The Republican journal., 1870-05-05
LETTER FROM BOSTON.
Correspondence of the Journal
Florists Ball---Out-of-door Sport---A New
HoteI---Fourth Of July---A Terrible Fire---
Relief Fund for the Children of Commander
WiIIiams---Harriet Hosmer--- -Brevities.
Boston, April 80. lS7.

work of decorating for the festive occasion
was commenced on Monday, and Tuesday
afternoon the Hall was thrown open to the
inspection Of the public, privilege Of which
many availed themselves. The entrance to
the Hall was through perfect bower of ever
greens, and once fairly inside, even those Of
dullest imagination might have fancied them
selves in fairy land.
Flowers to right of you, flowers to left of YOU
and the air fragrant almost to fantness
Nestled in among the plants and flowers
were numerous pieces of statuary and cages
Of canary birds. In the centre of the Hall
rcvolvcd the graceful figures of the dancers
| a perfect sea of beautiful faces, rusting
silks foamy laces, fluttering curls, glttering
| jewels, white vests and spotleSs kids. Over
all the shmmering light Of gas, and upon
the sweetly perfumed air the soft, subtle
strains of Gilmore's Band. The gallery was
crowded with spectators, and among the dis
tinguished guests present was His Honor
| Mayor Shurtlch.
| AS the advancing season makes it too warm
for indoor amusemcnts, out-of-door sports
| begin to gain the ascendancy, and already
extensive preparations for base ball matches,
| for grand trials of speed on the turf and for
boating operations are announced. Many
| thousands of dollars are already at stake on
| the success of we'll known horses, and n live
| ly time on the trotting parks may be expect
ed. The Boston Yachting Club is again re-
| organized, with Dexter II. FOllett, ESD as
| President, and 4 brilliant regatta is announc-
ed for the fifteenth of June But more than
all the rest, the gentle sport of angling
tempts all lovers of the art to seize rod and
line and HE them away to cool seqneScr-
ed spots.
Mr.. c. A. Richards. the we'll known wine
merchant of this city, has Just built q hand
some new hotel known rs the Warwick.
House. II is on Washington street, near
Dover, and contains about two hundred rooms
in suites and single apartments. II is to be
opened to the public on June lst. Looking
carefully after the comforts Of the male l.,r-
suasion. Mr. Richards has added. along with
many other new improvements, aGentleman's
Exchange, rooms for the meetings Of com
mittees and political clubs, a Restaurant and
Billiard Hall
Not TO be out done by private individuals
or private organizations in their efforts to
amuse the public The City Fathers have
carefully considered the claims of Fourth of
July upon thei: attention, and are going to
give him warm reception when he arrives,
a. Al, e .pa n,
of july for grand demonstration of fire
works secmel altogether too long, and 50
this afternoon IN entertainment of the kind
was gotten up regardless of expense,
and resulted in one of the most destructive
fires known in Boston for many years. Two
acres of ground are said to have Ec"u burned
over, twenty buildings destroyed and one hun
dred families turned out Of doors The first
alarm was given at 4 quarter before two, and
at seven this evening ii was still burning
with considerable spirit, though with the
prospect of not spreading any farther. The
lire was ti,st discovered in the large hay
store Of N. p. Doty, on Canal street, and
from thence the flames, driven by strong
south-eastelly wind. spread rapidly in every
direction, reaching as far as the Boston and
Maine Depot, on one side and on the other
through into Friend street, and thence TO
Friend Court. AT half-past two the fire had
got under such headwav az to neccssitatn
calling for aid from the adjoining cities and
accordingly the Chief Engineer summoned
four steamers from Dorchester. Cambridge
|
cent roof. at this time, was wildly grand.
Away TO the westward rolled the huge
volumes Of smoke, nearly obscuring the
Heavens-high up leaped the forkel angry
| f1ames-doWn crashed the falling timbcrs
and above even the roaring Of the fire and
| the screaming of the engines, could he heard
the shrill shrieks of the womanand crying of
| children. One poor woman, who had wan
| dered some distance from the fire. assured me
in broken tones that she had lost all she had
| in the world, but continued in a more happy
key, and in language more expressive than
| elegant, ''Thank God for the fire. for ii was
one of the most damnable holes in the city -
and such is the testimony Of all who know
the loss Of property are placed tonight AT one
hundred thousand dollars
Nearly all sudden calamties call for more
or less aid from benevolent persons, but sure
ly no relief fund ever started ought to he re-
sponded to with more of feeling of duty and
pleasure than that which has for its object
the bringing together and educating the
children of the brave Commander Williams.
fund of this kind has been started in Bos-
ton, and about two thousand dollars already
raised. Capt Robert Forbes has charge of the
affair Commander Williams died like a
brave officer, ii the post of duty, and now
far away from home and friends on n foreign
shore lies all that remains Of the noble and
kind father. Certainly the orphan children
he left alone in this cold world have strong
claims upon every American heart. and con-
tribntions for their benefit should come freely
from American hands
Harriet Hosmer is about 10 execute an
order given by the children of Edward Everett
for q bronze and red sandstone monument,
tO he erected i'm MOInt Auhurn If is said