July 7, 1911

How quickly any news of an exciting nature flies! And how it is distorted, exaggerated, twisted, and even lied about! A few evenings ago when some gasoline that was oozing out of a barrel in the rear of C. G. Waplcs’ residence on Federal Street took fire all kinds of* wild reports went flying o’er the town. It was said the house had “been struck by lightning and was on fire,” *’a gasoline tank exploded within the building and set fire to the house,” etc., etc. All this had the effect to arouse the people, who went to the rescue. The fire engine was gotten out, but before it could get there the fire was out and everything was tranquil. The truth about “Clement Kerr” is just this: they use gas as well as electricity at Mr. Waplcs; and there is a tank, underground, at the rear of the house which the gasoline is kept. This had become empty, and there was a fresh barrel near it. The lights were out in the house, in the early evening, and Mr. Waples’ son went with a lantern to draw some of the gasoline from the barrel into the tank and in doing this he set the lantern too near the barrel and the gasoline ignited, The fluid burned as it came from the barrel, creating considerable light which alarmed the nearby neighbors who quickly Water was found to be of but little avail in quenching the flame, and bags and blankets were resorted to, and after much excitement, during which the spigot on the barrel was broken off, the flames were smothered. At no time was there any danger of a conflagration, but there were fears that the barrel would explode and it is a wonder it did not.

We have made mention of the following subject before and by request we do so again, i.e., the nasty dirty way the boys and men have of expectorating tobacco saliva on the pavements, and against the stone houses. This is mostly done of an evening, and the next day it is perfectly disgusting. Now there is no man who would be willing for anyone to know he was the guilty party. No set of men would be willing for the community to know they were guilty of such dastardly work. Such actions are but little above the instinct of the brute. We know we have an element in town who are guilty of such work; and if they cannot be shamed from it, Town Council should make it a misdemeanor, and punish accordingly.

We have lots of gentlemen of leisure in Milton. This is best verified by seeing the men sweeping the sidewalk in front of their home, in the morning. Wonder some of them do that.

New potatoes were in town last week. Don’t know who brought them to market, but they were a mighty dirty looking lot of potatoes. It is suggested the farmers wash the mud off their potatoes before sending them to market.

There were four so called evangelists of the Mormon persuasion in town last week. They harangued the people from the middle of the street on Wednesday evening; and during the course of their talk said they had “nowhere to lay their heads to night.” Subsequently they were invited home by our generous citizens. “Billy” Robinson entertained two of them, and was much edified and benefited thereby,—as “Billy” usually is. The other gentleman who essayed to entertain the remaining two did not benefit so much. It is related when he went home with the men his wife drove the men and her husband,—all of them—away. And yet there are persons who consider themselves thoroughly embedded in the principles of Christianity who think these wandering [itinerants] are preaching the right doctrine. Truly, did our Savior describe some of our Christian friends as persons “being blown about by every wave of doctrine.”

On Friday morning we noticed four little kittens roaming around on Lavinia Camp ground. They were not half grown; and the track of a carriage on the ground showed how they got there. Now this is a sin and a shame. The little things are not big enough to forage for a living, and must die of starvation. The party would have committed less crime by cutting off their heads—the kittens heads we mean—than by doing as they have done. Yes, we would have taken the kittens home with us but to our five old ones; as many as we can entertain. No; we don’t believe the “so called evangelists” left the kittens on the camp ground.

On last Thursday and Friday Prof. Fearing scrubbed and washed up things generally around the hall of the Jr. O. U. A. M.

During the severe electric storm of last week a hay mow of Thomas Parsons near Broadkiln Beach was struck by lightning and consumed.

We note, there is a Milford correspondent trying, through the Philadelphia papers, to build a system of
in Milton, by the assistance of private individuals of the town of Milton. Perhaps with the assistance of the Georgetown prevaricator, he may succeed. But, we may say en passant the Milton news as published by these worthies is generally L-i-e-s.

Cornelius, son of Dr. J. C. Wiltbank, fell on Wednesday and dislocated an elbow. He’s all right now.

As an unusual thing services were held in the Church of St. John Baptist Sunday evening, the Rev. C. H. B. Turner of Lewes officiating. It would be an appreciative movement could services be held in this church every Sunday. Why can it not?

Isaiah Ellingsworth, of Philadelphia, is visiting his mother.

Miss Mary Robbins was entertained by Lewes friends for a few days last week.

Miss Alice Robbins of the West Chester Normal School, is at home for her summer vacation.

Mrs. Mary Lank, mother of J. M. Lank, trust officer of the S. T. T. & S. D. Co., and of Edgar Lank, Esq., attorney-at-law of Philadelphia, and a host of other Lanks of whom the mother may well be proud, has returned from a visit to one of her sick sons—Dr. Wm. S. Lank, at Silver City, New Mexico.

Mrs. Eliza Lofland and granddaughter, Miss Eva Hart, are spending some time at Mrs. Lofland’s town home on North Union Street.

Frank B. Carey, State Delegate Jr. O. U. A. M., to Tiffon, Ohio, returned last week.

Rev. Frank Holland and family returned from a ten days outing on Friday.