The Portland daily press., 1871-12-16
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADvAN CE.

repartee, chased away the flying hours, Will e
the iarder of mine host supplied creature COM
iort' akin to the enjoyment of the rat in the
cheese. But alas the coterie is scattered, the
landlord and lady sleep with their ancestry,
and even the ancient timbers of the Elmwood
have cracked before the devouring flames.
Yet, on the whole, the new is better than the
old. A struggling college has become,
through Boston munifcence, prosperous
university, and if the former institution pro-
duced Ben Butler, there is no telling how
much better the latter may do for some fI-
ture President or Congressman.
Here is Augusta, "rising like the Phe-";
no! we won't, since Chicago was burned,
'ia' phrase is under editorial ban. However,
sne state capital, from the new Augusta
mouse 10 the beautiful iron bridge, is greatly
lihpro'eu since the fire of some years since.
HahoWel does not sleep quite as soundly as
it did in the last decade, and Gardiner is DOS
itively lively. Two new hotels, manufacto-
res, ice-houses and lumber-mills, attest its
prosperous growth. Now hereby hangs a
tale. A dozen years or more ago, halted in
Gardiner for my first visit. Being given a
room in an ell, naturally of restless, inquir-
ing disposition, the hour waiting for the sup
per bell was pleasantly whiled away by a
promenade on the roof. On re-entering the
chamber, the door was flung open, and before
my eyes, loomed a female form, the PRESENT.
ment ofvirtuous Indignation.
"How came you in this room, sir?'' Was
the impatient challenge.
"Hm-ah-why-Mada was shown to
this apartment, but Pip
Don't you tell me such falsehood; didn't
see you creep in at that window? (Air,
high tragedy, attitude defiant, right hand
pointing to aoindop.)
Another attempt to explain was headed off
by similar asseveration, but at last a prom
ise to remain prisoner, while the irate fe-
male went for the clerk, produced the expla-
nation and denoument which always precedes
the fall of the curtain.
A trip down the river to Bath, shows the
results of the ice-famine of a couple of years
since. Plenty of lumber to build the house,
and water facilities for securing the ice and
shipping it at small outlay, there is no rea-
son why our country should not keep cool
under all circumstances. We won't moralize
over Names decay as indicated by the Bath
ship-yards. Behold is it not written by the
veritable "Percie'' in the columns of the Bos-
ton Post?
Brunswick is the same as of yore, the identi-
cal, execrable old Tontine Hotel And here
word about New England Inns. They are
currently supposed to be temperance houses.
We found those most truly temperate, who
did not parade the 'no bar" flag.
'Can you give us glass of ale or pint of
claret with dinncr?'' was our frequent in
quiry.
Landlord conidentially) mo, but if you
want drink, I've got brandy, rum and whis-
key handy"
Such is Maine Law temperance; Danish the
harmless beverages, and thus give excuse for
the fiery stimulants.
Another popularity of the taverns of our
native New England is found in the liberal
manner in which s,cine food is supplied;
pork for breakfast dinner and supper;
pork boiled with the chickens; pork chopped
up in the stuffing, and larded into the staff of
cursed animal Seven cents pound only
for inca:nate scrofula; the balance of its val
ue is paid to the quack medicine vendors.
Here is another thing to growl at. What?
Why, this bottle of sauce. A miserable imi-
tation of noble English article intruding it
self into even first-class hotels in place of
the genuine; showing false colors
too; the identical refuge of piracy Blush
for your native city; it is put up in Boston.
Two first-class hotels to greet us on the
homeward track. One built by the Aster of
Portland is an honor to the Forest City, and
comfort to the traveller. The other, blessed
by many glorious naval memories, is good for
fourscore years more of hospitality and his
toric interest
But here we are at home. Do you want
another column of reflections, or will you
take the moral in single sentence? Here it
is.
Maine still lives, and Ton the whole) is
prosperous.