Smyrna times., 1935-09-05
DELAWARE, OLD
AND NEW, TOLD
Leo A. Borah of National
Geographic Monthly Writes
of Our States Charm
BELMONT HALL NOTED

landscapes. 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 Editorial Staff of
the National Geographic Society,
summarizes the charm of Della
ware, old and new, in Diamond
Delaware, Colonial STILL" feature
of the September, 1885, issue of the
National Geographic Magazine.
Perhaps Delawareans are a little
to blame for not making them
selves and their treasures better
known to outsiders" says the ar
ticle. They are a delightful peo-
pie. genuinely hospitable, but not
effusive. Houses exquisite with
the patina 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 gen
erations, growing old gracefully, re
ceiving necessary, not disfguring
repairs, and keeping silence con-
cerning the famous persons they
have sheltered, the stirring events
of their past. One of these in
cludes historic Belmont Hall of
Smyrna. To appreciate the real
! glamour of the State, one must
bide a while and-forgive the pun
absorb fDelawareness' from the
people. Delaware is not obvious in
its bid for attention. Measured by
population and area combined, it is
the smallest of States, having more
square miles but fewer citizens
than Rhode Island, and more peo-
pie but far less territory than
Nevada 1t is only ITO miles long.
and its width varies from 9 to 35
miles. but its citizens are forward
looking and its industries far
reaching. William Penn bought it
from the Duke of York for 10 shill-
ings, and Lord Baltimore disputed
the ownership, claiming it under a
prior grant from the King of Eng
land. Because of an Inflated
Dutch settlement in 1851 near the
present site of Lewes. Baltimore
lost the case; for his grant of
hactena inculta specifically exclud-
ed land previously occupied by
white men. Mr.. Borah, recalling
that Delaware was first to adopt
the u. S. Constitution, points out
that despite it's diminutive area
and scant population, Delaware
has its grand moments. With only
one member of the United States
House of Representatives to ac-
company its two Senators to
Washington, it takes precedence
over its larger sisters in the par
ade of States; for it was the first
December 7, 1877 to ratify the
Constitution. Its depreciators are
reminded, too, that Thomas Jeffer-
son held it precious enough to dub
it the diamond name that has
clung to it to this day. Whining
ton has historical authority for its
slogan, "The First City of the
First State Let it not be sappos-
ed, however, that the little Com
monwealth is content to rest on
accomplishments of long ago.
Though it treasures colonial Gus
toms. even to the retention of the
whipping post for wife beaters,
highwaymen, and other mean Of
tenders, and though for more than
a century it was somnolent and
backward, it now constantly seeks
improvement. Its very smallness
renders it admirable for political,
economic, and sociological expert
ment. If a theory seems worthy
of consideration Delaware can give
it quick trial and immediate adop-
tion or rejection. Little Della
ware" notes the article, with a
population of 238, 1880, ranks four
teenth among the States in pay
ment of taxes to the Federal Gov
eminent. There is not a house
within its boundaries more than
four miles from a paved highway,
and it has a statewide system of
fine modern schools; yet for public
improvements that have cost S5-,-
100000 it has paid practically out
of what is counted upon as current
income in State Enhancing. De
scribing the chief city of Delaware
the author says, Wilmington is
small enough to have friendly
and democratic society, large
enough to escape the worst phases
of provincialism. Much has beer
written about the Du Pont dictat-
orship' in Delaware. If it Is a die
tatorship, it seems to me bene-
ficent one. To t. Coleman DUPONT
the State owes the beginning OF
its superb highway system. Tc
his cousin, Pierre Samuel, it owes
! its splendid school-building pro-
gram. The fine State University
at Newark is largely indebted tc
the generosity of the same family
There is hardly a hospital or other
public or semipublic institution in