Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-03-18
Correspondence.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Cambridge, Mass, Feb. %

HARVARD UNIVERSITY,
Cambridge, Mass, Feb. %.
Dear Banner
Think of March winds on the
sea coast and the thermometer coquet-
ting with zero and You have our
weather at present 1t eXasperates
one, upon looking at the bleak waste
of snow without, to think that Ro-
mans are SLIPPING ices in the same lati-
tude across the d" Herring POnd.n But
winter is withal the merriest time
here. Sleighing, skating, plays and
parties-I would fsaid-rule the hour,
but no pleasure rules the hour with
thrifty Puritans. The Yankee like
most Americans, but moresO, goes
about his pleasures as to a sacrifice
generally with closed lips and teeth
shut hard as if resolved to conquer or
die. We know how to accumulate
material blessings, but we do not know
how to enjoy life. The keen distrust-
full faces in our ears, the unsociable SOL
itude in which each seems wrapt, the
hurrying tread upon ou- streets, our
hasty meals all betray people too
much given to getting and too little to
enjoying. But not to leave my subject
"a feature of this country is the way
in which churches are managed -regu-
lar sociables being given in some of
them. This is chiefly for young peo-
pie but all ages are repI esented. They
have dancing, and amusements of
various kinds, and generally refresh
ments. All may come who like, and
it seems intended to bring about bet
ter understanding between different
classes. suppose however it would
be difficult to enter the highest circles
by this means unless possessed Of con-
siderable address. Oyster suppers are
sometimes given in them, also TO raise
funds for special purposes, Indeed
they seem disposed to make use of a
church, when it is built, and not leave
it cold and desolate six days in week.
This leads me 10 make few remarks
about religion here. New England is
of course the home of every ism on
earth almost; but even orthodox reli-
gion seems undergoing a change
Prof. Tyndall's proposition of prayer
gauge TO test the efficacy of prayer as
interfering with physical relations and
laws, seems not to have been suffici-
emily answered. Hence it seems now
most people that prayer should only
be used as a spiritual help, and that it
is useless to pray for rain, and for sick
persons, or any interference with ply
steal causes. There scenes to be
necessity felt for far more liberal Of
D may use that term form of chris
tianity than our fathers deemed allow
able Uaiversalism and Unitarianism
on account of their boundless freedom
are greatly on the increase. Revivals
seem to be going out of date, Less
spiritual tension, so TO speak, and
more practical charity and well-doing
seems to be preached Perhaps it were
well if our southern churches were 10
catch somewhat of this liberal spirit
and teach more practical organized
Saarity, cease all opposition TO such
sSrinless amusements as dancing. etc.
and teach rather, by precept and ex-
ample, how to live than how to die.
The Republican party is at present
IN deep mourning. They hardly had
time to enjoy their triumph in the fall
before the tremendous scandal of the
Credit Mobilier put them to shame
They have scarcely q word to say
And now that it is reported that the
Pacific mail steamer subsidy matter
involves about 40 more members, they
seem scarcely to have energy enough
left to appoint investigating commit
tees. They remind one of the unlucky
wight who in the famous quarrel in
the I" Society on the Stanislaus re-
ceived that lump of old red sandstone
below his belt;
81 He sTnole sicklY smile 4 curled up on the floor
Ana subsequent proceedings interested hin no
Irore."
In the subsidy business one Garri
son, of New York is said to have eX-