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The Editor Abroad

The Editor Abroad image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
September
Year
1863
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Scuroon Lakk, N. Y. ) Sept. 2, 18G3 i Dear Arqus : - It ia just two weeks since we "dropped yon a line " frora Boston, Bosting or Boaslmg - wbioh s it? - and now in the languago of the original letter writer, " we now take our pen(cil) in hand," &o. We have no excuses to offer for our silence. The fact is we loft home to get rid of work, and made nary protnise of correspondence, but having an odd hour to comraand have concluded to ruspond to the d I's cry for " copj'," which and thon will sound in our ears in epite oí the distance twixt him and us. To begin where we left off in our former letler, we commenced sight seeing almDst immediately, and continued it during our stay like the stories in the N. Y. Ledger and kindred sheets, but we hope to a better purpope. On the opposito side of School street from our hotel, and fronting ,sa Tremont street, stands KingV Chapel, a church building oí pre-revolution history. But not of the building, In its rear, with his back to the City Hall building in procesa of erecUon - a mark of disapproval of Boston innovations - stands a fine bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin, by Greenough, the bass reliëfs on the four sides of the base depicting prominent events in the life of the Boston Printer-Boy. In the afternoon a friend takes us to Faneuil Hail, Quincy Market, through the old part of the city , &c. In Faneuil Hall, facing the entrnnce, hang the celebrated painting representing Daniel Webster delivsring bis great speech in the TJ. S. Sonate in reply to Hayne. - The figures in this paiuting aro many of them portraits, and in the distinguished presence, we were led to reflection. and in reflection to a thought that if the principies of Webster had always been taught in Faneuil Hall, and in Boston, the great struggle for life which ia now upon our country would have been avoided. But, alas, from the "old eradle of liberty " oft and on many occasions havo gone forth words calculated to stir up strife, jealousy, and disunion, and from men who are now par excellent the patriots(?) of the land. There are other paintings hung upon thewalls, among them many portraits of olden time men. In our ramblcs this day we pass the Old South Church, and the Brattle Street Church, both buildings of prerevolution fatne. Firrn fixed in the front wull of the latter- over the main entrance - is a bnll lodged there by a chance shot from a British cannon prior to the battle of Bunker Hill. Thursday, our first visit is made to the Oommon, the hub of Boston, as literary Bostonians sometirnes imagine Boston is of the universe. But, really, Boston Common is not without interest to every American, as it has a history identified with tbat of tha nation. A walk along its well kept avenues, nnd beneath its venerable elms is calculated to cali up memories of tho stirring events enacted here. Here is where the Boston Boys, drinking in inspiration from their fathers, erectecf their snow forts; and from here, when those forts wero destroyed, they marched to hoadquarters and entered that spirited protest which led Gen. Gage to surmise that it might not be so easy a matter to tramplo upon and subdue thoir fathers. But, all this is recorded in history. Tho old Elm still stands near the pond, and seems to have taken a new lease of life. It is known to have been fullgrown in 1722, and its bread -spread' ing branches sholtercd the first settlers of Boston. Long may it flourish. - And spoaking oí thu Common and the pond rominds us of fiction as well as history. Yonder, fronting Beacon streot, are the veritable " swell fronts1' which figure so conspicuously in the " Professor ut the Breakfast Table," and we may now bo walking ia the same path which the cchool mistress turned into when she was asked, ' Shull wc tuke tho loog path?" Turn to the story Rgain, readers, deur, and sav if the question was over inoro neatly popped. Frorn the Common we went to the ' Public Garde.), soon to bo one of the ! most beautiful spots in Boston, and to the novver grouods resurreeted irom the water of the Back Bay. Bnt three or foor years ngo thia garden with its ■ lawns, and ponds, and ornamental grouods, was subrnerged; and where now are avenues and stately marjsions the tide rlowed and obbed. The work is being done by the State, and the ■ sales of the now-rnade lands we believa pay for the improvemont and largely i incrcase the eduoational fund of' the State. Here is to be the aristocratie quaiter of Boston. From the Baok-Bay we found our way to the Public Library - one of the largest and best arranged in the country - the Btate House, and the Atheneum. In the State House stands a fine bronze statue of Daniel Webster) the very one which the Boston fanatics - wish the race was dead - petitioned the Legislature for an order of removal, and for the beheading oí which bysome ruffian hand Theodore Parker publiclv offerod a reward. Within the entrance hall there is a full length marble statue of Washington, some relies of the Washington Family, atid otherrevolutionary relies. We visited the Senate and Representativo Hr-lle, Library, &c, &c, but will not detain the readers with writing up our notes. In the Library of the Atheneum is preserved the lamily library of Wash ington. The books cover quite a range of subjects, and include eome curióus specimens - curious not alone for their old style letter and qtiaint bindings, but for the subjects upon which they treat. In many of these we firrd Washington's name written by his own hand, and also the hand writing of his father and of other rcembers of his faruily. In the gaüories of sculpiure and paintings of the Atheneum are many note-worthy works both of the chisel and brush. Atnong the paintings are many excellent copies from the old raasters, and many origináis írompainters of whom America ia proud. Every visitor will notice the unfinished porlraits of George and Martha Washington, by Stuart, left purposely nnfinished by that artiat, that they might be the more surely left as an heir-loom to his family. There are abo many paintings by Allston, inchiding several unfinished ones, and on these he worked up to almost the last hour of his life. - But, we cannot linger. In tho afternoon we visited Ml. Auburn, one of the oldest and Ioveliest of the Rural Cemeteiies of our country. It is handsomely located, beautifully laid out, acd much vvealth has been lavished upon its adornment. Many elegant and cosily monuments have been erected to the memory of the sleeping dead, and on these are in scribed many familiar ñames. In tha beautiful Gothio Chapel have been deposited four marble statues, too costly and delicate to be placed in the open grounds. These are, of the late Judge Story, by his son; of John Winthrop, Massachusett's first Governor, by Richard Greenough ; of old John Adams; and of his cotemporary, James Otis. Their historie is equal to their art value. Returoing from Alt. Auburn we stopped at Harvard Square, and took a stroll through the classic shades which surround old Harvard. As the buildings Wore closed to viaitors we eontented ourself with leaning hard against several of them, and can truthfully report that we have visited Harvard. Had it been one of Gael Hamilton's "Gala-Days" we might possibly havo gotten matter fora longer paragrapb. By the way, we believe the Boston ladies hold a grudgo against "Gael," and especially protest against her reflections upon their beauty, and in return for her compliments brand her " old maid," otc. Infgoing to Mt. Auburn we pass several residencos which have a bistonoal interest. First is that owned and occupied by the Poet Longfellow, and formerly calleo' the Cragie House. It was tho headquartors of Gen. Washington during tho siege of Boston, and the room used by the General as a study serves the Poet in the same capacity. The room in the rear of the study, occupiod by the aids-de-camp, is now the library. Longfellow lias I thus paid tributo to the associations ' which surround hini : " Ouce, ah, once, within these walls, One whom memory olt recalls, Tlie Father of his Country dwelt. And vonder meudows broad and damp, The nreSDf the besjegiug camp Encircled with a.buintug belt. Up and down these crimina stairs, Heavy wilh the weiylit of caros, Sounded his niajpstic tread ; Yes, within this very room, Sat he in tliose hours of gloom, Weary both in heart and head." It is woll to recur to euch aswociations, but "those hours of gloom" are are now being eclipsed. Next comes the ..residence of John Brewster, occupied by the Brunswick General, Baron Reidesel, and his family, vvhile Bi'rgoyne's captive army remained in the vicinity; nnd the Dr. Lowell's residence, erected by Andrew Oliver, the stamp commissioner who waehung in effigy by the patriot of Boston, and vvhose estáte was confiscated after the war broke out. Tlie house was usfid as a hospital d uring the stay of the American army at Cambridge, and was aiterwards owned by Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declara tion, Governor of Mansachusetts, and i one of the early Vica Presidenta. Tbis ended our day's tabora. Friday forenoon we viwited the j ker Hill Monument - which stands on Breed's Hill, Charleston, wbere the baüle of Bunker Hill was singula'Iy fought - and climbed its 295 steps to the top - 221 feet. The morning was so foggy 'that we did not get the fine view that is usually procured from the top. Two guns, ancient looking pieces, are preserved in the look out, each of which bears this inscription : " Sacred to Liberty. This is one of four cannons which constituted the whole train of field artillery posseesed by the British Colonies of North America, at the commencoment of the war, on the 19th of April, 1775. This cannon, and its fellow, belonging to a number of citizens of Bostoo, were u?ed ín many engagemonts during the war. The other two, the property of the Government of Mussaehusetts, were taken by tho enemy. By order of the United States, in Con gr esa assembled, May 19th, 1788," One of Ihese guns was named ' Hancock," and the other "Adams." They ere pigmies bythe eide of modern pieces, and then, but four of them in the whole Coloniee. Our forefathers were certainly not over-well prepared for war. In the room in the base of the monument is preserved an exact model of the monument erected to the rttemory of Gen. Warren, in 1794, by King Solomon's Lodge of Masons. In ono of the rooms of the entrance lodge is a fine marble statue of Gen. Warren. Friday nfternoon we visited a ehip yard at East Boston, Monitor honting. The finished craft had sailed, and the one on the stocks was not far enough advanced to give us any real idea of its construction. Saturday morning we steamed away for Nahant, and enjoyed a day's ramble around the rook bound shores of that beautiful península, varying the exercise by a dip in the surf that was truly invigorating. The large hotel, which once accomrnodaled hundreds of faxhionable vwitors was burned some years ago,andNuhantij nowout of date as a watering place. There are many fine cottages, however, occupied by citizens of Boston, and they certainly could not find a more healthy. or delightful summer retreat. Buck to Boston at evening. Sunday tochurch, Mondoy down to Plymouth to see the "rock " Tuesday in random ramblings " about town," and Wednesday morning, early off towards home, in a rain storm. But of none of ihis now. Our present temporary place is the rural village of Schroon, at the head of Schroon Lake, in among the Schroon Mountains; and in visiting a large circle of relatives breathing pure mountain air we hope to recupérate a little jafter' a few weeks of knocking about.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus