Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-15
ON BOSTON LETTER.
BosroN, Dec. 10, 1877.

Inspecting HotutN CUTS anu tdAibs tOulioit III wv
nee fresh air. We lave had only the merest sus-
picion Of snow yet, but cannot tell how soon we
shall need our ulsters furs and rubber boots, for
such weather as we are having now is unusual
and too good to last.
| The fair now being held in the Od South
CauIch for It's benefit, has thus far been an extra
ordinary success, the sum Of fourteen thousand
dollars having been taken 10 four days The bel
| fry OF the church is covered with evetgreens and
present. a novel sight, among the business hou SEES
and offices.
Near Nj. Hope Cemetery, which is situated a
short distance from Mt. Hope Station on the Bos-
ton x Providence II. r. dSells a family whose
name think it unnecessary TO give, but who are
| afflicted with son and brother, description of
whom may interest some of the readers Of the
journal. This son is man of twenty five years
Of age, and has all the manners aud customs of a
dog. He hops on sll fours, and his hands and
knees and feet are completely encrusted with dirt
and filth as hard wood. 1t is impossible to
keep clothes upon the poor creature, WHO rejects
all covering, aud throws it away, tearing il off Of
him at the first opportunity. His breast is mass
of corruption aud the water runs from his mouth
constantly. Cduuot sptah an Olc WOIh,
but grunts and paws he air when addressed lie
is sad, most ptiaole sight, and one calculated
to stir compassion in any b. east His father works
daily in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, while the moth
er has the unhappy task Of watching her strange
offspring. Think what burden she has endured
for twenty FIVE years She has horror Of report
ers, and since the poor creatures feet were exam
ined by an inquring reporter, and then described
most minutely in one Of the newspapers Of the
next day, she has refused to let the curious gain
sight of her child, SO strangely afflicted.
A few days since | heard Of young friend Of
mine, a boy of seventeen, starting off for "the
plains" in search Of adventure and excitement.
lie left his comfortable home secretly, left his
family unaware Of his intention and DEPARTED in
search of some Of those adventures and hair
br adth escapes he had read so much of in the
lashy weekes of the day. This is the third IN
stance of the kind which has come under my i'm
mediate knowledge. Three boys have personal
" known who have yearued to be second NV lid
! Sam, the Scout" or "Dick of the Prairies," a1d
| rescue fair maids from the Indians. and live in
rude cabin " lib rifles. dogs, and my,tery and ro-
nance surrounding them on every side. Parents
liuic ibiuh VI tue thCSi thSsc kabiSu taits nave
upon the Uniformed minds Of The children God
has entrusted to them. They give no thought to
what Tom Harry reads out of school They
augh at the pictares in the "Boy's Weekly" of
scouts swinging by one foot from breaking boughs,
aud Indians bearing away shrinking maidens, while
the young hero, the "Wild Sam" or "Dafe Devil
Dick" comes down hill in the distance to the
rescue. The boys neglect their lessons TO read
such tales. They glory IN the life Of excitemept
aud danger therein depicted. They long 20 start
out in search of just such adventures. History
and Biography, and the news Of the day possess
no taste foI them, and seem dull and tame after
reading about life ON the Pampas. There so
many excellent papers and magazines for the
young, that it seems a terrible pity such pa
ptrs ! have tried to describe are placed in their
hands, or that they are allowed 10 read what gives
them false idea of life and units them for study
which viii improve their minds. Let parents look
over the reading matter which John and Tom
carry in their jacket pockets, read two or three
Of the tales which have excited their boyish inter-
est, aud then make up their minds whether or not
it will iujGre the impiossionable minds o! the
children God has gwen them TO guide and watch
over.
The long waited for drama, The Exiles, /"
about Which 50 much has been said and written,
was produced al the Boston Theatre last Monday
evening. Theatre goers will be enrsptured with
this drama, which is put upon the stage in a way
never before seen in America, and deserves all
the praise il receives The audience on Monday
evening was disposed 10 be very critical, but were
Cnmpf He'd n he lavish in their
Shewell, james, Buckley and Price, Miss VAIN
wright and Mrs Hunter were called before the
curtain al the close OF nearly every act
Frank Mayo in "Davy Crockett has been
play ing this week to very fair houses. The man
In which the piece is put on the stage deserves
especial mention The first scene, in which is fine
view with cascade Of real water and other en- =
belshments, was enthusiastically received The
autumn leaves which completely cover the stage
IN this scene add very much 10 the fac effect of
tout ensemble.
The popular saying when person tries to read
a very stupid book is that lie "tried to wade
through It," But this cannot be said with truth
about "My Mother in-law," simply because il ia
20 very shallow that horn bug wouldn't by any
possibility even wet his feet. much less tcdde Per
| haps it is intended that these books of THAT
j Husband OF NJ ne" series sA0uid be shallow. but
they should at lesst be interesting failed TO find
an interesting sentence in "My mother-in-law. -
much less did feel like smiling over the attempts
at wit, which appeared to me the lowest of slang.
Such character as Fred Mars,on" would win
| the dIsappfoyal OF any mother-in-law, and de.
serve to WIN it, And the depicting of the char.
acter OF lady in Mrs. Pinkerston" falls very far
short Of the prevailing idea Of what lady should
be. In fact the book deserves TO fall fat on the
taste Of the pnblic, who If it enjoys light reading
after the fatigue Of business hours is over, does
not enjoy maudlin, unhealthy sentiment. or sill.
ness without bumor. CONSTANCE STERLING
| Hon. Elihu Burritt suffered severe hemor.
rhsge of the lungs on Friday last and is consd
cred TO be in a critical condition. lie has been in
feeble health for some months,