Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-15

IFoR TIE STAR.
EXCURSION FROM WASHINGTON.

No. 6.
The Boston and Worcester Railroad lies in
a beautiful section Of country, well cultivated
and thickly settled, with almost q continuous
line of villages. The train In which we were,
stopped only at birmingham. Twenty years
since / stopped at this same station, contain
ing at that time but three or four houses and
a very small depot. i also noticed small
lad, decentIy but poorly clothed, with bas-
kst selling apples-this being the only refresh
ment offered to passengers on the route. NOW
/ found this boy 3 conductor Of one OF the
trains, and the few old houses completely
buried in large fourishing village. A fine
depot takes the place Of the old one, and
instead of two trains per day, there are over
hfty Two roads branch of here-ons North
and the other South. This place Is genuine
gO-ahead New England village, painted clay
coIored yellow.
WORCESTER.
We were soon in Worcester, q large inland
city with probably greater facilities for busi-
ness than any other inland town in New Eng
land In its early history it connected itself
with Providence by a canal, and now IL has no
less than six lines Of railroad, divergins In all
directions, being within an hour or two's rile
of Boston, Providence, Lowell, Nashua, Nor
wich, Springfield, and all the intervening viii
lagos. There is no water-p power here, but the
city is beautifully situated on the eastern slope
Of a hill located between two vallies which
here unite into one.
The Catholic College Of the Holy Gross, the
only institution of the kind within the limits
Of New England, occupies fine situation on
the hill south Of the city.
On the east is the State Lunatic Asylum.
The rounds about this institution are highly
ornamented with walks, flowers, and shrub
berry. In the central part of the city is located
large Antiquarian Library, within whose
walls the learned blacksmith, EIihu Burritt,
made himself famous.
ance which belongs to railroads and the ad-
yantsges they bring to a country, although
the stockholders lose their all in the invest
ment In 1885 the price Of freight from Bos-
ton was $40 per ton, and the time two days.
Now the price is 81, and the time eight hours.
There lies the secret Of the prosperity Of the
town.
The route from Worcester to Springfield pre-
sents no very striking scenery. The land Is
quite level, and most Of ii well cultivated.
The road ascends about ene-third Of the way
then follows a small stream to the Connecticut
River, crossing and recrossing it many times
AS We entered the valley of the Connecticut
the appearance Of the soil entirely changed,
from the dark heavy soil Of the hills to the
red sandy one Of the plains. The soil of thi.
valley may be very productive, but it ap-
peared to be rather sterile. After passing
about ten miles over this plain We entered the
city Of
SPRINGFIELD.
This is place of some note, more partic-
ularly for its being the location Of q United
States Armory and workshops The streets
are finely shaded which cannot be said of
many Of our cities. The streets are not paved,
but are made Of such material that they are as
hard as pavement. This city has also many
elegant buildings, among which may be noted
the Town Hall
Oo a river which here empties into the Con-
necticut, is q large water privilege, partially
ad hv ha NIT al In
these shops are manufactured from IL, 900 to
20 900 muskets annually. An attempt 70 take
this arsenal, similar to the attack at Harper
Ferry, was once made. Shay, at the head OF
about ], 100 men, marched to the premises
and paying no regard to the order Of Gen
Shepherd to halt they were attacked. and
had three killed aud one wounded whersupon
the whole force dispersed This is one Of the
largest armories owned by the q. 8. Govern
ment-
Springfield must be fine summer resort
Our party proposed dividing at this city, par
going west and the remainder south, but fns
ly it was concluded to keep together, and w
were soon located in
HARTFORD, CT.
This city was made famous by the celebrated
Hartford Convention Of Federalists, but more
recently and notedly famous by the manufac
ture of Colts rsyolvers and Shsrp's rifles
These inventions have really revolutionisel
the modes Of warfare In foreign as well n
American Uars.
In this city, little west of the depot, i
located on gently rising ground, the renowned
Deaf and Dumb Asylum, established and sus
tanned in its early existence by the Rev. Thos
II Gallaudet, ID. II numbers several hun
dred students, aud connected with il are sew
eral shops In which the various trades can b,
learned. II Is q most Interesting sight to visi
the shoe shop, where upwards Of huudzst
are engaged, and OF course not a word spoken
At the southerly part of the city is located tn
Insane Retreat, founded in 1922 From thi
building there is = most delightful view Of tn
Connecticut valley. The grounds are highl
ornsmented with shrubbsry, and number Q
some of the patients. Not far from this plac
il the stumpof the historic Charter Oak. Prob
ably no tree has been more widely distribute
over the world, or has made more valuabl
keepsakes.
In the csntrai part Of the city resides Mr.,
SigOurney, the American poet. The house sh
now occupies Is unpretending, and one wcul
not think il the residence OF poet were
not informed Of the fact There is searcel
any yard, and no flowers, but the house,
three-story frame, is we'll shaded with eve
green trees She has resided in this place br
n fsw years, Her former residence was shor
of all its romantic beauty when the railroa
passed through the grounds, making q CT
several feet deep. Since then the grade
the streets has been changed, and her ga
Q60s, EOWerbt bnruDoofy, unu DOWers, nav
been literally blotted out Of existence. I'll
heuse still remains, but it was no place Il
her-her homo had been destroyed, and Oh
preferred TO 20 TO another part Of the cit,
than TO be continually reminded Of the sms
part left Of q once pleasant home.
Hartford Is quite q wealthy place, its banl
and insurance offices are among the Oldest
the country, and make the bost dividends, 4
for the beauty Of the place we can say nothin
The streets are marrow, not paved, and we
excessively muddy while We were there. v
observed several fne churches, but the Sta
House was truly in dilspidated condition.
reminded me Of Sambo in his log hut on
rainy day, sitting on barrel head to keep b
feet dry as he was asked why he did n
shingle his house, and have dry place on
rainy day "Why not shingle the hut, mass
Caus' when it's dry weather il does not ne
It, and when it's rainy can't de IL" II
building is truly in leaky condition It
marble steps, bat many Of the slabs are broke
We were somewhat disappointed in the appei