The Portland daily press., 1884-03-18

Arnold has not had this opportunity, but he
has had his hsttery tempered by such later
protest-such sharp criticism that he has got q
taste, as it we're, of the east wind, while the
balmy south wind of praise was yet blowing in
his nostrils-h he has in fact thus got little
hint of both sides of this Boston atmosphere
That bis conclusion that Boston is artificial
and provincial more than any other OF the
American cities he has knowledge OF comes
from limited experience does not alter the
fact that he has hit upon truth. II is easy TO
be seen how the matter has presented itself 10
him. de saw at the first only the fatferlng
difference to his opinion-the admiring agrees
ment without suggestion OF disagreement. he
saw chat he was accepted as authority, appar-
entity final and absolute. He rises, and in the
attitude Of authority handles sacred god,
whose presence is yet living amongst us. Then
all at once the east wind makes itself felt, and
storm arises 1t is not strange that the al
most obsequious Difference with which his
words were first listened to- did not give him
very elevated idea of the strength or origin
atty of Bostonians. 1t was provincial atti-
tude decidedly. When the cutlery breaks
forth against his Emerson structures, it is not
strange that he should think both emanated
from the same source-which is not true. The
first finding was in the right direction. Inc
latter is just as much in the wrong, for it was
not the same class of persons at all who fol-
lowed to applaud, and then started out in pro-
testing criticism. The first class of applauders
was, not merely because they applauded Mr..
Arnold, but because they applaud everything
English-the provincial class The last named
was that element in Boston which is its saving
grace, the independent thinkers, who refuse to
be provincial-who neither follow to applaud
nor TO condemn. It is not singular that the
English visitor got mixed in his IDEAS but
whatever else we do, we Bostonians, whether
born and bred Bostoaians or 50 from long love
and naturalization, must not get mixed in like
fashion.
don't know whether it will be fair to say
that the present Lsnten season suggests to me
phase of our provincialism. But it does, and
tails way-the display of ritualism. Here and
there in the high churches the candles and
tho incense burn and swing day after day.
"We are only getting back the old English
church service-the mother church." says a
devout church woman to me. With the later
impetus towards the fresh rendering of all
these old forms in England began the awaken.
ing and acceptance here few years ago. One
seems to have kept pace with the othef--the
new country following the old in trae colonial
s fashion.
Ten or fifteen years ago, the professional boy
choir at the church of the Advents was an
an event. Now. that is very old story-the
candles, the incense, and the confessional being
daily events at this time which people have
got used to. When it comes to good Profess
tants rigidly combining themselves to a fish
diet on Lenten Fridays one naturally, If one
is OF an inauiring mind, asks what these Prot
estants protest against in the Roman Catholic
church, and where provincial ritualism is going
10 lead us. It's all very we'll; it's all better
than we'll, if these woFshippers find something
more than an old form which they follow as an
old fashion, as they follow anything English
in the prov ncial spirit. II they find ulti-
mately in the formg, the beauty of
holiness and let it lift their daily
lives out of the petty action which
human friction brings, even a provincial start
may be welcomed for the ultimate result.
The visiting goes on quite as briskIy es ever
In these Lenten days. Not the large lunches
aud receptions and big parties, but the cosy
'smalI and earlys." Ii the lsnten observers
starve it is according to Herrick's lovely old
command: