The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-04-29

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standing at a flowers stand on Washington St.
and admiring bunch Of these same beautiful
May flowers. What a commentary on life
Down under all that dirt and all those rags was
a heart capable of feeling and chershing sweet
memories. And under those matted locks a
throbbing, active brain-perhaps even then
busy with thoughts Of long ago. He looked at
lions did they awaken? are they Of sister;
a brother; or 4 mother?
Or was there nearer one.
Still and dearer
Yet than all others under the
But 1t is useless to conjecture. The man de
cded to purchase and forthwith disbursed Il
a soiled twenty-five cent scrip, took up one Of
the simple bouquets and walked away. Aud the
romance has faded and the hard stubborn facts
of life have come back to be met and battled
down.
Literary people are much exercised 1t present
| In discussing the merits Of a little volume en-
titled Gates Ajar, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps,
daughter Of the Rev. DR.. Phelps of the Ando-
yer Theological Seminary. Ii is a queer book
! for Orthodox churchmember to write, to say
the least Some pronounce it rank hercsy,
whilst others who are imaginative, or luxur-
ously inclined, or perhaps constitutonaly la
zy, like myself, rather like it, She makes heav-
en- refined type of this world, but very ac-
comodatingly leaves every one the choice of
his or her employment. She makes her hero
inc, Mrs. Forceythe, tell little girls who can't
have pianos here that they can have them in
t,,l, VIII n,
''Heaven q place where the Saints, clothed in
white, and carrying palm branches shall stand
up and worship God-harpng upon harps
through all eternity" demonstrates with her she
asks him ''If it isn't nst As sensible to have pi-
amos as harps in another world? And if they
are any more materlal:" And where he thinks
the trees grow thSt they get their palm branch
es from?" All Of which rather astonshes the
old Deacon, but delights his son Ablnidab who
tells Mrs. Forceythe that .'to think of stand
in up so long tires him MORN whole forenoons
moving would" The rigid notions of people
concerning heaven are very happily hit in the
story of the little girl who wanted to know Elf
she was good girl through the week if God
wouldn't let her go down to He'll some Satur-
day afternoons TO play with the little girls
! there" The book also contains many beauti-
| ful and comforting passages for those who can
accept them as truths, but after all it is only
| speculation upon an unknown theme-the as
sorting of one persons ideas OF another world
as others have done before her. Charles Lamb S
/ idea of heaven was ga place where he could
| lie on q sofa and read novels All day" Upon
| the book, in 4 literary or religious point OF
view, venture no criticism bul leave all to
Judge for themselves, and to derive what con
ISOLATION they can from perusa Of its pages.
4 writer with still more liberal views having
detected trace of Orthodox exclusiveness in
the title Coates Aar' has written book which
he calls ''The Gates Wide Open"
The Musical Festival still continues to be
the much talked of subject in Boston circles
And as the time draws near, even the lalthlesS
are beginning to experience little tutter OF
excitement One usually serene old lady is
very much troubled about her strawberry pre-
serves-the many people who will come to The
Festival she maintains, will deyOur all the
Strawberries. Poor unSOphisticatcd old lady
| to be thinking of preserves when the divine
strains from Strauss celebrated band are to be
waited to listening ears, setting, as the Jour
nal says, AL female hearts in tiutter." How
material her principal "hot on life" must be
The Coliseum is fast assuming shape and pro
portions under the skiliful hands Of many
workmen 1t is to accommodate fifty thous-
and persons. The school children are rehears-
! ing their parts. The Choruses are progressing
| finely, and are to be all learned by the twen-
tieth of May-so the directors announce.
Messrs Hook 4 Co. are building an immense
Organ for the occasion, which is to surpass in
power any before known in the world and Is
intended to be heard above all the other music,
whether instrumental or vocal. The cannon
are in readiness to be fired, and what grand
powow we are to have. Those OF you who
can't get nearer can "listen attentively' down
In Maine. The prices of admittanCe, for sim
gle ticket have been fixed at five and three dol
lars for reserved seats, according to location,
and two dollars without. One hundred dollars
is the price of a season ticket admitting three.
The questions as to the efficacy of establish
ing State Police, and the investigation OF the
charges made against Col kurtz, Chief of Po-
lice, and Detectives Heath and Jones, are sub
jects Of great interest at present, to the ma
jority of our ctiZens-whist other cities look
on in we'll bred surprise to see staid Old Bos-
ton in such muddle. Among the many seri-
Gus charges brought against these officers Is
that they have, for t'hush money" shielded the
murderers of the little Joyce children whom
your readers will remember to have been 50
strangely killed some two years ago, ard about
which there has been so much mystery. AS
there appears to be a Slight trace Of political
feeling in the testimony, it Is safe to withhold
Judgment until the case has been fairly tried,
The celebrated Davenport Brothers are
now holding their spiritual seances at Music
Hall. DR.. 0. w. Holmes and other prominent
r gentlemen have been upon the Investigating
committee, but thus far have been unable to
detect the appearance of any deception in their
q performances. Even the most skeptical are
+ puzzled to account for many OF the inanifesta-
tons.
/ We are beginning to have a toretaste of
summer in bursting bud and blushing hower >
4 in green paths; in warm, sunshny weather,
spring suits, &c. In the markets are to be
found fresh lettuce, radshes, green peas, straw
berries and other delicaces for those who have
4 money enough to purchase them They are
/ 4al.,.. 2 .la,,l..,