Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-24
Letter from Boston,
Horticultural ExhibitiOn-Swedish Con-
cert-Five New PnmphIets-The Lecture
season,
lrRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT


IRON OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
Boston, June %, 1871.
The Massachusetts horticultural society have
just given a two days exhibition of flowers,
fruit and vegetables. The few early vegetables
were clean and pretty; strawberries were al
most the only fruit, but they were wonderful in
size and color; few baskets contained berries
of convenient and moderate size and of the
vivid clear enticing red that exactly corresponds
with the bright, pleasant flavor of the fruit;
but most of them were huge, dark things of
fantastic shape; large enough to be carved for
family dessert; sufficiently inclined to dull
purple to suggest over ripeness or disease; and
in form broad and fiat as if they had been
pressed; or shaped like small ill-packed work
bag, knobby with spoos and balls; altogether
the most unpleasant fruit to look at; but proba-
bly, very fine as triumphs of gardening. The
flower show was especially for roses, though
there were some beautiful late rododendrons,
and few magnificent, stately, languid mag
nolias. In front of the platform, reaching the
whole length of it, was stand of roses from
the garden of Mr.. Francis Parkman. They
were simply delicious in colOrs, fragrance, va
riety and abundance, and one could not help
thinking of the famous Persian rose garden in
| which Saadi was once benighted, and where he
was inspired to write his Gulistan, saying,
The flower of the garden soon fadeth,
and the enjoyment of the rose-bush is
but of short continuance; and the sagcs
have declared that the heart ought not to be set
upon anything that is transitory. | will form a
book of roses, which will delight the beholders,
and crafty those who are present; whose leaves
the tyrannic arm of the autumnal blasts can
never affect, nor injure the blossoms of its
spring. What benefit will you derive from a
basket of flowers? Garry leaf from my gar
den: rose may continue in bloom for five or
six days; but this rose garden will flourish for
ever" Mr.. Parkman is an historian; but the
results of his faithful and laborious researches
into the early history of America are told in
style that rivals a rose-garden in richness, va
riety, and harmony of color; and with a senti-
ment as pure and sweet as the perfume of the
flowers. We need no longer look to the east and
the past for a rose-garden, where poet lives and
does work that is indeed not "transtory."
Last evening we had novelty in the way of
concerts. The Swedish National Vocal Quar-
tette appeared at fremont Temple, and were as
sisted by Mr.. Arbuckle and Miss Persis Bell.
The Swedes were in their national costume; one
wore dark tlue tunic reaching below the
knees, and bordered with bands of red and
white; small pointed cap of the same cloth,
with similar trimming and dark, striped stock
ngs. This is one of the most picturesque and
becoming costumes imaginable. One wore
short scarlet coat, lined with white, dark blue
waistcoat edged with red, dark breecheS, white
stockings, large red bows at the knees;
low shoes, and soft black hat. The
third had buff breeches, scarlet waist
coat scarlet stockings, with black bands and
bows at the knees; very long white coat, fast
ened at the throat only, cut something like
Quaker coat and with the skirts turned far back,
showing a scarlet lining; low black shoes, and
a tall, narrow-brimmed black hat, with scarlet
band, completed this peculiar and brilliant
dress. The fourth wore high black boots, or
ange-colored brooches, a short dark blue coat,
buttoned closely, an orange-colOred silk cravat,
a soft black hat, with an orange-colored band,
and riding whip in his hand They sang
Swedish songs, and were applauded with the
widest delight by the audience, who called them
out again and again, and apparently could not
hear enough of their charming singing. Mr.
Arbuckle is a great fayorite here, and always
seems to have pleasant relation with his audi
ences. He is among friends whom he is sure of
pleasing, and honestly glad to please. The APP
plause given him, and his way of receiving it,
seems like a hearty, unconventional CHATS
good" and ppm glad you like il" exchanged
between old friends. Miss Persis Bell is young
girl still in short dresses, and with hair floating
loose on her neck. She is plump, fair, simple
and attractive and is already q remarkable VIC
lin player. She is still too young to excite much
enthusiasm, but she interested the audience,
and all about me heard commentator Of her
performance, and encouraging prophecies of
what she will do by-and-bye. She has appeared
at Music hall in several of the concerts given
by the pupils of the Boston conservatory
Of music; but last evening was her first
appearance without her teacher or her fellow
pupils, and she was very pleasing. The Swedes
sang without any accompaniment, and their
singing is praised by musical sages as well as
enjoyed by those whose ignorance of the science
is unfathomable.
The zeal with which portion of the human
race labors to instruct, improve and assist the
other portion is amusing; and it is sometimes
slightly discouraging TO notice how little the
other portion seems to be instructed, improved,
or assisted. Five pamphlets, published within
a few days, are lying here on the table; three of
them are to the people, the best books to be
read, or rather are the freely offered advice of
educated persons with leisure, to those without
leisure, and in need of education First per.
haps. in Importance is selected list of books for
free public libraries, with suggestions on the
foundation and administration of such libra
ries, prepared by the American social science
association. Here we find great deal of ground
covered, and books of all sorts recommended
but as we turn the leaves at random we can but
wonder what strict rules of taste or propriety
governed the selection from the works of we'll
known writers of fiction. Two only by Wilkie
Collins are mentioned, and one of those is No
Thoroughfare; Olive and Agatha's Husband are
omitted from Miss Mulock's novels. while A
Brave Lady is mentioned; ConsueIo, Fadette
and Fanchon are the only three by George
Sand which find favor; Douglas Jerrold is
to be known by his Mrs. Caudle alone:
Ranald Zimmerman, and At the Back Of
the North Wind are omitted from MacDonald's
works; and Hedged In from those of Miss
| Phelps. But did not intend TO write a crit-
cism Of this catalogue. Next comes catalogue
of books for Unitarian Sunday school libraries
| al afr fnr