The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-15
ABOUT PORTLAND.
View of the Maine City Through
Boston Spectacles.

BOSTON. Oct. l..--I have been to Port
land. Portland rs well up in the universe, Il
built on hill which Is almost an island, has
plenty Of water and islands around IL, and a
prohibitory law which forces every honest
saloonkccpcr TO rclcsate the sale of his in
toxicating compounds to the delicate privacy
OF back room. The city Is beautifully
drained Thanks to Nature, and little praise
to man, the streets are clean The women
who do not wear spectacles are beautiful, and
there is city liquor agency where just and
reputable men who know how to make a
proper and righteous Use of whisky can be
supplied by the pint quart or gallon.
| The oldest cemetery in Portland contains
tho bones of Commodore Preble and several
other marine heroes. and in the city are the
remains Of submarine blue-bloodcd aris
tocracy, which looks down on that of Boston
There are no saloon signs to be seen in Portland
except live Ones The Portland saloon stations
red, dubious nose, with man attached, out
side If you, rs a stranger, ask him where on
earth you can buy glass of beer he will
jerk his thumb significantly over his shoulder,
and say in English: $50 within, and don't
stop at the first back door you meet, but force
it open, and be then guided by the inner
light" You will do SO, and OH facing the
rear door see bar, lined three deep outside,
and from one TO two perspiring barkecpers in
side, loading and firing at will, while the rum
and the cash cross each other over the counter
in constant succession of parabolas. 1t is
an inspiriting sight, and shows what per-
sstcnt temperance agitation can do toward
keeping up appearances inside and out
Viewed from distance and Portland would
readily pass for a total abstinence town
Vowed microscopically and INTENTIONALLY, it
Gilutcs its water in secret with more potent
fluids
If after the first drink you want another.
all you need to do is to enter any other doo,.
where YOU see plug of tobacco displayed in
the window.
Portland is protected outside from for
eign invasion by two strong forts, which
are very useful to fire Fourth of july
salutcs from, and serve also as places for fat
tcning United States officers and privatcs
Tho town was invaded from the rear many
years ago by various tribes of foreigners and
several Of its most important industries cap
turcd, notably the retail sale of beer The
present Portlander dates almost everything
back to the great fire, some twenty years ago
What he doesn't date back to the fire he does
to the rise in taxes caused by the citys voting
a few millions to the Portland and Ogdens-
burg railroad. Longfellow came pretty near
being born il Portland and the house hi
parents lived in is pointed out with justifablc
pride. They were just as good people e.,
Longfcllow anyway, and might perhaps hav,
written poetry had they known it would have
been salcablc.
Portland is a city of considerable American
antiquity. As a settlement or town with
charter, it i not as cid rs the delure AS
location it is possibly much older AT one cid
of the city is bed of fossil mrsscls, Over
which gcoioyists have made several very pre-
found gucsses Us to how they came there az
the other end of the town are sundry fossils
ynich are not mussels.
PRENTICE MILFORD.