The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-21
Current Notes.

Before the people at the last election the
Democrats promised retrenchment aud re-
form. So far they have only given us an eu-
logy on JEFF Davis and a defence of Ander-
sonville.-Philadelphia Press.
The House record of reform is exhausted
by the turning out Of Union soldiers who are
not Democrats from from a few minor
offices and the reduction of the salaries of a
few poorly paid coEsus.-Hdrper's Weekly.
Some indications appear that the Demo-
Gratis are already weary of the present session
OF Congress, as indeed it is natural that they
should be, tor it has done very little for them
beyond getting them into repeated scrapes.-
N. Y. Times.
Fifty years ago Gen. Banks was bobbin boy
in mill Of the Nashua manufacturing COM
pany. Now look at him. His locks ara white
with the frost of many winters, but he is still
bobbin-from one party 10 another.-Nelo
Orleans Republican.
In the days of our fathers when a man
suddenly dropped out of the community,
they used to drag the neighboring ponds and
examine all available hanging places in the
vicinity. Nowadays the first steps are to in
vestigate his bank account and look to see
which suit of clothes he took with him.-Bos.
ION Transcript.
A sweet young creature who lives out on
Angular street, and is just back from Vassar,
appealed with tender pathos to her grim par
ent the other day, ''Paw, dear paw, cahn't
you give Cahlo away, and buy me a seal
brown black-and-tan to match my walking
suit ?' And because paw roared and guffawed
and said there were no brown black-and-tans
IN the market, she cwied, poor girl.-Bur-
Engton Haovkeye.
Fable from the New York World. A We
netian merchant who was lolling in the lap
of luxury was accosted upon the Rialto by
friend who had not seen him for many
months. ''How is this ?" cried the latter;
when l last saw you your Gaberdine was
out at elbows, and now you sail in YOUR own
gondola." True" replied the merchant,
but since then l have met with serious
losses and been obliged to compound with
my creditors for ten cents on the dollar.'
Moral-Composition is the life of trade.
Here is another story from Washington:
There is rebel door keeper whose duty it is
to hoist the flag over the House, which desig-
mates whether that body is in session. The
memories of the glorious past are so over
mastering to this faithful devosee of the lost
son; that duty is performed by negro at
ten cents day. When 1t comes to lowering
the flag the confederate performs that proud
and grateful Office himself. The subject is
said to worry the speaker.
We do not consider the appointment of
such man as Hambleton sufficient of itself
to condemn the whole Democratic party and
drive it from power. But we do think that
even were it an exceptional appointment it
would be a crying shame and disgrace 10
see the man who gloried in Mr.. Lincoln's as
sassination drawing pay from and wearing
the honors of the government Mr.. Lincoln
died to save. We have not been able to see
the fun in this PERSONS CHASTITY humor, or TO
consider his otfense so venial as to be over
looked or made the subject OF trifing COM
ment.-N, Y. Tribune.
The rumors Of a duel between Representa-
tives Springer and Seeyle, in consequence off
remark made by the latter during the recent
debate on the appropriation bill, have no bet
ter foundation than this: Springer was soar
ing along on eagle wings and doing a really
splendid business for these hard times, wheu
Prof Seelyet turned toward him and exclaimed:
"Onlne ignoten1 pro mGgnifco." Springer
seemed to feel very faint, and shortly after
hauled down his eagle and quilted the cham
Der. Meeting one of the Illinois members
brother couldn't deny it. swell, them" said
Springer, tell me what in thunder it was
Seelye called me, and I'll treat" The pro-
fessor denies the whole affair, and refuses to
fight.-Brooklyn argus.
The Democrats, week or more ago, sent
an ex-confederate brigadier general TO New
Hampshire to conciliate the people on the
eve of the election in that state, and recon-
noitre to see how much damage had been
done the Democracy by HIPS speech. He
found that the damage was very serious, and
after consulting with party managers in that
state and candidates for office, returned here,
yesterday, with woful tale. The Demo-
Gratis have at Cnce set at work to raise money
to counteract the utterances of the indis-
Greet defender of Andersonville. The Re-
publican congressional committee have COM
petely deluged both New Hampshire and
Connecticut with copies of the speeches of
Blaine and Hill, at least $4,000 already hay
ing been sent.-N. Y. Graphic Washington
Letter.
We have had spelling matches and pronun-
citation matches, and now it is time to begin
enuncation matches. Ministers especially
ought to enter for them. Let them practice
giving out texts and notices. 1t is too bad to
have their "dear hearers" think that the text
is "something about hawk between two
pigeons" when it is, really, ''Why halt We
between two opinions? ?" and ueru bad for the
minister, when he says "There will be no
service here this afternoon, as l am going to
officiatG for another clergyman to be under
stood to say, "There will be no service here
this afternoon, as 1 am going fishing with an
ether clergyman. When clergyman can't
say "Pll venture to assert" without leaving
it doubtful whether he didn't say "P IL bet
you Shirt" he had better look out.-Watch-
man and Reflector.
The editor of the Ohio State Journal
writes from Washington as follows: 81
have had a frank and friendly expression OF