The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-17
Letter from Boston !.
e. BosTeg, Nov ID, 1896.

To the Editor ofhe Press:
"A friend of mine, who is an amateur arts,
painted picture from nature, be said-a land
scape scene in autumn-all in brown and drab
and black and white. complained that ma
ture was not SO sparing of bright colors. He
insisted. however, that although nature might
paint leaf or rose in crimson, the general eff
feet in perspective was entirely sober colors
thought of him as / vert out of Boston in
October, towards Portland. Along the rail-
road were whole hedges of blood-red sumach,
and far off the hills were crimson with NAPLES.
with here and there the brown shade of a birch
rich in all the gorgeous shades of red, just
as Harry Brown paints his autumnal land
scapes. But further into the Pine Tree State
naples and sumachs grew brown, and it oc-
c'lrredto me that my amateur artist must nave
painted his picture in Maine, quite late In tAe
season, after the boar frost had lain long upon
the landscape. Idon't much blame the poets
if they DO bottle up the g6latats until the month
of October. then one and all pour out the walls
at the head of newspaper columns. It's enough
to drive the poor things crazy, with the ger
peous skies, sparkling atmosphere, and parti-
colored landscapes, mot to mention the deli
cious harvesting of juicy apples, pears, etc. Oc-
tober is glorious month, almost everywhere
but in Maine, for even when the snow is
four inches deep, it is too soft for sleighing.-
Here, the people looked biandly incredulous
when l told them had left violent snow
storm in Portland, for there has been no YES
tige OF anything OF the kind hereg
The election was so peaceable and quiet
that half the people did not know anything
about it until afterwards. The Democratic
party very wisely and prudently have begun
to practice a commendable system ofeconomy.
1 used to run races with my kitten, when
was younger than I am now. She was
shrewd little thing. Iwould stand several
PAGES ahead of her and would sometimes come
in first. When she saw was sure to win,
what did the little creature do but refuse to
run, and just sit, and watch me but if she
saw ghost Of chance to outrun me she
would almost fly. Many times they have run
without a shadow Of a hope, but have grown
wiser by experience, they have now seen fit
to save their strength and their money. 1t is
hoped that they will learn a few other whole
some truths with this. .-la FL t-..r.., p,
The City Hall is gradually assuming the
magnificent The fathers long since took
their places in the stately rooms prepared for
them, and you may often see a solemn and
shaven face looking out over the white cur
tains. Franklin has been moved to central
position in the yard, and remains, as before,
wrapped in profound meditation. } e !
From School street the golden eagle upon
the top seems to sprrn the earth, with out
stretched wings and lifted eyes, and you look
to see it fly away to heaven. But from my
attic window, looking sideways upon the bird
it has the comical appearance of a patient hen,
with dropping wings, in shower s.,os'
q The cholera scare has quite .abated, though
the strictest sanitary measures are enforced,
ina quiet manner, by the authorities. Nearly
fifty families were notified to leave their rooms
within ten days, on account of the uninhabit-
able condition in which their tenements were
found.
Miss Dickinson will speak in Music Hall in
the Parker Fraternity Course oflectures on
Tuesday evening upon "E5me Thrusts." She
has proved quite as able--and far more win
ning-upon domestic and humane topics, as
upon politics. ~-<~~,fh
The novelties in thcworld of amusements,
are "Arrah ma Pogue" and ''Blind Tom. p
The blind negro artist, only sixteen years of
age, is one the wonders of the day. He per-
forms readily the most difficult music upon
the piano, after hearing it once played, and
his skill is tested nightly in the most trying
manner. Many of the professors of music here
have tested his powers to their profound admir-
alton. Hhe were only not "nigger," one
might acknowledge his marvellous genius.
T. A. b.