Middletown transcript., 1871-12-02
F5r As Niididows Trasseript.
wiLMinGrON TEN YEARS AGO.
WuLxrSarox, Nov. Both, 1871.

WnxISaroN, Nov. Both, 1871.
Dear Transcrips Ten years or more
ego, l was called citizen Of Wilmington,
aud having sine, no certain habitation.
6nd myself drifted back to old familiar
scenes that are scarcely within tho ken Of
my remembrance. The streets are the
.nmc. with their hills aud valleys, the
long string Of wagons skirting each side
Of Market Street. n constant raproach to
to the spirit Of tho age. Many faces Of
the olden time are the same. yet amid the
new faces that now bold their place in the
business world Of this city, they appear
ms mere spccks upon the street, aud men
of more ambition have taken their places.
Unpretending structures Of ten years ago
have been replaced by buildings that will
vie with any Of the larger cities, and the
good work goes bravcly on. On the
corner Of Fifth and Market, where you
aud have often sought within the attrac-
tions Of the old " Indian Queen" rcposc.
amusement aud rest. there rises Phoenix
like u noble building that can be ealted u
| Hotel. Not like those that come to us
through the dim mist Of the past, MS mere
rum shops. but home Of elegance aud
refinement. sufficiently large TO accomo-
dato with comfort cnongli visitors TO form
a large town. Above Eighth street, from
the ruins of half score Of old fashioned
Quaker houses. temple is being erected
crcditablc to the Order to which it be-
longs. and credit, not only to tho city.
bu, to the State At some future time VIC
will give Your readers n full description of
this, the iiucst building in the state
Ten years ago, Front street only cx-
tended to the IIedgcvillo road. and tho
county Aims House was far in tho coun
try; u, least, it appeared so to US boys,
who were wont in summer 10 take country y
ramblcs Now each side of Front street
with many divcrging streets, is nll bull,
up with snug, beautiful, private resi-
dcnces
Ten years ago. the old Cross Keys tav.
crn was the utmos, limit of our nocturnal
wandcrilg, where We slipped our ale and
munchcd our crackers and cheese. and
spoke glowincly Of our future until voice,
and limbs both grew unsteady Alas Ia,
the lapse Of time after ten years hav,
passed and gone. not one Of my old asso
ciatc Of that time greet mo with the grij
that was then the emblem Of our brother
hood, Some have sought the busy hannt
Of other climcs some have drank the cul
to its bitter drcgs. while the greater mum
be- hnyc gone to the he atiful land of III,
leal ana seem 10 bcckon us who remain IL
Join them there and renew our brother
hood Even the ola tavern has pnsse,
away, its walls Of stone have been torn
down, and where once drunken songs is
sued from the lips Of haf-crazoa men, o
the shouts of happy men rent the air
there is built noble dwelling whcro tn,
sweet orisous Of inoccn: voices rise lik,
incense 10 atone for the past.
Ten years ago. the Market street brilg,
was the only outlet to the south, and fron
thence down the Chris,iana. lowlnnds an,
marsh. were the only objects that relieve,
the view. Now from rolling mills ali
many private houses the smoke arises a
nh emblem Of our prosperity and we can
from evidences Of the past predict ,ha
each street running to the Christinna. cr,
many years. will have substantial bridg
leading across 20 south Wilmington
Many improvements have been made il
ten years, more than we have time to de
scribe. yet we cannot close this articl
without throwing our influence in favor o
the proposed road To the Delaware river
then We shall become more prosperous
aud instead Of being an inland town, tax
our place rs commercial us well us
manufacturing city. Brave spirits ar
leading this work, and We hope that ,hi
great Improvement will soon be consuul
d mated. More anon.
FELIx