Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-01-29
FROM BOSTON.
Correspondence of the Bradford Reporter j

to send You New Years greeting, and also
trust few items about Boston will not be un-
Interesting to you and your many readers. The
weather-which is always the first topic in
| conversation and lettcrs-has been and is sill
very cold there is much snow upon the ground,
and in the interior the sleighing is said to be
very fine. The first appearance of ice and
snow adds greatly to the gaity of Boston and
| its vicinity. For month skating parties were
all the fashion, and Jamaica Pond, Long Pond
Spy Pond and Spot Pond were daily covered
with merry skaters and gay lookers-on. Now,
sleighing parties are quite the fashion, which
fashion the schools seem particularly to enjoy
as their annual sleigh-rides are established
things.
The Holidays have been unusually cheerful
in all respects this year. Christmas has NOW
a civil as well as social and religious impor-
tance. No criminal courts are held on that
day places of business are closed and churches
opened. Christmas trees are becoming as ge-
neral here as with the Germans ; donations
from the rich to the poor are more and more
frequent, and in various ways every heart seems
to be made glad As usual the Handel and
Hayden Society performed the Messiah Sun
day eve, Dec. %. The house was full, for
musical people wish to hear the Divine promises
repeated each year.
Comfort ye, comfort We, my people, saith
your COP For unto US child is bOrn-unto
us Con is given, Glory to Con in the high
est and peace on earth, good will towards
men. Come unto Him all ye that labor and
are heavy laden and He will give you rest
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad ttdings of
good things" At the sublime Chorus, Hal
lelujah, for the Lord Con Omnpotcnt reign
eth" the audience simultaneously arose and
stood during its performance, apparently filed
with the spirit of the holy words.
New Year is like the beginning of new life; ;
it open most truly a new era in all conditions
A very general renewal of good feeling seems
TO prevail. Gifts of Use have been neither few
nor far between. The poor have been helped
and the sick mnstcred unto. Over nine
hundred poor children were treated to a New
Years dinacr and gifts in FInnciI Hall The
idea was started 10y one wealthy lady, whose
bcneyolence is known to equal her means 9th
crs Joined her , clergymen, members of School
Committees, and teachers were there to pre-
serve order and entertain the youthful guests.
After dinner each child received some article
of wearing apparel, and tickets for nine hun
drcd pairs of shoes were distributed. Even
then all were not supplied, and the same kind
lady furnished q whole class, over fifty in num-
Der, with shoes at her own expense. Many
children " will rise up to call her blessed" The
little girls of the Orphan Asylum, &c in num-
Der, were each presented by some ladies at the
south end with doll nicely dressed What
! pleasure to witness the delight of these little
things, as each took her treasure and scamper-
ed off to tend it. y kind gentleman also seat
them bats, balls, graccS &c &c, for their in.
door amusement. They have had Scarlet fever
in the house, and many Of the chdrel arc still
too delicate to be out. This disease has been
very prevalent but is now somewhat abatcd
The merits of Bclladonna for preventing or
amelorating Scarlet fever have been much
discussed in private circles and through the
papers.
The Anti Slavery Fair has just closed there
were many beautiful things to be found there.
and it was as usual fully attended. The sub
ject has much wider interest here than ever be-
fore
Lectures are very numerous. Those before
the Lowell Institute are free. Besides these,
there are the Young Mems Christian Union,
and Young Mems Christian Association which
have lectures Sunday evenings.
The Concert Season has just commenced -
The Germanians gave the first of The Phil
harmonic Concerts Saturday night, Dec 3D. 1t
was very fine, and fully attended. Thai
berg gave his first Concert the same night and
has given four since, all of which have been
fully attended Monday morning he gave a
concert to the Public School children, aud
more enthusiastic audience he could not have.
Next Saturday morning he will give another
concert for the remaining scho OILS Like Jenny
Lind, he seems to have the deepest love for his
art, and also the largest bencvolence. 1t is
great gift to be able to do good Thalbcrg
seems impressed with this, and to make use of
his gift to the utmost. 1t is indeed a great
era for the school children to hear the greatest
Pianist in the world, and that too, at his own
invitation At the close of the performance,
all Joined in singing Home Sweet Home"
There have been many very brilliant parties
for this section this winter but the gaycst are