Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-03-16

BOSTON. March. 1866.
Winchendon, Mass.


BosToN, March, 1866.
Friend Ph@nir 1T gaity is recreation, if
social excitement is social enjoyment, Boston
has had and is having enough of both to sati-
ate the most exacting appetite for pleasure
Whether it be that greenbacks are so plentiful
that they must be squandered, or that there is
reaction from the anxiety and comparative
pruriency in living, during the cruel war, or
that our people are growing more and more
and more dissipa,ed, whatever the cause, there
can be no doubt Of the fact, that this city has
been keeping up sort of carnival, hardly per-
ceptibly interrupted by the coming OF Lent.
The regular places of public amusements-such
as the five theatres--have been crowded; the
opera has come, been the rage, and departed ;
clubs are numerous and parties Of all descrp-
tions Of daily and nightly occurrence. There
is little danger of our being longer open to the
charge of making existence too monotonously
stiff and sober,-all work and no play. On the
contrary. the peril, if any, is in the opposite
direction. The extravaganza and "shoddy'
displays attending this outbreak in the way oi
entertainments, are certainly of doubtful utility
and not indicative of the desirable universally
of graceful refnements. The pervading viola
ton of simplicity is not evidence of good taste
either in individuals or communities and
Americans have even yet to learn that things
may cost money and still! not be "heautifu
things"
The latest local events were the MiliOr!
Ball and the Artists Reception. The forme
was an orderly and brilliant afar-and success
full. except as to the pecuniary results. lh
projectors were disappointed in their hope o
getting, at least, the nest egg Of fund for tn
benefit of disabled soldiers. The balance un
fortunately, is on the debit side of the account
The latter entertainment, however, was ever
way "nice." The exhibition of pictures wa
good evidence of excellent performance an
more promise Though there were hut FEY
paintings of marked attractveness. The col
lection-and in that respect it was satisactor
was rather an ornament to the occasion, tina
the central and engrossing feature of it. Bu
the gathering was large and quite select. Ih
toile,tes were fitting; the interchange of greet
ings between hosts ard guests, old and me-
friends, in the spacious hall, informal and pleas
ant, and the music good making the scene a
whole quite lovely, bright, airy and tascina
ing. The popularity of rude aesthetic assen
bles, should go far to reassure any who are IL
clined to fear that we are generally becomin
too sordid and too sensual. They prove nt
only the presence of a sentiment OF the beaul
full. but also that il is active and growing in /
elevating and sohening influences.
Since the holidays there has been lull
the issue of new books but our publishe
have brought out several worthy of specl
mention, and which your readers can yet enjo
even though the evenings are growing short
and planting time and the rural delights
out-of-doors are drawing near. The though
fu!, earnest and strong "Later Lyrics" Crilt
G. Co., of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, have fore
insight and sentiment in them to reward stud
III The volume by Robert Buchanan, (Roberts
to Bros is an assurance that We have anOth
to living poet, who is to win and deserve both 10
p. and fame. Whoever reads his Langley Ian
and "Lord Ronald's Wife," not to refer to me
elaborate pieces on classical themes, will
sure to read more, and put the author do
among his fayorites. Whitiers exquisite W
ter idyl, "Snowed Up" (ricknor & Field
ought to he in every Vermont farm house. /
truth of his finely etched descriptions will
or more appreciated in the country than in
city; and so, too, will be, we may fear, so
of the grand liberal ideas and the devotion
freedom and humanity, which give solemnity
the brief domestic tale. For its beauty, Il
ne derness, simplicity this last song of the DUAL
poet will be afIeclionbtely cherished. 1t m
Gu take place in literature with "'rhe Deser
A. Village" The Life of Samuel Adams, in
we S vo, little, Brown & Coz is a valuable C
M tribution TO the history of the Revolution, I
re re- as biography of one Of the most eminent
he the actors in that great crisis, full OF inter
ire The au,hor-a descendant of the great Der
crat-has done his work with panstaking h'
- ity. No library that processes to be Ameri
Ar shoull be without this thorough and accui
tor memoir. Jean Ingelow has won her audie
on, in this country by her prose as well as by
'%iI nIi try so that simply saying that her "s'o
an, told to Child" (Roberts & Bros.,) is in sh
Tor one of the daintesl of petite books, and in {
M. iWc tents very charming, is saying enough to o
ar ar the door of the nursery for its speedy adj
hat sion. Other Juveniles of the season are "W
DR.. and VIM" and "Fighting joe" by Oliver
""' tic, Golden Hair" "AnIhoay Weymouth"