The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-12

.-a e1I LEWISTON. Dec. II. 1867.

-s.I...F . -- 'Y- LEWISTON, Dec. II, 1867.
To ueEd ior Of the Press: - h991 ~, 90
Monday morning the mercury was 10 de-
grees below-a descent of 40 degrees from
Saturday. That was q tumble not to be warm
ly appreciated. Many cellars failed to pro-
tect their vegetable treasures; the people of
Auburn were without gas Monday night, that
llluminator being frozen up; the river is firm
ly bridged at last; tle streets are covered with
ice, and exhibitions of involuntary gymnas-
tics are quite the fashion. a. 9lsT gaI5
But this change Of temperature is hardly
up to Texan "norther." In That land Of
prairie and cotton have often gone to sleep
covered with perspiraton, and IN few hours
have walked to find myself encased in a coat
OF ice, which would, upon my moving, break
into fragments and cleave from my body like
scales from fish, With all her great and
sudden changes of temperature, L submit
that Maine is surpassed by Texas 3a4i d
Hero the first nine days of the present
month have averaged q degrees colder than
the first nine days of December, 1866. A
fierce beginning for winter. But we have not
snow enough yet for sieighing. 5iasa 1a o
.i f.sf-.,, CONVENTIONS. .'3'- 30 q
Lewiston is famous place for conventions.
Only a short time ago State Convention of
Young Mems Christian Associations twas held
in this city. Then State Temperance Con-
vention was called here, though 1t was held
across the river in Auburn. Next came the
State Educational Convention Last week
We had County Musical Convention, and we
are to have, January 1, a County Teachers
Convention. @ -.saH.F.t as
The Audroscoggin Musical Convention
of last week, was well attic nded, some
two hundred taking part in the pro-
ceedings and receiving instruction. The
Convex ton, which was under the charge ef
Prof. Perkins, of Boston, was in session four
days, giving opportunity for considerable prac-
tice and for friendly intercourse. Owing to
the unfavorabie weather the receipts from the
Thursday and Friday evening cencerts-de-
cidedly good-were not so large as usual. The
the first of these county musical conventions
was organized in Vermont some thirty years
ago. We now have half dozen OF more in
this State. How about Cumberland?
EDUCATIONAL. -ll- l- d
The Androscoggin Teachers Association is
a new affair; its convention on the coming
New Years win be its first. 1t is pleasant
thus to remark that the teachers in this part
of the State are waking up with the general
revival of educational interest A deal of
good must result from an occasional assem-
bling of the teachers of the county for mutual
Interchange of views and for discussion of
aat,ssional topics. Every county in the State
$500 - 10 we'll to initiate Androscoggin in this
90" Siiv IN CONTEMPLATION.
rssns of Auburn will apply
70 INC neA' sSi"."tN for citv charter
This will doubtless be grsn+ea .nn. .e..
that it be submitted to a vote 80 :, eonui'ion
Auburn has now a population or .ne peopie'
rapidly increasing, with S250oO0o of ,. o'Ooo
rated at about S1,700,0oo on the tax-booS
town organization for the management of tho
business proves very inefficient. This is seen
in the condition of the roads, in the unwise
handling of the town debt, which is nearly al
large as that of Lewiston, being about 81 Goo
and especially in the miserable status of the
public schools. A general mass meeting of
the people once year affords no intelligent
deliberation, no efficient management, where
there il so much to be done.
But it is, at present, quite doubtful whether
the popular vote would favor change in the
organic law. If, however, the outsiders vote
down the measure, then the attempt will prob
ably be made to create new town out of the
village, which includes half the population
and considerably more than half the wealth
ms would be very acceptable to the villagers
"DN 'ue measure would probably be carried.