The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-18
VaI.ietieS.

1r1et1cS.
"A gold ring of Saxon workmanship, and
believed to be twelve hundred years old, has
been turned up by ploughshare in England.
1t weighs an ounce and a quarter, and con-
tains gold equal to five sovereigns.
"A New York paper, in a criticism of an
oratorio, speaks of the plaintiff soliloquy of
the wearied Samson" 1t did not need typo
graphical error to establish the fact that SAM
son had his trials, though we never knew be-
fore whether he was plaintiff or defendant.
"A Kentuckian, who had, after a protracted
courtship, made up his mind to propose to a
young lady, carried his resolution into effect
The young lady with some hesitation replied:
II am partially engaged, but mother wants
to marry"
"A gentleman, one evening, was seated
near lovely woman, when the company
around were proposing conundrums. Turn
ing to his companion, he said "Why is a lady
like mirror?" She gave it mp. Because
said the rude fellow, mirror reflects without
speaking; a lady speaks without rejecting"
VERY good" said she. "Now answer me:
Why is man unlike mirror?" II cannot
tell you" because the mirror is polished
and the man is not"
Herr Won Dreysse, inventor of the needle-
gun, is dead at the age of eighty years. He
died just as his invention is surpassed by the
Chassepot.'
Several of the inhabitants of Lyons who
eat horse-fesh have discovered that the meat
of asses is of superior quality to the other. In
support of that opinion we may remark that in
Italy particular kind of sausage made of
asses meat is in high estimation.s
"A church. clergyman had stirred up the
community by preaching on the subject OF
temperance. He soon after met member of
the aptist church, who attacked him imme-
diately. The argument turned upon the sin of
making intoxicating liquors. The Baptist de-
nounced it as a sin and crime. The clergy
man mildly suggested that "the Saviour when
on earth made wine" The instant reply was,
"He ought to have been engaged in better bus
mess
james and Edward had quarreled. So, as
James had been the most to blame, he was
sent up stairs alone to think over his sin and
rapent When his mother called him down,
she asked him what he had been doing He
replied, "Prayfns." "weli, my boy, what did
you pray for?" His reply was: II prayed
God to pardon Eddy and make him a good boy,
and bless all my Deeds" A very good llustra-
ton OF self-rghteousness.
The name of God has often been oddly mis-
applied. II have got warming PAN" says
Horace Walpole, shat belonged to Charles H.,
and was probably used for the beds of his mis-
tresses. 1t is inscribed, Serve God, and live
forever" Haai
The Saturday Review, in noticing some
| slips of expression in Mr.. Beecher's "Nor-
wood" says that it would be useless to protest
! against such innovations, as interference with
| the freedom of transatlantic grammar would
probably d. nothing but call up the worst
hostility of the Knownothngs."
The Prince of Wales, to the great indig-
nation of the bulk of English Protestants, is
now a constant worshiper at All Saints
Church, Margaret street, one of the most ex-
treme of the ritualistic churches in London.
This is certainly in opposition to the exam
pie of his royal mother, who is of the moder-
ates; but i. does seem to us very unrcason-
able on the part of the good people of Eng
land to make fuss about it. In view of the
general "scaliness" of his Royal Highness'
character one would suppose they would be
only too happy to see him constant wor-
shipper at any kind of church.
Ole Bullarrived in New York in the steam
ship Russia last week. He is on his way to
Chicago, but it is his intention to return in
couple of months, and take up his violin again
| for a few concerts. During the last ten years
he has been playing in the great capitals Of
Europe, with the same success as in former
years. In st. Petersburg, especially, he has
reawakened great enthusiasm.
-Some years ago a man was tried before a
Dutch Justics for stealing sheep. Six wit
nesses were brought who swore they saw the
man steal the sheep. But twelve men of high
standing were brought who testified they did
not see the man steal the sheep. Whereupon
he was fully acquitted, as the evidence in his
favor was two to one.
Two women in Bloomington, Indiana,
went out on the railroad track to settle quar-
rel by set-to. A train coming along, the
conductor stopped it and treated his passen-
gers to the spectacle.
The engineer for the bridge between New
York and Long Island has found rock founda-
tions for three out of four piers, without going
below low water mark. The bridge is intend
ed to cross Blackwell's Island, and the spans
will vary between 700 and 800 feet.
When Dickens demurred to the DRAMATIC
alton of nicholas Nickleby" before its COM
pete publication, the pilferer excused himself
by saying that the dramatic ada ptation en-
hanced the fame of the novelist. To this
"Boz" responded: "Thus Richard Turpin, Tom
King, and Jerry Abershaw have handed down
to fame those upon whom they committed
their most impudent robberies'
DIR. Nelaton, the famous Paris surgeon, ar
rived recently in Florence, to give his atten-
tion and skin To the youthful Polish Count
Raczinsl,; Who was in the Garibaldian ranks
o+ Mo,.ona and received there seven wounds,
two from the Chassepot bullet. The Count is
,,rondson of the celebrated patriot whose menu
ory is still dear to Poland. He possesses a
considerable fortune.
Miss Palmer and Miss Goodall, two Young
ladies who reside in Danvers Centre, walked
from that place to Bos on on Wednesday last.
They started at half-past ten A. NJ, and ar
rived in Boston at about five Z. M. One of
them blistered her feet but the other said she
was ready to continue to Chicago. The dis
tance over the route they travelled is about
eighteen miles.
Miracle plays have been revived in Con-
necticut. The Norwich Bulletin describes a
DIR matte entertainment recently given by the
Second Baptist Church of Noank. The story
of Joseph and his unfraternal brothers was
represented in very good style. The church
choir acted as orchestra" transparency
on the puloit desk displayed the name of the
play in brilliant letters. The Sunday-school
children were in ecstacies Of delight Inc
fact that the performance occurred on sun
day evening shows the courage OF the Noank
Baptists.
Mr.. Murray announces a forthcoming
"Historv of the Massacre of st. Bartholomew"
Ths outbor is Mr.. Henry White, M. D., who
has nersonally examined the metropolitan
and provincial archives Of France.