The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-09
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
portland Advertisar.1
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.


Robert Lincoln's law partner
A great picture of the Day of the Cruel
fixion is to take the place of the panorama of
the battle of Atlanta in Minneapolis.
Scepticism does not prevent the eyangeli-
cal churches from growing steadily. The
Methodist Church has added 100000 mem
berS in four wears.
Fashion has declared, says the New York
Sun, in favor of low ceilings at home. 1t
has been decided that it is very difficult to
furnish high ceiled room so that it shall
look cosy and inviting. In fact, fashion
doesn't believe that a room with a high cell
ing can be properly handled at all. In view
of these discoveries, it is growing customary
in New York to put in false ceilings Of can
vas at a height of about nine feet from the
floor. Then the canvas is treated with fres-
Going, or tinting, or pannelling, with light
gilt work, as the decorator pleases.
A few sparrows are beginning to be seen
in the streets of the cities of New York,
Brooklyn and Jersey City, but they are very
few compared to the numbers that infested
the neighborhood last year. Simultaneously
with their appearance come the most startling
tales of what the blizzard did toward exter-
minating them. 1t is said that in Canarsie
their dead bodies were gathered by the
bushel after the wind abated, and in the
hilly regions of upper New Jersey farmers
declared that the remains of the poor little
wretches lay upon the ground under the
trees like the droppings OF an orchard in
late autumn.
An interesting problem is being solved by
Prof. B. L. Washington. of Tuskegee, Ala.
Professor Washington is graduate of the
Hampton, Va, Normal and Agricultural In
stitute, which has done so much for the in
dustrial training of young colored men and
women. Some seven years ago he started
the Tuskegee Normal School with 20 pupils.
To-day he has 405 bright young men and
women from all parts of the South receiving
training in this school. At present there are
u industries taught in the school. All ma
terials used in building are manufactured on
the place by the students. The course of
study extends over period of four years.
One of the commonest of metals, alumni
mum, has, until recently, defed separation
on any large scale from its compounds. The
Cowles electric furnace promises, however.
to solve, in measure, the question of iso-
lating this highly useful metal. This fur
mace. box-shaped, is built of friedrich, and
is lined with charcoal. The electric current
is introduced through the carbon rods, the
positive and negative poles entering them
from opposite sides and almost meeting in
the centre. The ore, corundum, is mixed
with charcoal and granulated copper, and it
is so disposed as to completely cover the car
bons. Soon after starting the current, the
ore, melts between the carbons, which
are then drawn farther and farther apart
until the whole contents of the furnace are
melted. The time required for the reduction
of the ore is about five hours.
DIR. Fordyce Barker the attending physi-
- q nf fho1 aof
known men in New York. His patients are
all among the weathiest people, He was
Mrs. John Jacob Astor's physician in her
last illness. He is pleasant companion,
and keeps young, Notwithstanding he is
much older than was Mr.. Conkling. DR..
Barker is the beau ideal Of an aristocrat in
appearance-whit hair and side whiskers.
He occupies a handsome house of Queen
Anne architecture, and drives about in a
handsome English brougham. He is consid-
cred very skillful physician, yet a walking
admission of the inability of the best medi-
cal skill to successfully cure disease, for Dr.
Barker has a bronchial difficulty which
neither he nor the most skilled in his profess
sion have been able to cure, and which has
caused him to speak in whisper for many
years. DR.. Barker lives well, in the enjoy
ment of large income, and owes his other
wise good health and ruddy appearance to
his yearly trip to Europe. He is the most
fashionable physician in the city.
The Crown Prince of Germany has carried
to excess the old Hohen zollern custom of
giving its cadets military training. When
ever he visits his children his oldest son, who
will be next month, has been schooled to
give the word of command, whereupon the
two smaller brothers, aged 8 and 4, range
themselves beside him, and all give the
father soldierly salute. The other day the
Crown Prince was working, when his atten-
ton was drawn to the fact that the sentries
outside his room were presenting arms re-
peatedly in an inexplicable way--a thing
which German soldiers, be it explained, do
in such peremptory and vehement manner
that the action can be heard for consider
able distance. He was puzzled at this, went
out and discovered that his little boys were
having some fun passing up and down the
corridor enjoying the pleasure of being
saluted. The Crown Prince said, 81 must
teach you that sentries don't exist for
little Princes. but Princes for sentries." He
then called for cane and in the presence of
the sentries gave the tiny fellows a sharp
beating. 1t ought to be added that this incl
dent Of a spartan education is much adj
mired in Berlin.