Milford chronicle., 1959-02-20

According to the Milford Bard
it was. Naturally, you and I think
so."
One of his associates was Edgar
Allan Poe. One evening at the
Seven Stars" tavern when liquor
had loosened the tongues of the
literary Bohemians gathered there
and started them Dragging, Poe
said that he could write more ver-
ses in a given time than any man
present The Bard said he would
try his skill with Poe if the wager
could be the cost of an evening for
the whole party at the Stars.
Poe accepted and the contest was
set for the following afternoon. The
Bard won by several verses and
Poe paid the wager with a party
for the whole group.
During his Baltimore years he
periodically reached such state of
dissipation that his friends or rel
atives had him hospitalized for
UNFAIRLY entered a hospital to at
tempt a cure. Although not COM
olete1y cured the evil habit was
controlled sufficiently to permit
him to resume his work.
In January 1916 he published an
other book, The Poetical and
Prose Writings of John Lof1and,
Md, The Milford Bard, dedicated
20 the Ladies of Baltimore. The
book sold well in Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and Delaware.
In May of that year he left Bal
timore after eight years residence
and went to Wilmington. intending
to remain there a few days and
move on down the peninsula to
Milford. Business troubles detain-
ed him, and in his detection he
again resorted to opium. While in
this condition he was offered the
position of literary editor of "The
Blue Hens Chicken, fiattering
situation He accepted, entered
heartily into the work and managed
lis department with success. Soon
after entering Upon his duties as
literary editor and at intervals
thereafter, he inserted the follow
.ng notice among the advertise
ments:
The Milford Bard will write for
my person in Wilmington or the
United States, on any subject con-
nected with literature. Lectures and
Jrdiions on any subject, from $5
% $40, according to length, Senti-
mental Letters, So; Inscriptions
,or Tombs, from SO to $5 Medical
Theses, $40; Pieces for Declama-
ion, So; Sentimental Tales, from
$5 to $40; Essays, from So to $5;
Addresses on prosecuting presents,
So; Advertisements, from 81 to S.;
Sentimental, Patriotic or
Comic, So; Acrostics, 81; Poetic Ad-
1resses to Ladies, New Years Ad-
dresses, $5:-and Poetry for Au-
oums, ETC., etc., cents per line.
Milford Bard
This kind of writing was not
new to him, for he had engaged in
that kind of work in Milford and
lgain in Baltimore. Back in 1888
ne had written an Grafton for
temperance celebration to be held
IN July 4th. This was delivered by
George S. Adkins, Esq. In it he
portrayed the horrors of intoxica-
ion, among them the danger of
.atching fire internally. He cited as
IN example a case mentioned by
Mr. Wesley of a woman in Paris
Who drank to excess. She burnt
ashes, all but her head and three
If her fingers.
Aunt Molly, how could a drunk
erd write a speech about temper
lnce?"
Who knows more about the evils
f intemperance. than an habitual
thinker, Bobby? 1t was habit that
Iohn Lofand tried very hard to
freak, but he did not succeed.
During his stay in Wilmington
he Bard became intensely interest
I'd in the legends and folklore of
he state, and preserved in his
writings the legends which had
ived only in memory. His regret
was that he was so late in starting
his important work.
During the summer of 1848 his
lealth began to fail, and steadily
leclined On January %, 1849, he
lied and was buried in ST. An
lrew's churchyard, Wilmington,
beside Mrs. Cory Chambers, his
beloved little sister Sarah
II don't like sad endings, Aunt
Molly" complained Bobby.
But, Bobby, the story of the
Milford Bard is a sad and pathetic
0ne that we can't change. Come
tgain next week and we will talk
about a man whose life was more
cheerful"