Decoration Day was a very quiet affair in Milton. There was but little bombast and every turn of events passed in a quiet manner. Business was generally suspended after 9 o’clock by the merchants; and the banks, shirt and overall factory, and mechanics during the day. At an early hour bunting began to fly to a northwest breeze, and private residences and public buildings were alike draped with “old glory.” About 9 o’clock the graves of the soldier dead were flagged and flowered by the hands of loved ones who yet remember those who are bivouacking on the eternal “camping ground.” The cemetery had been put in splendid order—and should be kept in that way all the time—and flowers, evergreens and ferns were lavishly displayed upon he graves of loved ones. At 10.30 the citizens assembled in School Hall where addresses were made by Mayor Jones, Alexander Harrington, principal of Milton Public Schools, Edward Lank esq., attorney-at-law of Philadelphia, and others. Much credit must be given to Captain George E. Megee, who not only on this occasion but many similar ones was, and has been, the leading spirit in the movement. Firemen Band furnished the music, and the straining strains of “Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching[i]” stirred the heart and led the thoughts of many back to the ominous days of the 60’s. In the afternoon a game of baseball was played between Milton and Lewes on the Milton Ball Ground. A pretty feature of the afternoon was two automobiles, gaily dressed in flags running up and down and around the town, loaded with young men and misses. This was a beautiful sight, more pretty that n the largest battleship that “Theodore the tremendous[ii]” ever conceived. At 8 o’clock p. m., there was assembled in School Hall the Jr. O. U. A. M., which body held memorial services during the early evening. State Councilor Warren Moore, and National Representative A. M. Thomas were present. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Frank Holland, Rev. C. A. Behringer, Frank Carey and many other of the order. The ;principal of the Public Schools undertook to hold school on this day, but had no attendance and we understand the School Committee waited upon the teachers and invited them up into the Hall to hear the speaking and thus the schools were dismissed. It is said the human plant must have a winter, and someone remarked this morning, “Milton must have a “crank” and generally gets one.
A copy of the Daily Muncie Indiana Morning Star of date of May 20th is before us; from which we quote the following: “During the coming week Bertha Beebe, this city (Elwood), the oldest daughter of John Beebe, bookkeeper at a local bank, will graduate from Missionary Institute at Nyack, N, Y., after having completed a three years course. Following her graduation she will return here for a short visit before leaving to take up her work in the foreign field. While her […] work has not been arranged, she will likely leave Elwood during the latter part of the summer. Miss Beebe is a graduate of the Anderson High School and for a number of years was a teacher in the high school here.” The parents of the lady the above refers are natives of Sussex County; and it gives us pleasure to make mention of any event of note to which a native of Delaware and particularly of Sussex County is a party. We have never seen the lady, but are acquainted with her father who a short time since entered the matrimonial state for the second time; and years ago while Miss Beebe was yet in the unborn future we were staying for a couple of months at Anderson, Indiana. May Miss Beebe be successful in her work in a foreign field.
Strawberries galore; and selling from 2½ to 5 cents per quart; and many will not bur them at these prices, saying there’s too much acid in them for their blood and being.
Goodwin & Co., shipped another carload of canned tomatoes last week and another this week.
Water lilies are now on the lake and much sought after by boating parties as well as wading parties.
Much repairing has been done during the past week at the M. E. Parsonage.
At last reports Dr. Leonard was still amongst the Catskill Mountains, studying the comet.
J. B. Welch is suffering with strawberry itch.
Children’s Day will be celebrated at the M. E. Church on the second Sunday in June, and at the M. P. Church on the third Sunday of the same month.
Gallia A. Morris, widow of the late William Morris, died at her home near Milton on Tuesday evening of pneumonia, aged 74 years. Funeral at Reynolds Church, on Friday afternoon by the Rev. Frank Holland , assisted by the Rev. B. Bryan, and interment in adjoining cemetery by S. J. Wilson & Son.
Milton Schools will close on Tuesday, June 8th, and on Thursday evening following the commencement exercises will be held. The graduating class is as follows Ralph Smith, Thomas Black, Theodore Johnson, Hester Derrickson, Emma Smith, Alice Robbins, Clara Mears, Elsie King and Mabel Warren.
On Saturday William Derrickson and William W. Conner went to Seaford after a trio of horses that Charles A. Conner had purchased the early part of that week, and shipped from Baltimore to that point. They arrived in Milton with them in the afternoon.
Mrs. Florence Johnson has had one of her tents on Lavinia Camp ground taken down, and the lumber hauled to Milton to be used for another purpose.
The Royal Packing Company is making preparation for canning peas. The pack is expected to be light.
Charles Irwin and wife, nee Miss Carrie Fisher, of Philadelphia, are visiting the former’s brother and family.
Frank Manship, of Philadelphia, spent Sunday and Decoration Day in Milton.
William Rikards is having a concrete wall put in front of his property facing both on Mulberry and Lavinia Streets,
Dr. James A. Hopkins is convalescing from a serious attack of illness. Ex-Congressman Dr. Hiram Burton of Lewes, and Dr. R. B. Hopkins have been the attending physicians.
Edgar Lank, Esq., of Philadelphia was entertained by his brother, Joseph M. Lank and family on Sunday and Monday.
William Mears now occupies his new barber shop on the site of the old one that was destroyed by fire on the memorable 12th of August of last year. It is a splendid room, up to date and resplendent with all the paraphernalia of a city tonsorial department.
Rev. C. A. Behringer of Swedesboro, N. J., with his wife, young son, and wife and sister-in-law Elsie King, arrived in town on Monday, having driven from the minister’s home in an automobile. Mr. Behringer has recently had built at this place a steam launch. We are not informed how he is to get it to Swedesboro, whether he will take it in his automobile, or take the automobile on the launch. Both are capable.
Annie J. Cooper, wife of Henry Cooper, died near Shockley on Wednesday of consumption, aged 23 years, 7 months and 98 days. Funeral services were held at St. Johns Church on Friday by the Rev. G. S. Thomas and sepulture made in Sand Hill Cemetery by S. J. Wilson & Son.
Minnie, wife of Larrie Mitchell, died at Rehoboth on Thursday of tuberculosis, aged 20 years, […] months and 21 days. The funeral was held at Rehoboth Church on Sunday morning by the Rev. G. E. Ellis, and interment made in […] Church yard by S. J. Wilson & Son.
The porches have been completed around the new residence of Captain David Dutton, corner Mulberry and Lavinia Streets, and are a [….] the builders, Messrs. Johnson and Sharp.
Isaac W. Nailor has the foundation of S. J. Wilson & Son’s new building completed an dis shortly to commence laying the cement blocks.
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[i] “Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Prisoner’s Hope)” was one of the most popular songs of the American Civil War. George F. Root wrote both the words and music and published it in 1864 to give hope to the Union prisoners of war. The song is written from the prisoner’s point of view. The chorus tells his fellow prisoners that hope is coming. Source: Wikipedia. A recording of the song may be found on YouTube at this location.
[ii] President Theodore Roosevelt As president, made building up a world-class fighting fleet a high priority, sending his “white fleet” around the globe in 1908–1909 to make sure all the naval powers understood the United States was now a major player. Source: Wikipedia