Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-07-05
Letter from, boston.

"HAsf,rEnsmrH A NEW STORY or COLLEGE
LIFE PROF. RICHrEL's PLYING MACH1NE-A
rouu or BOSTON IL TIM HORSE cARs-AN IN
AnAsHED LOVER.
BosroN. June -, 1873.
Houghton. Osgood a Co.. chose Just the
right time for sending out Mr.. NJ. S. Sever
ance's novel Of "lIammersmith" It comes
right in the midst OF class days, and COM
mencement days and the excitement of the
New London regatta-the very things which
it trcats of so charningly. Not young girl
that reads it. but recalls her recent class day
trumphs, and the "best time in the world 8"
of which she was but recently happy part (;
not staid matron of MS all but lives over in
recollection, days their exact counterpart
when we were sharing in the gladness and
happy enjoyment. DO you know am Tempt
cd to-day to tie She bit Of crimson ribbon
around my parasol as I 30 down town, to
ssow my loyalty TO "our crew." and | am sure
| shall watch the bulletin boards MS interest
edy as any one for news from New London.
Before this reaches you, we will all know
whether crimson won tas we hope it will or
whether blue carried of the honors Of the
day. -- Bravo here comes the news. Harvard
twelve boat lengths ahead "Rah, Rah !
Rah!
wonder if any of you remember the capt
tai little story in "Old and New" a few years
ago; college story, bright, fresh and breezy,
called 1.-TWO Spoons in II Wherry; Il was
widely copied ut the time, and all who read
it recognized the promise and originality Of
the writer. That was one Of the first, if not
the very first literary effort Of the author Of
"Hammersmith" The same originality, the
same freshness, purity and Jreeziness which
characterized the sketch is shown to a larger
degree in the more ambitious effort. 1t is the
realization of the early promise. Hammer
smith is story Of college life at Harvard,
and very vivid picture the author makes.
1t is n lool; as well worth reading rs "rom
Brown at Oxford" Indeed, Tom Hammer
smith is the American Tom Brown, and his
portrait is evidently drawn by one who knew
him well.
Now comes the question. Is mrial nayiga-
ton possible; One would think from the
success attending Prof. Richtels flying INA
chine now on exhibition at fremont Temple,
that it was not an impossibility to say the
least ! don't believe there has been per-
son Of inventive turn of mind from Dedalas
down, who has not tried or thought of trying
to make "A flying machine. Darius Green's
argument
"Thc birds ken fly
An why caut ~"
| has seemed to be the logic used by ull the fra
| ternity, but as far as l know, not one has sue
ceeded in doing it, until Prof. Rchtel COM
ploted his machine. which is navigating the
air daily in fremont Temple to the delight Of
the assembled multitude, who every after
noon brave the smell Of gas and the hot air to
see the wonderful sight | was in at the press
| exhibition on Monday and must say | was
ustonishcd had had u confused idea of the
thing, in which wings and other appliances Of
the kind bore an important part. | wasn't
| prepared for the Bologna sausage shaped bal
loon which greeted my eyes as / entered. to
which was attached light car which was like
a cross between a velocipede and boat The
balloon carried up the machine and the
| height was regulated by wheel which moved
some small wing shaped paddles and steered
| it by n similar contriyance placed in front like
a rudder He managed it beautifully; it
obeyed every touch Of foot or hand, ike a
well-trained horse. As far as fremont Tenn
pie is concerned it is great success. What it
will be when it is out Of doors with currents
of air TO contend against, remains to be seen.
believe a short trial trip has been made
which was quite successful; there is talk of
another from the Common on the Fourth, to
| be given instead Of the usual balloon ascen-
sion. | believe Prof Richtel intends TO keep
at work until he has completed machine
which shall carry car, capable of holding
several people What if gas should super
cede steam. and we should 20 flying through
the air when We wish to visit our relations.
or 90 down town shopping, or even make the
trip across the Atlantic. How much sea sick
ness would be avoided. Let us hope that
Prof. Richtel will be able to carry out his de-
signs. wouldn't the bilious people. who
want to 90 to Europe, aud don't dare to on
account Of their stomachs and liyers, 80 down
on their knees to him as public benefactor.
How many Of you are commiserating me
because fate and the newspapers are keeping
me in town, while everybody else is away
taking their case in the country. II such
there be" just stop! You don't know how
much enjoyment one may get in town, even
during the heated term. There are the pref
ty drives ont of town in every direction, and
if your purse won't admit Of hiring a carriage.
you can take the horse cars and go anywhere
into the country for a radius of five miles for
six cents then you can take your own time
for coming back, for you are not paying for
your fun by the hour, rs you would be if your
dealings were with the livery stable keepers.
made a trip around the city and up to Grove
Hall the other evening on the top Of II ''doub-
lie decker" and wasn't it fun You could see
right into peoples second story windows and
see all the good times which families were
having. l saw pair of sentimental lovers
sitting in bay window. He was saying
sweet nothings which meant everything and
she was listening with all her loving heart in
her pretty eyes. Bless You, my children. -
l said to myself as We went past, leaving
them with their happiness which may God
make lifelong. 1 saw "a curly -headed baby
saying her prayer at her mothers knee ]
! IooAcu III On C"Ny TEA 'auIe sSehc' anu 1
heard young couple playing and singing
college songs Yes it was jolly, that ride on
the double decker" Apropos of horse car
travel, very funny story came to me the
other day. don't know whether it has ever
been in print but III hazard it and tell you,
for You cannot all have heard it I'm sure. As
one Of the late cars was going up Shawmut
avenue while ago, a young couple in one
corner created great deal of amusement for
the few passengers by their atfectionate out
bursts. just rs the young man had bestowed
the twentieth kiss on his sweetheart, the con
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