Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-06-10
Letter From Massachusetts,.
CAMBRIDGE, May 25th, 1878.
J. HARRIS GUY.

Boston is the subject of my story
this time l thought perhaps it
would not be uninteresting to your
readers to discourse for awhile upon
the Mecca of Yankeedom," the
Queen City of the Union" the
"abode of the muses." the cradle of
liberty" the hope of the world, the
palladium of universal freedom. This
Hub" of the solar system is situated,
as Proctor Knoll said of Duluth, upon
the apex of the earth, and the horizon
comes down all around it. That none
may however fail to find it upon the
map, l will state more specifically that
it is situated upon quite a fine bay on
the eastern coast of Massachusetts,.
The Charles. a fine dirty river naviga-
bic for full five miles, sweeping down
divides on the one hand with its
steel blue sicklen as Lowell mis-
names it. Cambridge and Charlestown
from the Sacred City, and uniting
with the Mystic, another Underwater
creek, sewers in half Boston itself.
The two parts are known as Boston,
and East Boston. Boston to its own
intense disgust has only 250000 prop
"
This precedence in population has al
ways been thorn in the side of Bos-
ton, and Notwithstanding her daily
importation of Paddles, she can't wipe
out the disgrace. But with unusual
ambition Boston has cast up moles.
taken in tide water marshes, erected
public buildings, Sent out ships and
blown her own trumpet to the ends of
the earth in order to be spoken of
men. Some of these wonders | will
mention. First and foremost is Bun
ker Hill Monument, of course. This
product of pure and self-sacrificing pa
triotism, is granite tower, square and
tapering, about go feet high, with a
winding staircase inside, covered at
the top with solid stone, and having
only four miserable loopholes TO look
out from. l don't know whether or
not it is in the hands of stock cOmpa-
ny, but it is one of the most paying
investments known, the ADMISSION
FEE being 10 cts, and guide-bOOk TO
the landscape, % Cts, and the visitors
probably less than 800 600 in number.
Picture patriot, like your humble
servant making his first pilgrimage
thither-think of the emotions that
surged like lava tide through his
soul, here Warren fell, here was the
American continent baptiseu in blood
in the sacred name of liberty, this is
the free offering of patriotism to the
fair Goddess, to which, Immortal Web
ster spoke in burning words, Let it
rise till it meet the Sun in his coming,
&C." Pompey's pillar, the column OF
Place Vendome, the column of Ira
jan, the pyramids are monuments OF
base ambition-this is LIBERTY-at
this moment clicking metallic voice
smote upon my ear, 10 cents admis-
sion, % cents guide book" The effect
of these words l leave to your imagi-
SPerhaps l should state that
the monument is in Charleston, but
this is not thought Of Boston has
one of the finest Post Offices in the
Union, now being finished. 1t is of
granite, an immense structure of no
particular order and situated where
the streets are so narrow that it will
not be seen. Many of It's columns
were spoiled by the heat of the great
fire and will have to be replaced. The |
Town Hall is also very fine building
Much on the same order and build of |
granite The Capitol is an ugly clum-
~ old building situated upon the |
highest point in Boston, and COM !
the finest view in the city |
which nobody is allowed to see, it be- |
ing kept closed most of the time. The |
Senate chamber is large enough for a !
very respectable private parlor with
close dark gallery for spectators, large |
nj a foy 10, l., II
from. The Hall of Representatives is
very little better. / don't know what
they would charge to go to the top
Fanneuil Hall is avery common build
ing, with a single hall inside, with |
galleries, and is very modern looking. |
1t is used for political caucuses. There |
are many very fine residences, the |
eternal squareness of which Dickens |
prevailed. Boston is |
built on the exact plan of the ancient |
Labyrinth. No street is straight, and |
they meet and cross in the most mex
plicable fashion, making impossible |
triangles, squares, ellipses, &c. You |
may go into store on one street, ask |
for an article, walk five minutes to |
find another store of the same sort go
ing TO different street and apparent
" different part of the city, and up
on going in and asking for the same
article be told that you had just look
I'd at their stock-the store fronted OH
two streets. You can pierce the most
solid blocks by curious alleys and COW
cred ways. fremont and Washington |
Streets are the pride of BOstonians for
wealth and business. The
Park or Common as it is called is the
best thing in Boston. 1t is very large,
situated in the heart of the city, is
laid out turfed, and wood
ID. 1t has many statues, fountains,
and pretty little bits of landscape. In
It is the famous Frog Pond. The
Common is the resort of old and young,
.ich and poor. Here the poor toll
worn man can almost imagine himself
fresh air in the country.
Public parks in crowded cities are the
choicest blessings accorded TO the poor.