August 23, 1901

The long looked for and anxiously expected time has arrived, and Lavinia’s Camp Meeting has been inaugurated with all the éclat that society could give it. On Saturday the forlorn hope lead off and Saturday evening may be said to have been the commencement of the ten days in the woods, which the young of both sexes have been anticipating and wishing for propitious weather in which to air their stock of accumulations. Sunday, of course, was a grand day and as camp meetings and hacks, if not synonymous, go together, there were plenty of the latter plying their trade. The latest styles of the milliner and the dressmaker were conspicuously in the vanguard, and with many, nothing was left untried to show off their charms and accomplishments to the best advantage. Presumably the preaching was of an order superior to that heard in the churches, but as people do not go to camp meeting in these days to hear preaching, it would be presumption in us and , no doubt, many of our readers would consider us guilty of sacrilege if we were to attempt to associate the camp meetings of today and religion together, In our younger days, were a camp meeting boy all over, as we grow older our respect for religion grows more profound, and we do not like to see its sanctity and sacredness profaned with an admixture with something altogether foreign. Yet in a social point, these meetings are invaluable, as many can testify. But they are on the wane, and possibly the years they are to continue are already numbered. We will have more to say about this camp after it shall have closed, and there is history to chronicle; in the interim we hope all may enjoy themselves, and that those who go to catch a bean may catch one.

As Mr. William Lockerman and family were passing through town on Wednesday, their team became frightened at the flying sails of the schooner Scarborough, lying near the Red Bridge, and started to run. It is probable there would have been no damage done, had not Mr. Lockerman’s team collided with the carriage of Miss Lillian Cade. In doing this a wheel was torn from Mr. Lockerman’s Dayton, and he thrown to the ground, and the left shoulder blade torn from its socket. The horses continued their run and threw the remaining occupants out in front of J. B. Welch’s drug store. They were uninjured. The horses were finally stopped near H. B. Atkins’ residence. Dr. R. B. Hopkins rendered the necessary medical aid to Mr. Lockerman, who is doing well under the circumstances.

On Tuesday evening at the M. P. Parsonage, by the Rev. H. S. Johnson, Mr. Christian Jensen and Mrs. Katrina A. Matons were united in the bonds of wedlock. Mr. Jensen is a well-to-do farmer, of near town, and has taken his newly wedded wife to his and her future home.

Miss Maggie C. Clifton, of near Milton, and Mr. John H. Willey, of Greenwood, were married on Wednesday evening at the M. P. Parsonage by the Rev. H. S. Johnson.

Mrs. Charles Virden and Mrs. P. W. Bice and daughter, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Charles G. Cannon and daughter of Camden, N. J., are visiting their mother, Mrs. E. J. Sharpe.

On account t of an accumulation of orders, the proprietors of the Milton Shirt Factory cannot give their employees a vacation during the camp meeting week, They have agreed, however, to allow them Tuesday and Thursday afternoons of this week to visit the camp.

Federal Street is branching out in its improvements, as may be noticed by any casual observer.

The Lacey Bros. are having their property painted by Messrs. Coverdale & Outten. The P. E. Church is to have a pipe fence around it. Good and substantial cedar posts, nicely dressed, are settled for the purpose, and the pipes will be put on at an early day. Captain Jas. Conwell has had a pavement laid in front of his property fronting on Mill Street, and the town is guttering the sidewalk in front of this pavement. Dr. James A. Hopkins has had new steps placed at his office, and Captain H. P. Burton’s house will receive its final coat of plaster this week.

Schooner Scarborough, Captain Jones, is overhauling at the dock.

Mrs. Virgie Mason, who has been very ill with gastritis, is convalescing.

The president of the P. W. and B. R. R., came to Harbeson on Friday and ordered Nehemiah Roach, a section hand who has his feet injured recently at Bennum’s Station, removed top the Delaware Hospital at Wilmington. He was taken there on Saturday as we are informed.

The little son of George Reed, who had his foot nearly severed from the ankle a few weeks ago by being caught in a reaper, is about well, and the foot has grown to the ankle, as Dr. Hopkins thought it would.

Captain Charles H. Atkin’s store was burglarized on Friday night and about thirty dollars’ worth of goods taken therefrom. The purloined goods consisted of clothing tobacco, canned goods and other edibles. Suspicion pointed to two colored youths, William Oliver and John Simpler, better known as “Simp.” Oliver was questioned and acknowledged the deed an implicated “Simp,” who, on Saturday morning, left for Milford. Constable King went to that town and arrested “Simp.” And after trying to sell or give away the old horse “Simp” drove and failing in both, turned him loose and brought “Simp” to Milton, where he was arraigned before Justice E. L. Collins, and in default of bail was sent with Oliver to Georgetown jail. “Simp: is not unacquainted with the accommodations the county furnishes at Georgetown, having lodged at that hostelry on two previous occasions. Entrance was gained to the store by cutting a hole through the weather boarding near the grocery room door and reaching through and unhooking the door and drawing the key from the bolt that fastened the bar across the door, The floor on the inside was covered with burned matches, where they had been lighted, presumably to better find their way. Everything indicated that the burglars were familiar with the location of the goods they were after. On retiring they took the trouble to replace the bar across the door and key it.

Wheat in Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, a great deal of it, is yet in the field, and owing to the humid an murky weather of late is sprouting in the shock, and will likely be a considerable loss to the owners.

Mr. James Donahoo and family, of Camden, N. J., are visitors at Lavinia’s Camp, as are also many other former residents of Milton. Mr. Donahoo conducted a class meeting on the ground on Sunday morning.

Captain John Fisher is at home with his family.

Mr. Fred Taylor and wife, of Georgetown, were in Milton on Sunday.

The Sacrament of Baptism was administered to the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Donovan on Sunday afternoon at Lavinia’s Camp, by the Rev. H. S. Johnson.

Mr. Crouch and family of Milford visited his sons, the Crouch Brothers, on Sunday.

James Jester, the express agent from Milton to the railroad station, has had his bus newly painted and put in order for the camp.

Growers of peaches in this locality are shipping their fruit by rail instead of water transit. The water transit does not suit them.

Luther B, Dutton, of Cave Neck, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. David Brittingham in Lewes, of typhoid fever, August 11, aged 17 years, 11 months, and 18 days. Funeral at White’s Chapel on Tuesday, the Rev. Mr. Outten, of Nassau, conducting the services, and interment made in the adjacent cemetery, S. J. Wilson funeral directors.

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. LaFayette Brittingham, died on Monday of last week, aged 3 months and 3 days. Funeral service at the home of its parents, and sepulture made at Sand Hill Cemetery, Rev. H. S. Johnson officiating.

Mr. William Fisher, son of Captain John Fisher, and druggist of Philadelphia, is spending a short time with his Milton friends.