Health & Fitness
Middletown 150 Yrs. Ago: Give to the Middletown Orphan Asylum!
The Invasion.
The situation of affairs in Pennsylvania and Maryland must cause much apprehension. Gen. Lee, who is acknowledged to be the ablest General of the rebel Confederacy, is leading a large army of veteran soldiers into Pennsylvania, and his advance columns have already reached Harrisburgh. In his front he has to encounter hastily constructed fortifications, and an army of militia summoned from civil employments within the past fortnight. Our army of the Potomac, at this important moment, suddenly finds itself without a leader of tried ability, Gen. Hooker having resigned his command at the very crisis of fate. No one knows why. Gen. Meade may be an able General, and may be the man for the hour, but no one can tell. Everything looks uncertain, doubtful. We believe the rebels will be whipped out of Pennsylvania, but before that can be done Gen. Lee may have time to inflict incalculable damage. What we need is a leader who can take advantage of this splendid opportunity for annihilating an army which has threatened Washington for two years, and is the only army which has gained the semblance of a victory over our troops. The Army of the Potomac is brave, none braver in the world, and with a Leader will crown their banners with victory.
Gen. Grant is successfully prosecuting his operations against Vicksburg. His batteries were to open on the night of the 18th with hot shot along part of the line. An attempt was soon to be made to carry the place by storm.
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The Middletown Orphan Asylum.
Does it not sometimes happen that while doing much for benevolent objects abroad we neglect those at home? This question has been asked in view of the feeble condition of the Middletown Orphan Asylum. Many years since when first incorporated it numbered nearly one hundred members. By death and removals its numbers have dwindled until there are few to pay the yearly tax of one dollar. An Institution of the kind is needed in this place. The Managers are yearly obligated from the low state of their finances, to refuse to receive children who ought not to be sent either out of town, or to the poor house. At the Asylum the children receive every care. They attend the district school, and are brought up to be useful men and women. Having no fund the society is obliged to depend upon yearly subscriptions which often fall short of the sum required for expenses. There is at present a debt of one hundred and thirteen dollars—it is ardently wished this debt should be removed, and a sum raised sufficient for the present year, and to be the nest-egg for a fund which will place the society on a permanent basis among the needful charities of our place.
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A collection will be taken up in the different churches for this object. Will not all give with an open hand and a willing heart. He that gives liberally is twice blessed.
Lighting the Streets.
We hope arrangements will be made for lighting the streets so as to make them at all times safe for passengers. Such a state of things as occurred a week ago Sunday ought never to occur again. There was a faint moon in the first part of the evening, and on that account no lamps were lighted that night, which was cloudy and intensely dark. We have heard of many instances where the greatest inconveniences were experienced, and where limbs and life were endangered. Our citizens desire that there should be a change in the arrangements hitherto existing, so that on every dark night, moon or no moon, the streets will be in a condition to be traveled with safety.
Various Matters.
The business hours of the Central Bank will be changed after the 13th inst., and will be from 9 A. M. till 3 P. M.
Gen. McClellan and his wife left here for Hartford on Friday. They came on Monday and stopped at Mr. Alsop’s. …
The funeral of Sergeant Gaston was attended on Wednesday, Rev. Mr. Bruce officiating, and the remains were interred in Mortimer cemetery. …
Help in this section is very scarce, and two dollars a day is hardly an inducement for some men to do a good day’s work. …
A small boy tumbled off the stone bridge at Pameacha, some twenty feet more or less, and didn’t get hurt. Remarkable boy, that. …
A new corporation has just been formed for the manufacture of machinery. It is called the Middletown Manufacturing Company, and has a capital of $20,000. We publish elsewhere the articles of incorporation and the names of the shareholders
The Weather.
The average temperature for the week at 6 o’clock A. M. has been 53 degrees. The warmest days were Saturday and Sunday, when the mercury at noon reached 82 degrees. We have had no rain during the week, and the ground is very dry. It has been about three weeks since rain has fallen.
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For more articles from The Constitution, go to the Middlesex County Historical Society blog.