Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-29
LETTER FROM BOSTON.
BosroS, Dec. ., 1855.


mas being just passed BY, and the partial
holiday Of New Years threatening immi-
nently, there Is hardly the usual business equi-
hbrium existing, and 'pleasuring' has tie
ascendancy. Christmas and Sunday, coming
together, seemed to puzzle many sadly-even
so much that they could not tell (which was
which"
Some went to church on Christmas, and did
naughty holiday things on Sunday:-by acct
dent, II is hoped. Some skaters built some
ground fires beside the Back Bay, and did
other lm-Sunday-like things, and in conse-
quence, they soon found the police among
them. One fine dwelling on fremont street,
presented the somewhat singular sight, for
Sunday q',sHeaa, Of two ladies seated at the
parlor windows, busily engaged in ss,riaq,-
one elderly one, doing triies, the other-a
more youthful matron-deeply occupied with
the witely duty Of carefully mending a very
considerable rent across the shoulders of an
unmistakcabe sIit!-a garment made appar-
ent 70 more than one amused gazer, by the
prominent and nonchalant manner with which
the proposed patch was laid upon it; and then
and thus, spread and arranged with outstretch-
ed hands, TO obtain the best effect, from the
repairing materials at hand That matron was
plainly under mistaken impression with re-
gard to the day and the duties thereof The
day previous had undoubtedly seemed a Sun
day; although, whether the whole household
was at this time arranged for Monday or not
washing and all-was not developed The
scene was a pretty little illustration of the
power Of habit, and was really quite amusing,
when viewed al leisure, from nearly opposite
\ windows.
The churches, on Christmas, were quite well
attended, and "otba places Of amusement" as
the Boston Journal remarked of Thanksgiving
day, were pretty well attended, also. Mr.
Kalloeh, of fremont Temple and East Cam
bridge memory, spoke, on Sunday upon the
certainty Of the Development of guilt in sinners
criminal guilt, more especially This mans
! eloquence has been over-estmated His sub
ject in this case was badly chosen. His voice
is hard and harsh, although strong. His man
ner is not sincere, and his arguments are not
well based or strongly constructed. His tone
| Is not generally pleasant, and his infection is
often very bad-eyen to the extent of not let
ting his voice "fap' at the close of a sentence
or occurrence Of a period. He does not prqy
as is the usual custom, just previous to the ser
mon, and, as I am informed, not at all; but the
contribution Dor is circulated among the audi
ence next before the discourse, in place of the
prayer, so customary in at least most other
churches. His audience was a large one. but
not an intellectual or a cultivated one-indeed
it was not apparently of average intelligence
and mental ability. He is not man calcula-
ted to please an assemblage of cultivated
minds. His want of sincerity, both in voice
and general appearance, and his comparative
coarseness and grossness of style, seem to
greatly unfit him for the pulpit, as well as for
| any beneficial influence upon either mind or
heart.
Theodore Parker's congregation did not as
semble on Sunday. His condition of health
is critical; and, philosopher though he be, he
| continues to risk his life by excessive labors,
and studies, and writings, that draw daily upon
his little remaining vitality of constitution.
Whatever may be said or thought of this mans
opinions, either political or theologic his in
telect and scholarship are of the highest or
der, and his Commemorative power of mind ena-
bles him to make telling use of his attainments.
At every discourse he delivers, now, he makes
a strong mark, it is said, upon the walls Of the
! ology. He seems to realize that he has but
little longer to stay in his present field. His
life is wasting beneath his student toll 1t has
been said, by some, that he does not pray, as a
custom; but this is not correct. He prays,
both before and after his DISCOURSE and
there are but few, indeed, who can equal
him in impressiyeness and devotional beau
ty Of appeal to the Almighty. His polit-
ical opinions are so extreme and distasteful to
some, that many injurious and false accounts
of his religious principles have obtained ready
circulation and belief. 1t has been charged
that he rejects Jesus Christ, and sneers at God.
Nothing could be more false. His convention
of the character and attributes of God are the
noblest and most harmonious with God-like
qualities that have ever heard expressed:
and of Christ, certainly no one can speak with
more feeling words Of exalted praise than does
! Theodore Parker.
Of literary matters generally, there is not
much to be said that is hattering Last year
we had financial crisis the coming year we
shall be likely to have literary crisis, from
similar class of causes, induced by what is
| APPLY called "cramming the market"
The Opera continues to about hold its own
the attendance being fair at the reduced prices,
except at the times Of extra reduction for
Christmas, when the attendance was small
Some previous audiences have been even large
Piccolomini cannot arouse much general enthu-
siasm, however, or excitement Her manners
are her chief attraction, although her voice is
superior to what some criticisms have named.
Her 'eaist is famously taper and small; her
bust is good, and features expressive, although
less refined than was expected and-sad adj
mission! she is somewhat round sLouliered.
Not romantic, but true, although, in some
dresses, not much or badly apparent.
Yours, Bernardo.
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CONE BACK AT LAsT.-Mr Philip Frye, of