The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-22
STATE HOUSE STORIES.
Some of the Anecdotes that AmuSe the
Law Makers.

Legislative Topics.-The Dangerous Brandy
Drops and Branded Cheese.-Portiand
Men Interested in Railroad Built to
Garry Logs and Observation-Disclosures
Divisionists.
Augusta, Jan. 81. In the intervals OF
the discussions over the weighty AFFAIRS
of state, the lawmakers hear some good
stories, for of course among the $50 Soions
there are some good story-tellers The
mem Der who can tell funny story mas
an audience always at his elbow. Before
tine hour of meeting in the forenoon,
as the members gather in the State
House, the presence of the raconteurs is
made known by the shouts of laughter
heard in the Hobbies and a particularly
witty story teller has even been known
to keep his hearers spell--bound SO long
that they have failed to reach their seats
in time to hear the chaplain's opening
prayer. Some of the anecdotes are true
and some relate to happenings more or
less intimately connected with the legls-
lature i5self; of these, there is one which.
if not exactly new is told to three mem
bers whose committee appointments
m AXE it their duty to visit what is
sometimes called by the irreverent the
other asylum over the river.
In one of the buildings of the insane
hospital there is large and finely ap-
pointed amusement hall in which are
given from time to time entertainments,
which throw few rays OF sunshine into
many darkened minds. The patients as
a rule make an appreciative audience,
but, at one of the concerts listener
proved an exception to the rule.
quartette of singers had struggled bravely
through long selection when patient
who was among the audience, arose in
his place and fervently calculated:
Lord, forgive them, for they know not
what they dol" And then somebody was
hard hearted enough to say afterwards
that the exclamation might be open to
debate as an evidence of insanity.
Last year party of wise men and wise
women who were interested in forestry
culture were making trip through the
White Mountains studying the beauties
of nature. especially as revealed in the
trees of the woodlands. One day,
prominent state official, sitting on the
drivers, seat of coach, heard lady
birds eye maple gets the peculiar forma-
ton from which it takes its name. She
said that when the trees are young the
woodpeckers show great fondness Tor
them, hammering away at their trunks
in preference to other trees. This con-
slant breaking of the bark by the birds,
she said, is the cause of the appearance
in the wood that gives it the name of
birds-eye. A scientist of national Iepu-
tation was among those who heard the
story, and he has written letter to the
Maine official suggesting that steps be
taken for the propagation and care OF
woodpeckers in order that there may be
introduced into Maine new varieties OF
wood, such as birds-eye oak, etc. The
suggestion has been referred to the COM
mittee Oh inland fisheries and game that
part of that $50, 600 appropriation may
be set apart for the purpose.
Senators who were not in the party
have been enjoying laugh for several
days at the expense of some OF their
number who recently attended theatre
cal pei formance here. When the senators
go to the Hall of Represe natives for the
purpose of holding joint convention,
they are preceded by the messenger, who
cries as they enter the chamber, Make
way for the honora BILE Senate" 1t was
the hit of the performance and brought
down the house.
"A
Representative Fairbanks is good one
in Bangor. A lecturer on theosophy.
esoterie Buddhism or something of that
sort was holding forth in Bangor recently
and in the course of his address he asked,
"After death-what?" and paused i'm
pressively. 1t was just at this moment
that a well known undertaken entered
the hall and walked slowly to front
seat. Neither the lecturer nor the un-
dertaker appreciates the shout of laugh
ter which followed the question, AFTER
death-what?"
ABOUT THOSE BRANDY DROPS.
The proposed legislation to prevent the
sale of brandy drops relates rather to
the doctrine of protection than that of
prob bition and SO has raised the ques-
ton whether the matter should not be
referred to the committee on commerce
rather than the committee on temper
ance. The movement against these sugar
coated essences of evil was started by
Maine candy makers, who say that
manufacturers outside the State are
selling large quantities OF the drops,
particularly to country traders, and the
demand has been so brisk that the
legitimate candy trade of some of the
Maine manufacturers is being severely
affected. The bill had not been put in
shape several days ago, but will be pre-
sented soon and give an opportunity for
temperance orations and wise speeches
on the laws of protection and free trade
as applied to the sale of brandy drops.
This brandy drops question suggested
to a member of the House last week, the
propriety of passing legislation on the
ubiect of cheese, for there is way OF
adding flavor to this product of the
dairy by the use of brandy. A cheese is
taken and in it is cut hold into which
brandy is poured. The cheese ia then
Theoretically sealed, and, after being
permeated by the brandy, is said to be
remarka oily fine. If we are to have a