St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-03-13
A Readable Letter from Boston.
BOsToN, March, 1884.


If the old adage is true. that ''variet,
Is the spice of life" the citizens o
! Boston have been favored with larg
amount of it in regard to the weather
In the last month we have enjoyed bu
few pleasant days London fog, ScOtcl
mist, Boston mud, east winds and
e general drizzle, with the exception o
an occasional snOw-stOrm. have con
. stltnted the general program. Thi
has been rather trying to the nerves
and tempers as well as constitution
OF most people, Judging by the number
of funeral PROFESSIONS passing. Few
venture forth unless clad in water
proofs and armed with umbrellas
Iankee-ike various speculations and
suggestions have been offered to ac-
count for such an unusual state OF
affairs of the sailors affirming
that the icebergs drifting down 50
early from the north and melting affects
our climate others, that it is owing to
its being leap year." and various
causes about us probable as those given
to account for our brilliant sun sets last
autumn.
One hears many uncOmplimentary
remarks respecting Boston climate
| from nOn-rcsidents. One excellent lady
| from Vermont assured us that Arctic
! cold and Neru,nnt sn,uh.nl-s ,,..,.., g..
| preferable to such decidedly moist
weather. In order to retain equanim-
ity of mind and Mark Taply-like
cheerfulness of temper, we have been
obliged to think of negative mercies-
rejoicing that we do not live out west
with the thermometer forty or fifty
degrees below zero, or suffering from
floods and inundations; or down south
in the path of the cyclones es-and such
comparisons usually restore one to
wOntcd cheerfulness.
The excellent executive ability and
good working power of the city were
manifest last week. when one of the
large water-pipes burst about midnight
and the seethiug. boiling water soon
filled the streets near like flowing
river, suggesting to the people that
they might soon be in sympathy with
their western friends but few hours
soon repaired the damage and restored
order
A most beautiful sight greeted our
eyes the other morning on looking ont.
for it seemed as if the Park had been
converted into fairy land. The large
spreading branches of the shade trees
were heavily covered with masses of
soft, tieecy snow which had fallen dur
ing the night, and crystalizing, every
branch and twig seemed vying one
with the other in displaying sparkling
light, intensified its transparency ana
almost unearthly whiteness and purity, !
making "A rare and beautiful picture
for few hours, which the photogra-
pher vainly endeavored to transfer and
preserve.
Washington's birthday was beauti
full, mild day, almost a perfect one.
Gov. Robinson showed his patriotism
by holding IA reception i'll the executive
chamber of the State house from II Il.
IN. until > p. III. He was surrounded
10y his staff and Adj. Gen. Dalton
acted as aid in presenting the people
to his EXcellency. Over 5000 ladies
and gentlemen of all ages and colors
availed themselves of this opportunity
in paving him their respects, and he
quite won their hearts by his courteous,
cordial and manly reception of them.
At the annual temperance hearing
before the committee in the Legisla-
tuTe, several able addresses were made
by prominent gentlemen of different
denominations Rev. Drs. Dorchester,
Plumb, Col. Haseltine, Mr.. Faxon of
Quincy, and Mrs. Ada c. Bowles Nh
Bennett, the counsel for the anti-pro-
hibition party, desired longer time and
space before replying to the addresses,
which was granted. But at the de-
ferred hearing, it was thought by many
that his arguments brought against
prohibition were in reality more for
prohibition than against it. 1t is a
noticeable and encouraging fact that
the WOmcn's Christian temperance
union is finding that its allies among
Christian ministers, Legislators and
crease, and this stimulates them to
unite their forces and extend their
work III every direction.
The Perkins institute for the blind
at South Boston held a two days fair
III their building a short time since, to
. raise money to carry on kindergarten
work. Miss Laura Bridgman, who
makes it her home there, although
somewhat enfeebled by age, is still
able to greet strangers with a friendly
shake of the hand with her wonted
/ cheerfulness.
Mr. Kennan of Washington, d. c.,
recently concluded one of the most
delightful and instructive courses of
! lectures on Siberia, in the Lowell In
! stitute course to which we have ever
listened. Not only because his subject
is one of which little is comparatively
! known. but he united with a fine de-
livery, forcible yet graceful gestures,
a rare talent for describing what he
had seen and experienced in his travels