Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-28

|
During one of the dances at the Ed
ward Little high school reception III
Auburn. the other night, rat darteu
out and did schottische over the nan
while the band played on. The ladles
declined to continue the dance III COLL
pany of the rodent, breaking away
without ceremony and rushing TOT the
settees. Some of them didn't stop untii
they had reached the gallery. The
gentlemen kept the rat company, CIV
| ing him a warm reception. ne
orchestra was about to play the &C
compartment, "ThereIl be a Hot Time
in the Old Town." when the rodent
hied himself TO more peaceful quarters.
| Hon. b. b. Thatcher of Bangor, We'll
known throughout new England as the
possessor Of noteworthy collection OF
autographs and coins, and as former
State senator and a leading lumber
dealer, has discovered in his collection
one of the copper anti slavery pieces
recently described in the Boston
Transcript as being dug up from field
| Ill lHt w ISL SUM WINS 30 -
the coin is unmistakable and is very
evidently genuine. 1t reduces the value
of the other and earlier discovery. but
opens on its own account an interest
ing reminder of ante bellum events.
The Old Home week movement is do
ing much to make th& a busy season
for the house painters. One Iiddeford
dealer says that last year. up 70 TINS
date. he had not sold paint for 20
houses. while this season he has sold
it for G5 houses and a hotel.
People who have been travelling up
and down Main street the past few
days, says the Lewiston Journal. have
noticed a peculiar piece Of wood. well
decayed. standing on the platform out
side Of X. &. Pingrec q Co.'S paint
shop. Not few have called to ask
what it was. and learned that it is one
Of the four oriSna torches. six feet in
height. which occupied ii nook in the
tower Of the old North church, Boston.
1t is from the very belfry III which the
lantern hung, which is connected with
British at the opening Of the Revolu-
ton. This piece was carved at the
time of the building of the church in
1723. one inscription in pencil includes
the date July 4. 1883 when someone
must have climbed to the tower and
written the figures upon the wood.
This post was sent to Pingree's office
about two years ago ana the com
pany made four duplicates and sent
them on TO Boston. For these two
years il has been stored In the Pingrce
shed which was moved away a few
days ago. 1t is an interesting relic.
worthy to adorn a free public library.
In speaking Of the shovelers who are
employed around the Portland
wharvts, well-known business man
of that city said. Monday, that The
past week was the most profitable the
coal shovelers and stagcrs have ever
known since the steam diggcrS We're
put in along shore. The harhor and
wharves have been filed with
schooners and barges Coal-laden ana
there has been a demand for all the
laborers that could be secured. In
some cases expert coal shOvelerS made
as high as $50 for the week. Unfortu-
nately this state Of affairs is only
temporary. The coal diggers that work
by steam are fast driving the men out
Of business. Next week the new digger
at the Portland X pgdcnshurE will BE-
ready to start and coal ShoVclers gen
orally are mourning. The ,ogicnsburg
has for time immcmOrial been great
place for the laborers as it was rather
slow berth To discharge at and the
men got in long hours and made cor
reSpondingly good wages. The steam
digger will do away with the services
of men who have worked there almost
a lifetime. | don't know what these
men are going to do when the steam
dggers eventually crowd them out al
together | own n house on upper
Commercial street that is occupied by
respectable people. The men of the
family are coal shovrlcrs. \ few years
ago | used TO get my rent in advance
but now | have all | can dp-tr get il
at all The men are honest. but they
simply don't earn money enough t.
take care of their large families and
then have anything left for rents. |
am inclined to think that they will do
fairly well this summer, however for
at no time during the past Hvr years
has there been 50 much shipping in
Portland during the warm weather"