March 5, 1909

“Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, Rocked in the cradle of the western breeze.”[i] The above quotation may appear premature to some; and idiotic to many. But it is no more premature than the weather has been. On Wednesday of last week, it was a common salutation of everyone we met: “This is remarkable weather!” And it was so. On the afternoon of that day the thermometer registered 70 degrees. The daffodils were in full flower; the peach buds were almost ready to burst, plums were in the same condition and the maple tree buds along the streets were crimson, and ready to shoot forth. That night a vert small amount of covers sufficient to sleep under. But that night there came a change, almost unparalleled since that night in January, 1777 when Washington held his famous Council of Wart at Trenton. On Thursday morning the wind was North West blowing a gale. It was snowing at times, and the thermometer had fallen to 37 degrees. Many of the pretty maple blossoms were strewn upon the pavements, and all through that day the wind shrieked ominously through the branches of the trees and telephone wires. That night a little ice formed. But this was only another of Madam Nature’s caprices. The weather since has been fair; and on Monday the month of bad reputation was ushered in by a morning cool and crisp, and the da passed away “childlike and bland.”[ii]

A business meeting was held at the M. P. Church on Friday evening, at which time the old board of trustees was re-elected. The same Board of Stewards was also re-elected, with two additional ones, viz. George Davidson and J. C. Clendaniel. George W. Atkins was elected lay delegate to attend the Methodist Protestant Conference that meets in Baltimore on April 6th. Joseph Morris was named as alternate. Benjamin B. Johnson was chose class leader, and D. M. Porter assistant class leader.

To be nearer his flock the Rev. George Murphy, pastor at Heavaloe Mission near town, has removed from Bell Town in Sleepy Valley.

Wesley Coverdale visited his son Captain John Coverdale last week at Philadelphia. Captain Coverdale is continued in the hospital with pneumonia, and is convalescing.

From the present outlook, it does not appear there will be much done in the tomato business in this town the present year. The growers of this vegetable have their ideas altogether too high; and the canners are making no effort to contract and presumably do not intend to. Most of the Milton canneries have three-fourths of last year’s pack on hand and are likely to hold them longer, or sell them at 67 cents a ton. Just a little figuring will show anyone how much the canner is making; when he pays $3.00 a ton for tomatoes, and sells them at the above price. The tomato crop is a reliable one to the farmer. When the season is favorable he gets more out of it than any other crop he plants, at the favorable prices he has been receiving.

Captain George E. Megee is delivering lumber on his dock—where the vessel will be built—for a barge 85 feet long, 28 feet beam and 6 feet hold. It appears that Captain George is the only man in Milton who has vim enough to keep marine business moving. We do not say capital enough.

Charles Sher will doubtless, in a short time, have all the old bones collected and bought up from around the country. He now has quite a quantity on the dock for shipment. Joseph Long is also a dealer in old iron, bones, broken glass etc.

Fred Stevens has removed his household goods from Lewes to his home, near Milton.

Captain Joseph H. Warrington has removed from the country to his property lately purchased on Broad Street.

Rev. A. C. McGilton, D. D. preached to Chippewa Tribe, Red Men, on Sunday morning.

There will be a town election held on Saturday the 6 inst, at which a Mayor and two Councilmen will be chosen. We have no preference for any particular man, but let us elect a Mayor who has been a resident of the town long enough to know its […].

John Robinson caught the first shad of the season, in the Broadkiln on Saturday. They were two in number, and sold for $1.25, the pair.

Rev. J. M. Hill has been quite ill for the past week at the A. M. E. Parsonage on “Bill” Robinson Avenue.

The Royal Packing Company has completed its contracts for peas.

John Ponder has a nice looking filed of wheat near town; and on Sunday an army of crows were encamped thereon.

The remains of Henry […] that were inhumed at the Presbyterian Cemetery in 1873 were exhumed last week and transmitted to the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Milford.

H. R. Draper has his packing house at the railroad station about completed.

The question for discussion at the next meeting of the Milton Lyceum—Friday evening the 12th inst—is, “Resolved, that United States Senators Should Be Elected By Popular Vote.” Affirmative, George W. Jones, William H. Welch. Negative: E. Warren, T. H. Douglass. This debate promises to be a Battle of the giants,” and those who wish to attend had better bring their Saturday morning breakfast along.

Captain George E. Megee and wife have been visiting the Rev. Ralph T. Coursey and family at Cambridge, Md.

George Warrington has several acres of clay near town suitable for making the finest porcelain. He has on several; occasions supplied Philadelphia potteries with this article, and at present, has orders for several vessel loads, which he will begin to deliver in April.

Miss Letitia Black, Harry Robinson, and Edwin P. Johnson left Milton on Wednesday morning for Washington to attend the inauguration of Taft.

Gladys Neal died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Neal on Wednesday aged 1 year and 18 days[iii]. Funeral services were held at the late residence on Friday afternoon by the Rev. Cochran and buried in Lincoln cemetery by S. J. Wilson & Son. The parents were formerly of West Virginia.

Steamer Marie Thomas has completed he repairs at Mount Ararat Dock, chief of which was shipping a new propeller.

Captain Lucien Darby of Philadelphia is a Milton visitor.

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[i] Quotation from poem by William Cowper (1731—1800), an English poet and hymnodist, and one of the most popular poets of his time. Conner used this quotation more than once in his Milton News letter.

[ii] Quotation from the play My Partner by Bartley Campbell, probably originating from a very popular poem written by Bret Harte in 1870, The Heathen Chinee.

[iii] Cause of death was membranous croup.