The Republican journal., 1873-09-04
Letter from Boston.


DOoloN, oCPt' /, 1902
And Belfast, too, has received her fiery
baptism in this season Of terrible and
widespread visitations, and, like so many
others of our fair and prosperous cities,
has been laid low by the hot breath Of the
destroying elements the slow accrlmula-
tons of years Of patient toll and success
full enterprise swept away in the surging
flames, the rich made suddenly poor, and
the poor perchance reduced to beggary.
But amid the general distress and sut-
tering caused by the many confagrations
that have assailed, but happily not crushed,
SO many Of our large towns during the
past two years. there at least remains the
one compensation of an all-pervading feel
ing of heartfelt sympathy one with the
other i'll our closely knit circles of metro
| politan centres.
| None like the stricken heart can feel an
others Woe; and among the cities pecn-
liarly fitted by like trial to condole with
Belfast in this hour OF her misfortune,
| Boston, from her great burning of last
November and her many subsequent Sc
we're screenings. stands prc-emnent. And
yet, so far as actual suffering is concerned
Boston is not perhaps fully competent 10
appreciate the peculiar hardship that has
| befaIlen yOur city, inasmuch that while
many of vour people We're driven from
their homes to see them Tapped up by the
hungry flames, but very few dwelling
houses We're burned in our great fires oI
the past yrar; and although whole streets
Of our warehouses were destroyed last
| November, Yet it is u fact not TO he denied
| that in our city was Il plentiful supply OF
! supertluous stores and lofts long empty.
ready and most willing to accommodate
the business seeking 4 temporary asylum
whereas, for ought your correspondent
knows to the contrary, the concerns burmeC
out in Belfast may be obliged 10 await the
slow process Of rebuilding before rcSuIn
inc operations, thereby deprivn@ Of then
means for earning their daily bread thu
men and women BY them employed Truly
the heart knoWeth his own bitterness.
Your Mayor has shown himself to b,
above the exhibition of any of that morbi'
sentimentali5m, almost approaching boast
ing, sometimes displayed upon occasions
like the present but ON the contrary, feel
mo that his answer to tender Of aid is to
his whole people, the poor rs we'll As the
rich, the dav-labortr as well Il, the large
employer, he has, with Il blunt ingenious
ness truly refreshing, honestly confessed
that help is needed and will be grateful
accepted
This is the true course. But, untortu
natclv, in crises like the present, the buSi
ness men of the city, in their efforts t.
disabuse the minds of their correspondent
in other sections Of the country of an
doubts the latter may have as TO the abilit
otthe burned-out houses to continue opera
tions in spite Of their losses, knowing tina
such an impression going about wouI'
have tendency to divert trade into othe
channels, these business men, ] SAY. ar
apt to lay too little stress ON the suffering
sure to exist among the working CLASSES
and which they, the men Of business, ma
not be able wholly to alleviate in the tim
Of their own temporary reverse
have no doubt that money and supple
will continue to pour in upon You in tn
same generous stream which ha- alrtad
commenced to flow; and that Boston vi
he fairly represented in the lists of amoI
ers. the receipts published in Your papr
of last week give iorrshadoWing evidence
There must Of necessity be more OF Ir,
OF temporary distress in your city, result
mo from YOUR fire and business may be
a standstill for A few months but NO on
stppoSeS thnt Belfast Is to experience AN
lasting injury from the severe trial 9II
has undergone, OF that the epoch ot he
f drcadcnce is to date from the great llr
> of 1877" The city that has risen :
triumphantly over former adverse fortune
and which in her present calamity show
no signS OF lespondrnce, will continue t
sustain ~ she alway1 has, the proud I'LL
of fine piue-Trcu State. Diriuui Z"