Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-08-07
For the SPECT AToR.
Lptier from Cambridge, Mass.

CAMBRIDGE, July 30, 1888.
Nr. Editor:-This time I will give you a
few notes about a famous seat of learning.
the good old city of Cam bridge. 1t is sit
uated in Middlesex county, just west of
Boston, the two places being separated by
Charles River, an estuary of the hay. |
doubt if there is a city in America more
beautiful than Cambridge. 1t comprises
very large tract of country; has long, wide
avenues, fine old trees handsome, country
like residences, and elegant yards. The
grateful absence of brick walls, and the
open appearance of the whole place, make
it very unlike Boston, its more prete ntious
neighbor. A large portion of the city is
occupied by the nice homes of Boste IN mer-
chants and other well-to-do people, while
the factories, railroads, &C., are ge nerally
off in district to themselves. Tht, great
beauty and desirability Of this place con-
sist in the fact that it does not seem like a
city, all having such nice rural look,
though the population is over 50 00C.
The most important thing in Can bridge
is Harvard University. This famous Col
lege was founded in 1858, and is the Oldest,
wealthiest, and best known institution of
learning in the New World. During the
last term the number of students Wa about
1900, and it has always been the fayorite
College for the sons of Senators, Cover
n6rs, and other very high-toned people. 1t
has a score or more of large buildings,
some dingy and moss-grown with age, and
others Just finished. The two principal
ones are Memorial Hall, costing $500, 900,
and the Agassiz Museum, where is the col
lection of geological specimens by the late
Louis Agassiz, the great naturalist. At
this time two large structures are going up,
built of brick and brown stone, one to cost
$4,000, and the other about $500, 600.
Many celebrated men have been connected
with this school, among whom were Ed
ward Everett and Josiah Quincy, each be-
ing President, and Henry W. Longfellow
was Professor here at the time Of his
death. Harvard University is under the
control of the Unitarian church.
Out in the western part of Cambridge is
Longfellow's House. an old but nice-look-
ing frame building, painted yellow, with a
large yard and pasture lot, the place look
ing somewhat like the residence of Mrs.
David S. Young, near Staunton. Wash
ington had his headquarters in this house;
the poet Longfellow lived in it for many
years, and his family resides there now.
On the western edge of Cambridge, about
four miles from Boston, is Mt. Auburn
CoLl6t0Iy3 d PldOOs WAOlO OhetA1Co
Sumner, Longfellow, aud I do not know
how many other noted persons, are buried.
Near Harvard Square is a large, ancient
looking tree known as the Old Elm, under
which is granite pillar erected by the city
containing this inscription: ''Under this
tree Washington first took command of the
American Army. July 3, 1715." In an
old graveyard near by is a monument to
the memory of half-dozen or more men
of Cambridge who fell on the eventful 10Th
of April, 1775 at Lexington and Concord,
the first battles of the Revolution. Down
in Cambridgeport, that part of the city
next to Boston, is another stone marking
the site of the house in which General Is
rael Putnam had his headquarters in Revo.
lutionary times.
Strictly speaking, Cambridge is not
manufacturing city, nothing like Lawrence
and Lowell, for large portion of its in
habitants are not working people or have
their business in Boston, but still many ar
ticles are made here. The great Mason &
Hamlin Organ Company have their factory
here, besides which there are several other
piano and organ establishments. The
cracker bakery of Frank A. Kennedy is
tremendous five-story building, and, sup
pose, is the largest bakery in this country.
Cambridge has two establishments which
are about equal to any of the kind in the
world; these are the famous printing
houses known rs the Riverside Press, Fl.
0. Houghton & Co., and the University
Press, John Wilson & Son. The first
named does printing, binding, and litho-
graphing, male and female. Iti the place
where Webster's unabridged dictionary is
printed and bound, where the books of
Houghton, Miffiin & Co., and many other
publications, are gotten out. The other
place, the University Press, does printing
only and employs about 400 persons. Here
are printed the books of Estes e Lauriat,
Little, Brown & Co., James R. Osgood 6
Co., Boston publishers, besides other pub
fishing houses in New York and other
places. The nice books for young people
of Robert Carter & Bros, New Y Yorl1,
which were well known among Staunton
Sunday-school pupils several years ago, are
printed here also. / suppose. that what
cannot be done at these two old-established
houses, in the line of ok-printiug, cannot
be done in America
Among the people of Cambridge are
many authors, professors, and literary per-
sons. There are some of the lower classes
too, but not so many as in the cities more
largely engaged in manufacturing
Respectfully, G. L. B. &