The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-11

out. Mr.. Fields turned to his guest and In
quiIed how he liked Holmes. With many a
hitch and final explosion, he replied. 81 think
him an'inspired iackdaw.
One day Mile. Rachel, the great actress, in
vited Alfred de Musset to dine with her, and
the rest of the guests were notably wealthy
men. Rachel wore very beautiful and valua-
Die gold ring, which was noticed and vastly ad-
mired. Gentlemen" said she, suddenly,
seeing that you admire the ring so much L
shall now offer it for sale by auction. What
Will you give for it?'' In moment tbe bids
ran up as high as 5000 francs. But De Mussea
was silent "ADd you, my poet" said the
actress, ''whst will you give?" 81 give you
my hear" was the reply. "The ring Is yours
was the reply; nor could she iafterward, when
tue jest seemed to have gone far enough, be
persuaded to take it back again. She said:
by Jove, but it is no jest. You have given
me your heart and L would not return it for q
hundred thousand crowns. You cannot take it
back"
A Washington correspondent gives US the fol-
lowing glimpse of a we'll known story writer;
"a lady of stout and feshy fgursi comes toll.
ing up the steps, the richest of black silks
trailing after and wrapped around her. White
hair in thick, full puffs set off her fresh, we'll.
preserved face; and from the air Of reality and
elegance about her, one would hardly suppose
hee to be Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the writer of
sensational stories, and the bete noir of board
ing.school teachers. Somewhere under he
gray puffs she must have an enormous bump
of imagination, from the way she turns ont
novel after novel, each one wilder and more
improbable than the last
The new Chinese Ambassador in England Is
young man, and as o sign of superiority,
wears white soes to his Shoes When the EN-
bassy went to the Queens Theatre they sat
arrayed in gorgeous apparel in box, and graf
ifed the audience by taking tea during the
entr'acte. No one ought to be better Judge of
tea than Chinese Ambassador, and he did
not approve of the beverage which passes under
this name in England. After the performance
the Ambassador and his suit went behind the
scenes" and examined minutely all the scenic
appliances, for it was the first time that His
Axcellency had been in a theatre. He had
with him an interpreter, most intelligent
Chinaman who had been in England since
1869. His Excellency only cares for theatrical
Performances NuCu tuoIO 10 luuolCp luz no
knows nothing of English. When asked wheth-
er he would return to the Queens Theatre, he
replied, with Oriental polteness, every
night"
The wealthy marquis dAligre, who died in
Paris some time ago, was 80 parsimonious that
seeing his servant one day with smart looking
hat, he reprimanded him for his extravsgance,
'But it is the old hat you gaveime; had Il
ironed for franc" "Ah," said the Marquis,
'.but L did hot know 1t could be restored.
Here is the franc you paid-I will take the
hat" And he forthwith transferred the reno
waited beaver to his own head.
Dion Bouccault is described by the Cincin-
natl Enquirer as gentlemen in the vigor and
prime of manhood, slightly past the middle
age perhaps, but with glorious physique that
many younger men might well envy. A health
full, vigorous constitution shows itself in his
round, smooth face, erect form and broad shoul-
ders. The hair on his head is thin, struggling,
rather long, and very black. His upper lip is
slightly shaded by the stub5le of dark mous-
tache as closely cropped as possible. Mr.. Bouci-
cault is a charming conversationalist, and has
such an easy command, as well as so fine
conception of the fofce, of English words that
one becomes at once most deeply fascinated
with whatever he is saying
The Duke of Argylls late speech on tbs
Eastern question moves the correspondent of
the New York Times to say: ''The Duke Of
Argyll is not popular man with his party or
with the country. He is short in stature and
pompous in manner. He has big head and
he wears his hair long. He struts like ban
tam cock-as il his titles we're not enough to
support his dignity. Bot be has q facility Of
speech. He is even eloquent. He can talk
we'll upon nearly every subject His political
principles are Liberal. II he were not Duke,
he would be Communist, but be is bound to
pay some respect to his order and his belong.
ings"
Richard Dana said once, describing Sumner.
she is cat without smellers.'' That is, he
has none of the delicate tests that as he passes
along tell him what he touches. He wanted
that timidity which recognized the opposition
to him, and so passed bravely on.-WendeH
Phillips.
Miss Annie Clarke of the Boston Museum 10
| the owner of house in Needham that is 140
years old, and the furniture in the house is
about the same age. Miss Clarke procured an
agent to search New England for tho eaoss old
fashioned furniture that could be obtained.