Milford chronicle., 1932-05-20
GLENDALE
Scenes OF Long AgO-NO. Is
Public Square, GeOrgetOWn-NO. 5
Christmas Eve.

Old timers will remember wei
what the boys before the Civil Wal
did on Christmas Eve Night, a night
which they claimed as their own
and made good use of it, and pro-
ceeded to pile every conceivable
thing in the way of wagons, carts
carriages and other vehicles, gates
barrels, boxes and other material in
the center of the public square on
this particular night.
People had learned to take care
of such things as they cared for, and
not leave them out where the boys
could find them, if they were care
less, they would be compelled to
pull their stuff from the pile in the
square and take them home, as the
boys never carried anything back.
In those early days the people
made their own soap. They would
| fill a barrel with hard wood ashes
and setting the barrel ON a bench,
would pour several buckets of wa
ter on top, and it would seep
| through the ashes and in a bucket
set underneath the barrel would
catch the lye. When used with
grease made a good grade of soap
which was used for all purposes in
| those early days. The boys on
Christmas Eve would hunt around
for these barrels and they would be
emptied of the ashes which they
contained and taken to the square
to be burned. This made consider
able trouble for those who owned
them to get new barrels and fill with
ashes and the language used by the
owners in speaking of the boys is
not fit to be repeated.
In the old days there was always
an enmity existing between the town
and country boys. The town boys
had a practice of going to parties
held in the country and il their for
ces were strong enough would put
the country boys to fight and take
charge of the girls who attended
those parties; but sometimes the
town boys were mistaken and could
not always get the best of the coun-
try boys, they would come back at
the town boys and caust them to go
home and not be long about it.
1t is to the credit of the lads from
the country that they never went |
into town to interfere with any par
ty held there, but let a country boy
come into town any time, day or
night, unless doubly guarded he was |
likely to get thorough beating.
battle between the town and |
country boys, one long to be re-
membered. took place one night in !
the fall of 1862. It was one time
when the town boys got the worst |
of the struggle. The country boys |
were too strong for them and they |
came home. many with black eyes,
cut heads and battered limbs, clo-
thes torn and presented a sight !
which was laughable to see. 1t was
this way: The town boys had heard
of an apple cutting which would be
held at the farm home of Mr. West,
and as usual the town boys thought !,
they would go out and put the coun-
try lads to fight, in this they were
mistaken-the country boys were
too strong and drove the town fell
lows to the edge of town with the
above results. 1t seems that in their
pursuit of the fellows from the town
they crossed one of Mr.. Vests corn
fields, which had not been gathered
and both sides pulled the corn from
the stocks and pelted each other.
Mr.. West was heard afterward to re-
mark that he was perfectly willing
to have his corn gathered, but he
wanted the shucks taken from the
corn.
As far as the writer can remember
that was the last battle fought be-
tween the town and country boys,
as both of them were more congen-
ial to each other afterward.
There was always one time when
the country boys were allowed to
come in and take a part in the sport
going on during the Christmas hol-
days. They were allowed to take
part in the bringing in of vehicles
Of all kinds, gates, barrels and other
into the public square and :
hey proved themselves experts in Z Z
he undertaking, but when the first :
lay of January rolled around they
departed from town, the hatehet was
lug lip and 7the warfare continued |,
Us before, and went on for another !
'ear.
Very soon the writer will continue
his narrative and will tell you of !
he many scenes which happened l
when the boys were busy in filling \
he square with vehicles, gates, bar T.
els, boxes and other material on
christmas Eve Night. v
Reduction OF Taxes 0
The Levy Court of Sussex County l,
las reduced the taxes on real es- y
ate 10 cents on the 500 assessed Z
alue.
This will be good news to the far I
lers, many of whom find it a strug- Il
lie TO pay their taxes. j
Many farms are now being sold s.
y the receiver of taxes because the 81
wners cannot pay their taxes. Tht II
rice of farm products at the pres W
Mt time, which are very low. don't o.
eem to be any inducement for the B
lrmer to grow any more stuff than
; needed for home use. n
It is true that farmer can raise HI
II he needs for home use and to W
sed his stock, and with his flock of c(
hickens can produce enough eggs it
, buy his groceries, and other ne W
but when the taxes are II
WED he finds he cannot meet them m
nd pay interest on a mortgage if C,
lere is one resting on the farm, st
nd in consequence many have to III