“All quiet along the Potomac tonight.”[i] And it was quiet on the corner of Chestnut and Front Streets on Sunday night; thanks to the item that appeared in the Milton letter of the Chronicle and the editorial of the Milton Times last week. And a good thing for those interested that it was so. The town officials were on the lookout and will be hereafter, and should the disgraceful scenes that have been enacted on that corner be repeated, the ringleaders will be arrested and hailed before the proper officials. It was, no doubt, thought by the gang that mention of their carousal would be made in the papers, as one of their number was going around on Friday afternoon trying to borrow a copy of the Chronicle. On Saturday, while passing that quarter, the writer was hailed by one of these young ladies (?) and given what is termed in common parlance, “a good cussin’.” God pity her. I know I do. While we have brought down upon our head the ire of this fraternity, we are consoled with the consciousness that we have the approval of the good, the better, and the best element of the community. And yet these girls are more to be pitied than blamed. Their natural protectors appeared to have, nor to have had, but little interest in their welfare. There are several of the gang, who have been allowed to run wild on the streets at night, and the seed thus sown is producing its legitimate result. They are all known and spotted by the police. Here is an open field presented to the W. C. T. U. for work. The chances are, it can do more good work on this line than it can by simply maintaining an organization to fight the liquor question.

The lads of town have little squirts–called probably by some other name–with which they squirt water into the faces of the girls. One lad tried his hand on a lady passing along the street. She was not in a funny mood. She seized the boy by the back of the neck, threw him down, and gave him a good slapping around the jaws; and public opinion said, “Served him right.”

Last Thursday morning we met the policeman of Ellendale coming in to Milton, by way of Mulberry Street; in a few minutes thereafter we met the bailiff of Milton going north on Union Street, in the direction of Milford, with a gun on the shoulder. What it all meant, we have not found out.

Last Wednesday night John Warrington and his gang of fishermen caught 90 shad.

Trees in front of S. J. Wilson & Son’s business emporium, having become decayed, were last week cut down. There was quite a history connected with the town and these streets, but this is not an opportune time to relate it.

Sharp L. Wilson, of Frederica, was a visitor at his brother’s home last week.

We were error in stating last week that James Martin had moved from Federal to Atlantic Street. The family intended to do so, but circumstances altered its plans.

W. T. Starkey, one of our enterprising truckers, was seen going toward his home with a paint can. It was intimated that Dr. Starkey was going to paint his bean poles to keep the boys from climbing them and watching the potatoes come up. The reader will understand this is nothing to wonder at; there are but few things suggested, but what are practiced by the blooming geniuses of his progressive town.

At the last quarter conference of the M. P. Church, it was decided to have the building lighted by electricity.[ii]

The personal property of the late Theodore E. Primrose will be sold at public sale on Saturday, the 4^th. The building and lots will also be offered for sale.

The Royal Packing Company have the foundation for its building laid, and is engaged in putting up the frame. Size, 28 ft. x 14 ft. and three stories.

On account of the difficulty in obtaining lumber, work on the Goodwin Bros. and Conwell factory has been delayed during the past week. The branch, or cripple, recently purchased by this firm is being cleared of bramble.

Last week Dr. Leonard was in a yard on Chestnut Street, enclosed by a fence, about 3 feet high. There was a gate in the fence. In coming out of the yard the doctor climbed over the fence within 2 feet of the gate. When asked why he didn’t come through the gate, he replied: “O, I prefer to climb over!”

The public schools of Milton will close May 24.

G. Frank Atkins and son, of Philadelphia, spent Sunday with the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Atkins.

Charles Vincent’s horse carrying his wife and child, became frightened below Milton on Saturday, and running about 2 miles fetched up at home. The lady was considerably frightened, and when the horse arrived at home fell from the carriage, and was slightly hurt.

The dogwood trees are in flower.

Robert R. White died on Saturday at Mrs. Robert Hazzard’s in Lewes, age 55 years. Funeral services were held, where he died, on Monday afternoon by the Rev. Mowbray, and sepulture made in M. E. Cemetery by S. J. Wilson & Son.

Mary A. Roach, wife of Rufus Roach, died at her home in Rehoboth on Saturday, aged 27 years, one month and 22 days. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church in Rehoboth on Tuesday afternoon by the Rev. W. T. Crompton, M. E. Minister, and burial made in the adjoining cemetery by S. J. Wilson & Son.

“Tommy” Johnson on Monday, got a small boat and took a ride. Afterward he put it in a boat house and reached his hands over the door leading to land. In doing this the boat slipped from under him, and “Tommy” was left suspended over the water. He yelled and hallowed until his cries brought assistance. The door was opened and Tommy fell into the water, badly scared. He will not be likely to repeat the experience.

William Maull, blacksmith, who went to Baltimore to work at his trade two weeks ago, has returned. “There is no place like home.”

Last Friday evening Miss Laura M. Conner was taken ill, and is yet confined to her home.

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[i] According to the Wikipedia, All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight is a poem first published as The Picket Guard by Ethel Lynn Beers in Harper’s Weekly, November 30, 1861. In 1863, the poem was set to music by John Hill Hewitt, himself a poet, newspaperman, and musician.

[ii] This was the first report of plans for the next significant alteration to the Milton M. P. Church building.