St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-11
Letter from Boston.
Correspondence of the Caledonian.
BOSTON, Jan. 8, 1873.
Twas in the mild December |"

case, for a comparison. The mild De-
cember has departed to the great joy of
the stable keeper, the fur goods dealer
and the small boy with Christmas
sled. The morning papers tell us that
St. Jehnsbury has scored 80 degrees
below zero, so it is of no use for me to
brag about Boston frigidity which can't
approach, thus far, to within a good
many pegs of that depth of iciness.
However, our steady zero weather of
the past few days, united to little fall
of snow, has served to send up the
spirits of the three individuals referred
to above. In the same ratio it has
probably served to send down the
spirits of the suburban landlord who
can hang out his cabalistic signs of
''Tom and Jerry" and ''Hot Flip" in the
face and eyes of the merry sleigh-riders
who just now crowd the Brighton road.
The spirits of the city Boniface are al
ways going down, judging from the
sights on the streets. In the summer
people drink to keep out the heat, and
in the winter to keep out the cold.
While the sleighing lasts the Mill-Dam
and the Brighton road-the latter is an
extension of the former-are likely to
present a gay and brilliant aspect.
Hundreds upon hundreds of handsome
turn-outs are to be seen there every
afternoon. The layer of snow and ice
is very thin, however, aud a fresh
sprinkling of the former is anMously
awaited. The Common is SO situated
that it affords splendid coasting facilities
for the boys and they are literally
availed of. The long Beacon Hill slope
furnishes fine range for the down-hill
part of the exercise, and the activity
is not steep enough to make the climb
ing difficult. One or two of the paths
are almost wholly given up to the
youngsters during the coasting season,
pedestrians making detour to give the |
boys fair show; and it was not many
years ago that the city erected tenn
porary bridges at several points for the
safety and convenience of both. The |
ponds on the Common and Public Gar
den furnish only limited accommoda-
tiOns for the skaters, but there are
numerous suburban ponds within reach |
by horse cars, and new skating-rink
has just been opened at the South End.
To city jewellers generally, winter
means only deal of discomfort, which
the amusements and gaities of the cold
season hardly compensate for. To ven
ture out is to run the risk of having a
cart load of snow and ice dumped upon
your head frorn the house-tops, and
of having your pins knocked out from
under you on the slippery walks.
CURRENT TOPICS.
The State Legislature has come to-
gether, and the new city government
has been inaugurated. reform is
now in order. 1t always is at the be-
ginning of Legislative session or the
opening of new municipal year, but
body and every city government leaves
about as much for succeeding ''re-
formers" to do as they set out to do on
their own part. There has been little
Hurry of excitement over horse railroad
arising from the successful eff
fort of the Metropolitan company to run
a double track through one of the mar
rowest portions of Washington street,
between Summer street and Temple
place. The well known dry goods firm
Of Jordan, Marsh & Co., sought to fight
against the corporation in the courts,
and to have the second track removed,
but to no purpose. In the way of muir
1ers, embellishments and other crimes
we have about the usual assortment
but these have ceased to be interesting
to the general public on the score of
novelty, so | will not burden your read
ers with a recital OF the latest instances
Of moral shortcomings. Amusements
flourish this winter with fair success.
The lecture courses have been well
patrOnized. The concerts have not had
hardly the usual patronage, and the
theatres, also, have seemingly suffered
from the hard times, although exception
should be made of the Boston Theatre,
where play called 1.-THE Exiles," the
scene of which is laid in Russia and
Siberia, is drawing large houses. The
piece has been brought out in very
handsome manner.
NOVEL EDUCATIONAL EXCURSION.
DR.. E. Tourjee, of this city, has plan
ned grand educational excursion to
Europe, to take place next summer,
while the Paris Exposition will be in
progress. The party is to be limited |
to $50 and is already fast filling up.
The affair is to be largely of musical
characters and several distinguished |
musical people, Carl Zerrahn of the num-
Der, will be among the members. One
of the largest and best of the Atlantic |
steamers 1.-THE "Devonian of the Anchor |
Line) has been engaged to carry the |
party across the ocean both ways, and |
there are to be literary and musical ex-
ercises on shipboard, with lectures, con-
certs, daily choral practice, etc. Pro-
fessOrs will be attached to the ex-
petition over the whole route of travel. |
and there will be every available means
to make the visit to the various coun-
tries profitable as well as enjoyable.