Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-04
CORRESPONDENCE.
Some of the InteresIing Thisg gs in and Around BostOn-The Paul Revere Church-An Imaginary COnRregatfon- In the steepIe-Copp's Hil

Church-An Imaginary Congregation
 In the SteepIe-CoPP's Hill.
 BOSTON, June 30.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER
 When true patriot visits scenes of Revo- lutionary fame where battles were fought and heroes rose and fell, or where away from the noise of strife were performed those quiet deeds of heroism and vslor which showed better than battle what kind of mettle had the staunch men of '76 who lived or died for freedom, a feeling of reverence and awe comes over him and he steps with light though eager tread on such sacred ground i; while as he hears retold the familiar tales of valor the blood of his forefathers quickens in his veins, and he himself in imagination lives in the midst of those stirring times. A resident of Boston is exceptionally favored in the way of famous places to visit, for not only has he Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill a d Dorchester Heights within an hours ride. but there are many places in the city itself which are we'll worthy of investigation. Within the past year I have taken R number of quiet strolIs and visited many spots of great interest to me, of which I had heard and read way back from my boyhood. I never was tired hearing of them then and Sl0C6 COmlQR u6E0 l AAu uy 4htcAO5b III bAO LII even greater than before, such difference does it make to stand on the spot and study out the details for ones self.
 week or so since carried out a resolve made some moRths ago to visit Christ church, or, as it is more often called, the Paul Revere church, from whose steeple were hung out the lanterns that started the hero on his fla nous ride. The morning air was fresh and invigorating, and as had the company of a delightful! little lady-a true Boston girl-ths prospect was good for an interesting trip
 We left the horse car at Salem street and walked the remainder of the distance that we might obtain better idea of the surround ings of the church. This portion of the city in former times was occupied by people of wealth and refinement and was pleasant and desirable locality to dwell in, but alas for the changes of time, it hardly seems now as if anything noble or heroic could ever have been born there. On either side of the narrow, twisted streets vile grocer's shops and beer saloons abound from doors and windows look forth tousled heads and hard faces, while in the streets run wild myrfads of that portion of our population usually termed ''brats" We look in vain for the swallow-tailed coat with it's brass buttons, the knee brooches, the cooked hat covering powdered wig and queue, the smooth-shaven, firm featured face which characterized the old resolute who used to walk here proud and stately. Indeed, it is difficult to whip our imagination into the belief that such people ever dwelt here We begin to doubt history and think there must have been some mistake in locality, and we hung on through this misunderstanding" towards that plain little building just ahead, hoping that when once inside of it and under the influence of it's Puritanic spell our imagination will serve us better. We were little late, for the con- gregation had assembled and the services be- oL@ fn where perhaps in other days there sat an Adams, Warren Hancock, and left us to our own reflection. We tried to Joln Tn the responses and to become interested in the but, dear me! it was of no sort ot use There was no trouble with the lmagl- nation now. Powdered wigs or poke bon nets covered every head, brass buttons eleamed in the sunlight, stern-faced old Pur- itans sat solemnly upright in the old fash- toned pews, uneasy children crouched on the hard seats, not daring to move muscle and longing with all their little nights for the sermon to end. There, too, was the pom pous beadle occasionally rappiug into con- scieusness some poor offender, who, over come by the ponderous learning and wisdom of the preachers two hours discourse on the doctrine of original sin, had so far forgotten himself as to nod at his post Yes, they were all there and we lived on among them in 6 delightful dream till the sermon was ended and the congregation dismissed. Then came the longed for opportunity of examining the place in detail, and to toll the truth we were not sorry to move around a bit after sitting 50 long in that pew of our forefsthers. l don't wonder the faces of our ancestors were solemn and their backs straight. Fancy slt- ting for three bours on an eight-inch seat with a perpendicular back for support. The old North church is about 163 years old, it's corner stone having been laid in 1721. It's
 kT,Ov1 kHnr1 cnHn nF and cultivated people, who were, of course, up to the time of the Revolution all loyal subjects of George II, which monarch it would seem was much interested in the wei fare of the new eharch, for he gave to It communion service and very large copies of the bible and prayer book. These articles are in the possession of the society and we had the pleasure of looking them over. The service is still used at the communion season. Of course after the Revolution the senti- msnts of the people toward the king were changed and the question arose as to what should be done with certain allusions to King George, prayers for his health, &c, which they had been accustomed to hear read in other days. Too poor to go to the expense of new copies and too loyal to themselves and their liberty to retain the obnoxious DOT tions they solved the difficulty by neatly pasting strips of paper over them, and then tried to believe they were net there.
 The whole interior of the church, pews, pulpit reading desk, furniture in the chan eel, &c.. remains as it was in the old days. When the little organ began to hum and buzz it needed no one to say "this is the first or gan of the church." It was a self evident truth. Yet to us there was something pa. thetic in it's discordant tones they seemed to tell of long years of usefulness, of grand hymns sounded for brave voices to sing, hymns of praise for victories, hymns of sor- Ah ruho dead and alone of them all am left to sound their virtues and drone out in my weak old age the hymns they loved so well" Perched on standards around the railing of the choir gallery ace four curious wooden figures blowing wooden trumpets, and these, to- gether with the two chandeliers which hang from the ceiling, have quite little histo- ry. They were intended for 8 Catholic ca thedral in Montreal, but while en route on 8 French ship were captured by one of Captain Gruchy's privateers and afterwards placed in Christ church. But after all that portion of the building which we were most anxious to see was the steeple, and to the steeple we soon turned our steps. Could we have found any lanterns we should certainly have carried them with us in order that tho climb might be as real as possible. but as they were not to be had we went without them. AS we picked our way up the ladders we tried to imagine that the British had just started acroS5 the river and we were our way to give the friendly signal.
 It was quite a climb to the top and not un- attended with difficulty, as the way was dark and the ladders steep, but the last round was at length reached, and in a moment mo we were eagerly gazing out of the very window from which Robert Newman, the sexton, hung out on that eventful night the lapterns which started Paul Revere on his warning ride to Lexington and Concord. How exci- ted and eager must have been the humble sexton as he exposed those two bits of flame to view what anxious thoughts must have filled his mind. Suppose the lights were detected by the British before the watcher across the river shou d see them. Suppose sudden fog should arise and rem der their brightness useless But no acci- dents occurred and the old sexton would have breathed a sigh of intense relief could he have looked through the darkness and have seen impatient Paul Revere at the first gleam of the lights leap to the back of his noble horse and dash down the road towards Lex ington to rouse from their uneasy slumber the determined band of farmers which fought so bravely on that terrible day. An, those were grand times of grander deeds, and we worked ourselves into 8 fine glow of enthusi- asm as we rehearsed those exciting events so long since happened, yet so inexpressibly dear to every true lover of ''our native land" We turned from the scene with reluctance and wended our way downwsrds, stopping only to see the chime of bells cast by Abel