Milford chronicle., 1935-09-06

where are there more peaceful land
scapes. The people have the easy
going hospitality of the old South.
They love their little land, and with
ample cause.
Thus Leo A. Borah, of the Editor
ial STAFF of the National Geographic
Society. summarizes the charm of
Delaware, old and new, in Diamond
Delaware, Colonial STILL" a feature
OF the September. 1885, issue Of the
National Geographic Magazine.
Included in the thirty-twO page
article are a full-page map, and for
ty illustrations, fifteen of them re-
productions from natural color pho
tOgraphs depicting the States scenic
beauty, its busy industries and its
historic homes and churches.
The article on Delaware is the
thirty-second in the series of Amer
ican State and City stories being
published in the National GeOgraph-
ic Magazine, official publication of
the National Geographic Society.
Appearance of the article in The
Magazine means that it will reach
nearly a million homes of members
of The Society. This membership,
the largest of any educational and
scientific body in the world, is rep
resented in every civilized country
and in every community in the Uni
ted States of fifty or more inhabi-
tants.
DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor is President
of The Society, and DR.. John Oliver
La Gorce is Vice President. Noted
trustees include Chief Justice
Hughes, General Pershing. and Ad-
miral Pratt.
Perhaps Delawareans are a little
to blame for not making themselves
and their treasures better known to
outsiders" says the article. "They
are a delightful people, genuinely
hOspitable, but not effusive.
Houses exquisite with the patinl
of age are to be seen everywhere.
but few of them are restored set
apart as shrines, and labeled. They
are homes that have passed from
father to son for generations, grow
ing old gracefully, receiving neccs-
sary, not disfiguring repairs, and |
keeping silence concerning the fam
Gus persons they have sheltered, the |
stirring events of their past.
True, the Delaware Historic Mar
kers Commission has placed tablets
here and there, but these are unOb-
trusive. To appreciate the real CLAM
our of the State. one must bide
while and-foTgive the pun-absOrb
'Delawareness' from the people.
Delaware is not obvious in its
bid for attention. Measured by pop
ulation and area combined. it is the
of States. having more
square miles but fewer citizens than
Rhode Island. and more people but
Tor less territory than Nevada. It is
Dnly 40 miles long. and its width
aries from to 35 miles. but its
citizens are forward d-lOoking and its
Industries far-reaching.
"a wit in Congress once referred
o it as a 'sandspit on Delaware Bay,
With three counties at low tide and
wo at hign.' William Penn bought it
rom the Duke of York for 10 shil-
ings, and Lord Baltimore disputed
he ownership. claiming it under
,riOr grant from the King of Eng
and. Because of an ill-fated Dutch I
ettlement in 1851 near the present
lite of Lewes. Baltimore lost the
ase; for his grant of hactena in I
ulta specifically excluded land pre- 1
iously occupied by white men" '
Mr.. Borah. recalling that Delaware
Tas first to adopt the L. S. COnsti- c
ltiOn, points out that despite its I
iminutive area and scant pOpula-
ion. Delaware has its grand mo- L
tents. With only one member of the l
nited States House of Representa- 0
yes to accompany it's two Senators S
} Washington, it takes precedence Il
YER its larger sisters in the par e
de of States; for it was the iirst q
December Z, 17S7l to ratify the u
onstitution. It's depreciators are
too, that Thomas JeffNr- 4
IN held it precious enough to dub S
the diamond name that has s.
ung to it to this day. Wilmington q
rs historical authority for its slO- G.
IN. The First City of the First e.
ate 81
Let it not be supposed. however. Il
at the little Commonwealth is
intent to rest on accomplishments "
long ago. Though it treasures col q
ial customs. even to the retention IN
the whipping post for wife beat
S, highwaymen, and other mean y
lenders, and though for more than ~
century 1t was sOmnOlent and II
ckward, it now constantly seeks n'
prOvement It's very smallness III
nders it admirable for political. ST
onomic. and sociological expert pl
mt. If a theory seems worthy of az
nsideratiOn, Delaware can give it ie
ick trial and immediate adoption
rejection. re
Two summers ago several seri- GO
S traffic accidents occurred with III
a week because Overweary drivers sh
freight vehicles fell asleep on tlt
ty. The Secretary of State forth IN
h published an order requiring WI
Try driver of such vehicles to rest ca
at least two hours after each u'
ht of driving and to limit his al
le on the road to Is hours in any IN
The day after publication of the
Ter motorists everywhere in the
tie were wondering at long lines =
laden trucks drawn up alongside