When the seasons change, how fast the leaves do fall! Even now, the ground in the woods is thickly strewn with these relics of summer’s departed glory. According to the weather we have had, one unaccustomed to roam the sylvan shades would be surprised at the change a few weeks of autumn has wrought on nature’s verdure. This cannot all be attributed to the cool weather, neither to the many frosts. Both have been slight. But to the season, “All seasons have their own.[i]” And when the autumn comes the leaves will begin to change their hue, and then fall to the ground, no matter just how the temperature may range. From what the “old folks say” we may predict a mild winter. The writer perhaps travels around the woods, as much as any other person hereabouts—if he don’t shoot as many squirrels—and we have found but one acorn and not one hickory nut this fall; and the scarcity of these nuts is said to indicate a mild and open winter. But it is time enough to talk winter. The leaves are what is troubling, not the winter, but others who are compelled to keep their yards clean—or desire to do so. We like to see the leaves after they have done all they could through the hot summer to afford shade for sweltering humanity, change their color as much as to say, “I have contributed all I can to your enjoyment, and will now leave you.” I like to see them fall and love to hear them rustle on the ground, driven by the winds of autumn into some eddy in the woods, to be uncared for, for a time. But many say especially the woman, “they are a nuisance” and it does look so top tem, when they are compelled every day for weeks to sweep their yards of tho0se once beautiful, but now fallen and condemned refuse.
Shocks, that are supposed to have been caused by a seismic disturbance of some kind, were felt to Milton at about 2.30 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon the 20 last. The writer was sitting by a window reading when suddenly two of his daughters rushed from the room into the yard and went gazing at the roof of the house. I threw up the window and said: “What are you gazing at?”—“Why, didn’t you feel the house shake and the windows rattle?”—“No.”—But just then the window began to rattle again. ”That […], “ said one of my daughters. [..} I know about the matter, […] the next day we found that our experience was the experience of many. One of the trust officers of the S. S. T. T. & D. Co., said the bank building was shaken—it is of brick–; and on Federal and Chestnut Streets the shocks were plainly felt; and many residents rushed into the streets to see what was the matter. That night there were some sleepless eyes in the old town, you bet; or at least we have been told so by those whose vigils were disturbed by the shocks of the day.
J. P. Davidson is caulking and overhauling a light for Frank Carey at Milton dock.
In the digging for cellars and other excavations that are going on, the dirt is being utilized in different ways. Filling up depression in yards; improving sidewalks; and making foundations for other buildings. The dirt is given away, and costs only the hauling.
The misses Sallie and Susie Carey of Glensdale, Pa., spent a few days last week at their Milton residence.
On Thursday a scene occurred on Chestnut Street that the town bailiff should have witnesses. Two teams, one of two horses, came into town racing and both drivers running for their horses. They were strangers; apparently from the county seat.
Outten and Palmer are painting the residence of Mrs. Molly Lingo on North Union Street. Mrs. Lingo has also had the roof painted a brilliant red. Sensible woman.
On Thursday evening October 28th, the Stewards of Weigand Chapel will hold an oyster supper at the home of Mrs. Annie Dutton. Ice cream and confectionery will also be on sale.
At the regular meeting of the Milton New Century Club held on Tuesday afternoon, it was decided to hold a Hallowe’en Social in the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening, October 30.
The Lofland Brick Company last week opened three kilns containing about 500,000 bricks; and now have on hand approximately 2,000,000.
On last Wednesday William Workman’s horse ran from the cannery near the depot, to its home, a distance of nearly a mile. The buggy was smashed to smithereens.
Races were held at the Milton Driving Park on Thursday afternoon. Among the many in attendance were the oldest men in Milton—Captain Henry Hudson, aged 92 years, a direct descendant of Captain Henry Hudson; and John Coard Hazzard in his 80th year of age. On the evening of this day, at Palmer’s stables, Robert Houston of Millsboro was hit on the head with a single tree by a man named West, also from Millsboro. Houston is not much hurt. The assault is said to have been the result of an old feud.
On Monday evening the Rev. Smith commenced a week of prayer at the M. P. Church. He is assisted in this service by the Rev. E. T. Liddell, an evangelist from Sycamore, N. Y.
William Wagamon is having a rear annex built to his store house corner, Chestnut and Wharton Streets.
The entablature and other metal finish of the S. S. T. T. & D. Co. has been repainted this week.
Captain George Hunter and wife returned on Thursday from an extended visit to the west. They left Milton on June 2nd, and have since visited Buffalo, Niagara, Chicago, St. Louis, Cheyenne and many other cities of note. This is a wonderful county, thinks Captain Hunter.
On Friday the 22nd, at the Christian Endeavor Convention, held at Georgetown, the Rev. J. D. Smith, pastor of the Milton M. P. Church, was elected president of the State organization.
The extra meetings that have been in progress for the last two weeks at the M. E. Church closed on Sunday night. $41.65 was raised on Sunday to pay the evangelist for his services during this time. The people paid it.
[…] is in town.
Captain Henry Hudson celebrated the 92nd anniversary of his birth on Monday the 25th. Captain Hudson is in good health, and his vivacity at this age is remarkable. He walks around the town staring and erect; visits […], and all baseball games, takes his gin in the morning and from […] appearances is good to cross the centenary line.
Charles Virden has bought the dock formerly owned by Captain G. E. Megee, and will engage in the […] timber business.
C. E. Morris, a former principal of the Milton Public Schools, with his wife, were Milton visitors the first of this week.
[…paragraph mostly illegible…]. Others will begin soon, and others still will not commence to build until the spring.
On Monday afternoon Cornelius Holland, aged 64 years, and his son, aged 21 years, who had lived near the Oyster Rocks, had been fishing near the beach; and in coming up the river took a town behind the steamer Marie Thomas. When near their destination one of them proceeded forward in the boat to cast her loose from the steamer. In doing this the boat tilted enough to run her under, when she whirled around, filled with water, and both men were drowned. On Tuesday a party of men from Milton went down the river to search for the bodies, but at the latest information we have, they had not been found.
Bishop Frederick J. Kinsman will preach at the Church of St. John Baptist on Sunday afternoon.
James Jester is making alterations and repairs to the Jester House.
William H. Fox, formerly of Milton, is now dangerously ill of a relapse of typhoid, at the Methodist Hospital, in Philadelphia. He is not expected to recover.
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[i] Yet another use of a portion of The Hour of Death, a poem by Felicia Hemans, in an incongruous context.