The Portland daily press., 1876-08-31
CITY HALL.
The Centennial Exhibifion-Shades of
the Departed in Congress Assembled.

That this is the feature of the Fair cannot be
gainsaid; that it might have been the chief at
traction and outrivalled the main show is GER
tain, had the managers been earlier in project
ing the enterprise. 1t really is an after-thought
and considering the time at the disposal of the
committee, we can only wonder at their sue
cess The entries have reached nearly two
hundred, though the number of articles amount
to a thousand at least and are arranged under
glass globes and in cases engthwise of Recep-
ton Hall.
The display of old English crockery and
china by Mr.. Henry Deering Of this city, is re-
markably fine. He has on exhibition the rare
Lowestoft and Lustred varieties, Flemish glass
ware, all unique in design and of the most del
icate texture Messrs. E. P. & II. NJ Payson
send in a splendid case of English crockery
over 300 years old, belonging to the old Galpine
family of Great Britain, descended to the pres
ent proprietors. They also contribute two orig
inal medallions of Shakespeare and Cromwell.
Mr.. e. G. Jordan loans a lot of crockery which
has been in the possession of his ancestors for
many genera tions There is to be seen a Gu
rious looking cabinet of raised tapestry work,
made by lady three centuries ago. 1t tells in
picturesque tale the story of Queen Esther
Ahasuerus, Hannah the Agagite and Mordecai.
The several scenes in that biblical tragedy are
portrayed to the life and the last drop act of the
drama where Haman bangles from the gallows
is ludcrous in the extreme. To those who
have been mystfed over the old saw, "hung
as high as Haman," We would recommend this
as solution of the problem. "Aphorismi
Hippocratis," book which will celebrate its
tri-centennial in nine years. is in fine state of
preservation ard is enlbellished with likeness
of that early devotee of the healing art.
The sight of the old cooked hat and sword of
Commodore Preble brings to mind the hero of
Trpol and his memorable siege in 1903. 1t
was very evident that there were no Reform
Clubs in eye anciente dayes," for the massive
punch bowl of Sir William Pepperell is held
up to view as custom of the past. From this
that great and worthy man imbibed bis kniqhtlu
potations, as he dispensed royal hospitality to
the provincials. Here also is the china and
glass ware of his wife, the 'goode ladye Nary
used when she entertained colonial cousins, and
the fan wherewith she cooled her dainty cheeks,
| just the same as do the modern danes of The
| 10Th century
Our genial City Civil Engineer has case of
| family relics, among which is the Goodwin
| family Bible bearing date of 1879, and the
trusty blade and epaulettes of Lieut.. Colonel
Goodwin who had command of Burgoyne's
surrendered troops in Cambridge in 1878.
There are two large show cases of Indian
| implements of stone, such as arrow heads.
| spears, gouges, bowls and hammers. Thew are
from the collections of G. P Cochrane, ESQ. of
| Augusta, and DR.. Lewis w. Pendleton of Rel.
fast
| Gen. John NJ Browns case, in point of an
tiquity and real worth to posterity, is the best
in the whole collection. 1t contains map of
Orchard Beach and Saco River, by Samuel
Champlaiu. 1905; Geography of Ortelus, 1892,
showing the Chinese empire and the coast OF
California; map of North America, 1896, taken
| from Jean Boters history of the World In
this we notice that Maine is called Norombega
and the Penobscot river Rio de Gamas 1t
will be noticed that these documents all point
conclusiYely to the fact that Maine was visited
years before Plymouth Rock was a reality. A
great part OF our present knowledge regardin
the early voyages to our coast is due to the carr
est researches of Gen. Brown. Map of the
State of Maine, 1706; account of visit tc
Maine by thu Duke Liancourt; record of the
first town meeting in Falmouth Neck (now
Portland) in 1716, pursuant to an act of thu
great and general assembly,; platter brought
into Maine by Benjamin Prince of North Var
mouth, from Duxbury Mass. 1t it to said B
L. that all persons of this name hereabout owt
their princely origin.
Portland contributes its tax books of 1904
inclusive, containing many familiar names O
by-gone years. They are quite contrast t.