September 1, 1905

The last of anything is often bought with sadness times with gladness the last night at Lavinia as camp who was unattended by in the great demonstration. Unlike the camp of former years, and notably that of last season, the concluding event was rather tame. Sunday was a splendid day for a visit to the woods. The air was bracing, the weather cool, and a rain two days previous had laid the dust so completely as not to be of any trouble to riders or pedestrians. As a matter of course the woods began to fill up at an early hour and the people continued to arrive until noon from distant parts, and all the afternoon and evening from the country nearby. The morning services were conducted by the Rev. E. F. Foulk, of Delmar; in the afternoon the Rev. R. T. Coursey, of the M. E. Church preached, and the Rev. Frank S. Cain, preached the last sermon on the ground. J. B. Welch led in singing his famous song, “My Old New Market Home,” which was much appreciated by those people living in this section which the song represents. And this Sunday evening was the last of the camp. On Monday morning the tenters bade adieu to the woods for the present season, looking much like persons who had been out all night and were just getting home in the early morning. The meeting was a financial success, particularly so by the 2500 people who are on the ground on Sunday.

In these days there are many little sand perch in market. The sellers call them “croakers.” They, really, are not worth cooking. Yet fish have been so scarce of late, that people rushed after them with avidity.

While walking along one of our principal streets in the early morning, we discovered an elderly woman painting her porch. She had already completed the floor, and was at work on the steps. The new theory is fast materializing in Milton, that “the women will have to support the men.”

Farmers are now busy at fodder saving.

The practice of throwing rinds and half-eaten watermelons along the streets, and in front of business places, has long since become a nuisance, but not abated. The decomposition of this matter is detrimental to health, and the practice should be stopped.

J. Polk Davidson has his launch planked.

A yacht for a company of Miltonians was commenced 18 months ago, but for some reason work was stopped when the boat had been framed. The material has been resurrected, and now work has been resumed by C. C. Davidson and Steven Sockum.

The Jr. O. U. A. M. attended the camp meeting on Thursday evening in a body, and were addressed by the Revs. Frank Cain, Frank Holland, and Frank Bryan.

The Wagamon Brothers have removed their large stable from near the former steam flour mill, to near the flour mill on the lake.

Fred Ellingsworth and wife, formerly of Milton, but now of Philadelphia, are visiting their former home.

The Misses Mary and Sarah Banning of Milford, have been visiting the Misses May and Lottie Welch.

Rev. N. W. Conaway, M. E. Minister stationed at Salem, Md., Is the guest of his sister, Mrs. Lizzie Smith.

Abel Pettyjohn, of Philadelphia, is visiting his parents, Abel Pettyjohn, senior, and wife.

Joseph Fields, who has been ailing for some time, was further afflicted with a partial loss of speech on Thursday evening.

During the hard rain of Friday, a part of the gutter on Chestnut and Front Streets was washed out.

David Dorman, a former resident of Milton, but now of West Philadelphia, is visiting Broadkiln friends.

On Sunday afternoon we met our inamorata on the camp ground. She wore white shoes, a blue dress and a red head. She was sweeping along holding her skirts at about 23½ degrees, or on an angle with the earth’s eclipse.[i] She–well, “comparisons are odious.”

Edgar Lank, attorney-at-law of Philadelphia, who has been summering around Milton and on Broadkiln Beach, has returned to the city.

Willie W. Conner, who had been partly recovered from his recent illness, took a relapse on Saturday night, and is again confined to his home.

Rev. R. T. Coursey conducted services at the M. E. Church, both morning and evening, on Sunday, besides preaching on the camp ground in the afternoon.

A horse belonging to Charles E. Windsor, of Milford, and driven by a man to the colored camp near Milton, was caught in a barbed wire fence on Sunday afternoon and was badly lacerated.

Mrs. Mame Salmons and children, of Philadelphia, of the guests and J. B. Welch and family.

Some roughs visited the colored camp on Sunday evening and created considerable disturbance a short distance from the ground. Several shots were fired, but no one was seriously hurt. This camp will continue over Sunday.

The “city cousins” are fast leaving town. The enchantments have lost their charms.

The steam yacht Ralph Welch broke down again last Friday near the Oyster Rocks, and the passengers were compelled to walk to the nearest house through a severe rainstorm for shelter. Here they remained all night and returned home by train from Overbrook next morning.

Captain Lofland, with the assistance of a couple of colored men, succeeded in getting the boat to Milton. No lives were lost. The launch Ralph Welch is for sale.

Ralph Coursey, the eldest son of a Rev. R. T. Coursey, is under the care of a doctor.

The Draper Cannery, of Prime Hook, received another carload of cans this week, by M. D. & V. R. R.

Tomatoes have brought from 20 to 24 cents a basket during the past week.

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[i] Conner almost got the science right; he was referring to the earth’s ecliptic, which is the angle formed between the earth’s rotational axis and its orbital plane around the sun (roughly 23.4 degrees). He doesn’t name his lady friend, however.