Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-09
OUR LETTER FROM BOSTON
DECOR1TION DAY AND ITS COUN-
TJRPART ABROAD.
The Tourjce Excursion TO Europe
The Trips of This Year and Last
Compared-Eycnts of the Theatres
-Keuuious.

| Special Correspondence Of state journal.
| BosToN, May 3l.-Decoration day
dawned bright and hot, and sped its way
through the hours still bright and hot, till
evening and Il merciful thunder storm
came to temper the air, and to air the
temper of the thousands of sght-seers
who had come up to the city from various
| suburban directions, and who were ill
prepared with wraps Or umbrellas. As
usual on such holidays, everybody in
town went out and everybody from out
| of town came in. The seashore was the
only place at which it was possible to
| keep cool, and, as consequence. throngs
| of our people went to the nearer beaches.
Revere beach is great favorite of late
years, for it is but about IL minutes ride
from the city, and there is every facility
for reaching it-more, in fact,
than there is for leaving it.
Your correspondent is very sure
of this, for on one recent warm day she
went down TO Revere beach, and, after
gaining a comfortable degree of coolness,
she wanted to come home again, but not a
train would stop to take her and the little
crowd of other weary wanderers on board.
There was post in front of the depot,
with blue light at its upper extremity,
and placard on which was the legend
''This is flag station show the blue
light to stop trains" But the trains
didn't mind the blue light Il cents
worth, and we hugged the outside of that
station (Which was inhospitably closed,
and which resisted our amateurish
attempts to break I'M for two whole hours,
nearly freezing to death, and amusing
ourselves by reading the testimonials of
other weary walters who had been simi-
larly victimized and who had inscribed
their woes on the woodwork of the build
ing, as we did not.
Well, we had our usual procession yes
terday and our usual speeches and music
at fremont Temple. The actual decorat-
ing of the graves was done early in the
morning. Beautiful as is this custom, it
is to he hoped that it cannot grow to the
degree that it has done in Paris and other
European cities. The cemeteries in Paris
are the most remarkable places in that
famous city. Every grave, even the most
humble, has its wreaths and crosses, made
of what, think you Of colored beads,
strung on wires The wreaths of immor-
telles are pretty, after certain fashion,
though only fresh, natural flowers seem
really appropriate, but those ghastly
beaded horrors were enough to give one
turn One peculiar custom abroad is
that of placing the photograph or ambro-
type of the deceased on the headstone or
monument, safely securing it under glass.
Some of the principal cemeteries, espe-
cially in Paris, are laid out like the
streets of city, with regular little mar
bic houses on each side, through the
doors and windows of which can be seen
aitars, cruciiixes, saints and other para
,nali nF al,
There is something terribly grim and
ghastly about such demonstrations and
which surely can never find their way to
our country-though fashion dictates
even in this.
Speaking of these foreign customs re-
minds me that the first section of the
Tourjee party sails for Europe next week,
Saturday, and the main party, with the
doctor in person, goes on the Saturday
following. 1t has come to be regular
event of the month of Juns in Boston, this
gathering together of excursionists
Europe-bound under the guidance and
guardianship of our own Eben Tourjee,
Musical Doctor. | don't see what the
Fates were thinking of that they did not
send me abroad again this summer as a
travelling Tourjean but so il is for the
nonce. But just wait till next year =
or rather, don't wait if you can go now,
for nobody can tell what will happen in a
twelvemonth, and the party of this year
is a remarkably fortunate one as regards
its members as well as its route and
plans. consider the tour, as laid out, to
be fully twenty per cent. better worth
the money than that of last year, and
am sure ! never got so much for my
money before as was given me then. But
we had the advantage of you in one re-
spect--we saw the passion Play" and
strange, out-ofthe-world 0ber-Ammer-
gan, and you can't
This is the season of reunions, the
Girls High School had it annual reunion
one evening last week. These are always
very elegant affairs and this was noexcep-
tiOn to the rule.
The Boston University Divinity School
held its annual alumni reunion last even
ing, and tonight the b. U. Law School
alumni meet at foung's to discuss their
annual dinner. Tomorrow is commence
nilssint day of the University, and to-mor-
row evening the Trustees reception to
the University Alumni takes place.
No efall the theatres in town, the Museum
is running the best play. You may stare
at me a tritle, when add that the
attraition here is only Frank Mayo in
,"Dayy Crockett" Who has not seen
this baGkwOod idyl half dozen times
who Hoes not know it nearly by ,hearti l
did not think to care for it all, when |
took hny seat at the Museum the other
evening, but-well, | am not going to try
to tel You, for ceuldn't and you
wouldn't understand. But go to see it
for yPurself, and if You are not touched by
it, patlos and simple power, then you
have harder heart than mine is. o. Y1g <
% Comic opera fills the bill at the other
theatres, except at the Park, where
Sardbu's powerful but uncomfortable
drama "Dantel Roohat' har baen on
the boards and now the popular Bankers ,
Daughter" has been revived, and is
drawing rs it always draws, big houses.
.. ROBIN
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