The Republican journal., 1869-12-16

liable Collection of Paintings -Amusements
BosToN, Dec. -, 1869
"Cool, cool, cool-to the innermost drop
OF my hearts hot bloodn-well, should rath
CT think 50 after this week Of freezing. s.First
it snew, then it blew, and then it thew" YES
ely-that's just what it has done. Oh.
what shows storm on Monday! Not one Of
your jolly, rollicling snow-storms, where the
great, feathery flakes come chasing each 9th
er adown the sky in glecful sport-lighting
softly on tree, twi 9 and house-top, and tuck
ing itself tcnderly in around the uncovered
EARTH and exposed shrubbery-but real
clustering. spiteful, mischievous gale, that
somehow or other would dart angrilv round
the corners tear open your cloak, and slap
your checks saucily--quite taking away your
breath and setting your teeth to chattering
The styles of vehicles that We're abroad were
various, and much tall talking was INDUCED
in as they inevitably and Professionally got
blocked at the crossings. Little apple girls
crept shivering into the sheltered doorways :;
news-boys and boot-blacks betook themselves
to the most comfortable quarters; rag pick
ers moved along with disconsoate air; tie
organ-grinders ceased because they were
few; and pedestrians generally looked as if
they didn't see much fun in the thing The
succeeding cold has kept the snow on and
given Bostonians week Of capital sleighing,
which they have well improved,
The cold weather suggests winter, and
winter speaks Of Christmas and New Years,
when everybody expects 10 make present,
to receive one or many in return, to eat
roast turkey and plum-pudding and have as
delightful time rs possible. To tempt
children and older people the shop windows
make just now most gorgeous displays.
There are toys, sleds, drums, balls, caps,
coats books for the little ones, with such Il
host of bright, pretty and useful articles for.
the more mature rs to be almost innumer-
able. Salom's Bazaar, on Washington St.,
displays, perhaps, the most attractions, and
is daily 50 crowded with people as to make
it a difficult undertaking to effect an entrance
Lit up by numerous gas-ets in the evening
it makes as prettya picture as one would
wish to see.
i The Ladies Pavilion, on fremont street
is also another great place of resort This
is said to be the largest fancy goods store in
America, and has for sale almost everything
from stcam-engne to penny whistle 1t
was originally hotel, known rs the Pavil-
lion, and was remodcled last Spring into its
present shape by its proprietOrs S. S.
Houghton 4 Co. The sales-rooms occupy
two stories of the immense building. The
various department on the lower floor are
separated only by heavy, ornamented pillars,
whilst upstairs they are arranged in galleries.
These galleries are surrounded by heavy
blacE-walnut balustrades and are approach
ed by u flight of wide and handsome circu-
lar stairs. The ceilings are tastefuly adorn-
edin white stuccC, and overthe numerous load
ed counters hang a multiplicity Of elegant
chandeliers. VIII lie waiting rooms, dressinr-
rooms and othe' novelties meet you at every
step. 1t is really one of the places of inter-
est in the city and we'll rcpays one for a visit.
Notwithstanding the numerous instances
of children being burnt whilst locked up in
rooms mothers do not seem to learn care
and on FRIDAY we had another terrible case
of the kind. The fire is supposed to have
originated from some defect in the stove and
resulted not only in destroying the building
but also the lives of two children of Mrs.
! Sullivan. The woman who first discovered
the fire succeeded in rescuing two of the old
est children, but the other two being still in
bed Were left to perish in the flames. 1t is
the second disastrous fire we have had during
the week; tie other one on Canal street IN
volving q large loss Of property and giving
the tiremcn much trouble to subduc it.
The rapidity with which an alarm Of fire
is now sent through the city is a matter OF
astonishment. Numbered signal boxes are
located in various sections OF the city at prop
per distances apart. Connected with these
boxes, which are kept locked so that no false
alarm may be given, are telegraph wires
running to City Hall. The machinery inside
once set in motion strikes the number of the
box at City Hall. The operator there inn
mcdiately restrikcs the number at the engine
rooms and upon different bells in the city by
means of the same kind of wires In the
engine rooms stand the horses, ready harness.
ed, the engine supplied with water and an
instantly lindled fire, and Immediately with
the sprlnging Of the alarm is seen the engine
dashing down the street, leaving a shower of
fiery cindcrs in its wake. The hose carriage
the hook and ladder carriage and iremcn are
equally as prompt, and not many fires are
allowed to make cncroachments upon other
buildings.
A valuable collections OF paintings belong
ing to the late n. A. Thompson Esq, former
ly Of Boston, but more recently of New York
is being catalogued by Mr.. Young the dis
tinguished portrait painter of this city, pre-
paratory to being sent to New York. The
collection is said to be the largest in America
and includes original paintings by Reuben's
Vandyke, and other foreign artists as well as
many by distinguished Americans. The
pictures were carried to their present place of
deposit at cost of $500, and it is estimated
that ten freight cars will be required to trans
fer them to New York. OF the real cost of
the collection not much can be known, through