The Portland daily press., 1877-10-17
News and Other Items.

Texas might be cut up into five states as
large as Illinois, each containing over $4,000
square miles; and an early movement toward
this end is now predicted
Mr.. Robert Toombs of Georgia is reported to
have said recently that he had no desire to go
to the Senate of the United States, and intend
ed "to live and die rebel"
The beach at Galveston is the largest and
broadcast 10 the world, extending % miles, 'front.'
ing the unbroken tide of the Gulf of Mexico on
the south and east.
The work at the government printing Office
is almost entirely suspended. Only two press
es are in operation. The agricultural report
alone keeps few persons employed.
Blondin has returned to England and is ex-
hibitng on rope seventy feet from the ground
standing on his head. lying on his back, feint
ing to fall, sitting on the back of chair bal
anced on two legs on the rope and riding We
locipede along it backwards and forwards.
Among the 124 ships struck off the English
register recently, was one built in 1856 and an
other launched in l7SS
Senator Morton had special Geographic re-
ports of the Ohio election brought to his house
last Tuesnay night At about u o'clock he
sake don't bring me any more such reports"
The consolidation of the Detroit Post and the
Detroit Tribune, took place on Saturday. The
managing editor of the new paper is William
Stocking, late editor of the Post Ex-Secre-
tary Chandler is said to own controlling in
terest In the newspaper.
The senior Bayard of Delaware, 20 years of
age, is in declining health His father sat in
Congress before him, and his son (Thomas F)
succeeded him. This is the most remarkable
Instance of family succession in official life in
the history of our government.
The bronze statue of Wellington as Achill-
es. which was set up near the Iron Dukes resi-
dence in Hyde Park, to his great disgust, is
said to be in bad way. 1t has great hole in
its right leg, and not as the London World OBJ
serves. the heel, where wound might be look
ed for 10 a statue of Archilles.
A private letter received from the captain of
of the pioneer Arctic schooner Florence, which
sailed from New London, Conn, in July last
carrying the advance colonists, under the
Howgate scheme, reports that the schooner
had just weathered q very violent storm of five
days duration, and was then making satisfac-
tory progress toward the winter quarters of the
colony in Cumberland Sound.
M. Labouchere asserts that Victor Hugo, at
his soirees, sets before his guests refreshing
drink which he invented for Dom Pedro the
evening His Majesty dropped in to dine with
him. 1t is composed of crushed ice, orange
syrup and rum, and is not stronger than many
OF the beverages served to ladies at ballroom
Bullets.
,I0 Adams Rnefnn hoS inc ahrof ad
his golden wedding at the age of 81 He was
captured at sea by the Guerrero in 1872, re-
taken by the Constitution; then was with let
ter of marque vessel thatltook an English
schooner, but was captured by an English pri-
vateer in her turn, and spent some time in sew
eral English hulks and prison ships, witness
ing the massacre of the American prisoners at
Dartmoor
A London journal cautions its lady readers
against sitting down in cane-bottomed chairs
when they are dressed in velvet This is q
miserable plagiarism from remark of Mrs.
Fanny Kemble, who, when she found such a
chair provided for her at one of her readings in
the West turned upon the leading committee
man basilsk glance, and exclaimed, "Man-
do you wish me to give my best velvet gown
the smallpox
A train on the Canada Southern railroad
was recently run Ill miles in 100 minutes. This
is the fastest time ever made in this couptry.
The run was made between ST. Thomas and
Amherstbuig.
The journals of Halifax and ST. John are
quarrelllng because the latter city has been al
lowed to import 16.OOO,O 900 free bricks, which
the former thinks takes profits from the pock-
cts of Nova Scotia brckmakers. To begrudge
the afflicted citizens of St. John, this slight ad-
vantage does not argue very sisterly feeling,
and the latter place will evidently have to look
away from her neghbors for sympathy and
succor.
Dom Pedro has just ordered state coach in
London. 1t is light and roomy and the entire
body is painted white, relieved with broad
bands of gold and fine lines of crimson. On
the doors and panels are painted the imperial
arms 10 their proper heraldic coors. The
hammer-cloth is of crimson Genoa velvet with
gold tassels and cords. For the lining crimson
corded silk has been used, but tbs glare of color
Is very much toned down by the free use of
Valenciennes laces.