Daily Kennebec journal., 1885-12-15
Boston Letter.
A LEGION or CHRIsrMAs SRoPPERs-THE
CIrY ELECTION - THE CoLLEcTORsHIP
QUESTION FINALLY SETTLED.
Bosros. Dec. IA, 1895.

BosToS, Dec. IA, 1885.
We have had but comparatively few days
of the traditional holiday weather, but it
seems to make little difference with Christ
mas shoppers. For fortnight, at least, the
streets have been unusually thronged with
pedestrians and the stores have been packed
by eager seekers for holiday gifts. At no
season of the year does Boston wear gayer
aspect. The counters and show windows OF
the big stores are truly marvels of art, and
worth long journey to behold. Some OF the
biggest concerns employ men and women to
design and decorate the windows of their es-
tablishnents. They are persons of exquisite
taste and good judgment in the mat
ter of artistic decoration who make
a study of display and decoration
and WHO occasionally make trips to Europe
to obtain ideas and hints. They command .
good salary, but 50 great is the competition
between the dealers the investment is consid-
cred a paying venture. 1t is said that while
. wider variety of goods can be found in the
New York stores the great business establish
ments at the Club" excel all others in the
country in the line of show-window decora-
ton. And in the line of variety and excel
lence of goods the New York stores are but
a trifie ahead of those in this city, so it is
not a wonder that the influx Of strangers to
Boston increases year by year as the holiday
season rolls around. Christmas trade is gen.
erally reported good, and for few brief
weeks the multitude seems to forget that the
times are hard and general business some
what slack.
THE CRY ELECTION.
The city election occurs tomorrow, and
will be lively contest. The candidates for
the mayoralty are the present incumbent,
Hon Hugh O'Brien, democrat, ,an Irish-Ameri-
can citizen of ability and experience in muni-
cipal matters and ex-Sheriff John M. Clark,
the republican nominee. Boston has long
been democratic, but party lines are often
trodden under foot in municipal contests, and
friends of Mr.. Clark think he stands good
show of election, particularly as there is dis
satisfaction in the rank and file of the demo-
cratic party with Mr.. O'Brien's administra-
ton, while Mr.. Clark, though the republican
nominee. is about as good democrat as his
competitor. The position of mayor of Bos-
ton is now one of great responsibility. By a
legislative amendment of the city charter
adopted during the past year the mayor is re-
sponsble not only for the proper administra-
ton of the duties strictly pertaining to his
office. but is made the custodian of every
branch of the city's business. His salary is
SIC, 900 per annum, double what it was before
the charter amendment was adopted and twice
that of the Governor of the State. Virtually
the mayor is placed at the head of an i'm
mense business establishment, and it is hoped
and believed that the result will be to elect
only men OF character and ability to office.
Either of the candidates will fill the bill
Mr.. Clark was for thirty years sher
i'll of Suffolk county, position of
great responsibility and profit. He is
reported to pay taxes on $250000 worth
of real estate in the city. MIR. O'Brien is
proprietor of the Shipping List. marine
weekly. and is well-to-do in this worlds
goods. There has been a notable reduction
Of taxation in his administration, but at the
expense of a cessation of work on some pub
lie improvements.
THE New COLLECTOR.
The appointment of Mr.. Saltonstall as
collector of this port pleases the mugwumps
better than it does the demo Gratis. As the
new collector happily said at q banquet the
other evening, the democracy so strenuously
opposed his appointment it has little right to
expect much at his hands in the way of ap-
pontments to office. And yet the new col
ector is besieged with applications for posi-
ions in the custom house from democrats
who seem to have discovered that after all he
s a pretty good fellow. Mr.. Salt install is a
good representative of the aristocratic demo-
crat. He is dignifed and reserved, yet cour-
.eous and even genial to his friends and cub
,rdinates. Collector Worthington, proprietor
Of the Traveller, has filled the office ably and
we'll, and retires with the best wishes of
merchants and business men. Even the
Herald, which violently opposed his confirm
alton, admits that he has filled the office cred
tably. The collectorship is the most profit
able Office IN New England in the gift of the
President, and everybody is glad that the
vpypd uupstiop ia settled Z