September 11, 1908

Mrs. Charles H. Camp and son, who have been visiting her mother, Mrs. Mary Evans, have returned to their home in Miradean, Mississippi.

James Alonzo Walls, of Philadelphia, is visiting his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Walls. He enters the Preparatory School of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., this fall to study for the Methodist ministry.

We don’t wish the reader, for even a moment, to get it into her head that we have abandoned our walks to and around Lavina’s Wood. By no means. But during camp meetings we think to be generous we should give right of way to the campers. The camps or rather the meetings are now over and yesterday morning silence reigned. The desolation was complete with the exception of the little chipmunks that were scouting hither and yon, as useful in their sphere and with as much brains to spare as had many of the two-footed animals who congregated here only a few weeks ago. They are all gone now with their memories, be they pleasant or sad, and we are left to enjoy the solitude. Well, we do enjoy it. When Cooper asks in his Soliloquy, “O, Solitude where are thy charms?”[i] he does not give a very glowing answer to his interrogatories, but we think there is beauty and a pleasure in Solitude.

“There is a pleasure in the trackless wood,
There’s music on the lonely shore,
There’s company where none intrude,
By the dark Sea, and music in its roar.”[ii]

Milton and its suburbs is our little heaven, and if we are enthusiastic over it at times we must be excused. Sam Wilson has said if he had plenty of money he had rather live in Milton than any other place, and if he hadn’t any he would rather live in Milton than any other place; and the writer thinks likewise.

Our mind for some time has been running in the channel that an editorial in the Chronicle last week summarizes, the card of thanks nuisance. The basic principle of Christianity—the brotherhood of man—demands that everyone do all that he can to alleviate suffering and cheer the hearts of the afflicted, and render comfort to bereaved friends as well as to the dying and the dead. The people know they are thanked for their attention and yet they don’t expect thanks for doing their duty. The “card of thanks: appears as silly to them for whom it is intended as it does to those who read it.

Wm. Wagamon has opened a general store on the corner of Chestnut and Wharton Streets.

G. B. Atkins has about finished painting the Betts property on Unions Street North.

H. R. Draper has his new building raised and sheathed.

J. S. King is building a stable in the rear of his residence on Chestnut Street.

David Wiltbank has curbed his sidewalk on Federal Street. Such acts as this are so uncommon with some people that we speak of them as we do of heroic deeds.

Y. A. Bryan is tearing down his tent on Lavinia camp ground and utilizing the lumber in building a stable. Very sensible idea.

Harry Robinson and J. Oliver Hazzard have opened a meat store in one of the rooms of the Ponder Block.

The lime “bully” Rambo has been sold to a United States Marshal, and her Captain James Scull has returned to Milton, his home.

Miss Mary E. Carey, daughter of Mr. James R. and Mrs. Carey, left on Monday to enter the Normal School at Chester, Pa.

James B. Carey removed this week from Mulberry Street to Mr. Carey’s farm to the east of town. Stephen W. McPherson has removed to the residence vacated by Mrs. Carey. Mr. McPherson is a former resident of Centreville, Md., but late of Vancouver, N. C., and will open a jewelry store in Mrs. Fields’ building as soon as his goods arrive from his late home.

The Misses Mayme and Laura Conner returned from a visit to Cambridge, Md. on Friday.

J. M. Markel, of Swedesboro, Pa., senior partner in the “big store” is on a business trip in Milton.

It was announced last week that district Superintendent Morgan was to preach at the M. E. Church on Sunday morning, but on account of the death of his sister-in-law he was unable to be present. Charles H. Atkins, Jr., occupied the pulpit in Dr. Morgan’s place. Rev. McGilton conducted services in the evening and administered the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Some of the Milton gunners are killing many squirrels. They are said to be plentiful.

S. L. Wilson of Frederica was a Milton visitor on Sunday.

Labor Day was observed in town by the closing of the banks. All other business kept moving in its natural grooves.

Mrs. Elizabeth Chandler has returned from an outing at Ocean Grove, N. J. She is now entertaining Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Chandler of Kennett Square, Pa.

The Douglass White Shirt and Overall Factory resumed business on Monday after a closure of a few weeks on account of camp meetings and other things.

The colored camp closed on Sunday night after what some of the colored ladies say, “a good time.”

Captain Eli Burris has gathered his crop of morning glory vines.

On account of the scarcity of tomatoes the canneries are only running part of the time and consequently the help is, the greater part of their time, idle or fishing in the river. A part of the people who work the canneries left for their homes last week.

John Conover, of […], who suffered a stroke of paralysis recently, is able to hobble around the house by the use of a cane.

Captain George Hunter is having one of his buildings on Atlantic Street reroofed.

The Milton teachers are attending the institute at Rehoboth; that is, some of them, not all.

On account of misinformation we were in error in reporting last week that work had commenced on the colored school house. The building is to be enlarged and the work is to be done by the middle of October. We were informed the work commenced last Tuesday and so reported it, but a visit to the place on last Monday morning showed no lumber on the ground and no work being done.

Atlantic Street is being nicely guttered to Parker Bridge. There has been considerable work done on this street since last spring. It is now in a respectable condition to the bridge which is the town limits in this direction. The county road from this point running east has been graveled some distance and is in a fine condition. This is work that was much needed, and the material from the Sussex quarry at Gravelly Hill proves to be the right stuff for this business.

Noble Ellingsworth, of Philadelphia, spent Sunday in town.

The Misses Annie and Helen Manship after a visit of four weeks returned to Philadelphia on Monday.

Miss May Welch has been at home with her parents for many weeks. She returned to the city on Tuesday.

[…] Manship has accepted a job at carpentry in Wilmington. He left on Tuesday morning.

The grass on one side of the street leading to the station has been cut by someone. We have no doubt the ladies and misses who visit the depot of an evening will join with the writer in extending thanks for this much. But why does not someone cut the other half?

The W. C. T. U. of Weigand’s Chapel will hold a picnic in front of Peter Dutton’s residence on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26. Miss Ellie Lampert, a talented lecturer of New York, is expected to be present and address the meeting. Cake, ice cream and lemonade will be furnished free. Just think of it, free! You won’t have to pay anything for it, and then—the managers want you to come. Don’t forget the date. It is Saturday, Sept. 26. The next business meeting of this organization will be held on Friday evening preceding the picnic at the home of Mrs. Lydia Johnson.

Miles C. Mills died at the home of his daughter Mrs. David Argo, in Slaughter Neck, on Friday, of general debility, aged 82 years, 7 months and 19 days. Funeral services were held at Cedar Neck M. E. Church on Sunday afternoon by the Rev. Cochran and sepulture made in the cemetery nearby. S. J. Wilson & Son, Undertakers.

Mrs. Susie B. Davidson returned to Philadelphia on Friday.

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[i] Quotation from the poem The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk, by William Cowper (1731 – 1800); this poem has been used previously by Conner, in the June 5, 1903 Milton News letter,.

[ii] Quotation from the poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, by Lord Byron; this poem has been used by Conner previously, in the November 13, 1903 Milton News letter.