The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-23
News and Other Items.

The Secretary OF the Interior expects TO COM
plete his decision concerning Pacific railroad
land grants during the present week.
Kentucky newspaper last week apologized
for appearing on half sheet, on the ground
that the press roller in the office had been
melted by the intense heat
Dr. John Hall opposes the Custom OF adver-
tising the subjects Of sermons that are TO be
delivered on the ground that IL has tendency
to make class Of people whom he aptly
characterizes as religious gypsies, who 60 from
church to church without abiding anywhere.
Iced tea is classed by some medical authors
ties among tbs seductive and dangerous bever-
ages. The astringent power of the tea, united
with the cold of the ice, soon overcome the
powers of the strongest stomach, and hosts Of
melancholy dyspeptics owe their troubles TO
this source. l.s.as
A cable dispatch Gays that General Grant
was received wi great enthusiasm by crowds
of people when he landed at Gottenburg,
Sweden, and on reaching Christians, the
capital of Norway, on the 18th, over 10000
people greeted him. King Oscar will 60 to
Christiana to receive General Grand and give
him State dinner.
The ropes which have been hanging from
the derricks at the Washington monuments
ever since the work was interrupted, score
of years ago or so, have become so rotten that
they fall into hundreds Of pieces when cut
down. And yet workman climbed up one
of them recently, to the imminent risk Of his
life, as it afterwards proved, for although ii
supported his weight when he climbed it
separated into thousands Of pieces when twas
allowed to fall to the ground. tt..t
A good story is told of Mrs. Mackay, wife Of
the illustrious bonanza Californian. 1t Is said
that the lady applied to the project Of the
Seine for permission to place electric lights in
front of her house in such manner that they
would illuminate the Arch of Triumph, so
that her guests on q certain occasion might
have dazzling view of that architectural won-
der, the Mackay mansion being near the arch.
The prefect found it impossible to grant the
request, bnt the lady, like all ladies, insisted.
and when fiat refusal was given she said,
"Well, how much is your arch worth?"
A Partisan theatrical manager. during the
summer season, distributes large number OF
free!admissions printed on chemical paper,
which changes color with the weather, being
blue when the weather is fine and pink when
it is damp, something like the advertising
picture cards distributed in some city
stores. At the foot of the ticket is printed the
notice: This ticket is only available IL the
paper is blue. If pink it will be refused" The
policy of this system will be understood when
it is remembered that during the summer Paris
theaters are empty In foe weather, and only
fill up when the rain drives people from the
boulevards.
Mrs. vosburgh is emulating Mrs. Tilton in
the facility with which she makes confessions
and counter confessions. 1t has transpired
that previous to the trial of her husband for an
attempt to poison her she made long written
Statement" to the prosecuting attorney, inn
plcating her husband, bat, as the trial drew
near, she sent him note partially taking back
her story, and expressing a conviction OF her
husbands innocence. She has now arrived at
the third term of the series, and reiterates her
first story, explaining that her husband in
weighed her into making the recantation. Like
Eliza Pinkston, she has got only as far as al
| did, 81 didn't" ~ did," hat in the
"quickened conscience" competition the orig
inal confession still easily leads.
From communication recently received at
| the Navy department it appears that james
| Gordon Bennett contemplates double expedi-
ton to the North Pole. He has been 10 con-
sultation with Petermanp, the great German
| geographer, and other Arctic experts abroad,
and proposes to fit the yacht Dauntless for an
additional Arctic expedition, putting in
auxiliary engine and screws and otherwise
making her complete for the expedition by
way Of Schtzbergen. Tue Jeannette is on her
/ 70 San .rsl
ths Bpirings Straits early next year. Mr..
Bennett will spend not less than S12O,0O0 on
the Jeanette expedition. he wishes the
Navy department to furnish for the Dauntless
a crew, eff GERS and provisions Necessary for
hec voyage, he making her otherwise ready.
He is persuaded that two vessels going in
different directions, but by two ways, which
are admitted to be the best and only ones
which promise early success, can more than
double the chances of reaching the pole.