The Portland daily press., 1881-12-26
Boston Letter.
The Holiday Season-Literary Gossip The
New Judge-BostonT Theatres.
BosroY. 1851


As write we are in the midst OF our holiday
season. l do not think trade is quito equal to
last year, but the efforts of shopkeepers 10
make displays in the windows was never be-
fore eqnaed Possibly the displays have some
times been better ia quality. but not as start
ling and sensational. Washington and Ire
mont streets, and the cross streets, like School,
Winter, Summer. Temple and West, are radi-
ant with windows full of the most attractive
articles which the country offers. The candy.
toy, fancy goods, clothing and book stores take
the lead, and the other trades follow with more
or less extensive displays The most attractive
section to lovers of things artistic and literary
is Franklin street and vicinity. Here is the
book centre, which was once located on Ire
mont street. Here are Osgood, Lee g. shep-
ard, D. Lothrop, the Boston houses of Harper's
and Scribner's and Appleton's. Their win
dows, coun ters and shelves fairly sparkle with
the finest literature the world has ever seen.
have rummaged the bookstores Of London Par
is Leipsic and Milan, but never have found
such magnificent volumes as at the stores
named, or at Houghton, Miffiin & Co.'s, Rob-
erts' Bros, Estes & Lauriat's, or that old store
on the corner of School and Washington streets
"A. Williams & Co. This is a famous old
place. / have seen Longfellow, Holmes, Low
ell, Whittier, Howells, Shillaber, Whipple and
many other of our noted literary men, rum
maging Mr.. Williams's richly stored shelves.
After Fields there is no publisher in Boston
whose acquaintance with literary lights sur
passes Mr.. Williams's He has never pub
lished many OF their works, bat they have Of
kox. o18 Ix<xskh l. AnI ,Nk khaxr all
but many young author has. received kindly
words from him.
Speaking Of authors, reminds me that John
Greenleaf Whittier, our true New England po-
ct. was IA years Of age on Saturday Of last
week. Last year, on his birthday, 1 passed an
hour or more with him at his pleasant home on
Oak Knoll, Danvers. He is most agreeable
companion for an hours conversation. The po-
ct told to me an amusing incident which has
never been made public. A clergyman called
on him one day some years ago, who in conver-
sation said to Mr.. Whittier that he always
thought his poem on Hannah Binding Shoes
the finest thing he had ever written. Now, as
most of your readers know, Lucy Larcom, and
not Whittier, wrote that poem. Miss Larcom
was Citing in the room at the time. Mr.. Whit
tier told the minister that he always thought
the poem fine one himself, which started the
divine and he went on quoting passages from
it. Finally Whittier said: Permit me to in
troduce you to the author of that poem-Miss
Larcom, Mr.. -" Mr.. Whittier thinks that
that minister could have dropped through an
exceedingly small aperture in the floor about
that time. The venerable poet laughed hearth
ly as he told us the story. Very few pictures
of Mr.. Whittier look at all like him. His pc.
culiarly shaped forehead Is rarely represented
correctly
Speaking of poets wouder If the general
reader is aware that Massachusetts, has fur
nished most of the standard poetry Of America
II mean the poetry which has given the coun-
try literary fame. Longfellow, Whittier,
Holmes, Lowell and Dana are all Massachu-
setts men, or were, the last named being now
dead. Longfellow, as all know, was born IN
Portland though most OF his work has been
one since he settled down here. Bryant and
Holland were both born in Massachusetts
and did soma of their best work here. These
are the seven American poets who are best
known abroad, and all but one were born IN
this State, and he was born when Maine was
part of Massachusetts,. Whittier was born IN
Hayerhill, Holmes, Lowell and Dana In Gam,
bridge, Bryant in Cummington and Holland
in Uxbridge. l+a
There is much satisfaction in this State over
the nomination Of Chief Justice Gray to be As
sociate Justice of the United States Supreme
Court. His emineEt fitness for the position
has long been recognized. Mentally and phys
ically he is peculiarly fitted for it. He is
per feoe giant ia sizo. He esands over six feet
In height and is portly gentleman. In ap-
pearance on the bench he is the typical Judge,
of round, fiorid face, bald head and side-whis-
kers. He Is restless and evidently i'll at ease
when any ordinary lawyer is arguing before
him; sometimes gruff to the young pleader,
yet always dignifed and polite It Is interest
ing to watch him when he is hearing law cases.
and see how quickly he catches every point in
the case, and with what precision he lays
down the law; 10 matter how much he appears
to be neglecting the arguments, the man who
mistakes the law will find his error detected in
an instant. Gov Long has already appointed
three of the seven Supreme judges, and when
he shall appoint the successor to Judge Gray
he will have appointed a majority of the bench
1t would not be surprising if Judge Morton
also left on account Of i'll health. Gov. Long
has also appointed several Superior court
judges and in all these appointments he has
exercised the soundest judgment and dis
erection. .f..sI'F t....
Our theatres are all having good success this
season. Patience" has now been running at
the Museum 100 successive nights. 1t is the
only performance which the house has yet Of
fered this season. Edwin Booth closes sue
cessful four weeks at the Park on Saturday.
"Michael Strogoff' has run three months at
the Boston Theatre and on Monday will be
succeeded by Her Maiestys opera which will
remain two weeks only Among the noted
artists who will appear will be Cam
panini, Galassi, Noyara, Ranelli, Mile.
Kalas and Minnie Hawk. The re-
pertoire for the first week includes
VIM. Tell, Aida, Carmen, Lohengrin and
like selections. SCOTT.