Middletown transcript., 1869-01-23
Correspondence qfMe Mdaletown Transcript.
KEaT County, MD:

Ga KENr COUNTY, MD.
Mr. EDrroR:-A neighbor who has seen
a recent No. Of your paper informs me that
you are occasionally oycrhauling matters
and things in Kent, Md and as there are
some which need ventilation, / propose to
enable you to do it. Chestertown, .as
most every tyro in Geography knows, is
the Shiretown of this County. The old
Gazetteers say a PIT. that is apost town. 1t
is place ofsome antiquity, and at one time,
according to tradition, was the rival of
Baltimore for the trade which now peurs
its food of wealth into the latter city. ,
A peculiar typographical; feature Of the
place is a-aeglected-old graveyard in the
very heart of the town, typical to the Wis
itor, of the moral and social condi-
dition of its inhabitants. There certainly
should be energy enough in the ancient
rival Of Baltimore town, either to remove
the dust of her dishonored dead to more
suitable place, or to make the spot. where
they lie little more decent and respecta-
bic. The citizens still cling to the idea
that Chestertown is the rival Of Baltimore.
Hence they proposed, not long ago, to in
troduce water into the town; but guess
the want Of capital, or want Of energy pre-
vented. Then we heard that the place
was to be lighted with gas, but the gas is
the same old compound which has emana-
ted from the purlieus of the Court House
green for more than forty years-there is
no Improvement in its quality-in quanti-
ty the supply is in excess of the demand
A canning establishment was attempted
on quite an extensive scale; fruit was
abundant and cheap, oysters plenty and
always to be obtained but when the
dingy little cans were placed beside the
bright, larger and neatly ornamented ones
prepared in Baltimore, the contrast was
too striking-it struck the Chester enter
prize out of existence. An enterprizing
citizen of Baltimore projected and built a
really fine Hotel, but the bills of fare are
so unattractive and disproportionate to the
charges that the eltisens of the County
very generally patronize an Oyster Saloon
presided over by an affable descendant Of
Ham.
A very fine Court-Hou adorns the
Plaza or public square--built at the ex-
pense of the County, the disgraccful old
| graveyard fanking it on the north. This
fine building serves to screen the forsaken
old morgue and its splendid crops of weeds.
A Bank has long been one of the insti-
tutions of Chestertown. 1t is said to be-
long mostly to one man. Its Cashier re-
Gently died had he lived much longer
the Bank must have died.-His accounts
showed deficit of forty thousand dollars
or more,
His successor is gentleman of large
means and Of ipfexible integrity. The
Tcllera conscientious christian gentleman.
1t is therefore to be hoped that its affairs
may be conducted safely in the future.
1t is proper to say that the defalcation Of
the late Cashier will in no degree affect the
solvency of the Bank as the securities Of
the defunct Cashier are ample. -.
There are two newspapers In this pit
| suppose you get them as exchanges. The
News is the older and doutless the moro
prosperous. Yet both lack one thing
4 independence. They both scan very
closely any offering which would reflect
invidiously upon the old town. 1t is with
them as with all its citizens" tou onn-
phatos neSmow"-the other Hub-aftel
Boston. Most of the people are devout
praying upon their knees one day in thu
week, and preying upon their neighborl
the other six. More hereafter
- SNAPS.