The Portland daily press., 1875-11-10


AFTER AN IrEM.-Last evening our reporter
Wis meandering about the street looking for
an item," when he thought he struck the trail
Of a first class event. The first thing done
was to search city directory for the residence
of gentleman who was supposed to know all
about the matter. He discovered that the gen.
tleman in question resided near the foot of
High street. To reach the house was the work
f but few moments but when he arrived the
lady who answered the bell informed him that
Mr.. - had moved to Congress near N.al
street But like other reporters his courage
Was good and he roade good time to the place
named, but failed to find the house. After ex
iensive inquiries the house was found in the
vicinity of the corner of Congress and State
streets. The scribe marched boldly up to the
door and was met by a sprightly appearing
young lady, who informed him that the man of
the house was not at home and she did not
know where he could be found. This was Sc.
we're. but still the young mans courage held
out and he started for another gentleman, whom
the directory said could he found on Bramhall
street. A nice little walk. The young man
was soon on the steps of the house mentioned.
but all his ringing could not bring any one to
the door. for the simple reason that no one liv-
ID there. Then he prowled about the neigh
borhood and learned thai the gentleman who
he was after had moved to somewhere on Win
ter street. The informant knew that 1t was
brick house that he had moved to, and that was
all.
This was refreshing prospect for the quill
6river,-nearly 10 o'clock and he was looking
for man living in brick house On Winter
street; but there was one consolation, Winter
street was not so long as some other streets in
the city. He started at ore end of the street
and enquired at the first brick house if Mr.
- lived there. The folks had retired and
it took some time to get an answer, which, of
course, was in the negative. At the next brick
house the gentleman who came to the door
didn't know any one by that name. All except
brick houses were sighted. After going near
ly the length of the street the house was point
ed out by a gentleman from third story win
dow Again the young man seized the door bell,
and what pull There came long wait and
at last footsteps were heard GA the stair The
midnight prowler heard some one light match.
which of course went out, but second trial
SOSA~
Then came sound through the keyhole, which
being interpreted, meant "Whose's there and
what is wanted?'' The answer was given
promptly, and it being satisfactory the door
opened, showing the very man that the report
er had been in search OF for so long time.
Stanley wasn't half SO glad to find Livingstone
as this weary soul was to see this half-dressed
limb of the law standing in the door, But to
the item. Haven't heard of anything of the
kind,'' was the reply to the first question. Then
the young man knew that he had had his even
ing's walk for naught, and be was about leav-
ing the door, when the gentleman suggested
that gentleman in another part of the city
might know something about the matter. This
ark inspired new hope in tie young mans
breast and he started again, but alas! it was
no use this gentleman was ignorant OF the
matter Then the scribe turned his steps to-
wards the Office, meditating upon the uncer-
tainty of human events.
SUNDAY WoRK.-Saturday's issue of the
PRESS spoke of an attempt which was to be
made to close barber shops on Sunday. The
case came to a point in the Municipal Court
yesterday morning Mr. York, the proprietor
of the barber shop in the Preble House, was on
trial for keeping open shop on Lords day. The
complaint was made by John P. Smith, anoth-
er barber. The reason of the complaint is not
given. 81. w. Gage, Esq, appeared for the
government and A. a. Strout Esq, for the re-
spondent. The government showed that the
shop was open on the day alleged and that
work was performed against the statutes made
and provided. The respondent did not deny
the fact of the labor being performed but
claimed justification on the ground that bar
Der shoo open on Sunday was public necessi-
ty aud that it was impossible to keep hotel
without barber shop open on Sunday. 1t was
shown that Mr.. York hired the shop with the
understanding that it was to be kept open on
Sunday to accommodate guests at the house.
At the close Of the arguments Judge Knight
stated that he considered the matter very
important one and should reserve his decision
one week.
This is not the only case, but there has been
a complaint made against ten shops, and this
one was taken to test the matter, and if the de-
cision is guilty then the others will be tried.
OccuLTATIoN OF SPIcA VIRGINIs.-A very in
place on the morning of the Esd of November.
Spica Virgins, well known star of the first
magnitude, and the leading star in the constel
iation of the Virgin, will be occulted by the
moon. That is, the moon will pass between
us and the star, and, as the word indicates,
bids its light during the passage. The miners
ion behind the moons bright limb will occur
about twenty minutes before o'clock, or a few
minutes after the moon rises. The occultation
will continue about an hour and twelve min
utes, the "lone STAR" as Spica is often called,
being invisible till nearly 3 o'clock. Those
who have never witnessed the singularly beau
tiful sight of the occultation of bright star
should not fail to behold this celestial wonder,
though the drawbacks of the time of the
morning when it occurs, and til position of
moon and star so near the horizon, will re-
quire some energy and enthusiasm to over
come
There will be no occultations of any brilliant
stars again until the last three months of the
year 1876, when the cluster Of the Pleiades will
be occulted by the moon on the 9th of October,
Seth of November and 2Sth of December. We
remember witnessing an occultation of Venus,
many years ago, when the sudden disappear
ance and temperance of the brilliant planet
formed one Of those lifelong pictures, as fresh
in the memory to-day as on the evening of its
occurrence.
Personal.
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