The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-31
ms $500 per annua,s, ia, odrance.
lrrom An Occasional Correspondent
Letier from New York.
NEW YORK, March %, Is

NEW YORK, March %, 1870.
MIR. ToR:-Ye Yesterday was the fourth
Sunday in Lent, but how i. was observed by
Democratic politicians it would be hard 10
say. We are afraid, however, that this holy
day was not kept in strictly puritanical
manner, and since the rain prevented ONT
door exercise, within, the excise law was not
observed as strinsently as it ought to have
been. To-day the gigantic preparations are
completed by tha rival factions for the com-
ing fray, the Tammany programme is at last
finished and the new charter expected to be
presented this week.
THE ALTERATION OF CHECKS
has caused great uneasiness amongst the
banks. Several lately for very large amounts
have been suecessively cashed by the forgers.
Their method of operation is very simple.
The sharper gets a genuine signature to
genuine check for. say one thousand dollars.
These words are in ink. He removes that
ink and in the blank space puts what he will.
Sometimes, however, be simply obliterates the
one, putting in its place five, seven or nine, as
he thinks will best pass muster. Lately red
ink instead of black has been a good deal
used, as it has been found much more difficult
to blot out this color.
SPRING TRADE.
All our hotels are crowded with merchants
from all parts Of the country, and yet trade is
dull Tie reason given for this state of things
is that our country friends evidently thiIk
there is nothing to prevent gold coming down
to par but few spectators In Wall street, who
will soon give up the attempt to rule the mar
ket The correctness of this view remains 10
be seen.
A FRENCH BALL.
Another Of these dlsgraceful affairs took
place in this city last Thursday night, and
was fully as Frenchy as any preceding it. 1t
was the "Bal de la Grand DucAesse," and
was held at the Everett Rooms. The greater
part of the demi-monde and the young bloods
about town were there in full force, but not
even with a mask and domino could the
brand Of uice be concealed. The Can-can
was danced to the tune of "Shoo Fly" by
several Of the females present, and conflicts
were frequent. The rooms were jammed and
shocking orgies kept up till early dawn.
PUNCHINELLo.
A new comic paper with the above title ap-
peared here last Monday. The name Is cer-
tainly distasteiul as it smacks too much of
the Punch across the waters. How much
better would have been the name of "Tom-
my Dodd." Yet the present venture is not
bad in point OF appearance and contents.
Has 16 pages of the size of Appleton's Jour
nal, neatly printed on tinted paper and illus
trated by a number Of caricature portraits,
Introducing Greeley, Bennett, Dana and
other journalistic celebrities, Grant, Wander
bilt, Fletcher, Delmonico etc. The proprie-
tors surely deserve praise for their courage In
undertaking the publication of such Journal
offer the repeated failures of so many Others
in the same direction.
THEATRICALs
There is nothing new in this line, but great
promise is given for the future-Macbeth will
be brought out at Booths tonight. 1t will
be presented after long and elaborate prep
aration and it is said the scenery will be very
fine, fully equalling Hamlet" The Tam
many will reopen some time during the
week with miscellaneous company organ
lied abroad by Prof. Risley, consisting Of more
than sixty performers. A Spanish ballet
troupe of fifteen, selected from the most beau
tiful and accomplished dancers of the princi-
pal cities of Spain will be one of the many
attractions. A1d lastly the return of the
"Lydia Thompson's Company" to Niblo's,
who will appear in an entirely new burlesque.
S.B. T.