Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-14
Boston During the Seige of I775.

Boston During the Seige of l775.
1t was dull work for the officers and
ladies and gentlemen to stay cooped up
in the little peninsula through the dis
NAL winter, their eyes and ears beseiged
by the forlorn condition of the inhabit-
ants, and enjoying small show of that
dignifed merry-making for which Bos-
ton has been famous. The officers found
time enough for gallantry, and two
ladies then living in town, daughters of
the famous DR.. Byles, used to tell, half
a century later, when they were still I'M
finching loyalists, of their promesades
with General Howe and Lord Percy on
Boston Common, and of the music of
his lordships band, played under their
window at his lordship's order. A new
regiment arrived from England in De-
cember and the News Letter chirped at
mention Of the excellent band it brought,
with promise of a concert for the diver
sion of the town. When the new year
set in, series of subscription balls were
announced, to be held at Concert Hall
once fortnight. The last ball at the
Province House was the queens ball,
given, curiously enough, on the 22d of
February. The festival of st. John the
Evangelist was duly celebrated by a
dinner at Free Mason's Hall, march
to Brattle street, and an appropriate SER
mon, but there is no mention of any
public festivity at Christmas. The most
elaborate effort at entertainment was in
the theatrical representation given under
the patronage of General Howe. A
number of officers and ladies formed a
Society for Promoting Theatrical Amuse-
ments, title which somehow seems to
give certain solemnity to the proceed
ings, and they did this, the announce.
ment frankly stated, for their own amuse.
ment and the benevolent purpose of con
tributing to the relief of distressed sol
J, diers, their widows and children. Fan
. euil Hall had been fitted up with stage
and the performance began atsix o'clock
: The entrance fee was not immoderate
one dollar for the pit and quarter of a
F, dollar for the gallery. The surplus ovel
expenses was to be appropriated to thu
Q relief of the poor soldiers. The mos
+ notable piece, however, was the loca
i farce of The Blockade of Boston, b,
Z General Burgoyne, whose reputation al
wit and dramatist has kept quite ever
pace with his military fame On tn,
6 evening of the Sth Of January it was tt
D be given for the first time. The coined,
of the Busybody had been acted, ant
J the curtain was about to be drawn 70
J the farce, when the actors behind tn
, scenes heard an exaggerated report Of
u raid made upon Charlestown by small
e party of Americans. One of the actors
l. dressed for his part, that of Yanke
e sergeant, came forward upon the stage
Is called silence, and informed the audienc
'e that the alarm guns had been fired an
Oh battle was going on in Charlestowr
Is The audience, taking this for the frs
"a scene in the new farce. applauded oil
c streperously, being determined to get a
> bo tbon % he hoI % ~
~ piece, when the order was suddenly gi,
ie en- in dead earnest for the officers to r.
a turn to their posts. The audience I.
e. this was thrown into dire confusion, IL
III officers jumping over the orchestr
'h breaking the fiddles on the way, the a
nc tors rushing about to get rid of the
W paint and DISCUSSES, the ladies alternat
ne ly fainting and screaming and the pls
% brought to great grief.-Horace E. Sea-
&c der IN the Atlantic for april.
cd To understand the world is wiser th;
of to condemn it. To study the world
ID. better than to shun it. To use the wor
in, is nobler than to abuse it. To ma
Dr. the world better, lovelier, and happi
is the noblest work of man and "
he man.
iiS The door between us and heaven ca
Ia "a, not be opened if that between us a
NC our fellow men is shut.
INT $3.50
ed Everywhere make yourself useful a