davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
Trying to Translate Balzac.

Various reasons have conspired to veil Bal
zac in the obscurity of a foreign language. One
of these is the incompetence of the translators.
There is no great market for their works, and
therefore they are paid at price which copy
ing clerks would dsdain. Thus they are, as a
rule most inadequate workmen or workwo-
men; whereas, to translate BalZac would tax
the powers of the cleverest masters of style.
We have seen many worse attempts, than
those of Mr. Walker; and yet those attempts
are often stiff, often give the matter an air of
nidiSdrie, the most common fault in render
ings from the French,) and are not invariably
accurate For example, what English writer
would ever talk about thousand forms ot.
chastity which make young man an object
apart?" A young man capable of a thousand
forms of chastity would indeed be a remarka-
bic object. Yet it is thus that Mr.. Walker
renders ''soa dnoe ddolescent ne neconndissdit
ducune des mile purdeurs qui font du jeune
hoB,1Re IN 6tre q part" A young man may
cherish many delicate reserves, which is not
the same thing as practicing thousand forms
of chastity. Here is another example: "Pale
as lily Rosalie made no answer to her moth
er, the violence of her disappointed sentiments
rendered her SO thoroughly stupid. But in the
presence of this man, whom she hated so deep
ly since an instant ago. she put on the indefna-
BILE smile that dancers put on for the public.
In short, she was able to laugh, she had strength
to conceal her rage, which Gained itself down,
for she resolved to employ this great silly
young fellow for her own purposes" The first
sentence here, as rendered by Mr.. Walker,
really reminds us of the we'll known quotation
from historical romance: Here is blasted
flare up,,' said the Princess, whose girlish TIM
idity had hitherto kept her silent" There is
this sort of incongruity between the pale lily,
''the disappointed sentiments" and the stu
pidity of Rosalie. Balzac would not have said
in English that the violence of Rosalie's disap-
pointment made her thoroughly stupid"
Nor is e1.fn properly rendered Sin short in
this passage. Once more, who would say in
English, II gave him sombre look in bow
ing to him." Yet again, Balzac would never
have called lay figure a ''modeP'; yet Mr..
Walker makes "moder' the equivalent of
n1aanquin. We might go on making similar
criticisms at any length Probably English
people who know no French have little sense
Of delicacy and style, and in reading o novel,
small errors will not make them pause.-The
Saturday Review.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
What an Old Engineer Says About
Running a. Mile a Minute,

'lIow fast do you think we are travelling?'
Cha cley Fraser, one Of the Oldest engineers of
the New York Lake Erie & Western Railway
asked Sun reporter as they were standing to-
gether on the foot-board of locomotive 800,
rushing over the meadows towards Rutherford
Park
81 shood think we were going nearly mile
a minute
ga mile minute!" said Fraser, II doubt if
you ever rode a mile minute. Few locomo-
tives have driving wheels over five feet, and l
have my doubts ii a tive-foot wheeler can be
pushed mile minute People have a very
erroneous idea of the speed of railroad trains.
We are not going now more than thirty-tive
miles an hour, and this is very fast The pas
sengers in the cars would think we were going
a mile minute sure, if l was to pull out the
throttle so as to send her forty miles an hour.
The express trains make no such time as the
local trains Where we loose is with so many
stops No man could stand on a platform car
and face the wind going mile minute, and
live. The breath would actually be blown out
of his body. You couldn't count the telegraph
poles going q mile a minute. Talk to an Old
engineer of that rate being made by passen-
ger train, and he would laugh. L made mile
a minute once, however. 1t was when was
but eighteen years of age. was an engineer
theu in charge of fine six-foot wheel locomo-
tive. There were a lot OF railroad Moguls on
board, ard the object was to make the best
time we could. They were to ring the gong
when the speed was a mile minute. thought
we were making it for some time before the
bell rung. At length, on down grade, with
full head of steam when we were spinning
along as if we were all going to destruction,
and the motion of the piston going over the
centre could no longer be distinguished, the
bell rang We had reached the rate of a mile
a minute 1t was the fastest L ever rode. be-
fore or since. | tried hard to make a mile
minute on subsequent miles, but l lacked it
three or four seconds every time. couldn't
squeeze another mile inside Of the sixty sec
onds. When you hear man .uliing about rid
ing in passenger train that ran mile min
ute, don't say anything, but mentally scratch
off a good allowance. IN. Y. Sun. .sfa&
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
Historical Romance - Romantic
History.

AS !. Scott founded the historical romance
Macaulay may be said to have founded the ro-
mantle history. And to this day it is an es-
tablished popular opinion that this is the true
way of writing history, only that few Writers
have genius enough for it. The characters, it
is thought, should start into life at the hsto-
rian's touch His descriptions, it is thought,
cannot be too vivid, nor his narrative too ex-
citing. AS the object of book is to be read, it
is clear so runs the popular argument, that
the best book is that which is most readable.
1t is inconceivable to the popular mind that
man should write book which it is difficult to
read, when he might have written delightful
and fascinating one. A historical work there
fore, written in these days, if it is only as in
teresting as it used to be before the days OF
Scott or Macaulay, or if it is at all difficult to
read is popularity regarded as missing its mark.
1t is taken for granted that the writer meant
it to be like romance, only he wanted imag
ination; of course he did not mean it to be
tough reading, only he was stupid and had
not the talent of explaining things clearly. In
like manner have observed that many teach
ers of history take it for granted that the prob
lem DelOro lUeIl Is HOW u pItScHt Ia lStOTy III u
form which shall be attractive to their pupils
how to appeal to their imaginations. They say
that they find some parts of history leave their
pupils cold, but others visbly take hold of
them, fix their attention, kindle the eye,
and make the breath come quick;
and they infer, as q matter of course, that these
interesting parts should be selected for teach
ing and the uninteresting parts passed ov er.
Now, this popular opinion is plausible enough,
particularly when we consider how history first
began and what its object was for many ages
supposed and assumed to be. Is not the func-
ton of Clio to keep alive the memory of IA
nous deeds? and is she not Muse? Evident
ly then, she must speak to the great world
and with the sound of a trumpet 1t is not her
part to plod along the ground in creeping prose-
her sphere is the open sky, and she moves up-
on the wings of poetry. There is much reason
in this; and it is most right and desirable that
there should always be historians of the type
of Macaulay. Noble deeds should be told in
splendid language; great events should pass be-
fore us in swelling and stately narrative. Nay,
even the historical romance has its place,
though that is more than doubtful. The e]e-
ment of falsity that will creep in where pleas
uro rather than truth Is the object, is here adj
Llitted too freely; in critical times like these
the mature taste rebels against flights of imag-
inaton which in Shakspeare's time, when all
history was but proud tradition, were natu-
ral But boys and girls, at any rate, need not
be grudged their historical romance, and one
would pity the boy that had not read Ivanhoe,
in spite of its historical blunders.-Prof. Seely,
in Macmllan's Magazine
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
Deaths Counterfeit.
Some Hints Relative to the Sleeper's Po-
Sition.
From the Medical Journal

From the Medical Journal.l
Position affects sleep. A constrained or un-
comfortable posture will often prevent repose.
Lying fiat on the back with the limbs relaxed
would seem to secure the greatest amount of
rest for the muscular system. This is the posi-
tion assumed in the most exhausting diseases,
and it is generally hailed as token of revival
when a patient voluntarily turns ON the side;
but there are several disadvantages in the su-
pine posture which impair or embarrass sleep.
Thus in weakly states of the heart and blood
vessels, and in certain morbid conditions of
the brain, the blood seems to gravitate to the
back of the head, and to produce troublesome
dreams. In persons who habitually, in their
gait or work, stoop, there is probably some
distress consequent on Strengthening the spine.
Those who have contracted chests, especially
persons who have had pleurisy and retain ad-
hesion of the lungs, do not sleep we'll on the
back Nearly all who are inclined to snore do
so when in that position, because the soft palate
and uvula hang on the tongue, and that organ
falls back so as to partially close the top of the
windpipe. 1t is better, therefore, to lie on the
side, and in the absence of special chest dis
ease, rendering it desirable to lie on the weak
side SO as to leave the healthy lung free to ex-
pand, it is well to choose the right side, be-
cause when the body is thus placed the food
gravitates more easily out of the stomach into
the intestines. A glance at any plate of the
visceral anatomy will show how this must be.
Many persons are deaf in one ear, and prefer
to lie on particular side; but, if possible, the
right side should be chosen, and the body
rolled a little forward, so that any saliva which
may be secreted shall run easily out Of the
mouth, if not unconsciously swallowed Again,
sleeping with the arm thrown over the head is
to be deprecated; but this position is often
assumed during sleep because circulation is
then free in the extremities and the head and
neck, and the muscles of the chest are drawn
up and fixed by the shoulders and thus the
expansion of the thorax is easy. The chief OBJ
jections to this position are that it creates
tendency to cramp and cold in the arms, and
sometimes seems to cause headaches during
sleep, and dreams. These small matters often
make or mar comfort in sleep.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

Fellows Compound Syrup is composed OF
stitute Healthy Blood, Muscle aed Nerve
and Brain Substance, whilst life itself is
directly dependent upon some of them,
BY it's union with the blood and its effect
upon the muscles, reestablishing the one
and toning the other. it is capable of effect
ing the following results:
twill dsplace or wash out tuberculous
matter, and thus cure Consumption.
By increasing Nervous and Muscular
Vigor, it will cure Dyspepsia, feeble or in
terrupted action Of the Heart and Palpita-
ton, Weakness of Intellect caused by grief,
weary, overtax or irregular habits, Bron-
chitis, Acute or Chronic, Congestion of the
Lungs, even in the most alarming stages.
1t cures Asthma, Loss of Voice, Neural
gia, st. Vitus Dance, Epileptic Fits, Whoop-
ing Cough, Nervousness, and is a most Won
derful adjunct to other remedies in sustain
ing life during the process of Diptheria.
Do not be deceived by remedies bearing a
similar name, no other preparation is a sub
stitute for this under any circumstances.
Look out for the name and address, J. l.
FELLOWS, St. John, N. B., ON the yellow
wrapper in watermark which is seen by
holding the paper before the light.
Price $50 per Bottle, six for $3.50.
Sold by all Druggists.
jy25 FAI&W&w1y31
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
A Recommendation

The Boston Commercial Bulletin tells the
story of Connecticut bank president who was
known as "Old Nails Some time ago busi-
ness man of the place, and brother of the
church in good standing, had note discounted
at this worthy's bank; when it became due the
president, at the solicitation of the makers
friends, though against his own Judgment, ex.
tended it; when the final time OF PAYMENT
came, the note was discovered to be forgery,
to the scandal of the church and the astonish-
ment of the town, but not to that OF the astute
hank president The brethren, however, ral-
lied around the erring one, the note was paid,
and the matter supposed to be hushed up.
Some time after, however, the bank received
letter from another financial institution, ask
ing their opinion as to Mr.. IS note "Old
Nails said he would answer the letter, which
he did as follows:
President - Bank =,
DEAR SIR--In regard to Mr.. .-s note, We we Would
say if it is forgery 1t will be paid by the flrsl
church of Busytown If 1t is genuine tits not "0f'H
Respectfully yours, -.
NATHANIEL NAILS, President
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
Antiquity of Gloves.

As Xenophon, in his "Cyropadia,'' men-
tions that on one occasion Cyrus went without
his gloves, there are good grounds for believ-
ing that the ancient Persians were not igno-
rant of their use, and it is known that both
Greeks and Romans sometimes wore them.
The period when gloves were first used in
England. however, is likely to be OF more
interest to our readers; and this could not
have been much before the time OF Etheldred
H., when five pairs made considerable part
of the duty paid by some German merchants
to that king for the protection of their trade.
In the reign of Richard and John gloves were
worn by the higher classes, sometimes short
and embroidered at the tops. Our ancestors
closely connected gloves with chivalry, both in
love and war; and the custom of throwing
down glove was equivalent to a challenge,
the person defied signifying his acceptance OF
it by taking up his opponents glove and throw
ing down his own Biting the glove meant,
on the border, pledge of mortal revenge, and
a story is told of gentleman of Teviotdale,
who, after a hard drinking bout, observing in
the morning that he had bitten his glove, in
quired with whom he had quarrelled, and
finding he had had words with one Of his COM
panions insisted on satisfaction, saying that,
although he remembered nothing Of the dis
pute, he would never have bitten his glove
unless he had received an objectionable insult.
He fell in the duel, which was fought near
Selkirk The following lines from "Marmion"
show that the sending of glove by lady to
her knight was token of love and COM
mand to do her bidding:
For the fair queen of France
Sent him a turquoise ring and glove,
And charged him, as her knight and love,
For her to break a lance.
In these practical days of ours chivalry has
quite died out, and gloves are now for the
most part merely regarded as covering for
the hands. One important use made of them
in modern society is in the form of bets on
such occasions as Oxford and Cambridge boat
races, royal Ascot and other races. There is
vet one old custom connected with gloves
which has lived down tn our times, but il is
seldom called into practice. 1 allude to
"gloves IN law" At an assize, when no
prisoners are to be tried, the sheriff presents
the Judge with pair of white gloves, and the
custom is also observed in Scotland.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
A Great Victory.

The victory won by the Republican party
Monday is assuming magnificent proper
tions. The indicati ons are that we have
elected Davis by the popular vote, while we
know that we have carried both Senate and
House, and a majority of the counties. The
Opposition majority of last year has been
wiped out and we start in for 1880 with the
figures in our favor All the gain has been
ours, all the loss theirs. The increase in
the Greenback vote comes from Garcelon
The result is that we have 50 members of
the House to 81 opposition, and 10 Senators
out of 81. We have made the fight with
all the odds against us. We have had to
contend with a shameless and audacious CO.
alition who hesitated to resort to no methods
however despicable to gain their base end,
corruption fund for the bribery of voters.
Our victory is the victory of the people of
Maine, but it is due to the magnificent ex-
ecutive ability and matchless organizing
powers of Senator Blaine. Without him
we should have been lost. Out of a beaten
and dispirited host he made Jealous, conf
dent and admirably disciplined army, and
he led it to victory. The campaign was con-
Quoted with Incompatible skill. To what
extent respectively the financial question,
the Southern question, and the attempted
legislation of Congress aided in bringing
about the result we are not now prepared to
say. 1t is certain that Greenbackism has
got its death-blow and will not hereafter be
a powerful force for evil in Maine politics.
Fusion, too, is dead-dead as last years
potato vines. The Democratic party is seri-
ously crippled A long time, perhaps years,
will pass before it can regain the fine organ
entered upon period of quarrels and
personal squabbles between its leaders, many
of whom are forever discredited by the
course they have taken in advocating fusion.
One political death is already recorded, that
of Eben f. Pillsbury. He is dead cock in
the pit.
SOME of the Honorable Bilks are COM
planning bitterly that the PRESS classes them
with the Greenback leaders. Their aristo-
cratic prejudices are shocked. What right
have you gentlemen, to think yourselves
better men than the Greenbackers? The
PRESS did not make the classification. You
did that yourselves when you 'concurred."
You mistook the spelling, and misled by the
sound, thought you were writing Ewe con-
quer" That was your mistake, and you
cannot put it upon others.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

EVERY TINE the Democratic party has
been whipped for the last quarter of a cen
fury it has howled Fraud! bribery! intimi-
dationn' 1t acts like child who has got a
buffet in his face from his playmate and
threatens to run home and tell his mother
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THE Argus has got so into the habit of
contradicting itself that it cannot break
away from that habit all at once. How else
can we account for its statement, made yes
terday, that the election establishes Blaine's
supremacy in this state for years, though
power thus obtained is not likely to be long
lived y
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

The fusionists feel a good deal like the
Boston boy who, spending the summer at
Kennebunk, sent home this letter: eve
dug a woodchuck out of his hole; it was a
skunk; we slept in barn that night
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

We told you, Greenbackers, that the
Honorable Bilks were cheating you. Look
at the returns and you will see that we were
right. The majority against your men on
against the Democrats.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THE argus is whining pitifully over the
returns and making the usual talk about
bull-dozing, bribery, &c. Why don't it call
upon County Attorney Moulton" to in
vestigate the charges?
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

You have only to say fusion to a
Democrat in order to call forth a volley of
the strongest and most expressive words in
the English language.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THOSE political prophets, Colonel Mont
gomery and Colonel Adams, have gone out
of the prediction business.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
THE PRESS.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 10.

EVERY regular attache of the PRESS is furnished
with Card certificate signed by Stanley 7. Pullen,
Editor All railway, steamboat and hotel managers
will confer favor upon us by demanding credentials
OF every person claiming to represent our journal
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
BEMSOM'S CAPClNE
es7>sssgaeess- a1rse7r:.1-si -.s4
POROUS PLASTER
HoEs w MEN AND CHILDREN.


Females suffering from pain and weakness
will derive great comfort and strength from the
use of Benson's Capcine Porous Plaster. Where
children are affected with whooping cough, or
binary coughs or colds OF weak lungs, it is the
one and only treatment they should receive.
This article contains new medicinal elements
such as is found in no other remedy in the same
form 1t is far superior to common porous plas-
ters, liniments, electrical appliances and other
external remedies. It relieves pain at once,
strengthens and cures where other plasters will
Back, Rheumatism, Kidney disease and all To-
cal aches and pains it is also the best known
remedy Ask for Benson's Capcne Plaster and
take no other Sold by all Druggists. Price 25
cents. sepW ,S&w1m
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

WHERE two Democrats meet on the street
nowadays they are pretty sure to fall to
abusing each other because of their defeat.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations. The name and address of the writer are in
all cases indispensable, not necessarily for publica-
ton but as guaranty of good faith.
We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
muncatlons tnat are not used.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

We expected to see in the argus yesterday
the proclamation of the accession of king
Charles as ruler of the kingdom of Maine.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THE firm of Pierce Todd & Co. has put up
its shutters and gene into political bank
rIJntcv
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THE Boston Post rises to demand of the
Democratic leaders in Maine an account of
their stewardship.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THOSE Democrats who refused to sign the
''we concur letter are wild with delight to
think they kept their hands out of that trap.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

THE estimates of that lightning calculator,
Mr. Whidden of Calais, are curious reading
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

rather late in the season. Feed is getting
short.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
PINAFORE /!

The Ideal Pinafore Co. of Boston, at CITY
HALL, Sept. y lfll, with the following cast
Messrs. WHITNEY, BARNABEE, FEssENDEN and
FRoTHINGHAM, Miss BEEBE, Miss CAYvAN, and
ADELAIDE PHILLIPS, with Grand Chorus, Orches-
ira and special Scenery.
Tickets sold at stOcixbridge's "Wednesday
morning, Sept. 40, at . O'Clock.
seq Qtu
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

HAVE you heard the tramp of the
cowhide boots?
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10

The ProsaRcicr and H'erfecsor of Assinni
IasiOn.
TR,e Reformer and yitaIizer of the
BLOOD.
TErc Proaueer and Envigerasor of Nerve
and EEnsCEc.
The Builder and supporter of Brain
Power.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
REMOyAL..PORTLAND ACADEMY.

Fall Term begins Sept. l, 1879, in the new rooms
MOTLEY BLOCK, 5O5 Congress Street.
The services of Prof. Masse have been secured to
teach French. Private classes in French will be
formed on reasonable terms.
Elocution will be taught By our accomplished in
structor.
For further particulars inquire of
lssESS E. A. FILES, Principal,
aug9d3m AZ Brown Street.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
Vaults Cleaned and Ashes Removed

a from S4 to SO per cord, or SO per load. All
N Orders promptly attended to by calling on or
addressing r. GIBSON.
oc2dtf 58S Congress Street.
The Portland daily press., 1879-09-10
It'd TaEHsTs
aCKEaONEa YArYHr RAx

4 = AlKEUUN EEt 4AGEEE ESAN |,
1EN having been thoroughly refurnished this
IlgANaA- season, is now ready to accommodate
Tz-=-zfH7 parties by the day week at reasonable
rates under the charge of a careful man and good
pilot. Apply to d. II. BURNS, on board, formerly
of Yacht Alarm, or at DYER " BURNS, No. 123
Commercial Street. Portland. Me. jei 1d4m