The Portland daily press., 1876-04-11
Current Notes.

Exaggeration is a bad practice. The Bos-
ton Post says that the government printing
costs five millions more than it ought to.
1t doesn't cost but two millions anyWay.-
Springfield Union.
The rivalry among the old women on the
Centennial bed quilt question is raging with
true Revolutionary fervor. Thus far San
dy Creek. N. Y, grandma is ahead, with a
vari ,colored patchwork Of 5,721 pieces
N. Y. Commercial.
Bristow isn't much given to talking, but,
like Paddy's parrot, he must keep up consid-
cradle thinking over why it is that the papers
always say "Blaine and Bristow." when
coupling his name with the great ex.Speak-
ers's. Can anybody explain! We can't-N.
Y. Commercial.
To-day the two most prominent candidates
before the people for the Republican nomina-
ton are Nessrs Blaine and Brstow, and in
New Hampshire, while there seems to be
predominant feeling favoring the former, it is
safe to say that the second choice of the
friends of Mr.. Blaine is Mr.. Bristow, and the
second choice of the Brstow men is Mr..
Blaine.-N. Ii. Sentinel.
That General Grant is responsible for what
has happened it would require the most
shameless hardihood to deny. We do not
impute to him any personal share in the
crimes perpetrated, or any such knowledge of
the proceedings of the knaves to whom he
had entru ted the higest responsibilities that
he could swear to their conduct as witness,
but he cannot escape censure on two impor-
tant grounds: in the first place, for culpable
Indifference to the character of those to whom
he gave the offices which they have disgraced,
and in the second place for culpable blindness
to circumgtances which should have led him
to suspect their guilt.-N. Y. Ecening Post
Inquiry made of some of the larger whole
sale dry goods and clothing houses of this
city, reveals the fact that the sales for the
month of March exceeded the sales for the
same month of last year. This result was
reached Notwithstanding the fact that they
have given less credit, the bills have been
smaller, and they have picked their custo-
mers with more care. If the retail trade
has been dull it was undoubtedly due 10 the
unfavorable weather. Prices are very low,
and with the return Of pleasant days the
sales will undoubtedly be large. One of or
leading merchants, just returned from New
York, says that Notwithstanding the dull
ness OF the trade, the merchants have more
confidence than heretofore, feeling that the
corner has been turned and that business
will soon be brisk.-Boston Traeeller.
In an editorial headed The Inquisition, the
the Boston Adrertiser critIcses the course
pursued by the investigating committee of
the House. 1t says: "The pursuit of the
Secretary of the Navy is a case in point. Mr..
Robson is no favorite of ours. The depart
ment has not been particularly well admins
tered under his management. AS minister
he has been too obsequious to power, and too
acquiescent in the presence of rogues, to in
spire confidence in stormy times. But of
personal or official dishonesty, the committee
of investigation, with the help of ten thou
sand disappointed claimants and spies from
every quarter of the country, has found not a
trace. Charges without number have been
made, hurried into print as fresh revelations
of discovered fraud, repeated again and again
even after they have been refuted, but in