Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08
For the Democrat
PORTLAND LETTER.

Mr.. Editor.
Now the fountain Is uncovered and the
correct pronunciation OF the new slang
"dude" decided upon, there seems to be
no reason why the season should not adj
vance with its accustomed rapidity.
The weather is unusually cold, even for
Portland, and trade reported dull. Messrs.
Owen & Morse are running bargains in all
departments this week, thereby keeping
all their old clerks busy and calling in
quite force OF new ones.
Theproverb, "where there's great smoke
there must be some fire" has been trans
formed by the cigar-makers into ''n0 smoke
without more pay" In other words, the
cigar-makers are on a strike for an advance
OF sl.00 per thousand. The manufacturers
will probably accede to the demand.
In the way OF amusements, Portland has
been very gay for the past month. The
Trinity College Glee Club gave fine con-
cert at City Hall, one evening last week.
The Harvards were not so successful, be-
ing rather poor amateurs. The Messiah
given by the Haydns, was one OF :he best
Of that skillful society's renditions. Mrs.
Fellows (nee Milliken) came from New
York to take the solo always sung by her.
Just here 1t may not be out OF place to
state that Mrs. Fellows was selected from
one hundred applicants for the position
OF soprano soloist at st. Bartholomew
Church, New York, at 4 salary Of 81 900 u
year. Mrs. Cushing, who sings at the
Portland First Parish, in place of Miss
Milliken, continues to be very much OF
favorite.
Last Sunday The Magdalene" was sung
at vespers so touchingly it brought tears
to many an eye.
At the rooms of the Portland Society OF
Art may be seen, the remainder OF this
week, the choicest collection OF etchings
ever shown In Portland. They are from
the iolios OF Williams & Everett. Boston.
The Dramatic event OF the season has
been Janauschek's Mary Stuart and Marie
Autoiuette, given at Portland Theatre, on
Wednesday and Thursday evenings of this
week. Both plays are sad and the knowl-
edge that not so very long ago these
bloody scenes were really enacted, lends
terrible fascination to the play. The sup
port was good and the costuming richly
elegant. The audience last evening was
large and highly appreciative. When
Louis XVI. babe farewell TO his family,
who, ignorant OF his doom, visit him in
prison on the eve OF his execution after q
long separation, the acting was very strong.
When at last the courage Of the husband
and father forsook him and he rushed,
with his last farewell dying in sob, into
the oratory where the priest awaited him
followed by the shrieks of his heart-broken
wife and sobbisg children, the audience
was weeping with them, some even sobbing
aloud.
Nine. Janauschek is indeed great act
ss.-though lacking somewhat in lowell
ness, she Is grand and queenly.
Reward" by Bosworth Post, at City
Hall, and Baird's Mlnstrels at the Theatre,
close the entertainments of this week.
For May Day, grand Carnival is to be
given by the ladies OF Bosworth Relief.
La Crosse will be played at Presumpscot
Park, May 2, by the teams who sail for
England on the day following, May and
5, NJ. B. Curtis appears in Sam'l of Posen,
and Frank Mayo in his old favorite, Davy
Crockett, April so and May /.
For wonder, Portland Is to have a
Fourth of July Celebration the coming 4th.
1t being the 25Oth anniversary of the land
ing of George Cleeves, 1t is proposed to
make that even part Of the celebration.
In addition to the bands and military, q
procession of the trades and manufactur-
ers Is talked Of and commemorative pill
lar. At the next meeting this will be de-
cided upon. II. s. A.