Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-13
Our Boston Letter.
Boston. July 4, 1871

/
in Boston. This day has been one such
as can only be seen at the seaside, sun
somewhat obscured, with the wind in the
east, fine rainy mist falling in the morn
ing, which was absorbed in the dry air
at the surface of the earth later in the
day, and to the east fog, not Dense yet
such as to hide balloon in its course up
ward in less than minute From time
immemorial, there has been public dis
play and procession by the public author
tiles, until a period just before the war,
which practice is now only thing of the
past The customary dinner of the city
government and distinguished invited
guests ia now algo omitted. But there
still remains the customary meeting, this
year in the Music Hall, for the reading of
the Declaration of Independence and an
grafton, with customary amount of
singing by scholars from the public
schools, of national hymns and other ap-
propriate music, feature which is quite
modern in it1 addition and character.
Here it may be said tNat the author-Mr.
Keler-of the National Hymn music, the
piece which, above all others, approaches
nearest to a national song, is resident
of this city, now a worthy old gentleman
and musician, while the author of the
words usually sung with this hymn, or,
rather, TIE hymn sung with this music,
80 +o,oh0r 10 80
theological seminary in our neighboring
town of Newton. 1t has always been the
custom to select some young man to read
the Declaration of Independence, usually
grad uate of one of our high schools, and, ,
as might be supposed, it is oftener de-
cl4imed than read. the readers being too
young in experience to get the full yeuse
of what they read and be moved by a
feeling anything more than superficial
or artificial The orator has to tre ID in
the path of uearly hundred Of those
who have preceded him, and he is AN OBJ
! ject of curiosity to many for his hardi-
hood in accepting the duty. Altogether,
80 far rs our leading men are concerned,
and even city officials, this public part, or
official part, of the celebration of this
day is now pretty much avoided. Per-
hape, if there were formal celebration
of this event once in five years, letting
all other We ,rs be commonplace aft airs as
now, all through the country, there night
be something gained for its grand object
/ i 6 l,1l
~ sunrise, noon aud sunset, which has
always sounded merrily, my soon give
way to the lud;crous G. u e Of want Of
bells to ring. As the old colonial churches
give way to new oues, the bells vanish A.
well, it not being customary now to have
one in every bell tower. Here it can be
said, too, aside from the general subject,
that the bells of three of our old churches
seem to be Of the same weight and upon
1.the same note, while our old Brattle street
| church has one much like the one on the
city hall of New York These bells,
excepting the last, are rung morning,
noon, and at nine o'clock at night, as we'll
as some others, at the expense of the city,
according to custom, no one knows when
established. These old bells are associated
with the observance of this day by all its
present inhabitants. Sunrise and sunset
guns we can always have, and boys TO
fire crackers, and balloon ascensions aud
fire works, so long as our common is in
tact. A new feature has recently been
introduced, that of giving concerts in our
public balls at several times during the
day, with tickets circulated gratuitously
to parents and children, which is quite
popular. Our observance of the day ends
with fire works on our common and pub
lie squares which all able. bodied persons
attend, after protesting, or protesting
their utter Indifference, at the tea.table,
to all such trifling exhibitions
Many of those who are accustomed to
leaving the city during the hot months,
and are not detained by children attend
ing school, have already left, though the
past cool weathsx and east winds keep
the sea shore thinly populated. Our
boats in the harbor are all running to
their accustomed points daily and hourly.
Our sea beaches and points of sea views
in this immediate vicinity, are quite
agreeable places to resort to for half
day, as compensation for more noted
places beyond the reach of most people,
other than as mere lockers on. Quite
fashionable place of resort and summer
residence, is Swampscott, the northeast
shore in our harbor, nine miles from Bos-
ton. The few fishermen, who were form
erly the sole inhabitants, and who gained
scanty living by fishing, became, in the
course OF time, surprised at the appear
ance of city people, with money, and
anxious to buy their houses and employ
them in some capacity during the sum-
mer months. This encroachment of fine
summer cottages upon the lands of the
fishermen, has been almost complete
The beautiful roads leading about and
over the indented outline of the coast
between Lynn, Salem and Marblehead,
with the broad ocean 10 full view, are be-
coming bordered with every variety of
country residences. However much it
may seem, that people go into the country
at this season, there is no doubt that
great portion Of this same class, are here
also. Duties of some kind, which must
be attended to, compel frequent returns
| to them to alternate with each other.
Besides there is suspicion that it is not
always gain to go, and be put to many
inconvenience.