The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-04
The State Capital.
Gossip and "S;ch"-The Dreadful Good
Personal.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 4, 1876.

AUGUSTA, Feb. 4, 1876.
PLEASANT SEASON.
This is really very interesting session, and
the interest and attractiveness increases every
day. doubt if some of the younger members
of our law-manufacturing body will think
session which extends to the last week of
March too long. l fear they will not think of
adjourning so long as indulgent papas in all
parts of the state allow their beautiful and
charming daughters to add their full measure
of encbantment to the female grace and beauty
for which the State Capital has been famous,
and never more justly so than at the present
time. The reader ought to just see all of the
young lawyers of the House vie with each
other for the floor when the area is filled with
ladies. There is Lynch of Machias. The Sc
cret of his fine speech on dark-age measure
was the admiration of the ladies, and if we get
an hour of the same gentleman's eloquence to-
day, it will be due to the fact that one of Port
lands most cultured ladies congratulated him
and told him she was on his side though her
husband was on the other. Why, there is
dancing every evening in the parlor-not that
insipid, spiritless sort of mincing about which
frequently goes by that name, but such spight-
ly jgs as the "Virginia reel" in which the
fathers and grandfathers even, who are so Sc
date at home, skip about with an agility that
quite outstrips the young members who are yet
in the matrimonial market, but just now seem
inclined to consider the question with unusual
zeal.
VISITORS
Quite number of members of past legisla-
lures are present, several for no other purpose
than to make visit to the State Capital.
Among this number is Hon. Lewis Barker of
Bangor, who, il it were possible, is more witty
and amusing than ever. wish he was a mem
Der of the House that he might give little
zest to the debates. There is some now but
there is room for more. When Mr.. Lynch
told the House how he sat down seriously to
prick the conscience of the friend and client
who took eight or ten per centon mortgage by
telling him how dreadfully wrong such course
was and of the shocking company he would in
all probability be forced to keep in the I'M
known future, how funny some humorist
might have made it for gentleman who
charges such mild fees as the average lawyer.
Such exhibitions of thorough goodness as that
of a lawyer rebuking client for taking more
than six per cent. interest, causes one to think
that all the very, very good little boys one used
to read about in the Sunday school books, es.
capped that early death to which cruel fate or
the fancy of the writer always consigned them.
PERSONAL.
One of the most popular gentlemen who sits
at the Senate board is Hon. S. o. Brown of
Piscataquis. He is fine specimen of the men
who are doing so much for the state by skill.
fully managing large factories. Mr.. Brown
has since his boyhood been connected with the
Dover wooden mills, one of the largest estab
lshments of the kind in the state. He is one
of the young men-only 81 years of age-who
believe in Maine and is devoting his energies
to make the Pine Tree State good one to live
in as well as to be born in. A good business
man, intelligent and liked, he is and will be a
safe and good legislator.
The first member of the House whom shall
mention in these notices is one who will make
no speech during the session. He sits at the
Speakers left in the second division about four
seats back. He is tall. straight and soldierly-
iOuhtuS Uub OAO VI guO 4USb mUutSb auu Qul6G
of men. 1 mention him first because he has
record. True other men have records in the
House. Doubtless a few have records over
which they would be pleased to pass the
sponge. But the gentleman in question has
record of hard and brilliant service in the war
second to none in Maine. He entered the SER
vice as lieutenant in the old I'd Maine. He
was promoted to captain, and while holding
that rank, was, for his conspicuous fitness, ap-
pointed to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 10th
Maine. He was soon advanced 10 colonel and
held that rank through the war. His history
is that of the regiment Twice prisoner of
war, once he escaped through the famous tun-
mel that was made from Libby prison, and the
second time by stealing away before being sent
to prison. The history of the first escape has
already been written by one of the party of
three who made their way with the gentleman
referred to, and published in magazine. For
nearly two weeks in the coolest of winter
weather, the three wandered in the wilderness
of Virginia before their eyes saw delverance in
the starry flags of the federal lines In that
time they had numerous hair-breadth escapes.
Once they were concealed in a barn which the
rebel scouts ransacked. Many times they saw
their pursuers. They fought hunger and cold.
Men of less fortitude and courage would have
given up. They confded to the negroes, who
fed and led them to the federal lines. Their
story would read like romance The next
time he eluded a guard, went about the streets
of Petersburg, learned the position of the
enemy, passed his pickets in the night and
came into his own brigade. He was in every
fight in which the Army of the Potomac par
ticpated. To this day he is the ideal officer of
every man of the 10Th Maine. He should have
been appointed Brigadier General, but he was
as modest as soldier as be has been since, and
modesty and lack of personal friends in Wash
ington were serious obstacles to promotion be-
yond that which ones state can do for him.
He is man of rare good sense, intelligence,
and wide observation. He thinks great many
times to speaking once. The fact that he did
hard and earnest service from Sumter's alarm
gun to Appomattox should entitle him to the
recognition he deserves, but he is no match for
the average fellow who fought his country's
battles at home in the race for preferment.
One of Names best soldiers, Col. Charles W.
Tilden, is one of the best and most deserving of
citizens.
THE DEMOCRACY
The Democracy are said to be in council re-
specting the man who shall lead the s"serried
columns next year. Gen. Roberts has said
that he has come within 1000 of being Cover
nor and he does not crave the privilege of being
left $4,000 behind the Centennial year. Who
shall be his successor? Mr.. Talbot of East
Machias, is an old-fashioned Democrat, but it
is feared that the Young Democracy won't
"serry'' about the standard which he carries.
A Portland gentleman now visiting the Capt.
tai would do well as the "handsomest Demo-
GRAFT" in Maine, but although he would accept
to enter the campaign on that issue, such
candidate will not satisfy the cravings of the
Democracy. Consequently they turn to Hon.
w. T. Haines of Bddeford. He has always
been Democrat, and although not enthusiast
tic by nature, not one who will say to tbs aver
age voter "give me your flipper," he has
wealth and will, it is limited, supply the sim
ews OF war or rather the funds necessary to
get speakers, print votes,get votes home, etc. L
am informed that Gen. Anderson will be likely