The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-21

1t is said that those hard-headed, hide
bound old Pagans, the ancient Egyptians.
used to try their dead, and award sentence
according to the bala nee of good or evil found
in the deeds of the deceased done while in the
body. None were permitted to escape a
searching examination conducted in behalf of
the government by a public accuSer whose
duty 1t was to comment with suitable free
dom on any bad act. even OF their statesmen,
philosophers, poets and kings.
But our advanced civilization has changed
Ill that, having adopted as the main article of
our modern creed, that other Pagan maxim.
MI de mOrtuis nisi bonun, which, being in,
terpreted means, practically, mot the truth,
but hattery is to be permitted about the
dead"
We have no idea of exposing ourselves TO
fhe aEathemas OF the devout worshppers of
this lofty and truthful sentiment by intmat-
ing even to Americans that the author of
Notes on America" and other works was not
saint and Chri tian Of the first water, not to
say moral'st and gentleman
Benold.is it not so written in the London
Times, and has it not been certified to official
ly by DIR. Chaplin. Rev. o. B. rockingham ard
other American Doctors of Divinity from New
York pulpits.
But now that Mr. Dickens has been duly
buried in Westminster Abbey by order of 'the
authorities" it may not be irreverent tor an
pntut0red Yankee to ask if an, thing observ-
ed and r, corded for the ridicuIe of English
men bY The late novelist in his picture of
American lite surpasSes that letter of condo.
lence from the Queen 10 Mrs. Dickens.
take it that she is the same woman whom
the press informs US Dickens married in 1898.
and dismissed from his home twenty years
later. after she had burne him - children. Tor
"incompatability of temper" that she is a
sister OF the Miss Hogarth with whom he has
continued to live till bis DEATH
We are not informed whether the ssincom-
patability" which caused her election from
her husbands bed and board in 1853 was on
bis side or hers, or on BOTH but either way.
is there not shade of the ludicrous, spite of
the heavy solemnity of the thing, in that
official letter of coincidence.
At any rate we will wager volume of her
husbands Notes on America. edition of 1922
that the widow is not a member of the wo-
mans rights society, or she never would have
accepted seat in the carriage, nor lost the
chance of giving the Queen a piece of her
mind" in reply to her letter.
On the whole, when we think of those II
babies of those IL years OF "Mits Hoga1th,'
and the silence of Mrs. D. up to date, it seems
as if there must be some redeeming qualities
in her even though she may not have been
good enough for her husband to live with
after he had become great man. SNoB.
An Out.p ,kem American Bishop i'm the
Council nj Rome
Writing on the Both ult., the Roman CORES.
pendent Of the Pail Null Gaze,te says: "rhe
day before yesterday a violent scene took
place in the Council. on the delivery of a
speech by Monsignor Verot, Bishop of Savan-
nah, United States, the orator of the Ameri-
can Episcopate. This discourse, pronounced
in voice audible through the hail. vehement
ly assailed the dogma of intallbility, declaring
that all the Bishops who voted in its favor
would De guilty OF sacrilege. The majority
met this imputation with protesting cries. and
the clamor became SO furious that the Presi-
dent I.egate rang his bell. and called on the
speaker to retract tIe expression. Supported
by Monsignor StrOssmeyer, the Bishop of Sa-
vannah refused, maintaining that he was en-
titled to express his conscientious opinion
lie said he was the citizen OF country where
every opinion was free, and that, trained in
freedom, he would preserve his independence
even in the Ecumenica Council. Monsignor
Senestrey, Bishop of Ratisbon, spoke with
equal force, but in more guarded language,
against the dogma, affirming that he express
ed the sentiments OF the vast majority of Ger
man Catholics. The sitting poke up in great
agitation. Several members of the majority
have availed themselves Of the new regulation
to demand an immediate vote. As there are
yet seventy Fathers inscribed TO speak on the
Question, the Cardinal Legates referred tor in
structions to the Pope; and the Holy Father
decided there should be no interference with
.ne aeoate. The Bishops of the minority are
with min; e4.,
LII nI aEa'noilc Powers. Conferences have been
ue,u oosn at the Austrian and French Embas-
sies anu u was finally arranged that The Risb
ops should sign collective note tn the Pone
protesting against the PRONUNCIATION of The
dogma. But l am persuaded that ali onnosi.
ton will be useless" 'ff''''0
WAS DICKENS A CHRISTIAN ?-Discuss;no
the question whether or not Charles Dickens
was Christian, 81. g. G.. of Buffalo, contrib
utes to the Tribune the following incident of
Mr.. Dickens life:
For years was connected with the press at
Rochester. four miles from Gad's Hill the
country seat of Mr.. Dickens. On Sundays he
and his family occasionally INDUCED in cricket
and field sports, and entertained company,
probably at the sacrifice of attendance at
church. Beyond this, do not believe the
SiSnt 81 lmputatl0n can be brought against
INN, except that his marital relations were
not OF the happiest In the whole realm of
England, the memory of no man will sand
higher in the estimation of its people, for deeds
OF genuine Christian benevolence, than that
of Charles Dickens.
MR.. PERHAM.-The Washington RepubH-
can, speaking of the nomination of Mr.. Per-
han, says:
His Congressional career was one of indus
Try and bis calm. deliberate judgment was Of
zen sought by his colleagues IN matters of i'm
Porlance. There is no doubt at out Mr.. Per-
LAM, maliis election. aud his administration will