The Portland daily press., 1875-12-10
News and Other Items,

At centennial tea-party in Westfeld N.
Y, last week, a young lady was dressed to
represent Martha Washington at the critical
moment when she was saving the life of John
Smith from the Indians!'
The recent inundation of the Thames in Lon
don recalls the fact that one hundred years ago,
namely, on February l, 1775, the Thames over
flowed its banks, and did an immense amount
of damage in and around the city.
Senator Jones of Nevada has had a private
car built for the exclusive use of himself and
family. 1t is richly furnished house on trucks
and cost $11, 900. And Senator Jones has also
got control of the San Francisco Post.
A few hours after the report of Tweed's es-
cape had begun to circulate, Judge Noah Davis
was asked why he ran away. "Oh, suppose,
to seek larger field" was the prompt re-
Spouse.
Joyce, the convicted whiskey ring conspira-
tor, is writing in his cell story in imitation of
"David Copperfeld," entitled "Live and Adj
ventures of David Copperfeld." Tha last
chapters are to be devoted to the whiskey ring
war. 1t will be published this winter.
There is very often good deal Of pretepsion
about men reputed to be scholars. William
Ewart Gladstone doubtless THINKS himself one
of the most learned of English statesman, and
yet he is as ignorant of Bessie Turner's Hovel
as a babe unborn.
An Iowa clergyman informed his congrega-
ton in a sermon delivered Sunday before last,
that the Apostle Paul, though bIim full OF
Christian joy and confidence, was never known
to smile. Then he never saw cross eyed wo-
man trying to watch the movements of a fly.
"You have had a chance to see good deal
of us Americans" pompousy observed a sal
low-faced New Yorker to Lord Houghton the
other day. spray tell me, sir, what you think
are our most striking characteristics I'm
pudence and Indigestion" quietly replied his
lordship.
Mr.. Jaby, in the legislature of Quebec Tues
day night, said that the province could not bear
the expense of $13,OOO,0O0 for more railways.
He thought the Dominion government would
have to do something for the English stockhold.
ers of the Grand Trunk.
The boating men of st. John, N. b., have
decided to raise the necessary funds to send the
celebrated Paris crew to compete in the four
cared shell race at the centennial regatta, and
will also raise $4,000 to match the Paris crew
against the English champion four cared crew
for the championship of the world.
The Philadelphians are resorting to novel ex.
pedients for "raising the wind" to keep the
centennial fund moving. The latest device is
in the form Of package parties" where each
person carries package containing some un
known and mysterious contribution of not less
At.c,~ 40 nj kI,oo f,nIo
auction. One of these parties, if very success.
full realized $75, at which rate it will take a
long time to fill Philadelphia's quota.
A Protestant father and a Catholic mother at
Corydon, Ind, have for two weeks past been
quarreling about the possession of their two
children, one of who m is dead. The child was
first buried in Protestant cemetery, but SUBJ
sequently transferred-by the mother to Catho-
lie grave, and again removed to its first resting
place, whereupon the wife left, taking the re-
manning child with her, but the father, who
went after her, took the child from her in
Louisville, and left the mother to take care of
herself
The khedive has absolutely abolished the use
of the Koran in the administration. The khe-
dive, like the sultan, is a Mohammedan; but,
unlike him, perceives that the Koran is insult
Gent as code of laws. New laws, called the
Egyptian code, founded on the system of juris-
prudence for which France is indebted to the
sagacity and the genius of Napoleon L., are to
be henceforth used in the administration of
justice in Egypt On next New Years day
regular tribunals, corresponding in character,
power and action with those of civilized ma
tons, will be opened. The Office of cadi has
been abolished, and a native school of laws
established at Cairo