The Republican journal., 1870-03-03
LETTER FROM BOSTON.

| tons Birthday---Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis s
Receptions---S Change on Summer
Street---Trinity Church--Messrs. Lewis
Brown Residence of Mr.. Gray.
BosToN, Feb. 26, 1870.
| A bunch Of violets. blue-eved and beauti-
full. What q surprise they We're, coming up
on them so unexpectedly in this out of the
way nook. What host Of happy memories,
and thoughts of days long past they conjured
up. Visions of a path-dark, cooland firing
cd with alders-sweepng close along by the
rivers banks-a field fresh, fair and green
a sunny afternoon, and a band of merry
children. All these rise quickly to the eye.
How eager and ambitious we were How
covetous IF the first violet that il might
bring good luck. How happy How careless.
How light-hearted. Did the sun ever shine
brighter. the birds sing sweeter, the winds
sigh softer, orthe waves plash more unsteady?
Never. Oh happy days long past; oh,
merry group all gonc-sayc one-to fairer
shores, to greencr fields, to brighter skies
where the birds sing ever, and flowers bloom
eternally, Truly the poet sings
Dear as remembered kisses after death.
And sweet us those by hopeless fancy feigned
On lips that are for others. Sweet as love-
Sweet as first love. and wild with all regrets.
Oh death in Lite-the days that are more.
| What with the agitation of the prohibition
law, the license law and the abolishing of the
detective force affairs in Boston seem to be
in quite muddle, and it takes 4 pretty clear
eye to see the q drift of things One fact
stands out startlingly clear, however. That
Col. Kurtz, Chief of Police has ut last lost his
head. | don't mean to say that our kind
hearted Mayor, who likes to please every
| body, has actually taken q trusty Toledo
| blade and served the head of the Chief from
his unfortunate body. Oh, no-such barbara
ties belong to an age more remote. They
have a newer, nicer and more polite way of
managing affairs nowadays. There are ac-
cusations by the vigiant newspaper mem
little pressure from the people--a greater
ring official is summoned to headquarters.
| Here there is much bland smilinr-morc
polite bowling
"A little talking of outward things
and soon atterward the office of i is made
vacant by the resignation of q long tried and
faithful official. OF course the resignation is
accepted with profound regrets, and best
wishes for future success and all that sort of
| thing
Washington's birthday marked one Of the
coolest, windiest days that Boston has seen
| for some time As q holiday it was observed
very much as I'LL similar days are, with the
one exception Of Fourth Of July, who is as
yet 4 little bigger nan than st. Patrick. The
most noticeable feature of the day in Boston
was the annual reception OF Mrs. Harrison
Gray Otis, at her residence on Mt Vernon
Street. These receptions have come to be
almost as widely and well known rs the day
! itself and always bring together very large
number Of distinguished individuals, both
military and civilians. The hours of the re-
ception arc always between twelve and four
o'clock, and during that time Mt. Vernon
Street is always crowded with carriages.
On these occasions the house is prolusely
decorated with American flags, and numnr-
uuS DoquctS OF llOWcrs. TiIt readers of tho
Journal will remember that Mrs Otis was
one Of the distinguished guests invited to the
Peace Jubilee. Aud during the whole week
shc kept her house decorated with the Star
Spangled Banner"
| Having occasion to pass down Summer
street 4 few days since, for the first lime in
some months, was surprised at the numer
Gus changes that had taken place. and at the
| large ntlml cr Of handsome granite blocks Ell
ther in process of erection or Just completed
1t is certainly one ofthe finest business streets
on Boston. Perhaps the most noteworthy ed
| iticc upon the street is the Trinity Church.
which is an ancient but very handsome build
| ing Of dark. gray stone. Very beautiful it
| looks in the summer season, with its huge
shade trees and wrappings of green ivy It
was ut this Church that Prince Alfred wor-
| shipped the Sabbath of his stay in Boston.
Not far from here is the large and elegant
wholesale establishment Of Messrs Lewis,
| Brown 4 Co., Mr. Brown, the junior partner.
being a formerly we'll known citizen Of Bel
fast
In alluding to now buildings am remind
ed to speak Of the elegant private residence
of Mr.. Gray-of paper collar notorety-now
in process of erection and nearly completed
on Broadway, South Boston, just opposite
Independence Square. II is 4 handsome
building ofbrick, two stories in height, with
French roof and dOrmcr windows, finished
in black walnut. On the south side is y
handsomely ornamcnted vorandah, and from
| the back side of the main roof rises q square
tower two stories high. Upon the large and
nicely laid out grounds appear two conser-
yatories. It is really one of the finest residences
in the city, and from its elevated position
commands an excellent and uninterrupted
view of the whole city, together with the
distant waters otthe bay. PERClE-
| The editor of the Prog Age announces to
seekers after libel suits that they can ''find
him at the old stand" The treasurer Of the
railroad would like to see him at the stand
| and deliycr-but can't.
MASONIC HALL, KING DAvID's LODGE,