The Portland daily press., 1872-01-02
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE PRESS.
Letter from Boston.


MEssRs EDIToRs:-But few more letters to
bear the date of seventy-one; then, the present
year must join the annals of the past. A few
more days corresponding to the ancient Sdtur-
MALTA, and 1872 is upon us. Never was the OBJ
servation of Christmas Day more universal
than at present. The sturdy joy of the Pill
grim Fathers, as they labored through the
hours of one of the holy days of the Church,
would have been sadly dampened, had they
foreseen that in two centuries and half their
descendantsswould vie with each other in show
ing marks of veneration for the ancient fes-
tivaL
In the Puritan City, besides the usual cere-
monies at the Episcopalian and Roman
Churches, Orthodox ministers preached Christ
mas sermons, Unitarian houses of worship
were decorated with evergreen crosses, and
Christmas festivities were held by Sunday
Schools of every denomination. The Episco-
pal Church organ of the press (Witness) meets
the public enthusiasm with the significant
phrase, tenepora ma,tantur. We should think
SO, when at Bowdoin street, once the granite
fortress of Orthodoxy, in command of DIR. Ly-
man Beecher, the midnight sacrament of Holy
Communion is administered to some two hum
dred people between the hours of II and 1, on
the morning of the 25th of December. High
Church Congregationalism has sold out to High
Church Episcopacy. =
ALDERMAN! SPARE THAT TREE
is the popular ditty in the streets to-day. The
old must give place to the new in civic, as well
as ecclesiastical matters. The Metropolitan
Railroad Company now owns this city, or, at
least, all except the portion used by the inhabi-
tants for actual dwelling purposes. Years ago,
Maj. Paddock planted row of elm trees on
fremont street, and paid the debt of nature
without waiting to consult the M. r. r. Co.
about the aforesaid elms. This might have
been excusable in the Major then, but as all
the cars stop directly opposite these trees, it
would evidently be more convenient for the
proprietors of our public highways (M R. r.
Coz to have them removed The aldermen
have concurred, on account of the extra con-
venience to the dear people, and although the
latter. protest. down they must come.
swell, we can never be "Forest City,"
Were our streets arched as yours with spread
ing elms, 'the poor warfaring man of grief
who often asks me where's the way?'" would
imagine himself in a labyrinthine forest
-ge aAE PER CONTRA.
Senator Beige of the State of California pro-
poses to establish the Office of Forester, the du-
ties incumbent being the introduction of shade
trees. Though not pioneer" my memory
extends to the time when 1 have given the
Senator ga bit," (nominally 12a cents, really Is
cents) for my evening paper. The want of
trees is, however, sad defect in California
scenery, and one which Eastern people, stran-
gers to the State, seldom realize.
"Why, 1 thought you had immense trees"
responds some lover of natural curiosities.
An isolated curiosity is not an index to the
general face of the country which, in Ell Dora
do, is as bare of verdure and shrubbery as Old
Orchard Beach, where the surf breaks upon the
sand.
THEATRICAL MATTERS.
But if we cannot have street scenery to adorn
our crooked lanes, we can step just inside the
doors of either of three frst-class theatres, and
take our choice of entertainments with ever
changing scenery, and representations of every
phase of human life.
Judging from its. crowded seats, the Boston
Museum still retains its hold on the popular
heart and it is very much to the credit of the
popular taste that the company is never called
upon to play to poor house. The manage
ment rely npon first-class stock company
rather than upon sensational '.star." Thus,
those who enjoy good play, perfect in all its
detail, will never be disappointed by purchas-
ing seats at the Museum.
Still, there some people who can become so
absorbed in the greatness OF a single artist, as
to forget everything else, themselves included,
and become entirely engrossed by the wondrous
impersonation. Such have been greatly graft
fled by the managers of the Globe Theatre, DUR
ing the recent engagement of Miss Charlotte
Cushman, whose welcome to her native city
was all that she could have desired.
Wonderful in her powers of portraying the
passions, her hearers are never weary of ex-
tolling her marvellous art, yet there are some
who believe that she belongs to school of ex-
aggeration which is fast giving place to more
natural, and, consequently more truthful style
of acting. She commences, this evening" a
series of readings, to crafty those who do not
attend at the theatres. "Divorce," comedy
OF modern times interrupted by her engage
ment, again holds the boards at the Globe
which is our prettiest and most convenient
temple of Thespis
The old Boston" still holds its own; supply
ing the public with the means of making the
acquaintance of most of the first-class ''stars''
of the present day. AS Mr.. Sothern's imper-
sonation of Dundreary is everywhere widely
known, further criticism would seem super
fluouS. .t -as
These nightly amusements with the usual
round of concerts, fairs, ETC., would seem to
make the city quite endurable city at this
season, but should not wonder if, about six
months hence, mine host of the Falmouth"
should be called upon to find accommodations
for many parties of itinerant Bostonians, en-
route for Mount Desert, or. halting awhile at
the natural seaport" to smell the ocean
breezes that there do blow.
Well, it is a comfort to know that when they
will not come to us, we may go in search of
them YOurs PALMER