Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-10
[corrr,ponaenee Of .Ae In.ellIEeneer.l
ADAMS House., BosroN, Feb. 9th, 1859.

Editors of the Wheeling IntcIIigencer:
Being on flying visit to this city of crooked
steets and devious lanes, thought it might not
be uninteresting to your readers to jot down
few of my impressions of this "Athens of
America" as it is Justly called on account of
the intelligence of its literary inhabitants.
When left the 'City of Brotherly Love" it
was mild and spring like; in New York it was
rainy and foggy, and of course exceeding dis
agreeable walking-in Boston it is cold and
bracing, with plenty of snow, and tip top
sleighing. Washington street, the Broadway OF
Boston, presents a lively scene with its innu-
merable omnibus sleighs, coach sleighs, and
small vehicles of all kinds and qualities, whiz.
zing up and down, occasionally upsetting car.
go or running into another pair OF runners.
saw one sleigh resembling a small sized schoon-
er, mounted on runners, and drawn by twenty
splendid horses, and which vas evidently now
| idea, as it created decided excitement among
the orderly public of Boston. The boys were
at their old revolutionary sport, pelting every
body with snow balls; and doubt not If par
ty of red coats had disturbed them again,
they would have rewarded them in the same
way that they did in those good old times.
| Boston is queer place, and its people arc
decidedly peculiar in reference to the archltec,
ture of their private buildings. The front oil
the houses generally has two semi.circles pro-
truGing out on the pavement, and their stone
steps, instead of being built beyond the walls,
are built inside of the walls. This is the man.
merlin which even their first residences are built
Their business houses are, of course, different,
and are models of substantial elegance. The
Custom House, Post Office and various other
public buildings are built of granite. The Boston
Common seems to be well kept full of squir-
rels and is general resort for recreation. The
old Elm Tree which is now nearly three centu'
ries old, still stands one of its most interest
ing features. 1t was nearly destroyed by gale
Of wind few years since, but the city fathers
gathered its withered branches and bound them
up with iron bands and restored it as far as pos
sible to its former state. 1t bears its age we'll
Boston, as you are well aware, is famous for its
Publishers, many of whom sustain high rank
for the superior order of their publications.
Little, Brown & Co., are the heaviest Publishers
Phillips, Sampson & Co., also have a large trade,
and Crosby, Nichols & Co. are rapidly taking
first rank by their energy and good manage
ment. They have fine store in the very best
location on Washington street, and will, without
doubt, outrival in few years their neighbors,
who are resting now on their oars. Ticknor q
Fields have shabby, utlitcrary looking store,
which somewhat disappointed me at first, as
expected to see an elegant and cosy like estab-
ati here however. met Mr.. Thomas Buchanan
Read, the Artist and Poet, in Mr.. Fields sane
tum, and saw sundry seedy gentlemen. lounging
about, who evidently were men of letters.
Boston has met great loss in the death Of
Prescott; not Boston alone, however, but the
world, and his name is frequently mentioned
with emotion, for he was not only respected but
loved for his many good social qualities
But enough of Boston. l may find. enough
for another letter ere leave.
Your FORMER CORRESPONDENT.