Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-04-25

surroundings of historic objects, such as
Bunker Hill monument, Faneuil Hall,
&C., the observance of Washington's
Birth day takes an new impressiveness
Here, amid many of the scenes that gave
him prominence, and endeared him to
the people, it is not strange that a strik-
ing reality that is not felt in the new coun-
tries Of the west, attends such obser-
vances. And it was eminently fitting
that in Boston, on the twentysecond Of
February, should occur hearty demonstra-
lions in honor of Americas great states
man and soldier. Twentyonc guns were
buildings, and floated from the flag stats
on the common. All prominent places OF
business were closed. The public schools
took holiday, and Boston Common was
alive with merry boys ana girls coasting
down the same hills and skating on the
same ponds that afforded amusement to
the famous Boston boys" of history.
Many of the clubs and societies of the
city observed the day with appropriate
exercises. Among the most notable was
reception to Ex-Governor St. John, of
Kansas, under the auspices of Il temper
ance society, in Mechanics building.
Speeches were made by John B. Cough
and others. Singing by the Hutchinson
family, and choir of SIX hundred school
children. The Webster Historical society
held memorial services in Old South
church, which attended.
GOLD SOUTH"
is no longer used as 4 place of worship.
The society, one of the wealthiest in the
city. have built new and very elegant
church in distant part Of the city, which
they call the New Old South" and Old
South proper is used as sort of museum
for the preservation of early colonial and
revolutionary relics. It is built of gray
brick, and stands on Washington street,
in the midst of the citys busiest traffic.
There is nothing particularly noticeable
about its exterior, it being unadorncd,
having simply a square belfry termina-
ting III a spire of no pretentiOus height
A black faced clock looks out from the
sides of the belfry on the hurting crowds
below, and often in passing as pause to
note the hour, l look for the pigeon
"whose nest is builded we'll, on the cross.
beam under the Old South bell, but alas,
it too must have passed away with the
poet who made the story so beautiful in
rhpme. If the outside of the building is
unadOrncd, the same cannot be said of
the inside The arrangement is very odd,
the pulpit being on the side of the room,
and of course the seats all face towards it.
A gallery, supported by pillars, extends
across the ends Of the room, and along
the side opposite the pulpit, and across
each end is second gallery above the
first. Every thing about the place speaks
of age. The plaster has crumbled from
the wall in many places, showing the
brick beneath, and the woodwork is
hacked and cut. as though lawless visitors
had helped themselves to souvenirs. The
walls are decorated with portraits of noted
patriots, and maps, and pictures of places
and stirring revolutionary events, all fres-
coed with the dust and cobwebs of what
might be dozen centuries. Arranged in
showcases, and in stalls, around the
room, under the gallery, are all sorts of
domestic utensils, implements Of war,
articles of wearing apparel, from whole
suit of Gen. Sullivans clothes down to
Lady Washington's slippers, and Gov.
Winthrop's baby cap. Ancient manu-
script, ancient coin, specimens of needle
work, old-fashioned samplers done by
high-bred DANES, framed pictures done in
embroidery, banners of various designs,
flags that did duty in war and peace, and
with the weight of years. Behind the
pulpit, which is not Of the old fashioned
kind, perched high up on the wall, as is
found in many of the old churches here,
but is a simple platform with movable
reading desk, it's only pretentions to a
pulpit being clumsy looking canopy sus-
pended over it, which I should think,
would suggest to timid speaker the ter
rors of Damoclese sword; behind this
singular arrangement is placard saying
This is the window through which War
rem entered to deliver his famous grafton
on the Boston Massacre" From the gal
lery in another place placard states that
This is the place where Washington en-
tered after the evacuation Of Boston"
And so it was all about, on every hand, q
most vivid object-lesson of the times and
people that to me had but existed between
the covers Of my textbook on U. s. His
tory. Well, in this place, amid these sur
roundings, all hallowed by associations
with the name of Washington, where
7ery thin e was in keeping with his pat
riotic character and service, here were
he Id the
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
of the Webster Historical society, and in
listening to them, my heart was stirred
with the reality of the man and his states
manship, as it never was before.
The services consisted of singing by
four gentlemen composing the Temple
quartette, prayer by Rev. Brook Herford,
singing by the same quartette, introduce
ton of speaker by the venerable Lyman
P. Wilder who expressed his pleasure in
hearing the names Of Washington and
Webster brought together, Washington
the Father of his country, and Webster
the expounder and defender of its consti-
k,,< no Orofsor tIVNo eh
Statesman, was delivered by Hon. George
B. Loring. Among Others on the plat
form with the speaker were, Gen. Banks
and Robert Col yer of n. Y. Mr.. Loring
is graceful, polished orator Of acknow-
lodged power, and his Grafton was no re-
hashing of the old, old story of Washing
toms service to his country as a soldier
only, but was keen, clear and almost
loving presentation of his career in the
political arena, both before and after the
war. am told that Mr.. Loring is a gen.
uine admirer of this phase of Washing.
toms life, and he certainly spoke with
the order and enthusiasm of believer.
Just now the great event to large part
of Boston society. is the presence of
HER MAJESTY OPERA COMPANY,
which includes such artists as Patti, Al
bani, and Nine. Scalchi There is a great
demand for seats, especially on the Patti
nights, and Notwithstanding the fact that
general admission is two dollars and =
half, best seats five dollars, and private
boxes forty dollars, the house is crowded
to overlooking every night. Of course I
ought not to have afforded it, but went
three times. Patti alone receives four
thousand four hundred dollars per night,
and I was exceedingly anxious to see and
hear the talent that could command such
a price. heard her on her first appear
ance, in Donizetti's Opera, Llndi di
CAamouni, beautiful Swiss peasant
scene The evening was magnificent
success. One musical critic says, never
since the days of Jennie Lind have some
of the passages of Lindi di Chamouni
been 50 artistically and brilliantly interpre-
ted. AS for myself, was charmed. The
heights and depths and flexihility of her
voice is simply wonderful. Hearing her
in no wise detracted from my previous ad-
miration of Nine. Nilsson, for to my mind
so entirely different are they, that they
cannot fairly be compared. Nilsson Is
grand, Patti brilliant, Nilsson sings to the
heart, Patti to the intellect, Nilsson is
sympathetic, magnetic, Patti artistic, and
yet at the close of the opera. as she sang
uoroo xuhio1, <o,,ol:,> ~,l,x e,