The Republican journal., 1875-06-03
LETTER~TROM BOSTON.

|
week. To be light-hearted seems as unnatural
as to think of taking food while the corpse of a
near relative, or friend, lies unbured in the
house; but the philosophy of nature is past
finding out. 1t mystfes us but it controls US
and the most dreadful evil seems only able to
interrupt the pursuit Of our pleasures for
moment, and then we continue on our blind
path, confident that we are to be exempt from
the sorroWful experiences which like so many
birds of prey seem ever on the alert to assuage
their hunger. After all, it is better to glide
along unsuspiciOus of danger than to turn our
thoughts inward and conjure up imaginary ills
and be always miserable.
Mr.. Howells, editor of the Atlantic Monthly
is finding the labors of that position too much
for him, or rather too arduous to allow him to
write much himself As his pen is Il valuable one
to the magazine, and his stories among the gems
sought by the readers of the Atlantic, it has
been decided to give HIM an assistant editor.
ard it is understood that he has chosen his as
sociate out of the Atlantic staff, and that the
position will be filled by Mr.. George P. Lothrop,
critic, poet, essayist and writer i'll general. He
| has written for Scribner's and the New York
Nation, and he formerly had charge of the art
| department of the Atlantic. His criticisms
We're considered .'notonal' by the artists here.
however. He was not broad enough, but lei
his individual taste and personal friendships
warp his judgment too often. He has Il brother
who is an artist, and wife also. The latter is
the younger daughter of Hawthorne, the de-
ceased novelist She has contributed several
| yata colo for ARR lpl VII
here, and illustrated. last winter, a book written
by her aunt, Miss Elizabeth Peabody, well
known as the alma matter of American kinder
garten schools.
The benevolent people who interested the M
selves IN getting up excursions for the poor
children last summer, have been reminded by
the hot weather that it is time to be moving
again in the matter, and they have appealed to
the public for the sum of $4,000 to pay the eX-
penSes of the undertaking. There is probably
no object for which people are more willing to
give, or give literally, than for anything con-
nected with the welfare of children. Appeal
for the little ones goes directly to the heart
Then there is no red tape connected with the
charity, and no officials to be paid for monopo-
lizing most of the funds. Everybody knows
that children need sunshine and fresh air and
joyousness, and anybody can see what his
money is spent for, and how thoroughly its
fruits are enjoyed Some of the little urch ms
are sorry sight, and then again others make
plenty of fun, but it is a kind that causes Il tear
to succeed the smile. Those who have accom-
panied them have said they never found more
amusement and food for reflection, than in the
mid Of
neWs-boys take their haunt, is the time to see
the Dickens type of childhood. The hardened
little rascals don't know what gratitude is. On
the trip last summer, one ragged and saucy
jim, mo bigger shan pint pot was heard to
exclam. 'Oh my. h'aint this hill of a sand
which, with no mustard on it," If any nice
person should Join one of these excursions ex-
pecting to find little sabbath school Jollnnes
and JAMES, who in spite of inheritance and
every evil surrounding, are going to make ''na-
lures noblemen then their pretty theories will
be blown to atoms. But the persons who have
interested themselves in providing pure means
Of enjoyment in these excursions, hope to
arouse some of the latent good in the little
ones or to plant some good seed that may come
] up like wheat among the tareS
| see that the fashion of wearing nets on the
hair is coming round again, and allude to it
, because it was only Il short time ago, when no
hlnt OF the revival of that mode had been re-
ceiyed. that heard of a scheme to get up a re-
vival of the custom, the realization of which
was thought to have ''millions in it," II was
Frenchmau, of course, who cherished the
f idea, and he had thought out the matter in its
details SO infinitely, that he even proposed to
import the silk-Worms from his native country.
He was to have an immense establishment with
an army OF working girls, whom his wife was
to superintend. He was to have everything in
readiness, and then inangurate the fashion, and
throw at once on to the market his own secretly
manufactured goods. He was to have supplied
every city in the country with his articles, be-
cause nobody else would have foreSeen the de-
mand, and been prepared to meet it. | have
no doubt when he hears that nets are coming
into fashion again. that he will feel that he has
lost, not an opportunity to make a fortune but
averitable one, for he was persuaded by friends
and his more practical wife, that the handsome
salary of $4,000 year As Il superior designer Of
artistic furniture was bird in the hand, while
| the net speculation was = bird in the bush.
which they might throw their all away in try
ing to catch, and not secure after all.
The committee OF the Woman's Club, who
have been trying to carry on an establishment
for the sale of"Dress Reform" garments hay t
been able to meet expenses, and have announced
their intention of retiring from the practical part
of the reform. but Of sticking like death to the
theory. They first engaged Il woman to take
charge Of the place, and at the end of two
months her accounts were not found to be salts
factory. They therefore resolved on a change,
but the woman in charge being herself the in
ventor of the famous, or infamous ''chemiloon,'
she struck a defiant attitude, and set up on an
independent line in the same building, and by
the means of placards lured the unSuspicouS
seekers of many garments in one into her own
apartments. BY these tactics she drove the
Woman's Club firm, who could not descend to
like stratagems, to another locality, which they
could advertise as the only true reform empo-
rum. But, as | have said, they have come to
grief, while doubtless their rival has flourshel ;
but if the reform is for the good of womankind
they must of course to be consistent rejoice in
her success. 1t must not be supposed that all
| VIC HeHlpeIs oi Inc " ollal oluD nave Deel
converted into wearing this hideous garment
with an equally hideous name; but those who
have are enthusiastic over its virtues even to
the verge of lunacy. Let those who believe in
the wit and wisdom of Miss Louise Alcott, the
author of 'Little Women" respect the cause,
for she has donned the reform garment, and
declares that she glores in it. Mrs. Flynte
| represents another branch of the dress revol,l-
tionary movement. Her garments are different
because the patterns are all patented, but their
object is the same. She, like all the reformers,
breaches against corsetS, more heartily than she
ever, in her palmy days of dressmahing for the
aristocracy and of legal contests long bills,
endorsed them. There is no doubt that Il large
number of ladies have been persuaded that the