Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-29
Letter from Boston. Mass.

Letter from bOSIOu. uHsSs
CORRESPONDENCE of the Alexandria GazetteS
Boston, June 25-Boston presents very
lively appearance at this time. Hotels, boarding
and private houses are all filed with visitors,
attracted here by, and to attend, the Coliseum,
which is now open. 1t appears to me to have |
been grand business scheme, projected with
view to bring people to the city, and IN that 1t
has been success. Everybody appears to be
busy reaping the harvest especially hotels
restaurants, &c. They have advanced their rates
by adding at least 81 per ct. to their former
charges. [ am now at the Parker House. Every
night, since | have been here, they have been
compelled to put up cots III the parlors., club
rooms, &C., and many are kept up until one
O clock waiting for cot, which cannot be had
until the parIors. &C., are vacated by the guest
for the night One of the greatest sights to me
is the Yankee pedlers. They are numerous,
especially 90 the Boston Commons, and on the
side walks of every street leading to the Colise-
um it it almost impossible to get along for
them, and an old soldier would imagine he was
in large camp, from the number Of tents put
up in the vicinity Of the Coliseum. These tents
are occupied for all kinds Of shows; the
fat woman in one, lot OF rare snakes 10
another, Punch and Judy in another, and al
most every conceivable object of curiosity. \
perfect bedlum is created with the hand organs
and other instruments inside OF the different
tents, together with door keepers and drummers
standing at the entrance offering programme
to every one passing, and each one talking at
the top of his voice like steam engine, ad-
| vertising the attractions they offer. Among the
outside shows is large balloon, which Is worked
| by steam engine, by means OF two ropes at
tached to the balloon and placed around wind
lass They are long enough to admit OF an as.
cent of about 1000 feet, and for trip OF half
an hour they charge s. to each passenger The
large basket in which the passengers are seated
is large enough to take twenty each trip. This
and swings about % feet below the base. This
has been the gala day Of the season at the
Coliseum; grand bill was made up and an OPP.
portunity given each of the foreign bands to
display their talent Long before the hour for
the commencement every seat was filled, and
many left because of not being able to find
standing room 1t is estimated that 100000
persons were present. Shortly after three o'clock
Gen Grant, accompanied by Secretary Fish,
Gen Babcock and their ladies' and their escorts
arrived and took seats provided for them in the
centre of the hail. They were received with
APPLAUSE, but the enthusiastic demonstration
which many expected did not take place. Sim
ultancously with the appearance OF the General
and suite the American and English bands per
formed Hail to the Chici.(ll Sccthc C"nIucrng
Hero Comes was then given by the Grcnadler
| Guards Band and then the organ peaIed forth
God Save the Queen. At the end of these pa
triotic selections the German aud French bands
rc-entercd bearing the American flag, and were
applaulcd in vehement style. The French
bands were, undoubtedly, the favorire OF the
evening theirreception amounting to an ovation.
Their performance of the Tampa overture was
brilliant, and evoked the most emphatic encore
of the day, and they were not suffered to depart
until five encorcs had been demanded and given.
among them Hail Columbia Y ankee Doodle and
the Marseilaise and they finally left amidst APP
plause and Il forest of waving handkcrchicts.
After this the Anvil Chorus performed by the
fremcn was well executed, and after 1t the
Star Spanglcd Banner, sung by the whole
choiristerS and assisted by the bands organ,and
the cannous joining with the base IN good time
they were on the outside and fired from the in.
side by electricity. \ military march finished
the programme for the afternoon.
The principle places of interest to a visitor
are the i. S. navy yard, Boston Museum,
Kings Chapel, built in 1850. the Old South
Church, erected in 1870. In this church Frank
lin worshiped and was baptized On stone
inserted in the wall on the front. is the nscrlp-
ton: This church was desccrated By the british
troops in l777j, and how many churches South
could place similar inscriptions "Desecrated
by the troops Of the i. 5. arm? Fort '" ar
rem, we'll known to many confederate, soldier,
forts Independence and Winthrop, Bunker lilll
Monument, Harvard University in Cambridge,
Mount Auburn Cemetery; and there are also
many places of resort on the sea shore. convent
ent of access and reached BY steam boats, max
ing from two to four trips daily, according to
distance. and we'll supplied with comfortable
Beach, Beach, NEWPORT New s'' Nantasket and Rye Beach
There is no section of the U. s. where the. peo.
Pile can better afford to enjoy all the lqYuries of
life than 10 Boston; there is probably more
wealth here than in any other city in this coun-
try; they have the reputation Of knowing how
to make money and also of knowing how to
save it. Yours, FlRGlSIAN.