Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-20
Editorial Correspondence.
STATE HOUSE, Feb. IA, 1873.

until one, making four soil lhours
of sitting. The Committees are making
haste to clear their dockets and empty the
material into the general hopper to be
ground out by the two Houses, the upper
and net Their mill stones. The members feel
ing more at home in their places are be-
coming more questioning ard critical. and
sometimes nice little financial scheme
comes 10 grief through the awakening
curiosity OF some hitherto silent member.
These things cause friction, and friction
causes heat, so that some, of the sessions
become little warm. | am glad to say
The lower. House actually listens attentive
ly TO debate, which very attention encour-
ages long speeches, whereupon the House
begins to be FESTIVE. There are some very
generally seem to forget that talking is a
very dangerous pastime. A very able man
can easily commit metaphorical suicide in
less than five minutes speech. Our dele
CATION are generally very cautious in this
respect.
This Legislature is rather remarkable for
refusing TO enact proposed laws. 1t was 4
rule in one of the ancient Grecian States
that whoever proposed law should do il
with 4 halter round his neck, and if the
proposition was not accepted. the auda-
cious mover was Immediately hung up. If
this rule were TO obtain in this Lcgisla-
ture, these Halls would be thickly festooneJ
with pendant law makers. The Free Rail-
road Law. was most carefully elaborated
in the Judiciary Committee. and was safely
piloted through the House. only 20 be alb
ruptly knocked in the head. in the Senate
Compulsory vaccination was urgently
pressed, only TO fall between the two
Houses into that tomb of the capulets'' a
Conference Committee. Compulsory Edu-
cation, and uniformity of text books. have
been proposed only to be trampled in the
dust. The project 10 increase the Mill
School tax TO two mills was iiercely debat-
ed. and finally thrown out of the House
windows by decisive majority. The
School Commissioners Bill is sleeping the
sleep that knows no waking. on the table
of the Committee. Certainly the Legisla.
tors of 1873 are not innovators
The great social event of the season was
the Reunion ofthe 1872 Legislature, Thurs
day the 18th. Hiram Bliss Jr. OF Wash
ipUfnrl tho "a htfa -bas (.
sounded this resurrection of the just A
large majority of the old members obeyed
the CALL and came back like spectres to
ill for a day the seats that knew them
when in the flesh. They We're set of iol-
ly ghosts however, and brought with them
none OF the gloom of the shades to which
they had been sent. They took possession
of the State House and recognized as n
ghostly Legislature. They resurrected
Tim Hubbard who had been long sleep
ing IN his political grave, and in their imp
i>h frenzy, they made him Governor and
COMMUNICATIVE hief. of this spectre crew
These shades and spirits then abandoned
themselves to the most furious fun. The
leading imp Was the spirit of Porter Of
burlington. whose shadowy form filled the
Speakers chair. He caught all the darts
Of wit and satire hnriaI =, min, 10y ,Lo
wicked spirits on the floor, and flung them
back with singing effect. amid the shrieks
OF all the devils. little and big Wilson of
Thomaston seemed TO be the Apollyon of
this Pandemonium. hinging his satires
right and left. even at those who were still
in the flesh. The record of their doiugs.
80 far as any record could be made. has
been published in the daily papers. and you
may use the scissors to obtain that. Among
other freaks. was the passage of an order.
changing the politics of Gov. Hubbard"
to republican, whereupon the Governor"
came IN person TO the House. and pro-
rogued it. closing up his proclamation with
the terrible words-''jump your seats. git
up and git.." The assembly at once melt
ed away aud nothing but men and women
of flesh and blood were to be seen where
had reveled shapes hot from -"
Among these spirits OF just men made
perfect, if such they were. saw the shape
of VIM. W. Bragdon of Franklin. who had
come to revisit the scenes of his life in
Augusta.
Thursday evening was held grand Ball
where were assembled representatives of
the beauty and chivalry" of the State.
The toilettes were very elegant, the ladies
very beautiful, the gentlemen very gallant
the music superb. and so of course it was
brilliant occasion. The dancing was
Kept up until two in the morning, and the
curtain fell on this last act of the .'Legis-
lative reunion" and weary men and wo-
men crept home to slumber.
This large influx of people into Augusta
has severely taxed the resources of the
Hotels. Major Baker and his efficient
clerk Mr.. Hussey had their hands full to
take care of the many who insisted on
stopping at the Augusta House. The prob
lem was to make l25 rooms accommodate
twice as many people, and it is wonder
they succeeded so well. Mr.. Hussey is
popular clerk. never losing his temper, al
ways alert and obliging. He seems to
know everybody and warmly welcomes
eyerybody-to the House. The Augusta
House is always full during the session.
The Editorial Correspondent" has been
blamed for devoting so much of his letters
to the ladies here, but how can he help it
when they are so agreeable and fascinating /?
There is large number here now from all
parts of the State, filling the parlors com
fortably full and consequently society" is
more lively than ever. L am much graft
fed to find Mrs. John d. Hopkins and Mrs.
Senator Hadlock here. They convince
everybody that We in Ellsworth and Han
cock County are not whit behind the rest
Of the State, in the beauty and culture OF
our ladies, although the State is distin-
guished for the loveliness OF its women.
Our new Collector of Customs, Mr.. ].
D. Hopkins, is here and is heartily congrat-
ulated by his many friends. Mr.. II. by
reason of his long service in the Legisia-
ture, and on the Republican State Commit
tee has become well known TO public men,