The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-21
MIR. GFsenfeiIs r Exhaustive Description OF
Various Americas STATES and Cities.
BY EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
From the atlantic Almanac tor 1870
MASSACHUSETTS.


The population of Massachusetts, is dense
given mostly to manufactures. One gentle
man told me at dinner their only exports
were ice and granite, another that their prin-
cipal business was in ready y-made clothing,
yet another that they were mostly engaged In
shipping houses ready-made to Rio Janeiro,
Ind another that they looked on the manu-
facture OF pianos as their strong point. had
no opportunity to examine statistics on these
subjects. We spent an hour or more
in the State House. The Legislature has Just
adjourned, but we saw several OF the officers
of the State and for the first time | feel as II
understood the politics OF this country. We
visited the Coliseum, which is place Tor mu-
steal entertainments, the Funnel Hall, which
is a market and town-hOuse, where are some
curious pictures and a carved wooden eagle;
we drove out of town to the Park. made a
visit to the Historical Library and another
Public Library, to a Primary School and
Grammar School, drove to Cambridge and
back, ard Afterwards met pleasant company
at Mr. Nevers's house at dinner
RHODE ISLAND
is the smallest State IN the United States,
and the richest in the world: so was told by
gentleman who sat next me. II has four
capitals, of which We passed through two,
Providence and Kingston. Near Kingston,
King Philip was taken prisoner in the late
war. The spot was pointed out to me by
fellow-traveler. This interesting fact shows,
what is not generally understood in England,
that republican institutions have not been
universal in America till a period quite re-
cent / asked what became of King Philips
family, and was told his sons were sold INTO
slavery. They must, however, have been soon
emancipated, as slavery now exists no ionger
CONNECTICUT
10 Enoxu ac ha land nf etnadu habit. We
arrived in it at about five minutes before nine,
coming flom Westerly, in Rhode Island
Stoninston should have been named Easter
H." as the most eastern town in Connecticut.
1t is wel[ligbted State, lighted with gas.
The people see ned p ompt and orderly We
had no difficulty with the luggage, the vans
which carried it being pushed upon the pa k
ell while we walked on board. We were In
terested in all we saw OF Connecticut, and
we're sorry we could not remain longer.
NEW YORK CITY.
Under the lead of our good friend, Mr..
Ashcraft Ashcroft, we were able to see the
more important points OF the city. l called
with him on Mr.. Buchanan, the consul of Her
Majesty, but unfortunately missed him The
next day Mr.. Ashcroft was so kind as 10 send
me quite full series OF the New York jour
ras. By studying them, aud by full coDver-
sations with intelligent gentlemen afterwards,
1 OUldlDeu SOule views more COTIeCl ludH L
bad had before, and insert them here as /
prepare my journal for the press.
New York is nominslly governed by several
Boards, and by a Mayor, all OF whom, accord
ing to the most OF these journals, are chosen
from the ranks of the most profgate Of men;
and they are all absolutely governed by what
is here known as "the ring" This "ring" al
so governs the Governor of the State, Mr..
Hoffman, who would seem 20 be another OF
the most profigate of men. Strange to say,
"the ring" also intimidates and controls Gen.
Grant and his cabinet, who appear TO be. as
am distressed to learn from these writers, all
men of the lowest personal character, and to
the last degree vacillatIng in their purposes,
living indeed, in constant fear of this ring
and of the press of New York City. 1t seems
fortunate for the country and the world,
therefore, that the charge oil this press has
Iallen into the hands OF the most pure and
high-minded and courageous men living
They evidently do not fear "the riug," al
though "the ring" controls every other inter-
est and Institution in the country; the ex-
change, the church, and tne schools all being
subservient to it. 1 cannot but wish that the
press OF all countries might be managed by
wise men as benefcent as these writers repre-
sent themselves.
CONGRESS.
The Congress is not in session. 1t sits ev-
cry alternate summer, but unfortunately for
us, this IS the summer when it does not sit.
| regretted this the less having had the op-
portuDity have described to study The legisla-
tive customs of the country. In Mass achusettS,