The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-09-03
Correspondence Baiiimore County raion.
LETTER FROM BOSTON.

BOsToy, August 23d, 1851.
Msssr.. Eiiiors My last letter was dated from
Nantucket, where We enjoyed ourselves quietly for
two weeks. On last Friday We arrived ut the
"Athens of America as the inhabitants Of this
city claim IL to be. II Is certainly u delightful
place, and no city in the United States can boast
Of more eminent literary men than Boston. We
have seen many Interesting phases. but our stay
here 10 too short to permit US TO visit but COIN
paratiycly limited number.
We walked through the Common and the
Boston Flower Gardens" which the ladies Of our
party said reminded them Of the descriptions of
Fairy Land. was panied 90 see that some mi.
creant had deliberately injured two valuable
fury plants, each worth probably 800 OF more, so
much rs TO destroy their value almost entirely
Nor Is the pccaniary loss all nor the greatest.
These plants were about forty years old, and ono
Of the gcntienanly gardeners said that he feared IL
would be difficult 60 get two old ne these; that
the only chance would be 10 procure them from
some long established green house. Perhaps our
friends, Mess.s. breckenridge, of Guvanstown, or
Messrs. C0rse, OF the 18th district. might supply
the want for sufficient pecuniary consideration.
Nor this all. missed the beautiful and state.
ly swans from the little lake in the gardens, aud
on inquiry learned that last winter some villain
had deliberately wrung the necks OF the two that
used 10 grace the lake. The swans were tame aud
would eat cut Of any ones hand. and the rascals
probably got hold Of them by offering them some
thing to eat. Such cruelty and vandalism deserves
severe punishment. watchmen are employed In
the gardens but they cannot Of course keep every
part Of !, in sight at night, ut which time these
outrages were perpetrated.
Among other places We visited Mount Auburn
Cemetery, where wo saw many beautiful monu-
msnts. The view from the tower 10 very hne,
commanding the whole Of Boston and the country
In the immediate vicinity. Opposite the chapel
door Is . fne representation In granite Of tho
Sphinx which was presented by Jacob Bigelow
and Is the work Of Martin Millmorc, Of Boston
Upon Il are the following inscriptions;
america conservata,
Africa Liberata,
Populo magno assurgante,
Heroum Sanguine fuso."
And on the other side tho following. which js n
pretty free translation, perhaps Il should be called
paraphrasc, OF the first:
american Union Preserved,
African Slavery destroyed
by the uprising Of great people,
by tho blood OF fallen heroes"
Every person visiting Boston should make Il a
point TO see this representation Of the Sphinx.
This evening We visited the building Of Engine
Company No. % Of the Fire Department, which 10
under the charge Of Capt. c. C. wiilett, by whom
~ we'll as by the other officer In charge. We were
very politely received. We had tho pleasure Of
seeing three Of the horses como out Of the stable
~ the doors opened automatically, run 10 their ro-
spective places, the harness placed on them and
seconds. The horses are not kept harnessed all
the time, used once 20 be tho case, and Capt.
Wiett says u IL great roief 10 them not 10 have
the harness on all the time. lie kindly showed
Us through the rooms Of the building and We were
much gratifed. Every place IL kept scrupul
clean and II is very apparent, even 10 the casual
visitor that " all the engine companies In the city
are as well kept and disciplined as that under tho
care Of Capt. willctt, tho Gre department here
must be very prompt In responding 10 all IRE
alarms. At each engine company station the men
are allowed their choice Of u piano, o billiard
table or Of pool. There 10 billiard table In that
under Capt. wilietts charge and some Of the men
were playing billiards. Tho Captain gave rs an
interesting account Of the duties and discipline,
but II might trespass too much on your valuable
space 10 give full account Of II.
On Thursday We expect 10 20 10 Newport for n
couple Of days aud 10 arrive In New York early
Saturday morning BY the providence Of the Fall
River line. aud On Monday We propose 70 leave
New York for Towsontown, which NO hope 10
reach Monday evening. and then our summer va
cation will be over and hope II will not have
been unprohtably spent.
Yours VERY truly. RAnnLER.