The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-19

NO doubt the biggest item Of social news
OF the season is the announcement, already
made, that the empress of Austria is coming
ON visit to America. The sertion is
very positively made, and though 1t has not
been officially confirmed, there is no reason
to deny it, The flutter in fashionable So
ciety when she comes will be unprece-
dented.
The longest speech ON record, says the
Chicago Times, is probably the one made by
Mr.. DeCosmos, member of the Legislature
of British Columbia some time ago. A bill
was pending, which, if passed, would de-
prive many settlers of their lands, and the
temper of the majority made it certain that
it would pass. The Legislature was, within
a day and half Of its final adjournment, and
the vote was about to be taken At this
luncture De Cosmos rose to address the
body He spoke, standing on his feet, twen-
ty-six hours. When he finished his eyes
were bleared and red, ana his parched lips
were cracked and running blood. He was
nearly dead, but he had prevented the bill
from becoming law, aud had saved the SET
tiers their homes.
Good out of evil found a pretty illustration
in the case of Hawthorne's removal from
the Salem custom house, says the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat. BE was crushed by the
blow, and staggered to his humble home full
of bitter disappointment. No one knew him
then as one of our greatest-yes, the worlds
greatest-men of genius. His wife quietly
left the room. then came back with an arm
full of wood, kindled cheerful fire, drew his
chair up to his desk, brought papers, pens
ana INK, ana then, turning to him with
your book" The result was "Scarlet
Letter. and such fame as no novelist in
America before had attained. 1t was all due
to his noble wife. Had she repined, and
added to this burden, the world would never
have known Hawthorne.
All the fast trains on the Pennsylvania
road are hauled nowadays by big locomo-
tives with 6A-foot driving wheels For
little time past Samuel Pine and Joseph
Kelly, who alternate on fast train 10, have
been experimenting with 5A-foot locomo-
tive to discover just what difference there is
between the two classes in point of speed
and economy Engine 723 had been specially
REINFORCED at the Altoona shops for the
purpose. She was allowed 160 pounds pres
sure twenty pounds more than Is ordinarily
allowed, Having the same-sized valves and
cylinders as the larger engines, she made
just as good time as the latter, which
was ninety-one miles in one hour and FORTY
five minutes with three stops. Considerable
coal was saved in the smaller engine, and
she has the advantage of being able to get
under way sooner.
Mrs. Harrison is an enthusiastic china
painter, and showed to some friends recent
ly with pride set of salad and fruit plates
carefully painted under the instruction of a
skillful Dresden artist now in indianapolis
Each plate was decorated with the separate
ingredients of a salad. One bore delicate
spray of celery, another bore sliced lemon
or bit of lettuce. another red tomato cut
In half,Iand so on through the order Of
pickles, carrots. olives, cucumbers and pur-
pie beets. The fruit plates we're finely de-
signed with different fruits-currants, goose
berries, plums and grapes. Among other
gems were water color of pansies and a
large square tile with ehrysanthemums
when you are in the White HouseP" some
one asked her. ''Not If it is as exciting as it
| is here she replied; 'sbut shall steal away
to corner and paint, for enjoy it more
than anything else. think china printing
| Is to women what poker is to men. 1t passes
the time and has a delightful element Of
chance. in the result Of firing have my
own kiln which manage, and have done my
own firing"
The war carried on against the slave trade
on the east coast Of Africa is not without a
| spice Of danger, despite the great disparity
| of force between modern cruisers and Arab
| dhows. The dhows are small vessels, and II
able to gain shoal water can defy their heavy
pursuers. Once close in shore the dhews are
able to bundle into waiting boats their car
goes Of slaves, while captain and crew ahan-
don the vessel, an almost worthless prize.
The English cruisers have been compelled to
send their boats to overtake dhows which
have gained shoal water. In this service
Lieutenant Cooper Of the Chiffon was killed
recently. In command of steam cutter he
had chased dhow into shoal water, when
the Arabs firing g y, yoley killed him and
cruiser Osprey. recently captured three
dhows. The slaves, 204 in number, were
brought on board the Osprey. An officer OF
the Osprey. describing the scene, says
They were soon laughing and talking
among themselves, parties who had beer
separated in the dhows, and now once more
| found themselves together again. huggine
and kissing each other with great apparent
delight and joy. This is the largest capture
of slaves that has been made at one time fol
many years. and the first time Dongali slave
traders have been caught"
One of the most famous bartenders in
America, and colored man at that, died in
Washington the other day, and his funeral
was one of the largest ever seen in Washing.
ton. His name was Richard Francis. and
although he was never engaged in public
life he was probably better known personally
among the noted men of the country thar
Frederick Douglass. There is little two.
story brick building, painted white, on the
off side of Pennsylvania avenue. known as
Hancock's where Francis was bartender
for 40 years. Hancock's place is one Of the
most interesting in Washington. The walls
are covered and every nook and corner Ii
filled with some curiosity intimately associ
ated with the history of America. The
principal ones were picked up during
the civil war. Senators and Repre-
sentatives and men holding high offca
positions during the past 40 years were the
most frequent visitors to Hancock's. Fran
els became acquainted with all of thea
worth knowing, and his skill as mixer oil
drinks just suited to their varying palates
was unquestioned. In all public matters he
took deep interest, but was cautious about
giving his views to persons not in accord
with him. There was close friendship Of
many years standing between him and Sena.
tor Edmunds, and 1t was through the Yer
mont statesman that Francis was placed In
charge of the Senate restaurant about three
years ago. Francis counted among his best
a
Webster and Benton.
II was present." says ex-President Hayes
when General Sheridan cast the first vote
and last of his life. Mcclellan was the can,
didate on the one side and Lincoln on the
other. Sheridan had never voted, as he wal
an army officer, but he understood that un
der the laws Of Ohio an Ohio soldier coult
vote, and that there was to be somewhere In
camp samong the Ohio soldiers q polling
place. he soon learned it was at my head
quarters, so he came over the day before and
talked about it, L never cast vote before
in my life,' said General Sheridan, and
don't understand how to do it, Next day
Sheridan came over with General Forsyth
of Toledo, and General Crook, who alst
wanted to vote. passed the word arount
that Sheridan and Crook would vote about s
o'clock, and 5000 soldiers and two brass
bands were on hand. The polling place was
wagon, and three non-commissioned officer
were judges and two young fellows clerks
| said I'd vote first, so as to show Crool
and Sheridan how it was done. | was al
old voter; they were greenhorns. l stepped
up and said to the judges, My name is Ruth
erford B. Hayes; vote in Hamilton County
Ohio, in the Fifteenth Ward, Cincinnati.
ALI this was put down. Then Sheridan
stepped up. He was a little embarrassed
for all the men were looking at him. 1t wa.
L o~k g. 10 r,lnx 10 z,l