The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-19
Var-iefies..


The cause of the suffrage seeking English
iadies has just received powerful reinforce
uent in a writer VINO quotes Gordon's "An-
tiquities of Parliament" 10 show that In the
seventh century English abbesses sat In &C.
clesiastical councils; that in Henry the Thirds
and Edward the First's times abbesses we're
summoned to Parliament; and that In the fif.
ty-third year of Edward the Third ten peer.
esses were summoned to appear by proxy.
The New York Mail sagely informs it, Ia
dy readers that English women wear water
proof cloaks and walkipg-suits, and while
wondering why it is that ladies in this country
never can be induced to follow any OF these
sensible fashions" suggests that some bold in
novator should make an effort to start the
thing here The Mail does not seem to be
aware that waterproof cloak is already an
indispensable part of the wardrobe of every
woman in the country from Maine to Texas.
These newspaper commentators on dress and
manners are a treasure to the country. We
should not De surprised If one of them should
discover some day that Englsh ladies wear
stockings, and gravely recommend the same
sensible course to the benighted female popu-
lation of this country.
There is stroug liturgical tendency
among English Coneregatioualists. Rss. W.
NJ. Statham writes to the London Christian
World, "Our successful men, our well-to-do
families, in many places we'll educated, and
mngling in Church of England circles, are in
sympathy with liturgy. Near to our sue
cessful cities, such as Manchester and else
where, you will find colonies OF such who are
looking that way" r
France is provoked with the Prince Of
Prussia tor showing friendship to the Duke
d'Aumale.
The King of Greece proposes to call his
son the Duke of Sparta, and that win be the
hereditary title of the future frst-born of
Hellenic majesties.
A Western politician, courting the votes
of the Jews, spoke of the crucifxion of Christ
as "a certain mistake committed in Judea
some centuries ago."
The wood of the California laurel is COM
ing into general use for cabinet and ornamen-
tai manufacture. 1t is very handsome and
takes a beautiful polish.
-Buckwheat has been found usefnl in dye
ing wool. The dried flowers yield different
shades Of green, and the succulent stems and
blossoms, with the addition of bismuth OF tin,
produce a beautiful brown.
king William Of Prussia has ordered the
museum of the Guelphs, which formerly be-
| longed to the royal FAMILY Of i anover, 20 be
| sold It is rich in historical treasures.
| Experiments show that sounds upon the
earth are distinctly heard at % much greater
distance by people in balloons than by those
who are also upon the earth.
The CoRgregationalist, speaking OF the
compromise" in the article amending the con-
stitution of the Unitarian Conference says |:
This change was thought To afford that happy
indefiniteness under which the venerable
lambs of old-fashioned Unitarianism, aud the
young lions of Free Religion could lie down
together-at least for another year"
Rev. DIR. Schaff has accepted the invita-
tion to the professorship of ecc lesasiical his
tory in Yale Theological Institute, and will en-
| ter upon his duties as soon as satisfactory ar
rangements can be made with the faculty.
Mr.. Leonhardt, the Prussian Minister of
Justice, has instructed several distinguished
| jurists to propose measures for the abolition OF
| the death penalty in Prussia. The fact that
numerous executions are TO take pace next
| month in Prussia, and the many horrible
| scenes which have taken place at recent exc
| cutiops. have determined tho government to
c,nsider very seriously if 1t would not be best
20 shed no more blood with the headsman's s
axe.
The Crimean war arose out Of quarrel
concerning the privileges of certain parties to
use one OF the holy places iu Jerusalem for
worship; and now The demand by Russia, that
the key to the Holy Sepulchre, held by the
Consul of France, be submitted 10 the JOINT
custody OF the Representatives OF Russia ana
France, it is thought, may lead to another war
of equally trivial origin
Tho Italian newspapers take lively In
| terest in the present elecuoh contests IN
,,rarica. and discuss American politics ear
nestly
A correspondent of the Oxford Democrat
says: 81 saw at my residence, in one room, nc
other person present, within year, my moth
er, her son, her grandson, her great grandson
my wife's mother, her daughter, her grand
daughter, her great-granddaughter, making
iour generations ON q side"
"A number OF residents OF New orleans
who have claimed citizenship under tn.
French Government MT as well as the on'tee
States Government, have been notified by thu
French Minister that they must either reiraii
from matchmaking in political affairs and vot
ing, or renounce their allegiance to France.