The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-25
News and Other Items.

A recent experiment with Prof. Bells tele-
phone across the straits.of Dover, from France
to England was success.
The surviving children of the late Andrew
johnson are erecting an $4,000 monument over
the graves of their parents.
Confederate bonds to the amount of 100000
were recently sold in London at public auction
for S3.40, or less than dollar per 100000, of
course being purchased as curiosities.
There was quite panic on one of the ferry
boats in East River the other day over the APP
proach of what appeared to be another ferry
boat, but which was soon found to be mirage.
A very imperfect idea of religion prevails
even among intelligent Parisians. For instance,
the Paris Gaulos describes Moody and Sankey
as the founders of new religion which en-
Joys certain vogue in the United States"
Complete statistics show that during the
storm of November 18th in the English channel
% vessels foundered, As went ashore, 81 were
seriously damaged, So lost their anchors, 200
men persisted, and cargoes valued at 81, 200 600
were lost
MIR. Sutton, a well known professional base
ball player. was converted at revival meeting
in Philadelphia not long ago. He arose to adj
dress the meeting, aud said: 81 have made the
first base and by the helpo the Lord will make
home run"
Fanny Davenport was really hurt very badly
by that fall on the Detroit stage. Her nose was
broken, piece of bone has been taken out
and she will be disfgured for life. She has re-
turned to New York andwill not resume acting
for some time, as her face is still terribly swol-
len, and one eye closed
The Duke of Manchester who is now official
ly announced as selected to succeed Earl Duff
ferin as Governor General of Canada, is "a
years old and has served in the British army
and in Parliament and was at one time aide
de-camp to the Governor of Cape Colony, Afri-
ca.
Dalton, Ga, has sensation in the form of
= female blacksmith, who has recently set up
shop in that town; and Vanceburg, Ks ntucky,
announces that youog woman of that place
has recently built half mile of macadanized
road, doing all the grading, rock hauling and
stone breaking without any help. In addition
to which she eau pouad the piano with great
vigor, taste and discretion.
In France condemned criminals never know
the time fixed for their execution until the mo-
ment arrives. Indeed. as prisoner condemn
ed usually appeals as a matter of course to the
Cour de Cessation against his sentence, he must
be uncertain to the last whether the sentence
will be carried out. The order for the execu-
ton is only sent to the prison the evening be-.
fore it is to take effect the criminal is not in
formed till the next morning, and the sentence
is carried out at a very early hour.
During the past few weeks the managers of
the permanent exhibition at Philadelphia have
been laboring hard to keep the concern from
falling into the hands of the sheriff A major
ity of the creditors have now agreed to accept
stock in the exhibition in payment of their
claims, provided the creditors are allowed rep
resentation in the board of management. In
this event the centennial board of fuance,
which holds claim of S1SO,0OO against the ex-
hibition building, agrees to take $4,000 for
their claim. Under this arrangement the exhi-
bition will still be maintained for time, at
least.
The agent of the Baldwin locomotive works
of Philadelphia, recently sent to Europe to
make inquiries about the order lately received
to build 40 first class freight-engnes for use in
Russia, telegraphs the company to go ahead
aud have them completed during February and
March. Three hundred engines are required,
but most of them will be built in Europe.
About all the railway equipments of the en-
pire have been impressed into the destructive
war service, and many are now needed 10 carry
the grain crop to the Baltic ports. The engines
to be built at the Baldwin works will cost over
100000, and in their construction employment
will be given to about 800 men in addition to
the HOO men now employed.
The wild vagaries of juries have been Curl
ously illustrated in st. Louis. In 1873 suits for
libel were brought by one Belle Barber against
both the GIobe-Democrat and the Dispatch, the
two complaints being exactly alike. On the
first trial against the Dispatch she received a
verdict for $500. but the propretors appealed
and new trial gave verdict of 81 against
them. The first trial against the Globe-Demo-
crat resulted in a verdict for only $1,000, and a
second trial being secured, verdict has just
been brought against it for $5000 Here are
four Intelligent juries" sitting on exactly the
same cases, hearing the same evidence and ma
terially the same charges from the judge, and
yet bring in verdicts varying from 81 to $4,000.