The Portland daily press., 1865-12-20
ITEMS OF STATE NEWS.

I GB On the first page "The War Debts of
the States" Letter from Boston" and other
interesting articles. No reading matter on last
page. e.
~ In another column we have inserted
brief communication from a friend-one OF our
best citizens, and an earnest yet rational irienu
of reform-who intimates that the faliole =,
the course of lectures inaugurated by the ooou
Templars is an evidence that Temperance
nored by the people of Portland. we 'hinA ne
draws an incorrect inference. Inc ruin Is
our city has bsen almost surfeited with lectures
The Mercantile course draws upon very large
class and the hall is sure to be filled by the lee
turers engaged in it. So, also, though not to so
large an extent, with the Independent course.
The former have their lectures Wednesday, and
the latter Ordinarily Friday evenings. After
both courses had been advertised, and strong
appeals in behalf OF both had been made, and
the splendid talent engaged for both had been
announced, and tho people had had opportuni-
ty to purchase tickets,-after all this, the Cod
Templars announced their course, and it seems
to us in the pre-occupancy of the field by other
courses may be found reason for its failure
without supposing our people Indifferent to
good cause. We hope he Good Templars will
not be discouraged, but another season take
time by the forelock, and thus themselves be-
come pre- occupants Of the field. ~ aa -l'
EB- Why is the evening paper of this city
like heavenly body Il? Because it is a Star
rendered brilliant by Knight. .fs i.li. fo
D1 The Cony o. =. Hospital property at
Augusta, has been solo, and the proceeds foot
up about $4,000 --r.
gY Interesting debates have been held in
the Mercantile Library Association rooms on
the Water question. We hope the waters may
continue to be troubled until our city can have
full supply of the pure article. The Argus is
the only paper in the city opposed to such an
enterprise 1t is the organ of the great un-
washed. >l1f ai t.# a-tt l.aE
63- We owe an apology to the reader for
the small amount of reading matter which we
furnish occasionally. 1t is no fault of ours, for
we keep force enough in the ofice for all rea-
sonable purposes, but just at the present juno
tare-immedidtely before the holidays-adver-
tisers crowd with their favors, and as it is the
harvest of the advertising season we rely upon
the indulgence of the reader, believing he
would not have us forego such an opportunity
to make up in part for the hard fortunes of the
past. d H H
Ev We have received candid commune
cation from "T.," on High Prices" in reply to
some remarks of ours, which shall. have place
tomorrow if we can possibly make room for it,
Meantime we will say that, before we are drawn
into a controversy on that subject, we wish to
work up few facts and suggestions on the
nm IF he ;+,o1 A.: A..
question of high prices seem so intimately con-
nected in the public mind -
| B The Lewiston journal says the average
| attendance upon the Sunday School connected
with Rev. Mr.. Shows church (Universalist) in
Auburn, is about 175. OF the whole school 115
have taken the pledge to refrain from profane
| swearing, from smoking and the use of intoxi-
eating liquors. Last Sunday evening they
gave Temperance Concert at the church,
which was crowded with an interested audi
ence. iii fli atlf1
w. No one is allowed to doubt the capaci-
| ty, wisdom or omniscience of the manipulators
Of the E. & N. A. Railroad, without encounter
ing an att ok from its friends (D through the
columns of the Wing. Even the wisdom of
their purpose to come again to the Legislature
for additional State aid, and to have extension
OF time for commencing, not completing, the
work. is not allowed to be questioned. Now
we give fair notice to those gentlemen that the
Press will speak its own mind. and if they don't
wish to hear its unpleasant revelations they
may as well stop their Misrepresentation of
and attacks upon it. We wish well to that en-
terprise, and shall rejoice to see it progress but
we recognize no obligation to be misrepresent-
ed and maigned for the benefit of its little
handful of managers. We know that the ex-
posures of the Press have been received with
favor by hundreds of people in this State where
tenth of that number have complained, and
in this Consciousness we shall not consent much
longer to act simply on the defensive. So come
on, gentlemen.
EH- Mr.. FL. e. Hammond of Paris informs
the Oxford Democrat that he has realized from
two hogs the past season $299 IS.
vs. Miss Mary Sawyer, young lady of
Oldtown, was drowned on Saturday evening
last while skating on the river in that town.
She was In company with a young man, skat-
ing hand-in-hand, and both were precipitated
into an open hole, unperceived by them in the
darkness. The young man succeeded in get
ting out upon the ice and gave his hand to Miss
Sawyer to help her out, but his glove came off
and the unfortunate young lady was carried
under the ice. Her body was found next morn
ing near the opening. The water was shoal-
not more than four or five feet in depth. An
other account says that Miss Sawyer had been
visiting across the river, and started to go home
in company with young man, on skates, who
drew her on a sled behind him. He skated in
to the hole and drew her after him. ...q
B3- Ahearing has been had before the Gov.
ernor and Council on the case of Lawrence
Doyle, sentenced to death for the murder of
little girl in Strong some three years ago, the
design being to secure a Communication of the