The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-23
Correspondence of the PREss.l


Correspondence of the PREss.]
Boston, Jan. 90, 1866
This is the height of the season. We reach
this pinnacle in Boston whenever the sleigh
ing is good for two days in succession over
Beacon street and the Milldam out to Bright
on. This does not happen every year; and
when it does happen the season can get no
higher. Now it has been the height of the
season ever since the big snow storm came, a
week ago last Saturday; and the road be-
tween the city and its western suburbs has
for ten DAYS seen an nnhrplzap. nrncessjOn of
ceiyable style of hitch-up, singles, doubles,
trebles-for the Russian style is now con-
sidered the proper thing-and while hum
dreds of the sleighs are built this year after
the Muscovite style, one or two extremists
have gone still further, and drive three
abreast in full paraphernalia. lday long,
and far into these moonlight nights, the
Brighton road is more or less popuIous but
in the afternoon, from one o'clock to six, it
is simply jammed. For miles the procession
of sleighs, two or three deep ion each side of
the road, passes and repasses without
break, while between the double lines there
is left space down which the speedy ones
try conclusions. Once in the stream, it is
impossible to get out, except at some cross
street, and it is equally impossible to pro-
coed faster than walk. Slowly and tedi-
ously moving, the pageant covers the long
stretch, hour after hour, and if it happens to
be cold day the pleasurers seem like mourn
ers at funeral At the sun goes down the
family equipages gradually disappear, and a
wider space and greater freedom are given
the flyers, who then monopolize the course
until they in turn weary Of the sport. Day
before yesterday we had sample of what
must at any time be expected from this man.
ner of amusement. At point where the
sleighs were three abreast on each side of
the road, horse took fright at the rapid
passage of a racer coming down the middle,
stood ON his hind legs moment and then
plunged through family sleigh, dashed
across to the other side, set three other ami
mails wild with fear, and the episode ended
with seven sleighs smashed to match wood
and stretcher squad carrying away fainting
and bruised women to neghboring houses.
But this was only an incident, and the pro-
cession went on as before.
THE NEW THEATRE.
The most pronounced SUCCESS of late years
in this city is the new Hollis Street Theatre,
on which good fortune has smiled from the
first. Its architect, Major John r. Hall,
perpetrated the sacrilege of transforming
that old temple of religion, the Hollis street
church, in the most charming manner. 1t
has long been held that no theatre can be
successful farther up town than Essex street,
and while the venture has several times been
made, it has always proved a failure. The
result in this case shows, chiefly, that the
right soft of theatres were not built. Major
Hall has conceived and constructed house
which is in itself an attraction, and which
will draw attendance for any entertainment
that is brought out there. There is no doubt
that the Hollis Street Theatre, as planned
and built by him, is the safest and most
comfortable, as well as one of the handsom-
est, in the city. And people go there, of
course. The ''Mikado' is now running there
in its tenth week to crowded houses every
time the curtain is raised
JOHN L. SULLIVAN, ARTIST.
The dramatic sensation of the week, be-
yOuu uOuDt, Is lHe appearance OF Boston S
pride" the pugilist Sullivan, on the boards
Of the Boston Theatre. His debut was made
asst Saturday evening. Mapleson's Opera
Company gave Martha" in that house at
;he Saturday matinee, and in the evening
he curtain rose on a minstrel show, in the
variety" part of which our great bruiser
appeared as a posturist in connection with
the wrestler Sullivan's last APP
in Boston was as defendant in the
suit for divorce brought by his wife, in which
ne made the astounding plea that the little
womah habitually maltreated and abused
MN with cruelty. He has since taken les
SOUS III posing, and now travels with min |
'trel show, giving exhibitions. in white |
lights, wig and Toured face, as statuarv. 1t |
may be said that his appearance is really su-
perb, and that his posing is undeniahlv ar
'istic. But that is not what the galleries are
crowded for. They go to see 'Jobn ), and
hey stir the rather fetid atmosphere of tho
auditorium with yells of admiration. not of
lis art, but of his personality; just as at anv
lour OF the day, you may see the side /