The Portland daily press., 1873-01-18
letter from Augusta.
AUGUSTA, Jan. II, 1878.

AN oLLAPoDRIDA OF FACT AND FANCY.
Mr.. EDIroR:-The Legislature is not yet
fairly at wo k, aud certain outside matters at
tract quite as much attention as the business
before that body. Among these matters may
be mentioned the contest over the position Of
REPORTER OF DECISIONS.
1t seems to me that the indicationsAre ia
vorable to Smith of Saco. All the other can
didates mention him as having the second
chance. You remember how it was with
Themistoeles and the other Greek command
ers at the battle of Salam's. While each one
assigned to his own skill and valor the pre-
eminence. they were quite unanimous in CIV
ing Them.stoe'es the second place. The ver-
dict Of history is known to all. In this mat
ter Of the Reporter, it is predicted that con-
cusion will be speedily reached. The hu-
man Governor is much enduring being, but
he can't stand everything any more than a
Congressman or President. By the way,
Gov. Perham has an unusually delicate office
20 perform in making a selection from so
many candidates, either of whom is admira-
bly, fitted to fill the vacant position.
NOT CANDIDATE.
I hear many people here adding the name
of Hon. John Lynch IF Portland, to the list
of persons mentioned in connection with the
position of Governor, and recommending his
nomination as eminently desirable. They
say that LIE has greatly distinguished himself
in the position fro n which he is about to re-
tire, that he has national reputation as an
honest man, and that the State cannot afford
TO dispense with his services. But those who
should know say that he positively will not be
a candidate, and that after retiting from Con-
gress he wishes to give his whole attention to
the management of his private business.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
William P. Whitehouse, ESQ.,, in whose
hands was placed the call for the Woman
Suffrage Convention, to be held here on the
10th inst, has received the. signatures of a
large number OF prominent persons i'll a | parts
of the State. Among the augusta signers
arc Mayor E-.'eun, joshua Nye, Postmaster
Harnlin, w. H. Libby and Fl. S. Osgood.
The lists from other towns are almost equally
gratifying. 1t is as surprising as it is pleas
ant 20 find SO manyinfuental people fully
committed to the advocacy of the reform.
Young men of culture and. ab,lityoeem to be
almost universally on the right side.
BATH AND PORTLAND CHARTER.
Unless the Maine Central makes grand
rally the Bath & Portland charter will receive
larger majority in the Legislature than is
indicated by the vote OF the Railroad Com
nittee. But the passage of a
GENERAL RAILROAD LAW
may in great measure deprive this contest,
as well as great many others now having
only potential existence, Of their absorbing
interest. The Maine Central, probably as
Piece of grand strategy, favors, or affects to
favor, the policy of general law. Thus the
Lord makes the wrath Of man to praise Him.
CURIOUS CONTRAST.
Speaking of a general railroad law reminds
me OF the marked decline in public interest
where general legislation, which touches eve
ry mans destiny more or less nearly. is under
consideration. Wednesday afternoon there
was hearing, as you know, OH the Bath &
Portland charter. What crowd! What in
tercst! The ladies were there-delegation
of contractor looking men fro Ii all parts of
the State were tLere-railroad directors, cap
italists, journalists and business men were
there. All, it was a rare season, can tell
you, Mr.. Editor. There in the Senate cham
.er sat the committee, crave and imposing as
the Lords who sat to try Warren Hastings,
o1, hiatt no n
were on him. There tnsy sat in bright
array-the unutterable nine! Dingey of leo
nine elm, stern and tmpassiye; Fessenden,
suave and conciliating; Butler, with his pale,
intellectual face and ''store clothes;'' Knowl-
ton, looking like an amiable but unfathoma-
bly, "deep" Jesuit; Bisbee, with the air of a
man who ''means business" Egery, who
makes you think that Cupid has grown to
mans estate and put on suit of black; and
all the rest of ;em whom the Muse did
not permit your CORRESPONDENT TO recognize.
And opposite sat the counsel for the roads,
The lofty dome of King Rice rising over the
rest like Mount Blanc towering above his
brother Alps. | should be afr id to say how
many years of common life it was worth
one glance at that array. The philosophical
Larrabee, the majestical Hichborn. tue versa
.he Hubbard. all were there. What breath
'''s attention when they spokel Judge Rice
'nc iaiifoad req regiuna, king of kings. prin
.ipAii'ies and powers, made dign fled and
Impressive address. He well understands the
nnpol'ahce Oh repose as an element of char I
acter Then H.bbard ratified aw.v-tb.t
born actor, dramatic in every tone and oos- i
ture. He quite carried US away with ertIr,
siasm. When he deity parted Judge Rico,.
quotation we all laughed with
a will. But when he pointed out as an actual
presence then in that hall man who could |
yes, sir, could build railroad out of his o,vn |
means from Bath to Portland, the interest
eliminated. How eagerly we all stretched
our necks and raised ourselves on tiptoe to
zee this personagel Mine own eyes beheld