Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-06
LETTER FROM BOSTON.

| FUSh10AS-NeN bOOhS-f ne FfTSf OF dpfH.
4 BosroS, April I'd, 1870.
tits nearly a month since ! wrote my last
letter for the Journal, and great many things
have happened in the meantime, both here
and elsewhere. For one thing-we have had
snow storm-in comparison with when all
previous efforts of the kind for several years,
dwindle into comparative insignificance 1t
came of a Sunday too, which was all the bet
ter, perhaps, as it gave those who desired It,
an opportunity to recompose themselves for
"A little more sleep and little more slumber
A little more folding the arms to rest
Such storm How the wind whistled and
roared, and screeched and groaned and
tossed the snow hither and thither in great
billowy drifts until nearly all travel was in
terrupted. and the streets of our goodly city
assumed semi desolatc appearance, in dis
NAL contrast to their usual busy look. But
all finite things have an end, as did the STORM
and the following Monday was rs pleasant
day overhead as could well be imagined
| For A week or more several of the horse
railroad corporations were forced TO suspend
travel, or traverse only part of their route
while the melting snow undertoot, and that
which descended in showers from the house
tops made promenading anything but pleas
ure and pastime. But at last we have COM
paratively decent travelling, with prospect
| that there may be time soon when we can
60 out and leave our waterproofs and rub
Der boots at home-a part OF the time, al
least Yes, Spring is coming, and although
sturdy old Winter surrendered reluctantly.
and battled manfully for the supremacy, yet
the long bright days are at hand and in few
short weeks we shall have forgotten the chill
and discomforts of winter, in the budding spring
and blossoming summer so, hail to the
present. and farewell to the past
The Italian Opera season closed last week,
Saturday. There was about the usual array
of beauty and millinery to be seen each even
ing. Perhaps the audiences were not so
large as at some previous seasons; on the
whole. | hardly think the Italian troupe did
so we'll or gave so good satisfaction generally,
as did Madame Parepa Rosas troupe, few
weeks ago. Miss Phillips always sings well,
lone is always sure that she will do her
best. Miss Kellogg is as changeable as an
April sky and sings as the mood dictates.
Her voice is always sweet and sympathetic
and her personal attractions unrivalled, so
that one can scarcely help being pleased with
her. although she lacks feeling and enthu-
siasm, at times. M. Lefranc throws his whole
soul into all his efforts, and can hardly fail to
wear out early Susni has still powerful
voice, but does not sing so well as in times
gone by Ronconi's reputation as a humor-
Gus singer is well known, and Herr Habel-
mann is a very fine tcnore. The others need
no mention.
Mr. Fechter has returned to Boston, and
is playing again at the Boston Theatre His
advent seems to haye provoked much CONTRA
dctory criticism, and one can seem to get
but little idea of his genius without first see
ing him-opinions and comments are so va
rious. The great charm and power of his
acting, however, seems to lie in his gestures,
or ''hand pictures" as a contribution for The
''Old and New" aptly terms them, and
his avoidance of staginess, if | may be allowed
to use the term He has rather won his way
to favor here, and has, l think, been better
appreciated than elsewhere.
The question of opening the Public Library
has been reagitated, and considerable contro-
versy is the result. The Commonwealth of
last Saturday comments thus "Opponcnts of
the opening of the Public Library on Sunday
who read Sunday mornings paper without
protest; who go to the post Office on Sunday
morning to get their mail without prick of
conscience; who take without murmur div
idends from railroad corporations that regu-
larly ballast their road-bed on the Lords
day; who patronize the horse-cars and forget
they are run in violation of the Sunday law ;
who applaud an opera in the disguise of an
Oratorio at the Music Hall; who visit the
printers the night before the city election to
see that their split ticket is all right-in short
all that large crowd of Sabbatarians who take
large share of liberty for themselves and
deny the same to others-are not expected to
appear before the Committee of the City Coun-
| Gil in opposition to the opening of the library
every day in the week, unless they are pre-
| pared to receive the SCOTS of the worldly
minded. Attorneys who advocate their cause,
also, who sit in broad aisles when at home,
and do not hesitate to take few trout when
| in the country both on Sundays, should have
mind, unless they too, are brought to de-
rision!" The petition for a new public park is
also provoking some debate, and somebody
offers as an amendment that the appropriation
| for one be made, and that it be closed on Sun
days. The amendment was probably made
to veto the measure. The case of the
Hartford and Erie Railroad is still undecided,
the Legislature not yet having concluded to
loan the required sum, to complete the road
Brookline, West Roxbury, Newton and
| Brighton desire to be annexed. The Journal
thinks it best to see how the machine works
before extending the area of the municipality.
And now to turn from annexation, railroads,
&C., &C., with all the important results in
volved in their consideration-to topic dis