Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-03
B0sTON,s POINTS.
Manners and Gus
toms.


From the New York Tribuns.l
Good subjects for books having become
rather scarce, we think that an anus
ing and not uninstructive one might be
written upon types Of local character.
It is admitted that the Boston differs
from the New York man; that Phila-
delphian is like neither the Trinoun-
taineer nor the Knickerbocker; and
where is the Chicagoese who will for
moment allow that he at all resembles
the son of St. Louis? A few of these
differences are decided and we'll marked.
They are to be observed in public and
domestic habits, in commercial notions,
in literary tastes, in religious tone and
custom. But apart from usually recog-
nized points like these, are certain
shadowy, unpronounced and yet unde-
niable peculiarities, which none the less
exist because it would not be easy to
state them with precision. 1t is to
these that we owe the badinage
and jokes usually good humored)
which entertain US through the me-
dunn of the newspapers, which
are sharp without morsel of malice and
resemble somewhat the light sparring
which not seldom goes on in the most
affectionate families. Of these jests
Boston has naturally had her share; and
we must say that her chronic habits Of
criticism and her manner of doing the
best things have fairly provoked rejoin-
der and sometimes reprisal. The city
frequently makes us think of an old maid
from whom all personal graces have not
fed, and who is vibrating between q state
of virginity and state Of confirmed YER
Juice. Sometimes she is gracious and
sometimes she is glum; anon she is sac
eharine, until her nature suddenly
undergoes an acetous fermentation, and
while she 10 the kindest and most oblig-
ing of all who wear long clothes, it often
happens that her curious angularities of
character, her prim precision, and the
prickly character of her moral epidermis,
render it as hard to live with her as,
Heaven knows, it might be to live with
out her.
We are pleased to notice that . Prov
idence newspaper admits that there are
good points" about Boston. There's
the remains of a fine woman about
Ssirey, Poll, remarked Mr.. Bailey TO
Poll Sweedlepipe; and the Providence
admission reminds us OF that sharp boys
guarded criticism. Good Points
about Bostonl We should think there
werel Some of them, we allow, may be
little too good, but that's fault in the
right direction. Municipal integrity,
Goldfish and potatoes, Lowell lectures,
baked beans, business enterprise, and
even the east wind, are all good things
in their way. A dignifed gravity of
demeanor is good thing, and so is an
eve. provided it be not over sharp, which,
catlike. watches for the merest mouse of
m ain chance. In the solid and yirtHoqs
narts of the human character, Boston
Undoubtedly surpasses the whole mob OF
munieipalities. The only difficulty is
that solidity may sometimes be so dense
as to interfere With grace, and that vlr-
tuousest" virtue is apt 70 make us just
a IttIe enamored of yics. Moreover,
we suppose that the men and wo-
men of the Three Mountains will
admit thaa they are a degree or two
too cold ia their manners, and have
NOT that hearty way Of opening their
arms 10 strangers (moraliy Speaking, Of
eourse). which may be noticed else-
where. The waylarer, unless he chances
10 be a British or Russian OF other
prince, an Indian chief, or celebrated
author, will hare no reason TO complain
Of the warmth OF his reception IN bos-
ton, especially if be should happen to
arrive on Sunday morning. Upon that
sacred day, he will 6Rd the streets de-
serted and dull, save when the process
sion is vending churchward, looking as
II Il did not expect TO like the sermon,
or homeWerl looking, as if It had been
agreeably disappointed. What thea Z
Upou ne spot on earth, we venture to
saw. within the same area, Wii, be found
40 many homes so full of all domestie
eraces. so peopled by honest men aud
kindly wsmen, by children Of such no
he promise and so carefully nHrtured. !
This reflection has kept US tolerably |
warm, even when the Wind called y. u; |
was making manly frames to shake aud
vomanly noses 70 redden. Has the
reader ever noticed what is 10 be found
in most tolerably large families; the
model child, the girl or boy who
never did anything wrong, was never
late at sehool, never told hb or had an
unclean face, never spoke unless
gpoken 70, always said Yes, msrm,
or Yes. sir." always wiped tis feet, and
aisays shut the door, Boston is Ike
tbe model child, not loveable, perhaps,
but extremely likable, and not 70 be
criticized without gGalms Of conscience.
The best way for one alien % those I'M
aaanlaie streets. shOuld any cOntlCFersy
arse respecting that city, is 10 do ~ the
beginning uhsf % any rate Be vii Be