Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-11-01
Letter from Boston.


BOSTON, and especially with its amusemcntg
that he will be much missed His death adds
to the already complicated question of what
shall be done with the Globe theatre. II will
be thrown back into the hands of the stock.
holders, as it already virtually had been by
Mr.. Cheney's offer to reiuquish it, made over
week ago In the mean time, while the
pretty Globe is closed pending a decision of
its fate, Mr.. Jason Wentworth has opened
the "Gaiety," charming little theatre lust
above the "Boston." Old concert lovers will
remember hearing Jenny Lind sing at the
'Melodeon." 1t is this once famous hall
which has been taken as a theatre, and which
was opened on Tuesday evening by Sails.
burys Trouhadours in an odd little musical
mcdhgc, "The Brook" The Salisburys re.
mind one very strongly Of the Vokes: they
are as versatile, as clever and as sweet.
There's nothing in the least bit unsavory in
their extravaganza it is Jolly, bright, and
amusing and no one has better time than
do the actors. The theatre itself is n cozy
and attractive little place, seating about n
thousand people, and with standing room for
three hundred more. It's walls are prettily
tinted, its seats comfortable, and it will I
think, prove one of the favorito places of
amusement in the city.
Have any of you in your visits to town ev-
er gone prowlng about the anti que book
stores with which Boston abuunds? II not
you have missed very great amusement. l
made a tour of them last week, much to my
own edfication. As long as have been
resident Of this goodly city, / had never pre-
viously taken the tour and l am full of re-
gret that did not give myself the holiday
before. l divcd into Cornhill, which is lined
with stores Of this kind l found old school
books that had been thumbed by many a rest.
less, roguish pair of hands, and whose fy.
leaves bore the names OF former juvenile
owners. / discovered volumes which had
been out of print for years, old copies of the
dreariest novels that had been considered in
the days in which they were written. thrill
lingly interesting; quaint editions Of Iris
tam Shandy,' and ''Gulliver's Travels" and
really great bargains in the way of odd and
ancient books. They smelled musty, the pa
per looked yellow, the print was old fashion
ed, the binding quaint they were such books
as bibliomanac would smack his lips over.
There were mostly old fellows searching
around the Shelves lost to everything that
was going on about them, and conscious only
of books, books, books. They reminded me
of q picture l once saw, called "The Antigua
ry," in which an old fellow in blue coat and
knee breeches, with red bandanna hanging
from his pocket, was standing on a step lad
der with book under each arm, two between
his knees, and another in his hand, which he
was busily reading. From Cornhill l went
up School street and looked at the queer title
pages of the books there, and presently found
myself in the old "Archway Bookstore"
which everybody in Boston knows Is there
a person who has been caught in his jour
neys up and down Washington street, by the
placards announcing the prices of books in
the cases, who has not stopped to hunt out
bargains, or to look in idle curiosity at the ti-
ties of the books so exposed. And what
meldHge! Here will be a volume of Carlyle
elbowing one of Mrs Southworth's novels, a
book of Common Prayer side by side with
Swinburne's poems, books of science and
works of fiction, poetry and prose- sacred and
profane literature, all mixed up together.
Every one to his taste" is evidently the mot
to at the "Old ArchwaY," and every taste is
considered. From the seeming confusion of
arrangement each one picks out something
that fills long-felt want, Do you see that
lady with such happy smile? She has just
discovered the daintiest little edition of Per-
cy's Reliques in four volumes, exquisitely
bound in half morocco, five dollars for the
set. 1t is bargain that she soon avails her
self Of 1 envied her as l saw the pretty par
Gel done up, because it was exactly such an
edition that had been coveting but Fate
was not good to me.
Do you think, those of you who know this
place, that it ends at the Archway: Then do
you know nothing about it, If you 60 down
stairs-a permit, by the way, is necessary in
order to make this visit, t,-you will find room
after room filed with books that are waiting
their turn to be carried to the upper air."
when the time shall have arrived. For near
ly a third of the block between Bromfield and
Winter streets, the cellars are all used by Mr..
Lowering for packing away his books. From
the ceiling to the floor are bins packed full,
with only room enough TO just move about.
There is scarcely book printed in the world
that may not be found there. l had never
seen the proprietor of this extensive estab-
lishment, but when some one pointed him out
to me, | ventured TO introduce myself and to
ask few questions concerning the business,
since from his long connection with it, he
certainly should be posted in its every detail.
In answer TO my inquiry how they could af-
ford to sell new books so low. he said that
they all attended trade sales, bought cheap
and in bulk and were able to sell low, that
they bought in other ways, and were always
on the look out for bargains. In regard to
the secondhand books which make up so
large II portion of the stock of the regular an
tique book stores, often libraries are sold at
auction, often person has died, whose rela-
tives do not appreciate the collection he has
made like dealers in antique furniture, they
are always on the lookout, and many rare bar
gains fall into their hands.
Whatever in the world put it into Mr.. Low
erings head to give presents with his books,
I'm sure 1 don't see He certainly doesn't
need to do it to draw people there, but sup
pose that is his object. He has been having
special sale, at which everybody who bought
a book received a presents perhaps not an ex-
pensive one, but a present nevertheless.
Some got gossamer waterproof cloaks, some,
a china tea set, some, photograph frames.
got one of those, by the way, when l. ''just
for fun" tried my luck. wished I'd been
my next neighbor at the counter, for she got
diamond ring. Some got watch, Others
simple ornament of some kind, and one or
two have drawn pianos. l heard, the other
day, of two women who had dubbed together
to buy a fifty cent book, and then went home
berating their own extrayagance because they
had spent SO much money to buy book, and
had only photograph frame as a presents
they wanted diamond ring $50 much"
suppose they were going TO take turns in