The Portland daily press., 1889-08-24
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

OF the 10000 Postmasters appointed since
March 4, over one half are Union soldiers.
The present strength of the Grand Army
Of the Republic is 1928, an increase of 49,
600 during the past year.
A Frenchwoman, Madam Adam, is creating
great sensation in Europe by publishing in
her journal, the NOurelle Resue articles dis
closing diplomatic secrets. The latest article
throws some light on the relations between
Germany and Belgium, and asserts that an
understanding exists whereby Germany has
undertaken to defend King Leopold against
aggression in a certain contingency. 1t is
asserted in Paris that the Government has
decided to appoint commission to investi-
gate into the methods by which Madam
Adam has cOntrived to secure access to the
contents of such important State papers as
her articles show her to have been familiar
with.
There is a story told of Webster which
shows how mountains and men may alike
become impressive. Webster and other
statesman from Washington were spending
a few days in the White Mountains. Web
ster had set out from the inn afoot before his
companions that he might mediate alone in
the presence OF all this grandeur. Thinking
they had lost the great statesman, they in
quired OF farmer If he had seen Mr.. Web.
ster pass that way. He replied, II know not
III
here but little while ago man as mighty
as any Of these hills"
A Providence pleasure party bound on
country cruise is attracting considerable at
tention in Massachusetts. The hardy travel
lers are embarked in an omnibus which has
been fitted up with comfortable chairs and
otherwise prepared for long trip In the
woods and fields.
Pigeon flying is growing to be an absorbing
amusement in England. particularly among
the Birmingham laborers. The spread of tie
sport has developed quite new branch of
railway traffic. 1t is the practice of flyers to
send their birds in baskets, addressed TO the
station master at particular station, with
the request that he release them, mark on
label the time that they were released and
granted: The officials rather like the work.
In cloudy weather S0rters have been known
to feed birds for three days before setting
them free.
A process has been invented, by means of
which photographs can be printed almost as
fast as newspaper, and without dependence
on sun or light. They. are said to be of the
first quality. That, of course, would make
photographs much cheaper.
Since the introduction of mastless ship.
some sort of gymnasium has been recog-
nized as necessity for providing the sea-
men with the proper amount of exercise,
formerly found in the work aloft. Each
war ship will now have the needed arrange
ments.
1t is singular fact that the Catholics have
expended more money than any other de-
nomination in the establishment and support
of Indian schools. Their priests and teachers
appear to have special faculty OF success in
the management of both educational and
religious agencies among the Indians. This
is probably to be explained by the policy of
aggressive and systematic proselytism which
their Church has pursued as to the red race
from the earliest period of our history. 1t
Is we'll known that the Indians embrace the
and such preference can only be accounted
for as the result of better methods of religious
enterprise than those upon which the Pro
testants rely.