Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-25

THE DASA-LONGFELLOW wEDDING-NuNIcIPAL
FRoBLENs-LIcESsE AND PROHIBITION.
BosToN, Jan. lG, 1873.
To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times
1t is not in the production OF 4 masterpiece
Of literature, nor in the discovery Of a new
principle of science, the masses are most in
terested. Those little, and yet great, social
events called weddings always provoke the
most intensely interesting gossip The mar
riage which occurred, last Wednesday, in
the quaint old town Of Cambridge, is GER
tainly not an exception to the rule. Richard
ii. Dana, 30, and Filth Longfellow have
been together from childhood up. As they
grew older, the interest they showed for
each other in their childish plays developed
into mutual affection, love, an engagement,
and, year later, union still death do US
part" The bridegroom is grandson of the
renowned author Of "The Buccaneer, who,
although now in his ninety-frst
year, is nearly as erect, hale and
hearty a. when he gave his popular
poem to the world ffty-one years ago. Rich
ard III, as his friends call him, is twenty-siz
years Of age. Like his grandfather, he began
his career at the bar The bride is the sec
ond daughter and fourth child of the poet
Longfelow, and, excepting her brother Ons-
low, the Only one of the poets children mar
ried remember that the daughter OF j. q.
Holland and of some other authors are IN
married, and am led almost to doubt if fate
considers the daughters of poets marriage
able. But an acquaintance with the Misses
LongfellOw will never permit such conclu-
sion They are both quite fascinating and
have not lacked suitors, both talented and
wealthy. Miss Alice, the Oldest, has quite
a local reputation for her prose writings,
and Miss Annie. " the baby Of the fam
ily,n Is noted for her power of rspdrtie
and her sparkling wit; bat no poetry as
vet has been evolved except by the paternal
genius. Miss Filth is twenty-five years old.
rather tall. slight, graceful, and has the
most charming features, made the more at
tractiye by ringlets o. rich auburn hair
At four O'Clock, literati, classmates and
family friends thronged the college chapel
which was lighted, thus adding all the effect
Of an evening marriage to the convenience OF
| an afternoon ceremony. Prominent among
the guests, beside the families of the COZ
tracing parties, were President Eliot and
his blushing bride of ten weeks ago. The
toilettes displayed, though rot gaudy, were
yery elaborate considering the fastidious
taste peculiar to the old college town. The
bride was attired in an exquisite white
brocade made zen Princesse, and trimmed
with old lace and orange blossoms and her
lovely features were partly concealed by the
customary veil of white tulie.
After the nuptials, they retired to the
historic Longfellow mansion. bit Of whose
political and literary history may sketch at
another time At the reception in the
evening many elegant and valuable presents
were received, mostly souvenirs. 1t Is IN
derstood Mr.. and Mrs. R. II. Dana, Sd, have
left town for month of visiting and travel.
MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS.
| | have finished reviewing inaugural ad-
dresses as given in our nineteen cities
have noted some Of the most striking feat
pres in the reports for 1877, and have stud
led the opinions of nineteen Of our represen-
tatiye men upon our present needs and our
prospects In the recent work from the
able pen of ex-President Woolsey, of Yale
College, the question is discussed whether
nations. as men, have a natural childhood,
maturity, old age, and death.-whether as
!
and ten, so a centurT or perchance two CEN
turtles, is the time allotted to state. 1t
is an interesting question to consider, both
from the standpoint of history and IRON the
nature of such an organization ; but what
ever truth or falsitY there may be IN the
notion, certain it Is that these statistics and
declarations do not show a remarkable ten
dency toward political decay. We may
safely affirm that century of seit-govern-
ment has not seriously changed the compost
ton of the old Bay State.
Each message gives attention to the press
ing need of more economical systems OF
caring for paupers. On comparing statistics
it appears that " outdoor relief Is tho
most expensive. This is owing probably to
the readiness with which not few people
apply to the overse.rs for aid who would
accommodate their wants to their abilities II
they suspected their dependence would be
found out. II selfsupport and the aims
house were the only objects Of choice, pride,
if not honor, would readily make known
whether the individual were capable OF self
support W lille there are often deserving poor,
doubtless, much Of the "out-GJor relief,
so common at the present time, Is only an
incentive to idleness. Those paupers known
as tramps are unweleome visitors. to whom
this especially applies. Personal safety, as
well as public good, demands speedy legisla-
ton upon this nuisance.
Mayor Pierce says the primary purpose Of
the license law is not to secure revenue to
the government, but to restrain and regulate
the traffic in intoxicating drinks in the inter-
ests of sotriety and good order. The all
important question here is hOlo to regulate it
in the interests of sobriety and good order.
The messages show that prohibition and
license so equally divide public sentiment
that neither the one nor the other can be
really successful. II. 5. B.