Middletown transcript., 1870-08-20
LOCAL AND STATE AFFAIRS.

ways OF this region They may be seen every
where, along the railroad, beneath the hedge
rows or under some outrageous tree, lunchinr
and lounging, or lollng listlessly upon the green
sward. They are sal generis, and can't be mis-
taken for other people. They look alike and act
alike. However different in stature, garb, age
or SEX flor there are men, women and children
among them they evidently belong to the same
class and there is no installing their peculiar
general appearance. They are the lazzaroni from
the sinks and purlieus of the city They don't
want work or employment. That is not their
object. But rowing vagrant career, for month
or two, i'll the green fields and fresh alf of the
country, is their aim. 1t is their Cape May, or
Long Branch, or Atlantic City. Are they hun
gry,--the peach orchards the blackberry patches
and the corn fields, furnish their commissariat.
Are they slcepy,-they stretch themselves upon
the turf beneath the starry canopy, and give
themselves up to "tired natures sweet restorer"
Does gathering storm-coud threaten them with
involuntary ablution, they betake themselves
to some sheltering shed or neighborng straw
stack, and stow themselves away, "as snug as
bug in rug" and are as happy as the lodger at
the Girard or Continental. Sometimes they hud-
die together in the evening, by the side of run
ming stream convenient to the woods and to a
corn field. Here they bivouac. A fire is kim
died. If brush wood is not convenient q fence rail
or two will supply fuel. Here they roast their
green corn, plucked from the adjacent field broil
salt mackercl purchased from some neighbor-
ing grocery, and unpack the cold bread begged
at the neighboring village or farm house, and
satisfy the cravings of appetite. The pipe is then
lit the bottle is uncorked, and guzzlng and gar
rullty follow: lfa Fardouner is present, or two
or three gentlemen from Limerick or Tipperary,
| the conversation grows warm and the 'dhis-
cushion" is not untrequently ended "wid sthicks'
party OF fifteen or twenty was seen q few even
ings since, upon the Railroad near st. AIMS
crossing. They had kindled their fire, and the
blue smoke was ascending in fantastic wreaths
high up into the evening atmosphere. Near by
was about half "A bushel of roasting ears, gener-
ousy contributed, free, gratis, for nothing"
| 10y u neighboring corn field. Here they made
their repast and here they spent the night; and
IN this way the "peach season " is spent, until
the frosts of Autumn drive them back again to
their city haunts. Among the many vagrants
who come hither, at this season, two youths were
observed, last week, apparently about eighteen
or twenty years of age They were well dressed,
and had a more cleanly and respectable look
than the ordinary peacl-picker. They kept TO
themselves, and would lay for hours upon the
grass, in the fields or on the road side, and then
would mount Il fence and sit side by side until
they were tired, and then would loll upon the
| grass again. Several days were spent in this
manner, in the vicinity of this town. One night
they slept in n clover lot upon the ground; the
| next, being cool and wet, after rain, they took
| shelter in some adjacent straw stacks, and then
wayward youth from Wilmington the son of II
merchant of that city, who often absents himself
| from home, and goes, no one knows whittier,
stays as long as he pleases, and then retur:.s
| again, TO take fresh start whenever the fancy
moves him.
The trot between McCrone's horse and the
Elkton horse, Cecil, at Warwick, on Wednesday,
| came near ending in q general row. The first
| heat was won by the Delaware horse. The sec
| On1 int nd b,ro
Crone drove his own horse and was accused of
running into Gillespie, who drove Cecil. The
latter was thrown out of his sukey, and had one
arm dislocated, and his horse ran Off kicking the
sulkey to pieces The judges awarded the stakes
| $500 side to Cecil on account of a "foul." as
it was alleged, This decision gave great dssat-
isfacton TO the friends Of the Delaware horse.
Loud talking ensued on both sides, with many
expletives more forcibe than polite. Coat! were
drawn, but no licks were struck. The claim to
the stakes was resisted On the ground of Unfair
ness, and the dispute ran high. The stakeholder
in this posture Of affairs held on 10 the coveted
treasure. They threatened TO seize him and take
it by violence. But that was q game which both
parties could take q hand in, and it was thought
best to try other means. The local magistrate
was appealed to for writ of attachment i'll u
plea of debt of $3.50 against the stakeholder 5
horse and buggy. But the writ was not respec-
ted the magistrate having no jurisdiction in Ca
ses above one hundred dollars. The stakeholder
would not surrender; his strong box was not to
be forced, either by the hand of violence or by
the key of the law. Nor did his horse and bug
gy remain, under legal process, TO represent the
S450. And SO the matter stands at present 1t
will probably be settled by mutual agreement
for both parties to withdraw their stakes. 1t i:
believed that this is the last that course
which will be held for long time to come.
We have better friends and more of them, than
r shapN- lodi
week passes but VIC are the recipient of their kind
ness, in one way another. We are indebted tC
Mr.. b. r. Cochran for basket of very fine peach
: es to Mr.. Nm. n. Cochran for two fine large
MELONS To Messis, Is. I. Hanson, Joseph West
, and Il. W. Cochran for a basket each of the mos
Z superb Early lorks and Crockets. Also to S. f
{ Shallcross, for a basket of prime More's Favor
ite, and to j. +. Shallcross for basket of prim
! Yellow Rare Ripe. Mr. Serck f. Shacross i
! shipping from eight hundred to a thousand bas
Il kets per day. His orchard is very full, nearl,
D as heavy a crop as he had last year.
A generous rivalry took place on Thursday be
tween Messrs. r. W. and H. r. Cochran of thi
S vicinity, to who could produce the largest am
c finest peaches, from their respective orchards
!. Five baskets each of " double extras " were pick
- ed and shipped to New York. A sample wa
" sent to this Office by r. W. Cochran, Esq whic
II can scarcely be exceled One measured H. / in
o ches in circumference and weighed III ounces
They were of the Reeves Favorite variety
These peaches were expected to command
per basket.
Il The number of peach baskets and peach lac
c ders sold this year has not equalled the lare
s. number sold last year, because the crop is M
i near so great. Besides, the failure Of the peac
:, crop the year before last, caused many persons
" neglect both ladders and baskets, which becan
n scattered about and broken or lost, and man
IL had 10 get new supply. 1t will probably |
= many years before another such demand for ba
: kets and ladders is experienced as that of 1862
A man fell into Murphey's mill pond, durin
the late food, and was drawn through the floo
gates and carried down by the rushing waite
Of upon ths flats of the Bohemia where he aga
II got his feet upon terra frma and was rescue
- from his perilous situation.
n The congregation of the Protestant Episcop
Church, at Milford, was somewhat astonished {
Id Sunday morning week, by the entrance of tv
W coored women, who quietly seated themselves
one Of the pews