The Portland daily press., 1865-05-02

was the second one built in New ENGLAND. II
not on this continent-.Le one between Bos-
ION and Lowell being the first. The Old Town
railway was in running order as early, think,
aslNoy. 1886, and it being the first ever
passed over, had curiosity to see the old
iron horse.that drew me from Bangor 10 Old
Town some thirty years ago. Last Saturday
lrodelto Old Town on the track whichis now
owned BY Mr.. Veazie who has made some
large mark on the banks Of the Penobscot
river that will keep his memory fresh and
green through another generation. i imme-
5lately repaired to the building where the old
iron horse is stabbed. Give him now some
wood, fire and water and he will do good SER
vice. Heis, now used for lugging about the
depot. It's queer looking machine, especial
ly when contrasted with the locomotives
now manufactured. 1t is of small size, and
not very comely in its structure or form. It
was built by Stephenson in. England who has
worldwide fame as an engineer. One may
wonder now when looking at this old engine
why 50 great a genius. as Stephenson. could
not have given this old horse more graceful
FORM But he did the best he could; then, and
no doubt he wondered years afterwards why
he fashioned such looking machine. Such
has been the course OF all inventions saving
and excepting the Indians birch canoe. IN \,
This river craft is the same it was centu-
ries ago, and no improvements have been
made, and what is better and the most to be
wondered at, none are needed You might
as wellattempt to improve the nests. of the
humming-bifd as to make improvements on
Indians birch canoe. Its light structure and
beautiful form seem to have been suggested
BY the unerfing instinct of the savage, or if
not by instinct alone, the breast and belly Of
the swiltest water fouls and the beautiful and
graceful outlines of the otter and other am
phibious animals may have suggested to In
dams initiative genius the bast, possible form
for his canoe. The question is interesting,
and let Others discuss it who have q love for
such philosophy. g s4sgA sfe ssar siTa1s
4 visited Veazie's saw-mills3 at Old Town.
laone Isaw, four gangs and ten single saws
slfat work, cutting the logs into various kinds
of lumber with marvellous rapidity. 1t is a.
sight worth seeing. Verify, here is heard the
hum Of industry" g8Y.1 IN b 9s,1g r'sg,s-Ts,
Three Indian boys ferried me over to the
island where the Indians have exclusive occu-
patton. These Indian boys are fine. looking.
smart, active and as full of fun as an egg is of
meat. Old John Neptune's son, a man some
fifty years of age, told me his father was very
sick, and being acquainted with him, was anx-
ious to see the man who has lived more than
"a century, it is said by those who profess to
know / found himin comfortable quarters,
but his sands are almost run out. He cannot
breathe this atmosphere but very short time
longer. An hundred years have told upon
his once stalwart frame, and he will soon be in
the spirit-land. He is now but skeleton OF
his former SELF Neptune has been powerful
Iudian and exercised much influence over the
tribe. he has no mixed blood in his veins,
but the present generation has . smart.sprink-a
ling Of the French blood. The Indian and the
French have quite liking for each other
This crossing of the blood commenced some
two hundred years ago when the Jesuits came
up the St. Lawrence and gained strong foot
hold in Canada, establishing their posts on the
rivers, about the lakes and TO and down the
Mississippi river to New Orleans. The In
dfsns could never be induced to embrace any
religion but the Catholic, and it is quite prob
lematical whether that ever made them any
better.
The forms, ceremonies, pictures, beads and
other shows usedil the Catholic service, had
a charm for the natives, and they yielded to
these Influences and the priests have had some
control over them; but whether the souls of
these sons of the forest have been better 1T
ted for heaven by such religious exhibitions
than they would have been, If left to them
selves, is question shall not undertake 10
decide. One thingis certain, the French have
succeeded in infusing their blood into the
veins Of the Indians, If they have not imbued
their souls with the spirit of Romanism.
Yesterday morning heard Rev. Mr.. Everts,
Unitarian, preach short, sharp, logical SER
mon, on the text, "The devil entered into him
after theisop.n i may not have quoted the
scripture correctly, but subject was the
character of Booth, the great assassin. The
preacher did not wish to describe the evil
spirits Of the other world, or their mode of ex-
istence, for we had enough In this world to
engage our attention without attempting to
solve the mysteries Of another. He described
thecharacter of Booths father, and alluded
to his profession and the stage. Actors learn
to personate heroes, and In order to act well
their parts, they must feel as ifthey possessed
the characters they represent. In this way
actors become what they would not be In other
conditions of life. Alcoholic liquors, too, have
powerful influence on human character and
passions in preparing them for terrible deeds.
His remarks on intemperance were keen and
cutting. but the 'sdark forces" that were be-
hind the assassin were wildly portrayed
The worst features of the stage and the hellish
spirit Of the rebellion, were embodied in
Booth, and made him a, dangerous and des-
perate fellow. But I have not space to do
justice TO this able discourse. Mr.. Everts is
childlike in his manner, and eherishes but lit.
tie ofthe puritanical spirit, but he is pro-
found thinker, and an able writer. In loyalty
and devotion 10 the government Of hts couu-
try, he is behind no man. He is clear up TO
the mark, and does not spare the rebels. wv
In the afternoon went to hear Rev. Mr..
Battles, Universalst, expecting to- listen to
another discourse on the character Of Booth,
for this preacher is always alive and takes
fresh subjects for his sermons. He. too, Is
clear up to the highest mark, and pitches into
the slave oligarchy without gloves This
preacher was out of the city, and so I passed
on to Rev. Mr. Fields Church, Orthodox
This preacher - exceedingly peculiar in his
mode Of deliy /, and as earnest and able as he
is peculiar Lie ranks among the first here
He has much mental force, aud breaches right
at his auditors, hitor miss, and reckon he
\ If the Bangoreans are finally lost, it will not