Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-17
Our Boston Letter.
EAsTER-THE WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE-A
MODERN ROMANCE.


MODERN ROMANCE.
BosToN, April IA, 1878.
Editor Rutland Herald Fifty years
ago. Easter, ''the queen of Festivals
was unknown to the majority of New
England churches Yet for many day
has this "'feast of obligation" been cele-
brated among all the religious denomina-
tions of New York and the southern
States. According to the Puritan code,
the resurrection of Christ should be
COMMUNICATED at every Sunday service
since one special day set apart for high
solemnities was most unnecessary. How
ever, as the world went round and the
hours rang in new changes even New
England ideas have wideAed, and to such
a degree that Matner OF stouuioh
would recoil aghast at the sound OF the
''glorias'' and 'jubilates, and at the
sight of the cascades of flowers that yes
terday decorated the shriues of their
plain, homely meeting houses" Bos-
ton has already taken great strides in re-
ligious liberty, and to-day does she cele-
brate the birth and resurrection of Christ
with almost equal pomp and beauty to
that INDUCED in by her sister cities. Not
a pulpit or altar was totally unadorned
by some floral tribute, while some
churches, both Protestant and Catholic,
were visited by thousands to enjoy the
magnificent display of flowers and the
grand music. Space will allow of but
a glimpse at the interiors of the two
churches which bear the palm for the
magnitude of their celebrations. At
Mr.. E. E. Hale's, in Union Park,
scene of exotic splendor greeted the eyes
of the vast congregation, never to be
forgotten The entire church was fes-
tooned with the wax-like leaves of the
rhododendrom, evergreens and ivies,
while around the gallery at distance
of four feet, swung large globes of car
nations, camelias and aZalias. The en-
tire chancel was cascade and banks of
rare flowers from which rose on either
side crosses to the height of six feet,
composed of roses. At the back of the
pulpit stood a gigantic cross of white
camelias and also containing ninety balla
lilies. Every available nook and corner
was graced by fern or broad-leafed
palm, while from the centre of the cell
ing depended an enormous basket with
festoons of the Passion-1ower in full
bloom, to the length of twenty feet.
Of course the expense was common
surate to the splendor of the display,
but it is consoling to think that every
blossom will to-day grace the bedsides of
the sick in the various city hospitals.
Easter day was celebrated in the
Catholic churches with unusual pomp.
All day the arches of the Church of the
Immaculate Conception resounded with
grand anthems and masses by the choir,
the organ and military orchestra. Ex-
tremely solemn was the high mass with
its floral display, dazzling affairs, and
professions of embroidered robes with
the acolytes in purple and lace swinging
the silver censers. But the day is past,
and the brilliant memories thereof alone
remain and 'vibrate, like music, when
soft voices die. F"
A practical trial was made during the
past week of the Westinghouse railroad
brake, on the Eastern railroad. The
company kindly placed train, consist
ing of eight cars and a locomotive, at
the disposal of the Westinghouse Brake
company, for the purpose of testing the
workings of the new brake, which has
of late attracted so much attention
among railroad men. Six trials were
made, and several of them repeated.
The results were highly interesting to
oil g.. A.
terested in the new method of stopping
a train of cars, while in full motion, at
short notice. Among the most remark
able were the stopping of the train
while running at the rate of thirty miles
an hour in fifteen seconds, the distance
through which the train advanced being
only 513 feet again, the stopping of
the train by the engineer by applying
the brake from the engine, the train be-
ing brought to a standstill within fifteen
seconds after the brake was applied; and
the stopping of the train by the severing
of the engine from it, the train being
stopped in this instance in eleven sec
onds. Thus was an afternoon passed in
the exemplifications of one of the most
humane inventions of the age.
Society has lately been convulsed by
the report of the death of an English
lady whose life to its very end was ro-
nance of the deepest dye. Mrs. Burton,
the lady's biographer, writes that, tired
OF Europe and ordinary life, Lady Ellen
borough, sixteen years ago, conceived
the idea OF visiting the East. She ar
rived at Beyrout and went to Damas-
Gus, where she arranged to go to Bagdad
across the desert. A Bedouin escort for
this journey was necessary, and as the