The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-31
/" BESELENA'O" LETTER.
Everyday Occurrences in the Me-
tropolis of Oregon.
The Holiday Rush-A Headed
Oregonian-Portland Has an Icy
Visitation-GeneraI Notes.

EDS. REcoRD-U UNION: The holiday
shoppers seem to be indefatigable. The
cars and streets are filed with moving
mass of humanity. From store to store
they fit, undaunted by mud, wind or
rain. Enveloped in long, black gossa-
lners, and armed with our native weapon,
the umbrella, they are ready to defy old
Boreas in even his worst mood. The
streets are so crowded that we cannot
help congratulating ourselves that
Christmas comes but once year.
IF you value life or limb these busy
times you have to keep up a system of
lodging to avoid people who keep their
eyes any place but where nature in
tended they should be-people so over
burdened with bundles that they can't
see over them, and people who don't
know whether to keep to the right or left,
80 compromise matters by webbing over
the whole walk. But these are privi-
legged times, so we must take the bumps
IS good-humoredly as possible.
a workman employed on the OregO-
ftid7l building, now under construction,
Tell a distance of 100 feet. and was
picked up alive. If he lives, which is
very doubtful, fatalists can wag their
wise heads and attribute his miraculous
escape from death to the destiny they
believe is presiding over us.
There was recently exhibited IN our
city curious weapon, called a folding
sword. which, when open, is two and
half feet in length. The blade is of heavy
steel, sharpened at both ends. Where it
came from is unknown. Some claim it
10 be an historical weapon picked up on
the battlefield of the Custer massacre,
while others say it was once the property
gkf FrpI -ich h1~Ifr qFaHg 10 not
or from whom it descended, it is a most
1ormidable-looking weapon.
A well-knOwn professional gentleman
of our city recently purchased two tickets
st one of our leading theaters. In addi-
ton he was given tickets emitting him to
Two lots in a certain portion OF our valley,
where the sun shines perpetually and
mosquitoes are unknown. Having had
his eye-teeth cut he at once dropped on
the fake. Taking the tickets to his office,
he drew on them the picture of q
cemetery; on each tombstone he wrote,
Sacred 10 the memory OF Two-and-a-
half" (the money necessary to purchase
the deed. Over the gateway he drew an
arch and placed upon it the name OF the
real estate firm that had the affair in
charge, as undertakers. Putting the
tickets in an envelope he addressed it to
the.above-mentioned gentlemen, with his
Christmas greeting.
4 Our poStoffice is to be enlarged in the
near future. Since the consolidation of
the three cities of Portland, East Port
land and Albina, this Improvement has
been sadly needed. Bids are to be sent
TO the department in Washington at once
AS soon as they return work will be COM
nenced.
There is man in our city whose sole
aim and ambition is to eXterminate the
clergy, irrespective Of creed or denomina-
ton. Just what the ministers of the gos-
pei have done to arouse his wrath and
cause him a desire for wholesale slaugh-
ter, he does not condescend to say. For
tear that he might do some one personal
injury, the authorities are allowing him
time in the County Jail to cool his fevered
brow.
The other morning when the native Or
Sgonian awoke he was surprised and not
over-pleased to see the walks covered
with thick coating of ice. Ice is COM
paratively new thing to the moss backs,
and it was amusing to watch them walk
ing Tor rather skating) down the slippery
streets. Many of them met with an in
glorious tumble, and for a while the air
was sulphurous with muttered impreea-
tons against Jack Frost. By noon there
was thaw, and the unwelcome ice had
entirely disappeared.
A certain gentleman in our city takes
en- active interestin all athletic sports, and
IS a member of the Athletic Club. Going
4nlO a RESTAURANT he OTuGTeu the pest
steak in the house. saying he was going
TO box that evening. Partaking of a
hearty meal, he wendell his way to the
club. After finishing his set-to he stood
watching game of football. Blinded by
the electric lights, which were directly
over his head he did not see the flying
ball, which struck him Squarely in the
eye. 1t was complete Knockout. He
was carried into the dressing-room and
the usual restoratives applied. AS con-
seriousness returned he feebly gasped:
Say, boys, was l hit by John H., or was
! kicked by mule?' BESELENA.
Portland, Or, December %, 1891.