The Portland daily press., 1870-03-04
Items,

The ladies of the Universalist Church at
Clinton, Iowa, have hit on new dodge for
raising FUNDS. They have "love-making and
mate choosing meeting" at twenty-five cents
per head.
Tom Taylors historical play, "'Twixt Axe
and Crown" is now being performed at the
Queens Theatre, London, by an admirable
company, and it seems most likely that it will
prove verv successful.
NJ. Olivier is said to be the first French
man who has ever reached the rank of first
Minister of the Crown without having been
the recipient of siLele Order, native or for
eign.
Here is Western toast: "The sister cities
of Louisville and Cincinnati-May they re-
main united in affection, sentiment and inter-
est, and their railways go through Kentucky
like dose of salts, and their race to Chalta-
nooga be a dead heat" ~.
| About eighteen months ago, eighteen or
twenty persons left the Presbyterian Church
in Jefferson City, because a colored man at
tended and was permitted TO sit in a pew.
| The other day colored minister preached in
the same church by invitation OF the pastor.
The poultry business in the West is growing.
A paper in Kenosha, Wisconsin, gives these
figures: "One firm has shipped to Eastern firms
during the past year, from fifteen to twenty
thousand turkeys, &c. The same house has
over four thousand chickens"
Five persons, just Of that age when thew
know too much to be boys and too little to be
men, arose in wrath and noisily stamped
their way out Of church in California few
Sundays ago, because negro came in and
quietly took seat in a neighboring pew.
But these same five frequently Loaf IN the
same negro's barber shop ior hours together
on week Days.
rrr--
The Algonac correspondent of the Port
Huron Mich.) Times reports that half
wltted fellow, about twenty-five years of age,
has been stopping there this winter, who an
swers to the name of sPhelix." For a small
consideration he will at any time swallow an
eight or ten penny nail, and it is estimated
that this singular being has taken into his ca
paclous NAV during the past three months
over one pound of nails of different size.
A ex-army officer in Indiana tells story of
an acquaintance, who, having removed from
his native town when a young man, went
back there for his wife. She lived but a
short time, and he journeyed back for an
other, who also soon went to be an angel"
Again he returned to his native village, and
this time he brought back two charming crea-
lures; one he married, land the other he kept
on hand, as supply in case the Reaper should
make hin widOwer for the third time.
Two of the disreputable fraternity of .di-
ed, have been sent to the county jail for sixty
days. Their offence is, a conspiracy to obtain
divorce without publicity" Their client
was sent to Jail along with them. The Chi
cago Times, commenting on this case, says
there are lawyers in Chicago entitled by their
license to practice law in the presence OF gen.
tlemen, whose characters and practices would
disgrace brothel and degrade the vilest fel-
ons at Joliet. 1t is sure the lawyers alluded
to are not blondes.
Mr. Fred Law Olmstead, ia a lecture in
Boston last week, on Public Parks, said that
there is everywhere decline OF the old rural
spirit, and corresponding decay of the old
country villages. This is the effect of cheap
transportation, of the telegraph, OF schools, Of
selEgovern nent, of democracy. Woman's in
f1uence all tended toward the town. The in-
conveniences, real or iancied. of country life,
drew men 10 the city; greater bere6ts are
there to be obtained from cooperation.
Small towns might be made as pleasant as
large cities by the introduction of various i'm
provements, but, other things being equal, the
larger the town, the more decided the econo-
my, the greater the commercial and domestic
advantages.
An article termed Compressed leather is
now manufactured OF the waste leather of
shoe factories and saddery establishments, by
first cleansing it from dirt and other foreign
substances, then cutting it into nne shreds,
with the waste of raw hides, and immersing
IN water containing one per cent. OF sulphuric
acid until the whole forms plastic pup,
which can then be pressed into moulds OF the
desired size. After these have been dried by
means of steam, the masses are passed be-
tween rollers one of which is rough, and the
other smooth for the purpose OF producing
surface in imitation OF flesh and grain sides
of leather. To render the whole pliable, one
pound OF glycerne is added for each hundred
,Ia g IL
for the soles OF shoes, &c, this artificial sub
stance completely replace the natural leather,
and can be sold at much cheaper rate
A Bowdoin student tells story of ex-Pres-
ident Woods of Bowdoin College. In the Col
lese Chapel there is large copy oil tue PANT
ing representing the conflict between
Michael and the dragon, in which the angel
is supposed to be getting the upper hands OF
the old fellow-much, OF course, to the ad-
vantage of mankind. While the artist was at
work upon the picture commencement week
drew near, and Saturday night before COM
mencement saw the work needing only one
days effort more OF the artist. As the artist
desired that the picture should be ready for
exhibition commencement week, he saw no
way to dodge the difficulty, except by work.
ing Sunday. Accordingly, he applied to
President Woods, and asked permission 70
complete his word on Sunday-statiDg tne
pdrllCuldr circumstances ullueI Wuieh a..
placed in justification. President
his wonted dignity Of manner, and in ms aa,, ~,
imitabe style, replied, "Well, pr, uoae
know as there is any objection o N.s..TT
over his speetacles and hsstsDg os mG%sn 3nnnsS
think that s.ns might ihs hook bs'es as sa0sf Il
me-, ,ne DIason ,os what the artist did we are not
talen ods;sadi but the picture certainly looks as
iineasnM iheush Michael wasn't making perfect JOB
of IL,