The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-13
STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST,

Nearly six years ago Capt. j. b. Eaton of
harrington, brought from the Straits of
ounda a colony of Java sparrows. The
colony numbered nearly forty Songsters, but
Notwithstanding the precaution that has
been taken to preserve them, the Maine
climate has proved too vigorous for the birds
and they continued to dWindle away until
the colony was reduced to two. This spring
one OF the remaining pair succumbed.
A stray dog entered one of our markets.
last week, and grabbing whole leg of veal
| made OIL with 1t. The clerk saw him and
gave chase. Down Main street they ran at a
lively pace, neither one gaining for a time.
flnally the clerk made an extra squirt and
grabbed the dog by the tail. The animal
gave howl Of surprise, dropped the veal,
and made round a neighboring corner like a
streak. The clerk fell over the veal and
houndered In dust while, then picking up
the meat returned to the shop and hung It
under placard reading, Fresh Veal" as If
nothing had happened. Age.
A queer suit has been begun in the Su-
preme Court at Belfast. The Journal, of
that city, says that Wayland Knowlton, at
torney at law, seeks to obtain $4,000 on the
death of child ten years ago. The writ
drawn by Mr.. Knowlton himself, says in
substance that in 1881 he hired the Monroe
house, in Belfast, now owned by Mr.. j. d.
bhas Ide house was warranted to be
ample to heat the house. On the contrary
the cellar walls were cracked, which let in
the cold, and the furnace was old and rotten
In consequence OF these defects his little son
took cold, followed by Group, and after great
suffering died. Mr.. Knowlton says he was
greatly injured In body and mind, injured In
his business and put to great expense. He
thinks that 50 900 will heal his mental suffer
ing. The action is brought against Mrs.
Frances A. M. Hopkins.
A new prospective advantage has been
| found in the construction of the Bangor and
| Aroostook railroad. This is the connection
which might be made from Campbellton,
wick and eastern Quebec to Boston two hun
| dred miles shorter than the present line.
President Burleigh not loug ago received a
letter from Hon. William Murray. M: p.
OF Campbellton, inquiring about the loca-
ton OF the Bangor and Aroosto0k line, and
stating that the Restigouche and Victoria
Railroad had been chartered and subsidized
by the Dominion government, the line to be
built from Campbellton to Grand Falls,
which is but very short distance from Van
Buren,, and that thirty.f five miles would be
finished this year. The Restigouche is the
greatest salmon stream on the Atlantic coast
and the frozen salmon trade is very exteD-
sive. There are also extensive mills around
the Bay of Chaleur which would use such a
line.
Some rare old decoration was discovered
In tearing down the ancient Cooper house in
the town of Randolph, the other day. The
south parlor of the old manse was hung with
French paper bought in Paris sixty years
ago. 1t represented foreign scenes, mostly
French-picturesque boats, placid waters,
great trees reaching from floor to ceiling,
women milking cows, quaint houses, horses
as large as life, and variety of other pictures
fraught perhaps with historical interest, If
only the key had been held with which to
unlock them. The many tenants took great
pride In and care Of this pretty mural story,
and so it was comparatively fresh. Few Of
these old pictorial hangings, which were
once to be found in almost any of our towns
that sent out ships are now left in Maine.
A Correspondent of the Bangor CONNER
cial reports that he does mot find that WIDE
awake Individual interest existing that ought
to animate all wideawake business men. /
We thought nobody in Bangor was ever
lakewarm.