Smyrna times., 1860-12-06
M lSCELLANE EOUS.
Written for the Smyrna Times"
Letter from Kent County, Maryland.
HEAD OF SAssAFRAs, MARYLAND,
November 3Oth. 1860.

NOUember 30th, 1860.
Mr.. EDITOR :-Thinking that your readers
would like to hear something about this once
famous place. take the liberty of addressing
you few lines concerning it. Years ago it
enjoyed a reputation of the vilest character,
and of being the last place where existence
could be endurable. Gambling, drunkenness
and pestilence seemed general, and the ruling
pastime, whilst the opposites were entirely
wanting. | am told by responsible old resi-
denters that 1t was no uncommon thing, twenty
years ago, to see seven funerals in one week,
out ofa population of one hundred souls. Now,
everything wears a changed aspect; the old
vices have IN great measure disappeared, new
buildings are constantly being erected, the
population increasing, and the recent erection
OF a new NJ. P. Church has largely increased
she morality and virtue Of the neghborhood.- -
The Introduction of lime and other fertilizers
have greatly improved the old worn out land,
so thai they now compete with the improved
agriculture of Delaware and Pennsylvania.-
Thirty bushels of wheat per acre. fitty of oats.
and sixty OF corn are the average of products,
whilst the he<h of the community is such as
to well nigh drive the nearest physicians to
despair. Cannot hel but think that Head of
Sassafras presents inducements for enterpri-
sing mechanics to prosper and thrive in. A
machine shop and foundry, we'll equipped and
conducted, is badly wanted. Farmers have to
drag all the way to Warwick, or Mlddletown,
Del, distance Of tour to eight miles, A large
scope of country between this place and Mil
iington, seven miles, and Chestertown, eish-
teen miles, are without any advantages pre-
sented 10y an enterprise of this kind. The i'm.
provement of the neighborhood of this place is
that have heard could once be purchased for
five or six dollars an acre, now will bring
eighty to one hundred dollars au acre. The
productions are ten-told, while the handsome
and comfortable farm residences make the
neighborhood look like an English landscape.
There is some talk abou changing the name
of our village. Some persons, not having the |
fear OF God before their eyes, and in view OF
call it rs Saints Rest" others think Arling-
ton" as the most proper. The last meets with |
your humble correspondents views best. A |
new feature among us is the creation of a De-
buting Society and Lyceum. No doubt all the
intellect of the neighborhood will be brought to
bear upon the momentous questions arising be.
fore it. On Wednesday night last had the
pleasure of listening TO the exercises, and was
delighted and amused. The subject recurring
was, Whether the Pen or the
Sword has Attained the Greatest Laurels ~
The debate was opened by passage alarms
by MIR. b. and a. j., who, being practised de.
baters, took down all the rest. The Younger
portion, "young unHedged intelectualites,"
quite brought down the house. MIR. E. C.
rose and said, =" That his worthy friends on the
other side thought one way, whilst he thought
the other way, and that was about III he had
10 say on the matter"-a crushing argument,
Mr.. S. Ii. b., Jr., followed, COM
LDencing his argument somewhere before the
Deluge, which SO excited his young opponent,
Mr. B. C, who said it Was the first time
he had heard that the birth of Christ and the
discovery of Christopher Columbus took place
Il the same moment" This brought MIR. B.,
IT,, to his feet again, who rejoined that his
worthy friend mistoOk lis meaning, and that
lie (Mr. e had not all the sense in the meet
ng. Things getting little excited Mr. r.
). e arose and camed the tumult by clever
compliment to all the speakers, aud ntimated
hat he MIR. } was so overwhelmed by the ,
'owerful arguments on both sides, that "they :
Iadn't left any speak In hm." Vew in .
titution is introduced in this Society, that of K
pPolntlng one OF the members every night to |
ompOse and read a newspeper," with all it's ::
ariety of news, including choice bits Of local =
.ems; so, you see. we have inaugurated t
ew idea in Head of Sassafras, that of raising
Dung Editors. Last night this duty dcvolved r
pon elderly friend Kennedy, who keeps not 7
the Mill on the Floss but, as an Irishman .
Ould say, the Mill on the Dam, and whose I,
enIal face blazed out from variety of inter. k
'ung news, among which was the fact that
no OF the members (Mr. s. had pen of four r.
zen hogs each Of which will weigh two hun. e.
-.' nj 'ltty pounds. And Tom Davis raised IT
radlsh measuring seUenteeE inches. Can :
~ Smyrnians beat this! But au rcvoir on
lie subject. su
The all absorbing question of the day is the 70
aPle OF conversation among US. The Bfeck.
rIdgers are generally IN favor of Secession W
e Bell and Douglas men for the Union. An nc
fIrt was made to induce the Governor to call Ill
! extra session of the Legislature to consider in
e crisis, and what is best to be done. lie in
,clInes, however, and gives his reasons in n,
lblIc letter. Of one thing 1t is certain, that to
II citizens are rapidly coming to the decision Of
at If those offensive Personal Liberty Bills r,
The North are not repeo led, and sufficient to
ID satisfactory guarantee given that the ag. n,
ton OF thl~ eternal negro question shall III
ase. toe DiH universally be for Secession il