The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-27
Quaint md Curious.


few days ago an old Directory and
Gazetteer OF Wilmington and Delaware
came into my hands and take the pleas.
ur0 OF giving you some oil the quaint and
curious facts that found therein. Other
people Of other States say that we are
queer people. and have queer laws. IL
was published In 1885 and 80. At that
time there were twenty colored schools,
with three more soon to be opened They
all had oolored teachers but six, under
the management OF the Delaware Assooia'
tion Tor the Moral improvement and Ed
uoation of the Golored People. Mr Sam
uel Woolman WAS the State Agent then.
There were no less than thirty-nve
churches and associations answering to
the idea of ehurchesin Wilmington and her
Immediate border, all within the city
limits but threae 1t SAYS that the lager
beer and corner street churches, the cigar
stores and hotels have by far too
large congregations. Aiso that there is
too much fashion connroted with the
churches and the expense OF attending
them 40 great that not few are kept
from the house OF God for want of funds
to maintain what 10 considered proper
standard of dress and style. or they stay
away from disgust at the prevalence OF
such Inconsistencies among the proiessed
disciples of the meek and lowIy Jesus.
This sosms to sound rather peculiar II
true, and does not speak very good.
The laws in regard to pumps AMI wells.
The city authorities took possession, aud
kept In repair all pumps and woll5 within
the city. at the public expense, and II any
owning such neglect to repair them for
three mOnths, they might take possession
OF them. and keep them In repair at the
expense OF the city.
A chimney on fire, SO as to blaze at the
top, subjects the occu pant OF the house to
fine OF five dollars, unless within thirty
days after It has been swept,in which case
he Ia m n nt nm
dollar.
Chimney sweepers must be licensed and
not charge moro than t5h cents per story,
under penalty of one dollar.
10 keep more than fifty pounds OF gun.
powder In any store or place subjects the
person TO "a fine OF ten dollars. aud five
dollars more for every additional twenty.
five pounds.
No locomotive is allowed to run within
the limits OF the city at greater speed
than six miles an hour. under the penalty
OF one hundred dollars.
Al3o we noticed some peculiar names,
OF which we will give few: There ls one
Michael Ambrose Askew, Balm. BnnRs.
Bannar. Banner, Barber. Bethel BostIck.
Bottger. Bottum, Six Boys. Brazil. Call,
Canary, ten Cannons. Caulk, Chalrs, Chew
Cheera, Cost. Crank, Cuslek, Daughters,
Dick. Downward, Futty. Glnder. Handy,
Hignutt, Hitch, jenny. Knittel, Link.
McAdoo, Maddy. NutteI, Pass, Peeky
Plumb bling, Snltcher, Swlneburg, Though
good Vittltoo, Week, Weeks, stuck, File,
Boldly, Wlhks.
Delaware is small State. and It had
then eleven newspapers-slx In New Castle
county. three IN Kent and two IN Sussex.
10 veud goods OF any kind by sample
unless made iu this State. $50.
To exhibit CIRQUE, fol- one year. sl00.
For practlcing jugglery licsnse is re.
quired. but by a strange oversight the act
does not specify tho sum to he paid.
A tax Of ten per cent Is imposed on every
person WHO may pass tRtQugh or over any
portion OF the State by steam power,
whether on the cars or In steamboats
which tBx is collected, not directly OF the
pnssengers but OF the person or company
who transports them; they had power to
increase their fare to the amount of the
tax. After all, the passengers paid the
tax.
1t also speaks we'll Of the Inhabitants OF
ClaymoHt (Which hope Ia really true to a
letter. that they are characterized oy
Intelligence, refinement aDd wealth. New
Castle Is one of the oldest towns In Dola-
ware. being famous during the Revou
tlonary war, and even before 1t. Here
Penn fret set foot upon mericln soil. 1t
was also known in the days OF Franklin
as a port OF entry and departure; and he
walked Its streets and stopped from Its
quuys ON shipboard, more OF less fre
quently in his voyages to Europe.
Also u hhyb tudL bno SN6oI pNthlod5
raised in Sussex county are the best OF
the world and Delaware ought to raise
hundreds of bushels where it does one.
1t does not SPEAK yetY well OF the town
OF Laurel. and says ita greatest naed ls to
brush up" Paint, glass and putty, and
q little taste In the architecture and gen.
eral style of their houses. would Improve
the place wonderfully. We suppose that
by this time IL has awoke up, Rs were like
Rip Van Winkle, and have fallen In with
the rest, In line OF progresslyeness- Hun.
dreds of people to this day, don't know
why Delnwarean is called "B.ue lien
Chicken" which would be probably we'll
here to give an explanation OF 1t. blue
Hens Chickens "a nickname for tho peO.
pie of Delaware, originated during tile
Revolutionary war Captain Cald we'll,
who commended Delaware regiment.
was notorious for hs love OF cook fight.
Ing. aud his men were known as 'Cald-
weii's ga me cocks."
Caldwell claims that no cock was really
game unless II came from blue hen, and
his regiment was subsequently, styled
tho blue Hens Chickens.r After the war
the nick name was applied to all Della.
wareans.
The fret State to be admitted into tho
Union was out own little State OF Della.
ware.
Delaware was so.oalled In 1908 from
Delaware Bay, on which 1t Hos and which
received its name from Lord do la Ware.
who died In this bay. Popular name
the Blue Hen or Diam ond State.
Delaware is a small state, but, Q my!
She has held her own In ages past, and
will iu time to come.