The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-07
arieties.

"A burlesque entitled "Fowl Play" will
soon be brought out at a Boston theatre.
There are scores of towns in Vermont
where the Republican majority is larger than
the Democratic vote.
"A good story is told of a bootblack, whose
energies were taxed by the huge shoes of
private just returned from the war. The lit
tie fellow, kneeling down, looked over his
shoulder to comrade and exclaimed, "Lend
me some spit, Jim; I've got an army con-
tract" ..#l......4 rr... .r
An advertisement in one of the papers of
Nottingham, England, suggests an odd combi-
nation of politics and religion. Two freehold
pews" in St. Johns Church are offered for
sale, "each giving a vote for North Noting
hamshire," and lone of them being the best
situation in the middle aisle"
"A Belgian paper (the Opinion) of Ant
werp, gives currency to piece of news which
it says will be read with great pleasure by
fathers of families. A certain Mr.. s. is ac-
lively engaged in maturing project for cre-
ating new class of taxpayers. 1t is propos-
ed that every bachelor who has reached the
age of thirty shall be subject to tax, the
amount of which is to be fixed according to
his position in life.
The masOns of Chicago charge such high
prices that some of the builders of TINT city
are buying stone in Cleveland, having it
wrought there, and then transported to the
place of erection. -.
The New Bedford Standard says ELDER
Moses How, of this city, has probably united
more couples in marriage than any other cler-
gyman in this vicinity, having oficiated FRI
day evening to the happiness of the 1,SOOth
pair. Elder How is seventy-nine years of age,
and has been in the ministry fifty-four years
1t is said that the delay in the appointment
of the Intercolonial Railway Commissioners
arises in connection with the appointment of
one for Nova Scotia. 1t is reported that a
nominee of the Hon. Joseph Howe is to be ap-
pointed-one who will not be offensive to the
Ant-Unionists
"A London letter-carrier, with children and
a sick wife to support on nine shillings a week
stole twelve postage stamps from letter and
has been sent to prison for five years Econo-
my would suggest an increase of salary as the
proper remedy for his case. ..-.e.I
"A Norwegian armorer at the recent sehut-
zenfest at Vienna fred SO shots in three min
utes with breech-loader of his own inyen-
ton.
"A Copenhagen correspondent speaks of
two Yankee girls who are making a sensation
in musical circles thereaDouts. Their artistic
names are Mile Carrie and Mile Calisto, and
European critics give them high praise.
An old fellow in Michigan, when the eoun-
try was new, got lost in the woods several
.Ia n
pocket compass. He did, and friend kplain-
ed to him its use. He soon got lost, and lay
out as usual. When found he was asked why
he did not travel by the compass He stated
that he did not dare to. He wished to 90
north, and he "tried hard to make the blamed
thing point north, but want no use; 'twould
diddle diddle, dddle right around, and point
about southeast every timer
The only fresh campaign story about
Grant is that he stole Shetland pony, which
his son now rides, followed by taoo black
grooms. This is the tale as Pomeroy tells it;
but it is believed that that gentleman has, with
his usual moderation and regard for "the amen
tiles, suppressed the most shocking features
of the story.
The Canadian harvests are now we'll nigh
over The Montreal Trade Review, summing
up results, says the wheat and hay crops may
be set down as above the average; barley, oats,
rye and peas are considerably below it, Root
crops are, at present, not looking over well.
Potatoes, turnips, carrots and mangolds, all
requir more rain. Tue yield will be def
cient. So far as potatoes are concerned, this
result may now be considered certain. Taking
the harvest of 1868 as whole, we believe it
will come up to the average.
1t is reported in English journals that the
Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon has engaged himself to
make q lecturiDg tour through this country
during the present fall.
-Advices from Ottawa state that despatch
has been received from the British Colonial
Office, refusing the Royal assent to the bill
fixing the Governor Generals salary. The
Duke of Buckingham argues that the proposed
reduction would have prejudicial effect upon
Conada, by reducing it to the third-class
among Colonial Governors; that the Govern
or is continually called upon to act on ques-
tions OF international relations with the Uni
ted States, and that the Queens advisers could
not invite to office men competent to fill it if
the income was not sufficient to meet the de-
mands on his resources. From which it APP
pears that the "Dominion" is Dot only bound
to accept whatever Governor the Imperial
government may choose to send her, but also
to take him at the Imperial valuation. She is
not to be allowed any opinion as to what she
can afford to pay her Governor.
Somebody calls ThOreau's Walden "a mi
nority report on the universe"
Major Pauline Cushman is running the
atre at Yonkers.
In 1868, says the Aroostook Pioneer, Mr.
S. S. Stevens, then of Bangor, received an or
der from his son, mailed at Honolulu, Sand
wich Islands, that letters for him be sent to
st. Helena. A letter, containing a ten dollar
greenback, was dispatched thither, but, owing
to change of purpose, the son was not there to
take it from the post-office. In course OF time
it was returned to the dead letter office, Wash
ing.on, from which, few days ago, Mr. Ste
vens received it with his greenback in good
state Of preservation, after an absence of five
years