The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-24
rBelfast Age. Dem.l
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PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

Horace Greeley's birthplace at Nashua,
N. H., where lie was born in 1911, is to be
sold shortly at auction for taxes amounting
to about $50.
Ex-President McCosh of Princeton college
is at work on volume to be entitled "First
or Fundamental Principles, which he thinks
will be the most enduring of his achieve
ments in philosophy.
A Washington gossip alleges that Senators
ingalls,, Edmunds, Palmer, Vest, Evarts,
Hiscock, Vance and Voorhees, have estab-
lished a singing school among themselves,
taking turns in weekly entertainments,
where old-time college songs make the eyen-
ings merry.
Col Fred Grant was mustered into post
of Sons of Veterans last week. Col. Grant
is not eligible for membership in the Grand
Army of the Republic, for he was not men,
Der of the army during the war, though he
was regularly employed before Donelson and
Vicksburg in carrying important dispatches.
1t seems, says London Life, that the SUPER
stition that no marriage can be happy one
unless the bride has one hair of every mem
her of her family sewn into the lining of her
wedding gown is no longer monopoly of
the French. young lady was married at
t.. J IS.
had general collection of hair-even includ-
ing one from the favorite pet dog-made, and
attached as much Importance to it as to the
so yards of material, exclusive of lace. which
her French maid brought from Paris for the
wedding dress.
The registrar-generaPs report upon mar
riages in England is far from cheerful read
ing. The market is ''fat," depressed" and
the demand, it is rudely limited. out of all
proportion to the supply. Matrimony has
been steadily on the decline for the last
twenty years. In 1886 the ratio was III per
thousand (the half does not indicate mar
riage between juveniles, but %; in 1886 ii
was only IA. At this rate England will in a
there will be neither marriage nor giving in
marriage" in it; there the similarity will
end.
The excavations on the Acropolis of Ath-
ems continue with the greatest zeal on the
part Of the Investigators and workmen. AT
the southeastern corner of the ParthenoD,
the one toward the site of the great Minerva,
a splendid head of male statue, supposed
to have been Triton, has been unearthed.
1t is made of porous stone, and exhibits
traces of brilliant col0ring. 1t is stated to
be more ancient than anything yet discov-
cred, and quite unique among the remnants
of Attic art
shave been asked" writes Mr.. Smalley
in one of the latest London letters to the
New York Tribune, whether the constitu-
ton of the United States was in writing
whether the President was elected for life
whether the Constitution and Declaration of
independence were the same thing; whether
the President could issue paper money of
his own authority and make it legal ten
der; whether be could repeal an act of Con-
gress; whether an act of Congress or a State
law was of higher authority; wheth-
er an amendment was binding ON State
which withheld its assent to it; whether the
President appointed the State Governor.
And once an Englishman of position wrote
to ask, whether thought it possible that a
COPY of the constitution of the United States
could be found in the British Museum"
Some years ago there was small steam
boat plying on the Mississippi river and Off
cered by Capt. Miller. He was still young,
though in responsible position, and was but
lately married. So fond of his wife. more
over, that he could not bear leave her at
home, as did the other river captains, but
carried her back and fourth with him trip
after trip, between New Orleans and Mem
phis. She grew in time quite familiar with
his duties, and during sudden illness of her
husband assumed command of the boat, and
managed her SO well that the mates and
roustabouts acquired a wholesome respect
for her authority and judgment. Later the
husband died. and having nothing but his
salary as captain and part ownership in
the boat, the widow found herself under the
necessity of doing something for her living.
Such a thing was quite without precedent,
but she went before the proper authorities,
passed searching examination as to her
qualifications and was permitted to assume
the command of the boat, under the title of
Capt Mary Miller. She has retained the
position ever since, finally securing entire
ownership of the little steamer, and is a
great favorite all along the line Of ports that
lie between the two points of her route.
Now there is a company playing in Boston a
little steamboat drama, entitled capt. Mary
Miller" founded upon the stirring expert
ences Of the first female steamboat captain.