The Portland daily press., 1863-01-10
Boston Correspondence.

| What Is the @Brokers' Board f'-lVhdt Is
the "Merchdnfs Exchange g'-Irdgedy in
r-Massachuset's Legislature
Websters Statue.
Boston, Jan. 9th, 1868.
DEAR PRESS Every day you print, in
your columns, the report of sales at the Bos-
ton Brokers' Board Now, what is it? Crowd
and jostle your way with me, among the hur-
rying, half-crazy business men on State street,
at IL o'clock, and you shall see. Let us cross
the crowded street and climb up four or five
dngy pairs OF stairs, till we reach small en-
try having nothing peculiar about it. Upon
the door is very unassuming notice, "Brok-
er's Board" The busy people within the
closed room are making hubbub very much
like that at ladies' soldiers Sewing Circle
only perhaps little more subdued. Never
theless, it is noisy enough. "Pepperell,'
"Quincy," "Gold," "a 3-4' Treasury Six
es" Demand notes." and nobody knows what,
are ratified off at bewildering rate. Open
the door and go in. All! you can't? Wait a
minute and somebody will come to see what is
wanted. The door gapes open half yard and
little anxious man peers out at the new-com-
ers. Ask him show gold is doing?' The
door is shut instantly, and we are left to wait
a minute longer, and then the quick janitor
again swings open the door of his Babel and
reaches little piece of white paper on which
is written in a clerkly hand these answering
words, "a. NJ Gold "a 3d."
In short, there is no admittance, to that
chamber where forty or fifty men are trying to
outwit each other and Wall street and London
and Paris. As we retrace our steps down
stairs we can still hear the fading voices as
they call out Effectiveness, - and January
Coupons"
Cross the street to 'Change." 1t is in the
Postoffice building and is in reality fine room,
large, well lighted, well papered. There are
papers from California and Calais, Melbourne
and Montreal. but don't see the Press.l
There are maps of American and European
coasts on the appropriate stands and three
or four posts where the arrivals" are pub
lished. Upon these books, attached to the
pillars, one can take in, at glance, the condi-
ton of American wharves. We can see that
the Europa has arrived, that the Susan Jane,
is due tomorrow, and the "Ethelinda Ann"
sails at five o'clock. Arrivals of passengers
also, and freights. But there is one solitary
pillar in the center of the room which carries
in its iron hand an immense slate The latest
Geographic news is chalked on the two sides
and eagerly devoured by the anxious readers.
Upon The slate, General after General is writ
ten, up Or down as the censor pleases, vicks-
burg is taken, or we are repulsed, and thus.
day after day, the finger of the telegraph
writes. The notices "This room is alone Flor
subscribers warn us that this is not a public
institution; but those printed hints are merely
TO Kick out the people who are too mean to
buy their daily reading. The superintendent
is gentleman and kindly attentive to stran-
gers. Moxie has many times thanked Mr.
anu now thanks him again. Upon the Board
last night L read the welcome tidings that
w likes had taken the Virginia" which was
an Anglo-rebel steamer like the Alabama, one
oil our dear foster-mother's love-tokeus
The tragedy in Dorchester, by which a man
and his wife came to their deaths in a single
day, has not been thoroughly Investigated yet.
When it is reported upon shall try to let You
know the unpublished particulars
The Legislature was convened on Wednes-
DAY. There was the same good old-fashoned
ar about the members that you always see in
the State House. How can a Massachusetts
Legislature go wrong? 1t meets in a spot
hallowed by so many revolutionary memories,
that one is always expecting to see John Han
cock or Sam. Adams coming out OF some of
the doors. Besides these intangible monitors
there are many which are visible to ALL
Among them are the Buttrick cannon, and
the Washington mementoes, and the portraits
OF the Governors. And there is, high up on
the wall of the Representative Hail. facing the
desk OF the Speaker and clerk, melancholy
archaeological cassandra. This sad-eyed cod
fish gazes with equanimity upon the new and
uneasy representatives, saying silently but
iorcibly, TRY, my friends, to get along as well
as DO, now that we are both out of our nat
i've elementr
In front of the State House is the statue of
Webster. He holds in his right hand a scroll,
in his left Roman Fasces. Although the
statue has been severely criticised il is work
oil much merit, and represents the great states
man as we all love best to think of him. the
Defender of the Constitution. MoxIE.