New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
Tile PADDOCK ELMS.
progress.

There is weeping and wailing among the
Hamdryades of TremOnt-st., in Boston. 1t
NAV seem a contradiction in terms to say that
Aldermen have no bOwels-they do MT look it,
"a Punch said of Mme AlbOni-but it was
settled 6 to ~, after no end of talk and petit
tioning, and calling Of Yeas and Nays, that
the woodman should not spare the fremont
st. trees, and the convenience of street rail-
way triumphod over sentiment. The gentle
friends of the ancient trees made speeches in
their behalf; while disclaiming sentiment
they spoke indirectly of associations; the de-
tenders of the trees presented most respect
able front. Mr.. Marshall p. Wilder, who is
authority as to all things growing out of the
ground, could MT see that public convenience
required cutting down; DR.. Holmes, who is
popularity supposed to be descended, upon the
mothers side from Daphne. and who Is ac-
auainted with all the fine trees in Massachu-
SETS protested 80 did the Rev. Mr.. Bartol,
the kindest hearted of clergymen. There was
nobody over from Harvard University Law
School to quote the thirty Book OF the
Digest in which it is provided that those who
cut down trees shall be treated like thieves "
(tanqt.am latrones) There was nobody to
quote Shakespeares tongues in trees" or the
Bibles spreading himself like green bay
"tree,n or Millions "tOwers and battlements,
bOsomed high in tufted trees" In fact, be-
fore that Board of Aldermen the protestants
seem to have felt that the more poetry
the worse it would be for them. DIR.
Holmes begged the Aldermen to wait till
next June, when the poor trees would
be in full foliage, and when every leaf would
plead; but the Aldermen evidently smelt po-
etry. in this suggestion, and met it with the
deepest (and longesD of ears The trees, and
fine old fellows they were, it was voted must
come down, and down they are. We suspect
that this settles the fate Of the Old South
Church, which is an ugly old building, whereas
the trees were really beautiful. If it should
now be proposed to convert Bunker Hill Mon
ument into shOt-tOwer, we promise not to
be in the least astOnished. Pretty soon all the
antiquities of Boston will be in brakes His
tory. which, fortunately, is an uncOmmOnly
good one.
OF course, We in New-York have no right
to blame Boston icOnOclasm. No precious
brick and mortar was ever spared here for the
sake of its associations; and we feel every day
that we are dreadfully and disgustingly new
When we wanted the true relish of antiquity.
we went for it to Boston, and found it there
In Bunker Hill and John HancOck's house and
the Old South we had a sort of property, and
we have been accustomed to think that Bos-
ton held these relics as in trust for the whole
Republic. Her best public memories were ours
also; even the horny y-handed Hoosiers made
kind of Mecca Of he; ; and when the Old South
escaped the flames, men thousands of miles
away, who never saw the building, rejoiced.
They are rather astonished to learn that it is now
seriously proposed to pull down what the
fierce element spared. If Christ Church
should go next, and then Kings Chapel, what
will there be left The Republic has no
antiquities. These, such as they are, the
municipalities own and control; and We are
sorry to say that nowhere do they appear to
be considered of much value, or of much i'm
portance in comparison with the advance in
the price of real estate.
Our advice to our friends in Boston is that
they do nothing which hereafter they may
heartily regret. Their city may or may not
become az big as New York, but il it should,
they will want something which we have not
to boast Of-an old church or two, the Com
mon, homestead or so of q century's standing.
IL now. though sorely temDted to domolish