It is a common remark of many business and professional men that “Life insurance and Building and Loan Associations are the curse of Milton.” When expressing their views upon this subject, they are led to say in substance: There are many parties in Milton carrying insurance, who are not able to do so. It takes all the money they can raise to keep their fees paid up, and their creditors are the sufferers. We know-this is true in many instances, but when a man dies, it is a nice thing for his family to have a fund coming to them from a life insurance company. There are several families living comfortably in Milton today, and part of them running other families, as a result, if not directly, of a fund received from a life insurance policy, of money received from some beneficial order, which is all the same in its financial meaning. According to the writer’s idea, these institutions and societies are all right if a man be able to take stock in them, belong to them, or invest in them; if he be not able, he has no right there. We all know there is a certain class who join all the orders that will admit them, merely for the sake of living off of them. These persons constitute a peculiar class, and are all known to the fraternities to which they belong, as well as to those to which they do not belong. They are known to the lodge, or lodges to which they belong, as being chronic beneficiaries, and they are known to the lodges of which they are not members, as “spotted men.” Men whom they will not admit to membership, or fraternize with on account of their known habitude. If a man can pay his honestly contracted debts, and have money to spare to keep up dues in a life insurance company, or other society, association, or order, he has a perfect right to do so; otherwise, he has not. He has no right to defraud his creditors to aggrandize himself, nor anyone else. But the chronic beneficiary, he has a perfect right to do as he pleases, if he can get there.

James Morris, alias “Spot,” was confined to Georgetown jail on Tuesday night of last week in default of $1,300 bail. Morris has a legitimate wife in Milton; a woman of fair record, and of whom no word of scandal or reproach has ever been made, and by who Morris has had several children. For several years past Morris has been living in concubinage with a woman, first on a boat, later at Broadkiln Beach, or Point Pleasant. This summer resort was, a few years ago, the delight of the people of Milton, who built cottages there, and took their summer outing along its coast. By a fortuitous circumstance, a certain property came into the possession of “Spot” who has inhabited it with dogs, foxes, and disreputable women. His last dulcinea[i] becoming afflicted, he procured a young girl, ostensibly to nurse her, but, as is alleged, turned his favors to the younger girl and drove his concubine of fifteen years away; or she became disgusted and left. Notification of this was brought to the attention of Commissioner Stout, who worked up the case. The last woman was the chief witness. We may say the charge is for improper intimacy with a girl under the age of consent. The girl is fifteen years old, and it is said there are two other charges of the same kind against Morris. As has been said, Morris was committed to jail. Commissioner Stout took the girl with him to the reformatory.

The Socials that are being held on Saturday evenings near the M. E. Church, suggests the idea of a beautiful place that might be made of this lawn. The old refuse in the rear might be cleaned off and burned, and a way opened to the mill race; and on the embankment behind the church, a row of trees might be planted longitudinally, or parallel with the street. Then from this row, other rows running latitudinally, or toward the street. This work could be done at small cost, and in less than a decade a splendid grove would surround the church on Federal Street.

On Monday evening the School Board met and elected teachers: William F. Deputy, of Cedar Creek, principal; Miss May Megee, of Milton, Miss Lizzie Register, of Lewes, Miss Ethel M. Hugg, of Milford, and Mrs. Estella Bacon, of Lincoln, assistants. While this election is not compatible with the slate of the school election, it is believed to answer all needs.

Harry E. Clark died at the home of his father-in-law, near Millman’s Crossing, on Tuesday afternoon, aged 46 years, the result of an accident, aged 46 years. Funeral services were held at Lincoln M. E. Church on Thursday afternoon by the Rev. J. S. Gray, and interment made in the Lincoln Cemetery, under the direction of S. J. Wilson & Son.

Mrs. Lydia Ellingsworth is having extensive repairs made to her property on Federal Street.

J. P. Davidson, who has been at home attending the funeral of his grandson, has returned to Camden, N. J.

The rendition of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was largely patronized by Miltonians on Monday evening. Some thought the performance excellent, and others thought it not so good.

Mr. Benjamin, 82 years of age, the father of the Rev. H. S. Johnson’s wife, is convalescing from a serious attack of diabetes. It is now thought the old gentleman will get around again.

It is now the fashion to pasture a horse on the sidewalk of Federal Street. If this was some poor drunken beggar, and the authorities thought they-could get a couple of dollars out of him, they would after it; but as it is, anyone walking up or down the sidewalk, must go out in the-street to evade this animal, and the authorities say nothing.

The elite of Milton (young) chaperoned by Mr. Burton Megee, of Philadelphia, enjoyed a straw ride to Broadkiln Beach on Friday afternoon. When a Megee comes to the home of his nativity, he is always appreciated, and always does something to make others happy.

Mr. William Welch, wife and daughter, of Bridgeville, are the guests of J. B. Welch and family, of Milton.

William Collin’s barn was struck by lightning during the heavy storm of Monday noon. The end of the building was knocked out. No other damage was done.

Miss Susie Berngarelis, who has made many friends happy by her brief sojourn in Milton, has returned to El Paso, on the line of the U. S. and Mexico.

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[i] Dulcinea is a character in Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes, the woman Don Quixote fancies his lady love; her real name is Aldonza Lorenzo, a common prostitute. The use of that character’s name, and “dogs, foxes,….” (bitches, vixens, perhaps?) in the preceding sentence leave no doubt as to Conner’s opinion of “Spot’s” women friends.