The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-11-07
MISCELLANY.
For Tnf RKcosp.
N0rEs FRoaT NEW ENGLAND.
(coNoIuDED FROM snrr. 26th.


Friday, July 21st. The rain Is falling IN q
quiet easy way. and the clouds have such 4
general appearance Of business that we have
decided to forego our proposed trip TO Nahant'
and spend the day indoors. Ny friend Is par
ticularly fond of FERNS and we have busted
ourselves this morning in Planting some
choice varieties she had obtained from Ioland
Springs, in Maine and in pruning her dainty
parlor fernery, which consists Of a graceful
little stand, holding large glass dish filed
with rare ferns. have been interested in
examining lovely collection of algae, arrang-
ed in book form. With how many beautiful
things we may adorn our homes, by the exer-
else OF taste and skill. Ferns, grasses and
MOSES may be had without price, yet they
speak Of a more delicate taste than the most
expensive upholstery. have been looking
over George Eliot's last book, but find tia lit
lie tiresome, not the fault Of the book howev-
er, ten years ago it would have interested me
lexceedingly Asgreater part Of the afternoon
we have spentin talking over bye gone days.
Through different paths, we have both come
out upon the same quiet table-land, from
which we can look back over all the way we
have traversed. We recalled those who for a
time were our fellow-travelers /; some have
fallen by the wayside, weary with the march
of life, others have entered widely diyerging
paths, and we see them no more. And thus
the hours OF this rainy day have sped peace
fully and dreamily away to one whose life is
full of activity, whose waking hours are
crowded full of care and labor, such days are
particularly grateful.
Saturday. July 2Sth We have spent the
day in visiting the Public Gardens. Boston
Common, the Public Library, and the Natur-
al History Rooms. The chief attraction of
the Common is its. magnificent elms. The
Frog Pond is a clear pool of water, from
which judge the frogs have departed, as I
saw no trace of them. The most beautiful
ornament of the Common is the "Gardiner
Brewer Fountain" which Is of greenish
bronze. At the base are four life-sized figures
-one water nymph, holding in her hand
some treasure of the deep. The figures
judged, were symbolical, but whether they
typifed Neptune and his attendants, or some
other Psychological personages, it was impos-
sible to determine from anything that the fig
ures themselves suggested. felt like the la
dy who was examining picture of the Del
uge, by celebrated artist. The picture was
not noted down ia her catalogue, and after
gazing at it for some time through her eye
person to know what this picture means -
just pigeon sitting on a tree by the sea
shore, absolutely suggestive Of nothing ~
As We walked through the Common, the spry
little English sparrows, hoped before us,
turning sidelong glances at us, and wistfully
chirpng request for crumbs. In one corner
of the Common was an enclosure containing q
number of deer. The fawns we're very tame,
and were evidently used to receiving gifts
from visitors. The Public Garden, was gay
with brilliant flowers. Among the statues,
one erected in honor of the discoyerer of an
aesthetics was excellent in design, and web ex-
ecuted, 1t represented the Good Samaritan
binding up the wounds Of him whv fell among
thieves. There was also a statue of General
Washington, Of heroic size, which was consid-
cred very fine. The Public Library of Boston
is not as large building as ! had expected to
find, but it certainly contains vast number
of books. The method for finding book is
ingenious. There are number of drawers
upon each of which is fastened one of the let
tiers Of the Alphabet Upon pulling out these
drawers you find them filled with cards so
held down by wires that they cannot be taken
from the drawer, yet so arranged that you can
read the title Of tho books printed thereon
For example, if you wish to find the g Vicar
of Wakefield you would 60 to the drawer
labeled "V," and turning over the cards, if
it was in the Library it would be indicated
thereon, and its number and place designated.
Many rare and curious books are collected
here. | saw the epistles Of St. Jerome in
black letter, containing the autograph Of Mar
tin Luther an ancient theological book con-
tainingsan crasurIe by the Spanish Inquisition !;
copy Of the Nuremberg Chronicle, printed
in 1893, which shows that the art of printing
and engraving, even at that early date, was
by no means imperfect. There was also an In
dian Bible, translated by John Eliot and the
Bay Psalm Book, which was the first book
printed in America. There were also several
interesting manuscripts a copy Of Newton's
Optics, with manuscript corrections by him.
self a note written by Walpole and man
uscript account Of a journey to Europe, by
Bowditch. The authorities, who have the Ii
brary in charge, use the utmost precaution to
prevent the books from being defaced or de-
stroyed. In the entrance way noticed con-
spieuous placaTd, announcing that John Scan
Ian, of No. 40 Elm Street, was fined twenty
dollars for mutilating book. In the reading
room the same statement appeared in most
prominent position. At the head of the first
flight of stairs, the misdeeds Of john Seaman
were again paraded before the public. BY this
time began to feel a slight degree of SYM
pathy for the offender, and after seeing the
san1e placard in several other portions of the
building, finally came upon very ordinary
copy Of a translation Of Cicero's Orations,
from which several leaves had been torn this
book was enclosed in a glass CASE and a label
attached to it, which read as follows This