The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-09
PERSONAL AND PECULIAR.

Out in Nevada telegraph poles In low
places, where water stands In winter, are
said to have taken root and are covered with
foliage; The poles are cottonwood, aad
were planted with the bark on them.
A locomotive for British Columbia was
being hoisted into vessel at San Francisco
the other day. when the rope broke and the
machine fell into the bay. 1t weighed 50
tons, and sank so far In the mud that Ii
could not be found the next day.
Georgia journalists are both humane and
patriotic. One newspaper announces: This
week we shall get out only half sheet. 10
is Fourth Of July week. and the whole stan
needs rest" A desire for a rest Is generally
supposed to be foreign to the Northern char
acter, but-there certainly are advantages In
living in Georgia.
Last year France herself produced only
100000 hectolitres Of wine. and she alone
consumed 100000 hectolItres. As to how
the necessary amount for expectation Is
made the foreigner can console himself with
the fact that he Is more apt TO get good wine
than the Frenehman, the genuine article
standing exploration much better than adul-
teratiOns.
A good story is told of one Of the most
prominent women Of New Hampshire, Mrs
Pike, wife Of the late Senator Pike, residing
at Franklin Falls, wishing to match an i'm
ported camels hair piece Of dress goods, sent
to New York City and received the desired
article. II leaked ont sometime afterwood
that the imported (0 dress goods pattern
was made in the village she resided In, al
the Moses Stevens woOllen mill.-Wade's
Fiber and Fabric.
An engine driver on one Of the Scotch lines
reports that he has noticed that certain
hawks make use Of the passing Of the trains
for predatory purposes. They fly close be-
hind the train. near the ground, partly hid
den by the smoke, but carefully watching
for the small birds viii h. frightened by the
train as II rushes roaring past, fly up In be-
widered shoals the hawks then, while the
little birds are thinking more OF the train
than OF lurking foes, swoop on them from
the ambush OF the smoke and strike them
down with ease. They can easily keep pace
Win an express train, and outstrip 1t when
they please.
Occasionally the newspaper is appreciated.
A western fair association has had the fol-
lowing statement printed on its press tickets:
"This ticket probably has been paid for 10
times over by the paper to which 1t Is issued.
1t will be honored in the hands of any man.
women or child, white, black, red or yellow,
who fayors the association by presenting IL.
1t is good for entrance and grand stand, and
the bearer. If deriving. will be entitled TO
pass team free. The association rec0g-
niZes the fact that its splendid success Is
owing largely II not wholly TO the notices so
freely given by the press, and while we can
not render an equivalent In cash. We return
our grateful thanks"
The Olympia Tribute says the otheers and
crews Of the steamers plying between Taco
ma and Olympia are on the lookout for an
Immense octopus or devil fish, which Is re-
ported to exist In the waters between the
month of the Nequally river and Hender-
son,s inlet The monster has been seen at
vorions times for a week past, and steps ara
beinr Guitely taken to capture 1t When last
Seen il was lying on the water, vigorously
smashing one OF Its thousand tails. and "A
looked to weigh at least 500 pounds. It meas
ures from tip 20 tlp, as nearly as can be esti-
mated, fuzzy % ieet, It's perculiarlty q sort
Of deafening roar, which IL makes In quick
succession.
A few years ago Col. Merriam and Gen.
Sherman eantered over the plains Of the Big
Bend country in search Of a suitable loca-
tion for military post They stopped one
night at Wild Goose BilPs ranch, and were
royalty entertained Could they return to-
day, says the Spokane Review, they would
witness an astonishing change. Instead OF
a solitary cabin in desert, they would see q
tnrlvlng town on the site of Wild Goose
Bits ranch, with Bill himself central ng-
ure as the postmaster OF Wilbur. They
would also find a newspaper there that
would be a credit TO an eastern town OF 1000
inhabitants.