia IN July, 1875. was con
ferring on what action TO take on the
tyrannicai attitude of Great Britain
towards her American colonies. Meet
fUES, nitnGTtO, ndQ always NOiCtd tiit
hope that the differences could be healed
through some compromise. for despite
the later resolution of Independence
that breathed defiance In every word
and sentence Of its remarkable phrase
olosy, the colonists were unfaltering in
their love and devotion to the Mother
Country, and sought TO preserve the
tie intact until the last hope had gone
until further submission to the studied
indignlties of tho British crown became
/ fntolerabic and impossible. Up until al
most the last moment prior TO the asser-
ton of Independence did our ahlest men
in the national councils express their
deep, genuine affection for Great
Britain feeling too that the prosperity
and continuance OF the colonies were L
be best assured under the protecting
care Of the mother country
Eventually, the Continental Congress
realized that it had come TO the turning
point. and discerning that the hour tc
strike against the tyranny of England
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

po,.,,. Souarc is literally springihs
-, - ~. ground. and those who arc
,,.,.eh,,g il grow are amazed at the
,.,.h,,c,,, like celebrity that is 81 rap
IN, t,apsformiug the old plot into
t...uttful garden. Its progress seems
., have been more rapid in the last
,.,onth than al any other time IN inc
obstruction of the old reservoir INTO
H,a centre of our civic activities. anu
should any of the men or women VINO
bad formerly known this block at Icnth
and Market sareets. either as the oiu
reservoir or more recently aS the ste
II IN. Tcluplc II Justice. he would
..ar..N b, able To locate himself IN
that section.
perhaus were 50 observant an his
tsriau as the late Francis Vincent Z"
one hence again. he like the long
sItubertuc Rip Van Wrinkle. would he
compelled 10 inquire of every passinE
.,-.,r f,,- directions 10 identify tho old
.,,,arc oi,,axs unsaiuly and ugly until
nov our good blue Hens Chickrh
ditor would not be able to r"c'gniIr
stu,-l., thing within the scope of the
.1,sscs which he often wore atop "I ms
,,ta instead Of on his nose-wh"r rest
ss ms ,,ycs-,.Nccpt the First rrcshy-
tsrt.n church and the MCC"mb man
., and Draper residence. the dicni-
red ,l1 colonial house on the corner Of
Eleventh and Market streets, With its
pstrtc,au aspect. and inviting vide
dnor,,ays. long and rambling rear hnl.d-
.rgs. Practically everything else IN
s,rbt i charged since the ,tssir.; q
the veteran etitor aud historian. about
forty Years ago.
Rack on King street was the George
Ee,.i Riddle mansion. Very naughty ~
~ prefensions of brown stone, or its
..et.ltalent. with Cupoia surmounting its
ttvo stories. a style affected by people ~
..,ans. unawakened 70 the possibilities
II architectural art in those days of the
sorfies or nfties Two dogs fashioned
with the chisel or from the plaster :
mould were on duty At either side 81
f small piazza FOR years and Years.
rhev were ~ q type unknown 70 III"
aturaast not lean enough for th'
treVhouud and too graceful for the fox
railer They probably were created 70
# into the nondescript tyne Of mansion
nat they guarded here. they also We're
5und in almost every American big
md little town dating the civil
var period ~ any rate the Riddle
house was a home ~ luxury and elc-
rance. and perhaps our historian might
have recalled some famous functions
there. but few are those alive today
who 90 back far enough 70 remember
the house as other than q structure ot
isolated rpIendor. gauged by the stan
dards Of sixty or more years ago
There were two or three other homes
adjacent. large, and OF brick that be
spoke the occupants 10 he Friends. If
we may always judge correctly by the
scrupuiously clean steps and the spot
v~s windows that reflected the fiery rays
cr the sun OF summer afternoons. when
they poured across the low Intervening
building and painted the window glass
50 red that one had 10 look twice Il
assure himself that there was no fire
on the south side OF Tenth street We're
shops and carriage factories, for this
was a wagon construction center then
and across King street rested, undis-
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

s., to.d
Ey .a
watCh.- V.ta h.tNN eat
that huns an ..r tls.
COATS Mn.cr +. .s-.
ga> eu. nr
laI .Su -s-..s
-r,., ao te. ,....
san uANluE n.N ...n go
thc scal ,.. e. bf ..N -..v h.
waist. EN.n .a.-. 3an'u ... yrr,
tn bv.NtltuI .ud cAue.si.v. nadr
od1 ShArt- ..tr r-et~ .Aa
ensr.t,a aH.
HistutN -....- U.
~D ti.I as NAt,h ttsl..u. Eu watch.
afte t4c Natt,ru .l Dn,. An,th. .+
J,lrNtjS atc urN ...l s..rs dpuh.
tul Il ", Nn ..ue s... 3eain
the frcak Wlri.e Nu .pitct
IaNirE tn ,t',HlAt. tlu u nte urtst
watches rt 4a.t. h.fs
tho Otbe r.h t.e. t'ong
would 3, ,nnr,Il to. IS. rIyxiug
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

Delaware statesmen, who We're the
peers 81 any other mon IN early Ameri-
can history iC We may except snch az
Washington Pen Franklin or heN-
ander Hamilton
Cesar Rodncy's ifc was so flled with
big achievements, as We're thc lives ~
his fellow members ~ the Continental
Congress from Delaware Thomas Nc I
Kean and George Read-tha' i seems
like unduly magrifying one siuEle in-
cident ~ his long service q great use
sulness by bringing this flying equeS-
triRn trip into the foreground But y
was an undertaking OF the greatest
moment at that hour. and. too. II
probahiN illustrated the character u
TIE man himself more than any otheF
ar his single at Is. when u Is reGaAed
that ne was suffering severely from q
cancer that was eating away his lace
and had doomed him 10 an early dealh.
and that there was a heavy doWnpour
II rain during mul of the progress
after he had set N on his mount ~
power and also .hat the Fourth q
Iuly weather was intensely not. IN
In No-mile ride. ahead Of him. and these
,onditions confronting him. X required
4. herolsln and devotion to duty that IS
flCf sACtl4te4 ~ a. 'A4t'4 N'- 80
ages of :hc Colonial period
II there has been AIRY comment a. 70
why This delaware statesman was not
1. his most in Phuadeiphla al 50 cri-
ticaI period i, is easily explained tnat
ne was ir Delaware on a mission II
connection with he more complete
orxaniza tfor OF the State militia, 81
H.. sCr
he had sensed the approaching confi"'
rscss!bIy. and nc evidently believed tfai
state troops needed much persona at
'-ntion and discipline. for IN letter e
Washington on the subject at. or just
before the outbreak OF the Revolution
re wrote with some feeling. as II
drawing on his own experience and
rheckiug the thoughts be would like to
utter 10 assured all can DO shall be
done But ne that can deal with the
militia may almost venture 70 deal
with -' tthe dash here IS very elo-
quentl.
Capsar Rodney IL should be under
stood had filled many nigh Offices N
he public service even before his
notable ride 70 save Delaware from de-
faulting in her duty al the most crttbca
Of all times Ia her history.
we first find him as high sheriff Of
Kent County serving from I755 TO i75s
and later he became q Justice Of the
Peace and again Judge Of the lower
courts He served in all posts so wei
that so early as 1875. when 81. he was
picked as a delegate TO the Stamp Act
Congress which perhaps wae the frs
OPPORTUNITY he had to show the leading
men Of th.s and other Colonies the full
measure OF his stature as a statesman
From this point his advancement wa'
continuous and steady He was Speaker
Of the Delaware Assembly. for five
years. was the Chairman Of the Della
ware Committee Of Safety, when tn,
menace from the Tories required th'
best Of minds and men to cope with
and he was chairman of the state con
vention in l774, when the coming o
the Revolution was I'm the air, but wheI
il still was hoped such a disaster Nigh
be aveTtsd.
Caesar Rodney was member of tn
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19
The Pestered Timepiece
BY Frederic J Haskin.

Washington. Feb I9T you write
vlth pen or pencil for several hours
4 dav. you are apt to get 70 your ap-
continents ahead OF time. but II you
vfIte on the typewriter. you are more
art ~ be late.
That u II you wear your watch on
talf wrist as an increasing number II
.r- do This transfer Of the time
p4s.. from the pocket TO the forearm.
according 10 watch experts. has cub
je,.ted the instrument 10 new and try
lhR Nlclssitudes
A watch expert outlined this situation
nud then opened a large silver watch
and indicated the balance wheel. whirl-
iE Wu-thirds III the way around mud
the .HlrHug back. That wheel. he cx-
planned J4rns 300 times a minute,
nornallv
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

Commemorate the Notable Services or
The Srner' and His Conerees and Delawares Io,,,-
n,andng Prominence in r96ne % hfars OF the Sooma t
i; E,rtherns of independence The Equestrian
e.. IS Caesar Rodney Picturng the Most Graphic In
Jent of His EverActive Public Career Will Co,n,enoIae
| NJ ,Ie Part Played by MIR. Rodney and Thomas Nc
-. ia Making the Action of the Colonies in
Adopting the Declaration Oh ihoePehcehce' De'"'"
ofW War.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

But f.afr1I Rodney VHn f1f seeing
ana pa'riou, and vlr ald s.s. Io
for ne noth.r ,0ftr, - fear ~ ~
obscIrod hi- cleif aor p. 2, rsa uln
- pond,r fpr . mut.tr ~ 70, mr.
oNpedierr,." ~ sltt ACTION. y. fnIbf.s
folIo~'J higher raILaa,e
u.o artlor r.ec ueia1ar. fte h.ls
rt"ry rnti.fa ..l4ur frou ffs iH
fr The prre.Hf
u is Interesting 10 recall th,
known a,f iu fIIF ,4rr.t lion fHf.
Gcorgr Road tt1 voted Hga .rr fE,
adoption - tt. irclarafiar ~ ft
rcndrree rr~o,atloo rlasrqucf
+ - u ~, 1eod 1n -
3 lu sLr roI1fr 3. Her 80 ffr.
I great drr lusn' rho yDl1rIrr fU.
td1rse tr EIrv ge0rRa ITf -
tprofe sing HFrtrf fnrafllr.
Dedication r. 1airrfsnrs arf
rpr- 20 iflor f.raf afat
There sar .t. r - fr.t' 'Fr Ft.|
io.tfv ~ 'l .lfs eter ffourf
HsI n'.d .. tra urr.ar1fi1n rf
ear sTDiairnhis
f'd r,+ believe ft
fr .-rrr rrrrf
af
.t..t tr. .r-r.-f.' t-rfrr
ro7rys ~,f 80 roe,
tr.ft-f arH
fe,.~ ner n frs
r.et
r- ~ :" rsd
-sr arat
eHnr'.rr err.F rvsee
COINED t#rr trr fr f~tir -e rf~f
ard fr ~trr
taLt,gt. .a -..t- - rre - ts
crown -r -vrr' arfr a-f WREN
r,ara--ara P.-or vas .Irr sasf
E-..v. Hrt- III Slew aef'- u.s rf
-ts g.ra a. a~vftra - -r-
PEI. ace. r-arfsr wac inE'rlr're
- e- -.r prrF rrarfo-
.. ..r-. s-fr-.o1e ~ ar-sr~ff.
r.-ytsyc. .- trc .e'a 7e ~ avf
.rt. -~se- trat -rtrt.- l~.f
C.,u.-e f-r-o -r se---r -
s-rr -rc es. e-f
't. ra-fo~
r-,s NJ F.,r rre -er n~ia-
ir~er -a n--f- as rs =
Is. tr- o~firar
-.--rsus ,a ...Ira - rourf
- r.r-a -a ta -ne
~ -r arv -v- wsrra rf
~d ltr.- agf .-r--rr--fs -uref e-
tft
r- re -Ea -ta--r r rrr
.,-s-- .ee --r- v.r' -.-. afer
.r-.eat y, s tn aar va.
-ati-e ~ rres-a- ru--r -rI- sfufia,
sw aera-a. N.- castle arf orr
nae .hr -nad -re -ar n r.
-+a-. r-4a.d -n - -
t.e- -r trl.t~r .re @ra- ~rr
e.auar- etft
af ..s .- -.fs-r--r .- aart
e ---rss
-- was resident f 1d.
rs - acted r re -c-rr
I praz.de-- sa7rara ars
: -.ra .-a supreme -r-
4 a--a
( ~ .r.4A U..
E ra4 MONS
a .a.enar- re-r7-rtra
r-
---.- -ear
.-.-
-a.,--u-r ia. .-.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19
Rodney Square Unfolding Its Beauty the Heart of Our CiOic d

When Transformation is Complete, the Old Court House
and Market Streets VIII Have Become Ore
of the Most Artistic Small Parks That
of American Cties. Ito Settings Are Almost
Entirely New With Three Remaining o the Neighborng
Buildings Standing When the Old Reservoir Gave
Way to the Temple Of Justice. When Ready for Formal
WILDE the PTettiest the
City, No Longer One of the Homcliest.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

Evidently. t'aesar Rodney id not
regard his long hard ride ara his Ar
rival at the very decisive momea, for
M. eause Of Independence ofher than
part ~ his routine dutv aS delegate
u. Congress. Hors, lea r.. Mas oi course
ne only lnethed o. speedy travel, and
A<tS resoried 10 by al people 81 that
ieriod Few. however. would probably
nave undertaken the trip after a h4sy
iaX afoot III connection with the new
militia. without stopping to consider for
a moment the hardships q such ride.
especially for one So racked and tortur-
ed by disease. There was no thought OF
= fresh horse. Of supper before hv began
his long race no waiting - have the
doctor dress his wound. partly shielded
from the air and vision by mask that
covered half 81 his fac He understood
that very much depended upon his
oresenca in Congress to vote Tor the
severance of the tie that bound US to
The Mother country. So he rode and
rode we are told, and made no stop on
that long night and almost all next day
tourney except with a pause here and
there 10 change mounts. RELAYS having
heen provided IN advance. IN order that
Mr. Rodney might not fail 10 get 10
philadelphia in part Of night ana
part Of next day Thus Mr Rodney
,,,ada the wonderful dash. and his ride
.tards OH among the high spots Of
,,,.tor,. excclling IN importance thar
~, memorable feat embalmed in
ht.tn,.v as paul ReVere's Ride
Caesar Rodney started from his farm
,aar noyer and his route was over the
old Kings Road TO Duck Creek Cross
Roads (Smyrna), 70 Blackhird 70
,stntweu Bridge Odessa; 10 ST.
r,corges; TO New Castle: to Whining
ton. crossing the Christiana at the Old
Ferry. foot OF Third street. then by
old Ferry Road that ran across VIII
mtngton from foot Of Third street to
,hoI,t the Northeriy end OF Walnut