The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-30
News and Other Items.

News and Other Items.
Mansfield Island in Lake Erie, has been
bought by man who intends to stock it with
black cats and kill them for their fur.
An Oregon boy, who got to school the other
day few minutes before the master and his
fellows, declared vacancy and cast the whole
vote of the school in favor of a holiday.
The introduction OF penny postage in Eng
land is to be commemorated by statue to Sir
Rowland Hill in his native town of Kidder-
minister.
evangelists employed in churches for the con-
version of sinners are of doubtful use The
reaction" he says, "of such revivalsm is terri
be.''
Australia produces grapes in extraordinary
abundance, but the juice, like that of the Cali
fornia grape, is wanting in the qualities of
boquet and flavor which distinguish the best
products of European vintages.
A young lady who was married at Oconee,
s. c., few days ago, was SO good Democrat
that to the marriage notice in the newspapers
she had prefxed, under Gov Hampton's ad-
minstration.''
In the early part of the present century,
John Alsop, rich, eccentric Englishman,
left his daughters as legacy their weight in
91 bank notes. When the weighing day came
the eldest weighed a51, 200 and the youngest
a57, 1884.
The Canadian Welland canal improvement
is being pushed vigorously. A good deal of
dredging has been going on in the old canal,
but it will take two or three summers more
to deepen the old cut to correspond with the
new.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, who is just now in
great demand as lecturer, has made the con-
dition that he will enter into no engagement to
lecture unless the managers agree that the
prices of admission shall not be larger than
those that are usually charged.
The land commissioner at Washington has
decided the title to the land whereon the Oak
land park, across the bay from San Francisco,
stands. This has been in litigation for twen-
ty years. The decision confirms the title in
the present holders, and is one of great impor-
tance.
Mr.. Hem, the conductor who was in charge
of the train wrecked at Ashtabula, returned
to bis duty last week. As his train neared the
new bridge it is reported that he grew so ag-
itated that he grasped a seat nervously for
support, and as it passed off the bridge said
"Thank God! Pm over; and now I'm not afraid
to go over it a thousand times
A bill has been introduced into the New York
Legislature for the repeal of all laws on the
subject of usury, and for the enactment of a
law stipulating that the rats of interest on
money shall continue to be per cent. The
bill was accompanied by a petition signed by
some of the most prominent merchants and
bankers of New York, representing capital of
not less than $500, 100000.
The New York Legislature has passed law
to protect its rural population against the wiles
of the patent-right venders who perambulate
the country, selling rights and taking promis-
sorry notes for bogus patents. The words "giv-
en- for a patent right" must be written or
printed across the face of the note and any
person who takes or sells a note without this
Endorsement is to be guilty of misdemeanor.
Louisville KY, has had a little SENSATION
over dispute between ex-Secretary Brstow
and the local editor of the News about an item
the latter had written saying that Hayes had
promised to "7indicate'' Bristow if he became
President. Bristow insisted upon knowing who
furnished the information, the editor refused to
tell, and vigorous language was being used,
when other parties stepped in, aud the difficult
ty was settled.
Referring to the extraordinary storms that
prevailed lately in Spain and Portugal. the
Manchester Guardian says: "For nine days a
pail of black cloud hung over Madrid, and the
darkness by day was like the darkness of night
and tue rain poured in torrents night and day
long, On the coast and in the interior the
| parallel. From Lisbon accounts of the same
tenor have been received"
Mr.. Nicholas Chichkine, the minister from
Russia at Washington. and his wife, like The
family of Sir Edward Thornton, are great low
ers of walking, ard will only ride when they
| are making calls. A writer in the Cincinnati
| Commercial notices as bit of current GOSSIP
that the names of the two are spelled on theil
cards, respectively, "Madame Chichkine" ant
"Mr. Shishkin," and adds:' 81 asked a gentle
man connected with the congressional library
| why the difference was. His answer explained
the 'ch' to be correct, but that so many absurt
| mistakes have been made in calling the nam,
that his excellency thought for his cards h,
weuld have engraved the sound rather thar
substance"
| They tell of little boy in Con nnectcut VIII,
watched with envious eyes his comrades slide
down hill, while he having no sled, was com
| PEELED to take up with an old char or barre
stave. His foster mother finally told him t.
pray for one. He took his mothers advice ant
one evening prayed as follows: Now lay ne
down to Sleep want sled; pray the Lore
my soul to keep, want a cutter'' The grand
father of the little fellow was Informed of tn,
prayer, and was so pleased that ho bought 8
sled, and few mornings after it was left by
his bed, so that he could see it as soon as hi
awoke. As his eyes first rested upon it thu
good lady behind the door was' both surprised
and shocked to hear him say, swell, now
where in thunder did that come FROM
James Ii. Elmore, who was known, 10 year;
ago, as a wealthy man in New York, aud VIII
lived in great style, has just died. destitute an
a luuatic, at Poughkeepsie After he ha
amassed his fortune, he established himself a
Jamaica, Il. l., and he and an old friend nam
ed Degrauw built horse-railroad to East Ney
York, but be lost thousands by it, and from
sprung long line of lawsuits between himsel
and Degrauw which resulted disastrously t
him, and in Consequence of which his wife anC
daughter died, the former instantly, one day
on hearing of the unfayorable outcome Of
suit. He was at last reduced to beggary, and
in the midst of his other misfortunes, Came OF
Christmas night, year ago, the news that hi
eldest son had been killed by railroad acc
dent. This broke down his mind entirely, an
he was taken to the mad-house.