The Portland daily press., 1886-06-22
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

Ex-President Arthur has been a tritle more
comfortable for the last few days, but MS
condition is not such as to warrant any hope
of permanent improvement
There is prospect now that Congress may
pass the bill, accepting as gift to the ma
tion, the cottage at Mount McGregor, in
which General Grant died
An Arkansas farmer writes that last year,
when eoons made havoc in his corn
field, he went to the drug store to buy
strychnine with which to kill them. By
mistake the druggist gave him morphine,
and the next morning he found his field full
of sleeping coons.
Queen Victoria has sent an autograph let
ter to the parents of Miss Louise Journeaux,
the heroine of the Jersey boating adventure,
eongratulating them on the rescue and safe
ty of their daughter. Her majesty has also
sent message and sum OF money TO MISS
J0uTneaux.
DR.. Shosuke Sato, who received the degree
of doctor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins
University this year, and who has published
a valuable thesis upon "The History of the
Land Question in the United States" is
Japanese. He will go back to his native
country in answer to call of the colonial
department of his government.
University will open its examinations TO
women and also provide recitation-rooms for
them in Sayles memorial hall, if sufficient
number apply, the tuition fees to accrue to
the professors directly employed. The pres
ident is not prepared to recommend that at
tendance at prayers be made voluntary.
The Outing magazine has sent a special
correspondent to the Arctic Ocean for the
,f 4,ax, trio xuhi oh
serves as bed at night through the heart
of Russia from Archangel to the Crimea.
One of his objects is to show how cheaply
long Journeys can be made. He is to be
gone one hundred days, and his travelling
expenses are not to be over $780,
In his address to the West Point cadets,
Gen. Gibbon dwelt on remarkable fact in
the history of that institution. Generals
Eustis, Newton, Raines, Kantz and Rose
Grams were at the head Of their classes, and
their military achievements never rose
above mediOcrity. On the other hand, Long
street was third from the foot and Grant
was No. q in class of thirty-nine.
Germany still keeps in the fortress at
Spandau the remainder Of the French mil
lizards, the indemnity money of n. A GER
tain amount was used for the army and for
leading cities, but very considerable sum
is kept for the emergency of another war.
1t lies in the Hermann tower, In the shape
of coin, ready to be drawn upon the mo-
ment hostile force menaces the frontier.
Two Boston ladies, Mrs. A. J. Leech and
Miss NJ. I. Whittemore, who went to San
Miguel, California, for their health few
months, ago secured adjoining homestead
claims. They have built a house in COM
mon right across their common line, and
they sleep in different rooms each on her
own side of the line Living together, they
are yet far enough apart to comply with the
homestead act, and in five years each viii
secure the government title to her portion.
John G. Whittier, the poet, writing Of the
late Edwin P. Whipple, says; with the
possible exception of Lowell and Matthew
Arnold he was the ablest critical essayist Of
his time. and the place he has left will not
be readily filled. Scarcely inferior to Ma
caulay in brilliance of dietion and graphic
portraiture he was freer from prejudice and
passion, and more loyal to the truth of fact
and history. He was a thoroughly honest
man."
Among the most interesting persons at the
dedication of the Webster statue at Concord,
was the orator Of the day, ex-Judge Nesmith,
of Franklin, n. II. He is s6 years old, but
still hale and hearty. Though eighteen
years younger than Webster, there was q
close intimacy between the two for quarter
for the plain, shrewd and genuine Nesmith,
and Nesmith responded with loyal admira-
tiOn and affection that no adversely of polit-
ical fortune could change.