The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-08-24

PUTNAM's MONTHLY, for September is at
hand, and is very readable and brilliant
number. The opening article, on Camping
Out in Siberia" is very refreshing reading for
this hot weather. John and Bridget" Is
pleasant talk about names by DR.. n. Grun-
baum; Autographs" by VIM. Young, con-
tains some interesting and curious historical
facts; "a Three-horned Dilemma" is lively
story of losing small boy and finding hus.
band. Mr.. Theo. johnson discusses the SUBJ
iect of "French Newspapers" giving us some
interesting information as to the difficulties
under which they are conducted, with short
sketches of such papers as the Moniteur and
the Petit Monttear, Constitutionel,s Patrie
France, Pays, Steele, Temps Journal DIES
Deoats and some others. "Savsd from the
Asylum" is we'll told story by the Hon. L.
@. Bigelow" "In the Saddle" Is the first of
series of sketches of life on the plains by #.
G. Gedney. Mr.. Clarence Cook writes of
Baron Bunsen, and an anonymous writer of
"The Pathway of Great Enterprise" namely
the Pacific Railroad. The piece de resistance
of this number is, however, the Rev. DIR. Vim
tons revival of the question whether Louis
XVII and the Rev. Eleazer Williams were
one and the same person. DR.. Vinton firmly
believes that they were and he brings strong
evidence in support of his view. We printed
the other day an extract from his article on
the subject. 1t is hardly probable now that
this question will ever be definitely settled. 1t
is like the IDENTITY of the Man in the Iron
Mask, one of the historical ruzzles over which
people are at liberty to expend as much con.
lecture as they please, and to choose such a
solution of the mystery as best suits them.
The political article in this number of Put
naDa's on "The Situation and the Candidates"
is a fine specimen of the good Lord, good
Devil style of putting things.
Bailey and Noyes are agents for this mag
zine.
KIDNAPPING EXTRAORDINARY Chicago, as
its latest sensation, has got up frst-class alb
duction story, after the style of Jack the giant
killer, with incidents of the most thrilling de-
scripton. 1t is asserted that number of lit
tie boys have been kidnapped from the streets,
spirited away to a house on the prairie, and
kept there, bound and gagged, until the doctors
could call for and carve them up for the Illus
tration of anatomical and medical science.
The story is long and slightly improbable
one, but the following are its main points,.
lad who had been missing from his par
ents some five days, came home on Thursday,
and reported among other things that while on
his way from church he was dragged into We
hicle, had plaster placed over his mouth to
prevent his screaming, and, after riding all
night, found himself in lonely and distant
house, where there were sixteen other little
boys with plasters over their mouths, who,
from the effects of scanty feeding and contin-
ual weeping, had been reduced almost to skel-
etons. After remaining for several days in
this condition, he contrved to escape by
breaking through window, and made for a
distant piece of woods, where he secrated him
self until passing freight train gave him an
opportunity of returning 90 the city. Here a
man removed the plaster from his mouth, and
in terrible plight he reached the house OF a
friend. The boy is remarkably bright and in
telligent, and tells the same curious story in a
very straightforward manner 10 every one who
questions him. The police were inclined To
place reliance upon il, and dispatched num-
Der of detectives Ia ferret out the mystery, but
without effect. They believe that he fell into
the hands OF one of the bands Of gypsies who
infest that region of country. The public are
much exercised over the strange revelation,
aud many give il credenee.