The Portland daily press., 1888-03-01

PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.


The sister of Abraham Lincoln's widow,
and wife of his friend Ninian w. Edwards,
has died at Springfield, Ill.
Miss Nina Van Zandt, the proxy wife of
the late August Spies, the Anarchist, is to
devote her life to telling the story of her
lovers fate.
says it is reported that Andrew Carnegie's
triumphant Democracy" since it was con-
demnrd by the Wolverhampton grand jury,
has had the enormous sale of thirty thOus-
aud copies.
Henri de Laserre, a French historian, con-
ceived the idea of making special edition
of the Bible for rich Roman Catholics.
Whatever he thought likely to offend fas-
tidous taste he prnned down. The sacred
college, however, has forbidden the carrying
out OF this plan.
The attempt to return Wilfrid Blunt to
Parliament for Deptford while he is still in
an Irish prison is developing the hottest
sort Of a campaign, in which women take
part, Mrs. Gladstone and Lady Anne Blunt,
Byron's granddaughter, being active on the
Liberal side. The fences are covered with
pictures of Blunt in prison garb, which are
expected to stir up big Democratic vote.
Ellen Terry on Monday celebrated her for
tieth birthday, and declared to reporter:
81 was born in Coventry, in Shakspeare's
shire. thank God. My father and mother
were both on the stage. They married when
both were under nineteen years of age"
Miss Terry says she has now but one wish.
lit is to help Mr.. Irving in his great and
beautiful work, for 1t is grand work he is
doing"
Thuse extremists of the Confederacy. the
Al
with Yankees, and went to Brazil, are no
happier than If they had remained in the
United States and accepted the situation.
Some of them were recently visited by an
English traveller, who found their situation
deplorable. They are far from the Yankees,
but they are very close to the cannibal tribes
that dwell in the backwoods of Brazil They
want to get home, but are deferred from
starting by a superiority of pride and pau
city of money.
Senators Allison and Cullen are each SO
years Of age. Senator Edmunds is year
older Senator Hawley, who looks ten years
younger than Mr.. Edmunds. is in reality two
years his senior Senator Sherman is Go.
Senator Evarts, who was born in 1918. has
reached the age of three score and ten. SEN
ator Hiscock, his colleague, is 81. Ex-Post-
master General Gresham is 90, as Is also Sen
at0r ingalls, of Kansas Senator Palmer of
Michigan is IS; Senator Plumb of Kansas 81 !;
and ex-senator Harrison of Indiana 3d. Sen
-atSr Wilson Of Iowa, Mr.. Allison's colleague,
is 60. William Walter Phelps of New Jer-
g. Ga . 80
Tuesday the Washington friends of Fred
erick Douglass will celebrate the seventy
first anniversary of his birth. Mr.. Douglass
t.
sentative Of the negro race in America, X
not in the world. His mother was slave, a
common farm hand, his father he never
knew. He remained slave until q years
old, when he made his escape, just fifty years
ago. He has told the story of his life, as
slave, and as the champion Of the slave and
one of the leaders of the anti-slavery move
ment, and as recruiting officer for the Union
army, in his interesting biography published
a few years ago. His has been one Of the
most remarkable careers in this remarkable
country.
The late W. w. Corcoran had many rare
treasures in his library, but none more inter
esting than his autograph album. One of
the interesting things said to be contained
in this collection of autographs is note of
Rufus Cheate's endorsed by Daniel Webster,
of which the following anecdote is current:
Mr.. Choate wanted $500 and applied to Mr..
Webster for it. Mr. Webster said, "No, /
haven't that amount, but / will get it for you,
Choate." Mr.. Choate having expressed his
pleasure at such proposition, Mr.. Webster
said, ''Draw your note; I'll sign it and bring
you the money" Then, while Mr. Choate
was making out the note, new idea seemed
to occur to Mr.. Webster, and he said, while
you are about it. Choate, make it a thousand.
A thousand is as easy to get as $500. I'll
take the other $500 myself" So the note
was drawn for $1,000. Mr.. Webster took his
cane, and, walking down Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to Corcoran & Riggs banking house, en-
tered and saluted Mr.. Corcoran with digni-
fed Good morning" Good morning. Mr.
Secretary" Mr.. Corcoran responded. What
can do for you this morniDg?" "a little
favor for my friend Choate," said Mr.. Web
ster. He then produced the note, and Mr.
Corcoran readily agreed to cash it. Mr..
Webster had the gold laid out in two equal
parts, and putting the parts into separate
pockets returned to Mr.. Choate to divide the
proceeds of this successful financial opration.
The note is said still to be in Mr.. Corcoran's
possession.