The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-15
THE PRESS
MONDAY MORNING, JULY Is, '72.
Gleanings and Gossip

Gleanings and Gossip
George Francis Train flatters himself tina
he is "the most gigantic and successful fraud
the world has ever seen."
Bismarck has become member of the As
sociatiOn for the introduction of the National
German fashions, and is severely ridcued for
it in the French papers.
Ii politicians were prophets, the election OF
both Grant and Greeley is assured, as their
sanguine adherents are sure of sweeping the
country. In due time we shall have the bal
lot box instead of brag and guesswo k.
The New York Independent thinks that
when child is whipped just as hard for
breaking a dish as for breaking command
ment, there is need that somebody should
pray for his parents that they may be able to
distinguish between things that differ.
John P. Putnam is not happy in his lot
He is required by the Lynn Horse Railroad,
whose tenant he is, to keep their ticket Office
at Revere Beach open on Sunday, and for so
doing he is fined by the Chelsea Police Court
$40 and costs as Sabbath breaker. 'How
happy could John be with either were t'other
fair channer awayp'
.''HssfF
The american Journal of Pharmacy says
that 10000 infants are killed every year by
the opium contained in the various kinds of
soothing syrups which they are allowed, or
rather forced to drink.
London papers relate curious stories of the
blunders made by Oxford undergraduates in
the Scripture examination which they have
to pass before taking their degrees. 1t is told
ofone that when asked to mention 'the two
instances recorded in Scripture of the lower
animals speaking" the undergraduate
thought for a moment, and then replied,
"Balaam's ass" ''This is one sir. What is
the other?" Undergraduate paused in earn
est thought. At last a geam of recollection
lit up his face as he replied 1.-THE whale |!
The whale said unto Jonah, almost thou
persuadest me to be Christianr"
A scientific gentleman has ascertained that
the film of soap bubble about to burst is
about three fourths of millionth of an inch
in thickness.
Something of the grandeur of the "bound-
less PRAIRIE" something of its fierce heat
when the ''fire fiend'' envelopes it, is to be
discovered in the rhetoric ofthe Western edi-
tor as he goes for the enemy who has trifled
with his forbearance and defied the lightnings
of his wrath: ''The fiannel-mouthed poll par
rot OF the Paali Scavenger has too long roost-
ed in the shadow of our good nature Let him
beware. Forbearance is no longer a virtue.
We shall set his dainty plumage scurrying on
the four winds of heaven and give his bloated
carcass to the vultures."
Thermometers differ; sensations don't so
much !; and it is the latter that have to be en-
joyed or endured. 'Happy thought''-not
to consult the mercury in extreme weather
but to be content with being simply very hot
or very cold.
A writer in the Spirit of the Times give.
the process by which he argued an extraor
dnariy vicions horse into good-tempered
one. Hay and water only were given to the
animal who had been in the habit of being
highly fed and pampered. Oats were shown
him continually, and if he evinced any dispo
sition to bite or kick they were instantly
withdrawn. As soon as the animal began tt
find that it paid best to be civil he became as
amiable as pet spaniel; and could be ap
preached with perfect safety by anybody il
the stable or out Of 1t.
By all means cultivate the habit of saying
the most unpleasant things in the sweetes
way; nothing like sugaring wormwood.
The Rev. Mr.. B, Of Valley Rock, Yer
mont, in giving out notice of an approach
ing Sunday-school exhibition, stated tha
there would be no admittance at the door
meaning probably, no admittance fee.
The newest instrument out is one bearin.
the title of the Irish clarionet; 1t is also call
Joukaun, this being the Irish name for it
Ancient Milesian History reveals that it wa.
the discovery of a young shepherd, who, il
herding his flock, whitfield it out of rice
straw, and the natives were so pleased witt
it that it was called Joukaun, the vernacu
lar for melody. The Irish Band use the in
strument.
A New Orleans thief recently sent back the
stolen clothing of an undersized citizen, witt
a note saying that he would wait for his vic
tim to grow.