The Portland daily press., 1872-02-19

1
strangely unlike. Strangers often inquire
"What is this?" and when answered, turn te
the other, "And this?" and get the same re-
| ply; and then sometimes examine them closely
| to find, if they can, points of similarity But
| there are very few. They are both pictures of
| Middle street. from the corner of Plum street.
| looking east; one taken in 1874, the other in
1853. In the first the old Exchange, with its
| massive dome and Grecian portco forms the
central figure. This was destroyed by fire one
intensely Sunday morning in January, ten years
later. Beyond, in the distance, is the tower and
steeple of the Second Parish church, with its
clock, which people almost involuntarily turn
ed their heads to look at when they crossed
Middle street for two or three years after the
great fire, so strong had the habit become to
them. This side the Exchange stands the
hip-roof wooden building ON the corner, which
gave place TO the splendid Fox Block. There
comes then other venerable buildings of the same
material, with their shady awnings, above
which swing Josiah Bakers big boot and the
sign of a stove and tin ware dealer. Next an
aged block of brick stores, with low doorways,
and generally depressed air. The Casco Bank
ucAt, Will ltS lSIll lTUu DdlCO-
ny surmounting the front of the lower story
the half-effaced sign above and just a little of
the stairway visible by which access was had to
the banking room on the second floor. The sign
post of the old Casco House, bending forward
under the weight of the swing sign, and the
name of j. M. Thompson painted on the arm
brings us TO the confines of the picture. Look
ing further down, upon the right, the eye takes
in the old Coffin, Jewett and Tying mansions;
noted places in old times; many of which gave
place, successfully to more active energy; and
all in turn to the destruction of the great fire.
This picture was made in almost ante railroad
days. The Portland, Saco and Portsmouth
railroad run couple of trains per day into the
city, and people were just beginning to agitate
the stupendous enterprise of connecting Port
land with the Canadas by similar means. Com
mercial street was not dreamed Of The heavy
business of the town was done on Fore street,
and ships almost thrust their bowsprts into the
faces of teamsters and hackmen. The build
ings where merchants kept their ledgers and
counted their gains are, some of them, crum-
bled and forgotten in the rear of more stately
edfices The population, valuation and bust
ness of Portland were not half the amount of
the present day. To those of our citizens who
have resided in Portland for twenty eight years,
and are old enough to recollect Portland
as itwas, this picture is of great value. 1t is
history in ITSELF and compared with its neigh
Dor, or one that ought to be taken now at the
expiration of another fourteen years of our his
tory, can convey at a glance an idea of our
growth.
The other picture, made in 1853, shows how
the street looked when the great fire swept
through the town. One or two buildings had in
the meantime, been changed in appearance and
Woods Hotel, rising white and cold in the dis
tance shuts out the view of the lower end of
the street; but the changes were,a after all, un-
important And SO the two pictures are valu-
able, and no doubt many of our older residents
have them in their possession, and others, when
they know that copies of one if not both of them
can be procured, will be glad to own them.
THE MARCH GALAXY gives four new chap
ters of ''The Eustace Diamonds" continues
Ouster's 'sMy Life on the Plains" with de-
fence of frontiers-men and the army against
the charge of stirring up Indian wars; and adds
another paper to the 'Fifteen Years Shaker
rers." Of the new things are sketch in sea-
son, "The Colored Member" drawn by the
graphic De Forest; 'Corea, what shall we do
with her" adiscussion of one of the foreign rela
tions questions. by William Speer; Judge Black,
whose grim likeness is put in as frontispiece,
treats vigorously of the Erie contest in ga
Great Law Suit, and Field Fight" then
story by Frank Lee Benedict, poetcal contribu-
tions from Bayard Taylor and Nora Perry, to-
gether with the miscellaneous departments
properly cared for, make number which, if
not quite so brilliant as some of its predecessor
has nothing in it but what will pay in the read
ing.
HEN FEvER-George johnson, aged 16, has
frequent attacks of hen fever. Lately num-
Der of citizens in the neighborhood of Grove
street have been deprived of their fowls; among
them poor sick man who lost his whole brood
of twenty. Saturday night woman living on
the corner of Portland and Grove street. lost
two,, and the theft was traced to johnson, and
a stolen bird was found at the Stafford block
johnson confesses to the larceny of some of the
birds. The young man was sentenced to the
Reform School four years ago for breaking and
entering, and was released on probation. Last
summer he spent some time in Jail for robbing
a hen roost. d y AEAhf
A WOMAN AS SHYLocK.-The Springfield
Republican, which is always judicious in its
dramatic criticisms speaks as follows of Mrs
Macready's appearance in that city last We'd
nesday evening:
Mrs. Macready. certainly deserves all the
praise she has received for her impersonation
of "Shylock' in the Merchant of Venice.
Wonderful, the word used in the play bills
is perhaps little too strong to describe it, but
as presented last night it was at least remark
able and worthy of c0mmendatOn. The char
acter of the old Jew, with all his avarice big
otry, intense hate and ungovernable rage was
interpreted with the fidelity to such nature,
that was as strong as it was original. Mrs:
MaereadEs cree rendering ls OF the part Of shyiSek
NO." in that with 'gTubal,' where certain news
of the disaster to Antonio's fleet is received,
and in the final court scene, were given with
power and intensity not soon to be forgotten,
and were received with well merted applause.
The support which Mrs Macready received
was, on the whole, quite good, Mr. Taylors
sGratiano' and Miss Sefton's 'Portia" being,
perhaps most conspicuous.
SPRING GOODS FOR CONTAMINATION old
friend Ayers, of the late firm of Cook & Ayers,
with his accustomed promptness, has opened
the spring trade for gentlemen's clothing, by
putting in an elegant stock Of domestic and for
eign cloths, purchased just in time to avoid an
ticipated rise in prices, and his customers are
to have the benefit of this fact. The Major
and his assistant are artists in their profession
and guarantee their work to give satisfaction.
HUMPTY DUMPTY.-This great spectacular
pantomime, which held place on the New
York stage several years ago, and is still a
standard amusement, will be given at Music
Hall the last three nights of the present week
by company of about twenty performers. 1t
is promised that all the original effects shall be
preserved. See the advertisement.
THE valuable timber lands belonging to the
Osgood estate are to be sold next Wednesday,
Those wishing to attend the sale can leave town
to-day or Tuesday and arrive at the place of
sale in time. See auction sale in this paper
saccaraPpa.
To the Editor Of the Press