St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-04

were invaded by business. The fact is Ire
mont street is straight for nearly whole
block, and for fear the Boston people would
become sea sick by such regularity they run
the street cars zigzag back and forth from
one side to he other in order to keep up the
uniform Boston style, where there is
straight stretch of block. On this account
the trees in front of the cemetery had to
come down, and down they came.
On the closed gates of the grounds were
of some of the distinguished dead buried
there. Among them / read the names of
John Adams, John Hancock, Peter Faneuil,
Paul Revere, the parents of Benjamin
Franklin, and numerous other historical and
famous characters. The grounds are now
rarely used for burial purposes, though be-
lieve Wendell Phillips was buried there.
The plot Of ground seems to be a sealed book
to the public and the gates are securely
locked.
AN EYE TO BUSINESS.
The average Boston man has an eye to
business. As Mr.. Flanagan might say that
is what they are there for. So | was not en-
tirely shocked when I saw man sitting on
the sidewalk under little awning at one
corner of the enclosure. On stand was a
small cask, with faucet, bearing the inscrip-
tion
''Seal Rock spring water, one cent glass;
always did regard water dangerous, cs-
pecially among strangers, but shades of Iowa
defend us; to think of buying Boston water.
on the streets in Boston is to enable
the visitor to drink in the 9sculchaw,' com
mon to that section of the country. But
if you can get s'culchaw'' and wash it down
with water at zone cent glass;" how much
more can you wash down with beer at five
centss This is a mathematical problem which
| relegate to the astron omical Harvard gradu-
ates who drive the street cars. Iowa is pretty
radical on temperance questions, as is also
Mr.. Blaine's Maine, but you don't have to
buy your drinks-of water. Thrifty Boston
is the only place ever found where you had
to buy drinking water, unless per-
chance it might be when you
wanted 10 put IN LILLE WhlSke,
and bought the water while the barkeeper
gave the other beverage free. AS passed
this speculative genius l could but feel that
he was entitled to a tribute Of respect, and
SO l made my salam Chats Boston word
at him as l announced
''No, thanks; don't mind the cent, but
never drink water.''
TIE FAMOUS COMMON.
Only few feet farther down the street
comes the famous "Boston Common" This
was the spot made historic quarter of a
century ago by Mr.. Wheelock's abandon
ment of his Indian show. My first solicitude
was for the red man, and 1 inquired Of
convenient policeman where they kept Mr..
Wheelock's Indians nowadays.
''We don't have any more show business
on the common" was the reply. ''You see
the monkey cage is all torn down." and he
pointed to some wire frame work lying on
the ground.
1t was something, however, to tread upon
ground made historic by an Indian show
from Minnesota, even if it was abandoned
by its editorial manager and the Indians left
to dance their war dance on the Common in
a half starved condition.
Boston Common is as old as the city itself.
In fact l am not sure but the ground was
there before the city came and sat down
around and about it. Its existence is
a standing argument in favor Of
parks in the business center of a
city, Comprising but forty EIGHT acres, it is
more valuable to Boston than Central park
In New York. Its broad walks, its shady
seats, its miniature lake, its royal elms, its
splendid fountain, its superb soldiers monu-
ment; and above all, its play ground for the
children, combines to make a spot which, in
view of its accessibility, cannot be estimated
in dollars and cents. 1t is breathing spot
which does more for the health and comfort
of Boston than all of its artificial appliances
combined.
when / recall that when Boston Common
was first dedicated to the public, it was used
for COW pasture, l have some hope for our
desplsed Como park. When learn that a
clause in the original charter of the city of
Boston forbid its disposal by sale, gift or in
any manner, but declared it to be public
property forever, thought 1 could see wis
dom in the provision which had prevented
any such periodic agitation in Boston as st.
Paul has over her neglected Smith park.
It was on this Common that the British
troops had their quarters and their earth
works when they held Boston. 1t was on
this Common that the British troops formed
their lines and marched to the spot where
the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. 1t
on this Common that the Americans mus
tered their troops during the revolution. 1t
was on this Common that the troops were
gathered which marched to the capture of
Quebec, so that while the visitor of to-day
looks upon a delightful pleasure spot he
stands upon ground made famous by its
early military history.
Across the street or boulevard comes the
ssPublic Garden,'' which is about one-half
the size of the Common" The city bought
the site of this public garden sixty years ago
for fifty thousand dollars. 1t was then
swampy marsh, and just beyond it the swamp
became bay, and at high tide was fully
overlooked. The garden has been the work
of the past twenty-five years, and the very
much larger portion of it since 1870. 1t is
lovely spot indeed, with its profusion of
flowers and trees and its winding artificial
lake in the center. On this little lake the
children find rare sport with the
goose and row boats, the former being
propelled by little paddle. The scene both
in tie public garden and ON the Common on