Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-09-10
Sketches for the Children.
LETTER iii.

The State House-BOston Common The A,hene
um-Bunker Hill Monument-I The Museum.
Our ride from New York to Boston was very
pleasant, if a crowd is ever pleasant There
were some 500 passengers on board yet in spite
of all this, the trip was made an hour sooner
than usual. We left the pier at 5 p. NJ. and
passed up East River, through Hurigate ESQ
called on account of its whirlpool, which is the
dread of seamen) into Long Island Sound. Du-
ring our trip we passed to the right of Black
wells Island, ON which the City Prison stands.
There are very many pleasant Islands, well cul-
tvated situated here in the Sound, and the ev-
ening being very beautiful, we fingered on deck
beyond our usual hour of retirement, watching
the moonlight dancing upon the silvery water,
and watching the briny track in the wake of the
ship. At the hour for retirement every state
room, berth, sofa, arm chair, were filled, and
, so many ly ing about on the floor that you could
not step without injury to some ones personal
rights.
i We arrived at Fall River soon after daylight
and taking the Boston cars, soon found ourselves
at the Morton Place, where our friends and
breakfast were awaiting us.
After resting awhile and smoothing our attire
we walked up to the State House, from the Gu
pola of which the whole of Boston is spread out
before US, like a map. In front, and extending
far to the right, is Boston Common, the largest
Common, perhaps, in the u S., containing 494
acres, neatly laid out in fine walks and shaded
by lofty elm trees. In the midst of this is foun-
tain, which we saw playing, sending up column
r. a. 4 n
saw beautiful rainbow Near this fountain is
the old elm tree. the Oldest tree in Boston. Con-
nected with the Common is a public garden fill
ed with beautiful flowers and containing con-
servatory filled with tropical plants To the
right of this garden, flows the Charles river sIWe
also saw from the State House the building in
which Hancock the great Statesman resided and
near here we saw the house in which DIR. Web
ster killed Parkman.
!, In the afternoon we visited the Athcneum, and
saw some fine specimens Of statuary. Among
the most strikngly beautiful, was the reclining
J figure of the "DrOuned Mother" and child. Her
long hair was floating in tangled masses, one
arm was casped around her child, and one ex-
) tended imploringly above her head. The child
looked as if sleeping. The scene is very touch
ing. 1.-The three Graces" are finely chiseled
and beautiful specimens of art. There are sew
eral figures of "Venus at the BATH Ceres the
: Goddess OF harvest and Flora the Goddess of
flowers are smiling upon you. "Puek," an arch
little fellow, has been out gathering curiosities,
and has his arms and hands full of toads, lizards,
snakes and many other reptiles. A lizard is
pinching his foot, which causes him to look a
: little sour, but he still holds on with determin-
ed grasp. This specimen was chiselled by a
: Lady, Miss Hosmer. Here are also the statues
4 of most of the Illustrious men of America. The
picture gallery is divided into six or apart
ments, all we'll filled with fine specimens of art
!, Landscape scenes of great beauty and Eperfec-
' ton, life like portraits, &c, &c. The retreat
from Breeds Hill, or as it is called Bunker's
Hill, stands prominent in the main Gallery, and
: is dear as we'll as sacred to every Bostonian,
: The Library was the next scene of interest, and
the largest ever saw. The Librarian told me
: they had some 10000 volumes in the main Ii
brary and in the rooms of the Fine Arts, they
: had 5000 more. They showed me the Oldest
b! bible in Boston printed in 1872. Back OF this
: building, is the oldest buryng ground in Bos
y ton Here Benjamin Franklin father and moth
er are buried and ohm Adams an Hancock are
) here Inferred but few know the spot. the stones
are so old, and the inscriptions too much effaeed
= to be ineligible; their names as well as theil
: deeds are not effaced from the memories of thei
: eountrymen and will ever live and grow brighs
: er and brighter. In front of the City Hall, or
: an antique pedestal, stands bronze statue Of
: Benjamin Franklin. His hat is under his arm
and his white hair and bald head looks as if II
needed protection from the summers sun and
winters blast.
Near our boarding place. on the corner o
Milk, and facing Washington Street. stands the
n Old south Church, some 300 years old. This, il
v time of the Revolution, the British turned into
: a training school and an old lady noted for pie
ty, used to resort there daily, to preach and
prophesy evil against them, for thus desecrating
the house of God. The evil she prophesied came
to pass, and they were soon obliged to leave
/ Boston. In Brattle street was pointed out the
Z site of General Cages quarters, when, secretet
e within the thick walls of church. he defed the
. balls of General Washington, but Washington
; showed him that his boasts were naught, for he
e sen. a cannon ball through the walls, and an
American inside picked it up and preserved it
|: and saw the identical ball, fast in the walls o.
the building erected upon the site of the old one
/ in the very spot where it originally struck the
!; old building.
i Wednesday morning we took an omnibus fol
e Bunker Hill in Charlestown situated on Charles
u river to the north of Boston. After entering
the enclosure we found ourselves standing b,
the breastwork the Americans threw up, in orde
to protect themselves from the fire of the British
Turning little to the left, we saw a piece o
granite, with these sad words engraven upon il
Here fell General Warren" and on passing t
the foot of the Monument, we 60 through tn
Dom where stands the statue of Warren, erecte
he 18th of the past June, in eommemoration G
the first great sacrifice upon the altar of freedom
in the battle of june Eth. ITS; and the monu
ment we are about TO enter is to commemorat
this memorable battle, in which Warren fell
e The redoubts and entertainments are nearly lev
ell with the ground, yet parts of them are still (
- be seen. The monument is 22l feet in heigh
and is assembled by 295 steps but the scene fror
the summit well repays one for the toll. Fro,