New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09
BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE.

rrps WITH A STRONG FAMILY RESEMBLANCE.
TTEoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Boston, Jan. 5.-Last September Boston ceie-
brated its two hundred and hftleth Dlrthday auu
last mouth Cambridge did the same Inc Two
plac,s. viewed from distance, appear almost like
one but when brought nearer to the eye they reveal
le double stars through the telescope, their dual
tty Society in the two places has some points III
common, aud some points of marked difference. 10
jewellers in the capital the suburban collegiate city
IN invested with mild sacredness it is to them
sort of handy wooden Mecca, where the prophets'
fortunately are not dead. They imagine delicate,
indescrbable social delights there. a little Deyonu
ANYTHING which Boston itself affords. And on the
other hand the Cambridge people, though gliteu
with robust Interpretation, look TO Boston as
Mace possessed of charms which their smaller nelen-
Dor city cannot hope to emulate, in the way OF varied
elements and certain richness OF resource ID enter
tainment.
lin Englandn James Russell Lowell remarked in
conversation one day, when any one wants 10
know who lives IN particular house, the question
alwavs runs "who is heT With it L. 'whaF
does he doY'n He was emphasizing the theory that
rosit,on here depends upon work. upon actuai
achievement or incessaut labor at some business or
profession But, as a matter OF fact, Boston cares
very seriously for what man Is and TINS often ue
fines him sufficiently. dictionary OF noteworthy
residents illustrated with photographs, wouid 10 -
convenience for strangers, who constantly pass
eminent citizens the street unawares NO doupt
this fixIty of position and the serious way III WHICH
it is treated by the community, added to PARDON
able pride in the intellectual power WHICH
has been welded so varlousy anu 81
well by the New-England capital, has
much 70 do with the reputation of the typical
BostoDian as being encased in phenomenal concelt.
is RI
of sundry inhabitants, which are unfathOmable ILL.,
describable. But there is also large amount OF
sbrewd and cool sef-criticsm going on in various
circles which acts as constant antidOtc. The pro-
testing habit of the founders is so strong Ill the
blood of the after-cOmers that Boston protests
against herself quietly, in a polished way, but with
almost as much strenuouSnesS as the "outside bar
barian critic.
Before the Brain Club" was attacked with soften
ing and expired, wel.linOwn writer was taken home
after one of the meetings in tho carriage Of lady
rejoicing in wealth and social grandeur; and when
the carriage stopped at his modest door Iii an I'M
fashionable street, the foOtman. on getting down,
remarked audibly to the coachman: "What place
is this! We've never been here before" The tone
of this servant was not so unlike that of his en-
movers class as an impartial observer could wish.
The opposition to snobbeIy comes naturally in the
main from literary people. journalists and artists;
hut even the author the artist finds 1t hard TO
and the influences which 80 mperccpby tend
TO produce the same thing in himself. The literary
"school" of Boston, in fact, Is freely accused OF
being thus infected, by the press aud the authors OF
other parts of the country. One OF the last times
that saw Bayard Taylor before his departure for
Berlin lie spoke with good deal OF quiet bitterness
about the way in which his Translation OF " FAus|
had been received b. some of the magnaes of liter
allure here, for whom as artists lie had always the
warmest praise and recognition Another famous
and popular writer. after visiting Boston and Cam
bridge gave it as his impression that the great men of
letters sat rather too much in the shadow OF their
own greatness. At q Phi Beta dinner, again. the
poet of the day, who came from New-Iork and was
cordially received, made a speech In which he pad
glowing tribute to the work ofCambrdge Ill our liter
AZURE and thereby drew forth hearty applause then
went on mapfully to assert his beef that New-York
xyos nurturiuC a new school destined to larger
life and more dramatic scope, and tried to enkln-
die a sympathy between the two movements. This
was received with total silence. Such matter may
be called gossip; but gossip OF this sort is potent
influence and its facts must be taken into account
as Significant. The social trlgldity of New-England
that mysterious thing, which really exists, vet
often seems 80 incredible the presence OF a sudden
thaw-has its share III throwing around Boston lit
ersry circles that air OF icy and narrOwncss
generally attributed TO them How much of warmth
and charm, what episodes of delightful intormaity
they really incose, only gradual and constant as
ISOLATION makes PLAIN.
The aficctation of English ways aud an EnglishtOne
is another singular and self-conradctOry trait OF
Bostonans for those who most indulge IN them are
frequently the quickest 10 resent English patronage
and to dwell on the great difference bstwern ner-
lea and England i'll favor of our own country. De-
@ha T. Egar fnrai fTu
country is aired as mark of superiority. The real
attitude in which such persons put themselves
once delightfully."- stated by a competent authority.
"Those persons who prefer Paris OF London" once
heard Mr. Emerson say, gently speaking OF young
American author who appeared very III SATISFIED
with bis native land, would much better stay
there. for we do not reed Them" And certainly
what is vital in BostOn's influence has always been
intensely patriotic.
In Cambridge life there IS a happy mixture of
high aims. prosac details and agreeable companion
ships-sODe hat disturbed during three quarters OF
the year by excessively muddy streets and sidewalks
wherein people sometimes leave ther ruDoeS slicK,
ing while in the pursuit OF social or lnteilectual
pleasure Pleasant and peaceful as that country
town-l Ike city is however there is room for qnes-
ton whether it is not TOO much shut away from the
STIR of the great world. Like IT'S highways, 1t
becomes rutted. The very recreation whlcn pro,
fessors literary men, sudOus ladies. and cultivated
professional people ser at evsnS paeS oen
in their work. The tone of conversation is largely
critical Even scandal may be said here to assume
the form of analysis" How seriously Camlrideeans
sometimes take the practical ininutiD OF life Will
be guessed when it Is whispered that lady who
could not make her house-furnace work well at
tended course of auSterely technical lectures on
thermO-Gynamics!
DANCING is rare diversion, excepting for young
girls ana undergraduates A Methodist preacher. who
look red on at small dancing party at private house
in Cambridge, observed with seciarian humor that
the young women went through their quadrllles and
yatzcs as gravely as if they were under convic-
tiOnn Clubs of ladies' or ladies and gentlemen TO-
gether are numerous; but they often rather to
be described as classes for the study Of languages
German Italian, Russian, or even Arabic; and
when not formed for this object. they make essay
reading the study of literature amateur acting,
their aIm. One dramatic company III especial eu-
bucpg members from suudry families of the