March 7, 1902

The town election on Saturday was hotly contested. There were several tickets in the field and 127 votes cast. The result was the reelection of W. H. Stevens and the election of Captain James B. Scull and John Lewis, all good men; impregnated with advanced ideas, who will no doubt do their duty to their constituents. The new members of the Council were sworn in on Saturday evening, and some business of minor importance transacted.

W. D. Conwell, who represents the Home Life Insurance Company in this district, attended the banquet given by that company in Wilmington on last Friday evening.

Since the snow has melted and gone, we notice the lawns in front of many residences are beginning to look green; and a few weeks of warm weather, will bedeck the landscape in the beauty of spring.

On Thursday our Town Authorities were having some of the chug holes on the streets filled with oyster shells purchased from citizens.

Mr. Will Johnson, has been carpentering at Atlantic City for some time, returned to Milton last week, with a sprained ankle.

Mr. C. C. Davidson, who has the repairing of a schooner belonging to the Carey Brothers, on hand, told the writer he had worked only one day in February, and four days and eight hours in January. This was on account of bad weather.

Capt. S. R. Scull commenced this week to load one of his schooners with piling.

On the evening of March 16th, Prof. W. G. Fearing[i] will deliver a lecture at the M. P. Church on the benefit derived by church members from reading the Methodist Protestant Newspaper.

The debate that took place on Friday evening between pupils of the Milton school and pupils of the Lincoln school, was decided in favor of the latter.

The Frances E. Willard[ii] Memorial service, which was held at the M. E. Church on Thursday evening, was well attended, particularly by the ladies.

Capt. James C. Palmer is shipping large quantities of cedar posts to northerly markets.

Edward Reynolds is shipping wood, cut into stove lengths, to Lewes by rail.

A considerable thunderstorm visited Milton on Friday night. It is said to betoken the breaking up of winter.

S. J. Wilson, on account of the past bad weather, has been unable to finish his carriage emporium. On account of this, a car load of vehicles received last week were stored in the lower room of the Masonic Hal. However, “As brighter skied dispense serener light,” Mr. Wilson has taken advantage of the early part of the week to put the metallic roof on his building, and the rest of the work can he finished at leisure.

The Annual Missionary Meeting was held at the M. E. Church on Sunday evening. Singing, declarations and essays were the order of exercises. Miss Mamie Conner was the star reader, and the Welch sisters –Misses May and Lottie-the star singers. $142.89 was raised during the year. $140 of this was raised by the envelope system. The remainder from interest paid by W. W. Conwell on deposit, of the money of the Society in the Lewes National Depository of this town, and from basket collections.

Milton was visited by a hailstorm on Sunday afternoon.

Charles Marker, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia, is convalescing slowly. The crisis of his disease was reached on Sunday, and the developments are for the better. This appears to give joy to many hearts, as Charlie is a fine young man, and respected by all who know him.

Christen Jensen, the Dane, is reported as slowly recovering from his illness. This is also pneumonia.

Mrs. G. W. Atkins, gave a social on Tuesday evening which was attended by the members and friends of the M. P. Church. Refreshments were served, and a general good time was had altogether.

E. L. Collins, the newly-appointed vice president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has had his attention called to a very serious case, on a half or nearly starved animal. This case became known on Monday morning, when the attention of some citizens was called to the condition of the beast. The horse was given corn and fodder by our generous people. Mr. Collins, who was only appointed last week, is, as yet, unacquainted with the duties of his office. He has served notice on the owner of this horse, and written to Wilmington for instructions in the premises.

Mr. G. W. Atkins left on Wednesday morning on a business trip through Kent County. He expects to be absent two weeks.

Schooner Annie Russell left town, or rather the Milton dock, last week for some port without captain or crew. The vessel broke loose from her mooring, but was caught before any damage was done.

Noble Ellingsworth left town on Friday to resume his position on the tug Lookout, plying from Philadelphia dock. Before leaving Mr. Ellingsworth could not resist his attractive sport of engaging in another fox hunt. Accordingly, with the senior member or the Fox Hunting Club, of Morris & Ellingsworth, let out on Thursday. According to Mr. Morris’ statement, the dogs struck the trail at 9.15 a. m. and ran it for 17½ hours, denning it on the farm of R. Davis Carey, near Thos. Pettyjohn’s. It is represented to have been the most exciting chase of the winter.

We have it from one of the members of Town Council, that the dog tax will be in the ratio of an arithmetical progression; viz: as follows: to wit: etc.: For one male dog, 50 cents; for two male dogs. $1; for three male dogs. $2; and for one female dog, $3; for two female dogs, $6; and for three female dogs, $12. As it is currently reported, there are some parties, .carrying as many as twenty-four dogs, perhaps the proposed tax by Town Council may have the effect of compelling these dog owners to unload some of their property. It is becoming dangerous for a man to step out in his own heck yard after dark. These hungry curs invade every smokehouse, kitchen, or any other place they can find something to eat. No one blames the dogs, it is only natural for them to want something to eat——-more than they get. More of this at another time.

Mrs. Sallie Ponder advertises to sell her Georgetown property next week.

Anton Neibert removed from town to Broadkiln Neck on March 3rd.

Mrs. John Stockely is visiting her sister Mrs. Lydia Ellingsworth.

Captain Howard Magee, of New York, is in town. Presumably he came to fondle the pretty little present his wife has given him.

Messrs. Mason & Morris will open their new store in a few days.

William W. Smithers and Edgar W. Lank, have this day, March 1st, formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Smithers & Lank, for the purpose of conducting the practice of the law, with offices on the eleventh floor of the Land Title and Trust Company‘s building, Broad and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. In this connection we will state that William W. Smithers, Esq., is the son of Mrs. Mary J. Smithers, of this town, and has already by his eloquence and learning, made his mark at the Philadelphia bar. Edgar Lank, Esq., is the son of Mrs. Mary S. Lank, the daughter of Mrs. Smithers, above named, and brother to Mr. Joseph M. Lank, cashier at the Sussex Trust Company’s Bank at Milton. Delaware boys are bound to come to the front, “and don’t you forget it.”

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[i] The title of “Professor” was David A. Conner’s idea; Fearing was a house painter and paper hanger.

[ii] Frances E. Willard (1839 – 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women’s suffragist. Her influence was instrumental in the passage of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. She was the second president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, founded in 1873.