, 1879-06-22

! once that Boston Wa5 the greatest place on cart
to celebrate anniversaries with q thoroughgoin
| spirit of downright earnestncss that has in
from year to year spark OF the real fire.
| never believed this more fully than did yeste1
day, when l saw the throng Of people taktn
| their way to Bunker Hill. Nowhere else in Net
England that know Of is such respect paid t.
| National OF historically local holidays, By tn
closing of ali the places Of business, as in Bos
ton. TWAS amusing to see the disgust Of til,
stranger within the gates yesterday, who foun,
his business errands suddenly brought up stand
I ing at - o'clock.
"Whar does this meant" queried one Of thes
astonished ones, as the closed doors Of tn
| publishing house Of Houghton, Osgood s, Co
! net him.
s'lt is the 18th Of Junc," was the response.
"Wbat's the 18th OF June, prays" was tht
| next question.
''1hc 18th Of Jnne.'' answered the Hnbite
amazed at bis companion's Ignorance, ''is tht
anniversary OF the battle Of Bunker Hill"
"Whcn the British beat you,'' retorts tht
other, laughing. II don't believe there's an
other place under the sun but
THIS BRAGGr LITTLE BOSTON
that would have celebrated day of defeat for G
hundred years-year in and year out-with such
virn.'' :.
"It isn't the defeat We celebrate, but the
Yankee pluck that made turning point OF thai
day.n~: .:.,1o+..:. .:-.
~"0a! yes; I know;T know; but IT'S Il. queer
sort OF Boston notion any way. Eve always
thought so.'
l thought, as listened here, of the verses:
"But howvery queer to cheer" says curious lit
land to celebrate q day when tho British beat.
"Ycs, the British beat at Bunker Hill, it's very
true; bat "hYs
While Yankee courage on TINT day filed all tho
land with wonder.
And lifted mp the hearts of men to break their
:: bonds asunder."
Of course the majority Of the people who fill
the streets and cars on this day are simply en-
joying holiday, and know and care as little
about the reason for the holiday as the stranger
within the gates; but there is always the group
of educated and thoughtful persons who from
year to year hold the day with fitting ..cere-
monies aud make 1t what it is. The Bunker
Hill Monument Association is one OF the most
significant facts In connection With this yearly
observance With this Association are connect
ed the Winthrops, a,d Frothinghams, and Ap-
pletons. Old, historic names these Of Massachu-
setts and .thc present representatives OF the
names seem to cherish the old spirit Of pa
triotism
AS JEALoUsLY'As THE FOUNDERS,
and to glorify from year to year the halfforgot-
ten dce6s Of the past. This year the grand
feature Of the annual meeting was the reading
OF characteristic letter from Garibaldi, accept
ing an honorary membership. Ana while Bos-
ton and .Charlestown were thus occupied with
their Bunker Hill Day, Lynn, 4 few miles far
ther down Massachusetts Bay, was iub:lating
races and regattas, diuner-speechcs and orations,
over the 2250th anniversary Of her birth. So,
with all flags tly1ng, Boston and her country
cousin mark their grand holiday, the 18th Of
June, and at the end Of it are inspired With new
plans for "next year"
The weather has been one Of the oldest
"features" of the celebrations,- cold being
so pronounced that In many instances win
ter wraps we're worn; and in the evening
the drivers Of, public and private car
il they left them standing any length Of time.
This in the very heart Of June,-thc month
that, Lowell tells us, in that charming warble of
his, contains the "pcrfect days"! or course,
this unusual weather deters and dcfers the
summer
FITTING TO TIE sEA-sIoRE
and the green: fields of the country. A few
families have lett for Newport, and Nahant.
aud other resorts, but they are the owners OF
private residences The great crowd who COM
pose the mass Of "summcr ooarders' yet linger
On in their city homes, looking lovingly and
ongingly upon the summer dresses and sea-
shore hats that are rcposfng in inglorious in
1ctiylty upon the spare-room bed.
But in this interval Of waiting the theatres
1rc reapng q harvest, as T have said before.
rhe latest production and performance about
which there has been considerable curiosity
at Of the Tue Gsietv 9eS Ansfeso
ar 4 great failure. I use the term
& so TAR il out Of the charitable hope tllat when
he performers are brought into better state
IT harmony, when they become familiar with
heir parts sufficiently to do Justice to them
opera Il Sancho Pedro something more than
It this date critics or audience have been able to
ind. 1t is not very funny to watch the express
ion upon the faces Of the audience upon the |
,pening night. ' Pinafore u and s' s'Fatinitza u
we're SO very satisfactory that every body scented
.au como upon time when everything in that !
inc Of production must be On the progressive |
Gale Of possible perfection. But by and BY,
Fhen, after the extraordinary opening scene
IN TIE KINGDOM OF SATAN,
was found that there was little or no familiarity
nth the various parts. and that the sometimes |
leasing straius Of melody and promising sug
aoment n jangle and whirl OF Inconsistency, ]
eople began to realize that ''Sancho Pedro'' IS |
hey saw it then was q grand fizzle. There Is q |
urlesque Of the Rev. b1r. Talmage in the
fecc which at first was not quito understood, |
nd when later it. developed its full meaning
ope amongst the Wickeder listeners that now ]
something vas cotningn; but no, even this
ope failed:S and the Rev. Mr.T. azzled With the
est. With cutting, and rewriting, and better