The Portland daily press., 1873-03-11
New York Letter.

for victory.
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New York Letter.
The Festival of the Sons of Maine-the
Salary SteaI-fhe ScanneII TriaI-tbe
New York City Charter.
NEW YORK, March s, 1873.
1.-The Maine Association in the CITY of New
York; held its initial festival on the evening
of the 9Th inst. A due gard to historical
accuracy compels me to declare that in point
OF numbers it was not success. Apollo Hall
III which it was held, is structure so gigan-
tic that it makes much the same impression
on one who enters it for the first time, as st.
Peters at Rome voul: make on the bewilder-
ed visitor, The great hall is not only of enor-
nous width and depth, but the distance from
the floor to the ceiling SUCCESS extreme arch
itectural altitude. The programme seems to
have been arranged on the plan of compro-
mise between the advocates o. dinner. and
those who favored a reception, for the cards
of invitation announced that there would be
ssDinner at $50 o'clock. Ladies at 8 o'clock,
to whom refreshments will be served at later
hour" This left an hour and half for the
service of the dinner, but why on earth the
ladies were to be kept out of the room till
that meal was over, or how they were expect
ed to get there, while their beaux were busy
at the dinner table, are questions on which
no ri lichf l,,l ,,,o, hot NJ
halfpast nine O'Clock, I found on entering
the room, three long tables, capable of seating
$50 persons. The one nearest the main en-
trance contained not living soul. The GEN.
tire one was occupied by about thirty-five
gentlemen and three ladies, and at the ex-
IRENE end Of the third there Were seated
group of two ladies and two gentlemen hav-
ing an exclusive enjoyment of each others So
ciety, and no apparent relations to or associa-
tons with the slot over the way''
At the head of the table, which was orna-
mented by some appropriate figures, one
country s-hool house, another ship in pro-
cess of construction, and third, raft of
logs, there were seated three persons, one of
whom Ill was impossible to guess which one)
was the presiding officer, the second, vener-
able, handsome, white-haired gentleman CT
three score and ten, who formerly resided in
Portland, Mr.. Henry Poor, and the third, as
the busy way in which he was taking notes
indicated, newspaper reporter.
A band of musicians quite filled the gallery.
There was ludicrous contrast between the
| proportions of musicians to guests, as ', as
in the relative spaces they occupied.
The room was uncomfortably chilly, the
! night being cold one, and the heating ap
paratus adjusted on the hypothesis that there
would be crowd present.
On the whole the scene looked lonely and
discouragng. The committee having the af-
fair in charge appear to have assumed that
everybody would come who was invited. But
instead of guests there poured in all day and
through the evening an avalanche of letters
and kilograms of regret, from poets, artists.
editors, congressman, who ''all with one ac-
cord began to make excuse"
Yet notwithstanding these serious draw
backs, the pJst-prandlal exercises were de-
cidedly interesting. The fact is, you cannot
put group of forty Maine people anywhere,
under any circumstances, let the surround
ings be as unpropitious as possible, but that
they will have good time. Especially will
this be the case when an eighth Of the party
are ladies. The speakers were perfect Mark
Tapleys in their capability coming out strong
and being 'Jolly'' under difficulties. Mr..
Dinsmore delivered himself of COM
plete cyclopedia of agricultural statistics, and
drew a glowing picture of The great wheat
producing capacities of Aroostook county.
Mr. Poor, whose gorgeous white locks flowed
in rich profusion, lending special JUNCTION to
his utterances, elaborated Mr.. Dinsmore's
theme, and predicted that within ten years
Maine would not only raise an abundance of
wheat to feed her own people, but would be-
come an exporter of the great staple of the
soil.
Other speakers descanted with commenda-
bic pride, upon the scenic beauties of their
dear old native State, and the thrift, enter
prise, intelligence and morality of its inbab-
itants. The mothers, sisters, sweethearts, that
are that are grouped in the memory of every
migratory native of Maine under the precious
name of Woman, were remembered in words
of touching eulogy, and with feelings that
have been deepened and strengthened by the
lapse of years and the lessons of experience.
The five ladies whose presence so greatly
enlivened the scene. behaved charmingly.
So far from marifesting fatigue, or impa-
thence, they entered into the spirit of the oc-
casion, which, if not genuine, showed them
to be adopts in the art of discrimination. OF
course, they were objects of Quixotc atten-
ton, the men vieing with each other in acts
of devotion and gallantry, and if they had
been disposed to leave they would have found
it difficult to resist the opportunities which
would have beset them "not to think of such
thing" At any rate they did stay, till all
the speeches hal been made, and the late
ness of the hour admonished the company
that it was high time to dispense. venture
to predict that at the next festival of this
association, the ladies will be asked to dinner,
and if they come, there will be no such ac-
count of empty chairs and insignificant num-
UeIS DIS CdluC oO uCdI WtCShluS CuiS hCW Ch-
terprise on its very first voyage.
The salary vote in the expiring hours of the
late Congress will admonish the county of
the necessity of incorporating into the Con-
stitution one more amendment, based on the
eighth commandment. 1t is a humiliating
spectacle that there should be thirty-six Sem
ators and one hundred and three Represent
atives willing to put themselves in the pillory
of shame for so comparatively small con-
sideration. There is some consolation in
knowing that a far larger proportion of the
votes by which this swindle was consum-
mated were cast by Democrats than by Re-
publicans. In the Senate 10 per cent, of the
affirmative votes were Democratic and 81 per
cent. Republican. In the House 5Ss per cent.
Democratic and Al 42-100 per cent. Republi-
can. The whole thing is execrably bad, bus
it cannot be tortured into party question.
OF the five Glib. Pubs" in the Senate, only