Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-07


suited in an entire change of management at
that hospital, and in placing physician at the
head of affairs there. But the troubles in the
pest houses are much deeper and cause much
greater excitement. For some time there has
been good deal of small pox in the city-not
increasing TO an epidemic, or making panic
but steadily holding on, and not confined to one
locality-a state of affairs that, added to the
utter neglect of the laws of health throughout
the city, causes great many head shakings and
warnings of a very sickly season to come.
There are two small pox hospitalS-one in the
rear of the city hospital at the south end, the
other on Galop's island, down the harbor.
There are great objections to taking patients to
the island; they are so unwilling to 90 that
often cases of small pox are concealed from the
proper authorities by the poor, for fear they will
be sent there. 1t is great exposure;
the accommodations there are notorious
ly unfit, and the attendance only one
step above brutal neglect. For these
reasons, the north end hospital is kept crowded.
At first the objections made were merely to its
situation, and to the fact that it endangered
the health of the neighborhood; as the number
Of patients increased, and the interest in the
place was more widely spread, abuses of all
kinds were complained of; bad treatment of
the patients reckless careleSsness about spread
| ing the disease, absolute want of precaution in
every way. just now the excitement is at its
| height. Probably more than half the stories
told are wholly untrue, or very much exasger-
ated, yet enough cause of complaint certainly
exists to show that the city governments
neglect of duty in this matter has been, not
only dsgraceful, but criminal. Half the money
spent by the city for the jubilee, and half
the time spent by the board OF aldermen in
iunketng would, if given to sanitary matters,
have prevented all this trouble; have checked
small pox, and have prepared abundant ac-
commodations for the unfortunate victims OF
that terrible disease A reform will probably
| be made now, if the aldermen do not obstinate
| ly prevent it, and insist upon having apestience
here if they can.
Two new philanthropic enterprises, besides
| the hospital reform, are to be mentioned. An
| animals home has been established in Roxbury,
where lost, neglected, and disabled animals have
| free board and lodgings, until they can be re-
stored to their owners, cured, if they are eura-
BILE, or If not, 'killed mercifully." Dogs will
be kept week or more, according TO circum-
stances. The police assist In collecting these
animals and take them to the various station.
houses, whence they are collected each morn
ing.
committee has been formed and subscrip-
tons are received and daily announced in the
papers, to give the poor children harbor excur-
sions, and simple collations, the same plan that
has been tried In New York and Philadelphia.
The last new novels are uncommonly good
"Unawares," by the author of the "Rose Gar.
den" is really charming-a quiet, delicate, de.
lightful book to read on summers day. "Love
and Valor," by Tom Hood is all that the name
promises-a thoroughly romantic and interest
ing story, full of courage, nobleness and devo-
ton, with little fun and great deal fpathos
A day or two ago, just after reading Charles
Kingsley's enthusiastic delight in and admira-
ton for the luxurance and glory of tropical
vegetation and tropical flowers, l took up
"Taine's Notes in England" and found that he
was almost, if not quite, as enthusiastic over
the richness and beauty of English trees and
English flowers. He was "dazzled" by the rho
dodendrons; tells of their magniicence, their
brilliancy, and says "cela est deicieux, eui.
vrant, presque au della de la nature" Again,
he says that the Incompatible greenness of the
country is so rich, so intense, that in sunshine
it is overpowering, impressing the soul rather
than the eyes. Its colors "sont une fete Ell
CONNIE une explosion dejoe." Kingsley him.
self can say nothing warmer of even his favor.
lite Trinidad.
Any one who goes to church regularly through
long summer vacation, when the pulpit is oc-
| cuped each Sunday by different minister, must
at last come to wonder at the small requirements
made Of a Christian preacher; that is, if the
supply is at all equal to the demand. Both the
matter and the manner of preaching are gener.
ally very poor. Most ministers select fine texts
but the greater number of sermons make us re-
member the Lords severe criticism on Job
"Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words
without knowledge2" And even when the SER
mon is thoughtful and good, the chances are ten
to one that the effect of it is marred by the faulty
elocution Of the preacher. The other parts OF
the church service are done by men and women
who have been taught to do their special duties.
The choir have been trained in singing; the
organist is an accomplished musician; the con-
gregation know how to sit still and listen court
eously; even the sections are careful to sweep
aud dust thoroughly, and to show stran.
gers to the proper pews. Ministers only
are allowed to be careless. Some Of
them read so fast, that they take away your
breath; some so slow and monotnously that
they lull you TO sleep; some have sort Of
spasmodc emphasis, and when you are least
expecting 1t, shout out an unimportant word
that startles you like the report of n pistol
and one at least is so over-emphatic, and hurls
his words at you with such violence, that you
begin to have a fellow-ieeling for St. Stephen
and TO realize that the expression hard words is
literally true. That good reading, which ought
to be expected and required Of every clergyman
is rare, is shown by the notice it attracts. When
a man reads IN a simple, intelligent manner
aud has any control over his voice, he wins his
audience at once, and when service is over
people say to each other, "What fine readerp'
or, "What good delivery" as il they were
both quite out Of the common course. Whether
preacher considers the Sunday service as pri.
marily for worship, or for instruction, does not
matter; he ought to respect both enough to
| perform his part Of them as well as he can, and
TO learn to read well is certainly within his
power.
Miss Jane Stuart, the daughter Of Gilbert
Stuart, is in town, making copies of some of
her fathers portraits. She is said to copy his
pictures with wonderful exactness, having made
an especial study Of his style; but she has
copied also, with decided success, portraits BY
other artists. She lives in Newport, but is here
for the present in order to make copies of yaua
portraits which are owned here. have moi
seen her pictures; think they have never been
exhibited here but | hear them spoken of with
the highest praise.
| inust finish my letter with an anocdote that