The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-12
Boston Through wheeling Eyes.
BosroS, Nov. Z, 1867.
Edttors Lntelkiaeneer:

Editors IntetLi9e1tcer:
Yesterday, while taking my coffee
and reading the AdUeTtLser, thought
how often the ISTELLIGESCER had aid
ed my morning digestion, and that L
might give to some of your many
readers a few of my impressions OF
Boston and its vicinity, its institutions
and prominent men, and how THESE
combined have given "The HUB" sncn
prominence in the politics, literature
and religion of our country.
1t is needless to assert that IKE az
most everything here. Inc ie" hours
required for the journey from nome
gave me new ideas of the place and the
DeoDle. and "A few weeks'restdence her
have changed even those favorable
viaws into enthusiastic admiration.
Not that love home less; be il ever SO
smoky, There's no place ike home"
But here the air, physically or hgura-
lively considered, is not smoky, put
there is u transparency that renders
everybody and thing clearly cut and
prominent as the heads of ancient
mythology, that adorn so many private
residences and public balls. There Is
general intelligence, a precision and
decision in the physiognomy of these
traditional Yankees, that shows the
Pilgrim and Puritan in both their vices
and virtues.
Boston is the centre, the headquarters
of New England thought, principles
and culture. From here have sprung
men and measures that have contribu-
ted much to make our nations history
what IL il. Here were early formed
those schools and seminaries that have
difused such general intelligence
among our people. Here now live
many of the men OF science and letters
that give our country fame.
New Workers are right i'll calling
Boston provincial. This is so in her
modes of action. Her ideas are cosmo-
pohtan. Let US view them from this
standpoint.
The general Intelligence and indie
pendence of character of the people
nave never been shown more clearly
than in the recent political contest.
Democratic leaders could not wheedle
tue people into even doubtfuls support
of the National Administration. Re-
publicans could 6uot draw party
Lines when the real subject at issue was
evaded. The pulpit, always respect
fully heard and needed, was powerless.
Prohibition, under the name OF the
Maine Temperance law, WAS the subject
OF controversy, and nothing could di-
vert attention from it. The result IL
before the country, whether right or
wrong, the contest has not been blind
one, but has been fought with bold
ness and fraukness worthy of the old
cavaliers. One could almost hear the
nasal cry OF "the sword of the Lord
and OF Gideon" throughout the fight.
Bnt the sentiments of the State upon
national politics are unchanged and
until the great issue that
| brought the Republican party into
existence are settled on sure founda'
| tons.
Yesterday was a white day in my
| calendar, as had an opportunity TO see
many Of the most eminent men OF
science and literature in the city. The
| course of medical lectures i'll Harvard
| University, which l came to attend, be-
gan with an Introductory address by
Prof. o. w. Holmes, so well known in
| literary circles. His subject WAS "the
modes of instruction in medicine" II
was treated with that clear, witty abili'
ty, peculiarly his own. TheHDOctor be.
| longs to the proSressives In science, aud
| deals hard blows upon the profession
not only for indiscriminate dosing, but
for everything not strictly in accord
| Rnce with the progress of the age. one
! conld easily recognize the "autOcrat o
| the breakfast table, Yin his Keen thrusts
at prevalent errors. had thought thai
| 1.-THE Guardian Angel" now published
in the Atlantic, betrayed advancing age
and loss of vigor. But yesterdays lee
ture showed his eye still bright and his
| intellect AS vigorous as in youth. Great
as he is acknowledged TO be in litern'
ture, lie is said to be still greater in the
lecture room, when upon his tavorite
topic, physiology. He lisa very impor-
tant spoke in the hub.
In the evening l rode into the suburbs
to hear another celebrity, Il. w. Emer-
son. His subject was 1.-The man of the
world" To many of his hearers il
might have been the man of the moon,
for many left before he closed, and
many wondered what he was talk
ing about. He is not IA popular speak
er, and sometimes reminds one OF the
Scotch definition OF transcendentalism
"When neither the man that talks, nor
the man that hears, knows what the
talk is about" Yet he is one of the
great thinkers of the age, and has more
reputation among the scholars of Eng
land than in America. He is terse,
suggestive, with occasional brilliancy,
yet often obscure. OF his philosophy
and religion, which are the admiration
OF his followers and the reprobntion OF
the New England divines, 1 may write
more when l come to the Music Hall,
its politics and religion.
Yours, &c., 6. F.