Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-01-29
BOSTON LETTER.
The New Chamber of Commerce
"A Rebel Flag.
The Wife Beater's Opportu-
nity--Notes, Etc.
The New Chamber of Commerce

~ NN'''H'iNI Vi lHt HtW I nllIlDpr
of Commerce, which occurred on
w etlncsday of last week, was a notable
event, and one which will long dwell in
the memory of the hundreds of eminent
men who participated in the exercises.
The great building is located con-
vcnicntly Y TO the centre of trade and fur
nisheS the most substantial proof of the
prosperity and growth of this city in
the past decade. Within that period
the growth of Boston has been so rapid
that were it not that there has at no
time been anything in the nature of
fictitious boom TO bring false and
simply apparent prosperity, it
might almost be regarded with
doubt as mhcalthful and abnor-
nal. rs ii is there is no reason for
looking upon il as in any way un>ound.
The ccntralizing of interests, the con-
slant tendency toward urban life which
is one of the most striking signs of our
modern civilization is in part rcspon-
sible tor this, but there are other and
more direct causes which have been
aided and worked together for the
increase of the material prosperity
of our town. The new building is
worthy of the purpose for which it is
designed and it is also worthy to stand
as fine and lasting monument to the
energy and ability and the enterprise Of
the men who have led in the affairs of
the business circles which will here
after centre there.
That Rcbe; Flag.
Our city council seems ,Iceirous of
acquiring fame by some means or other,
and as hut few of the members seem
likely to reach the goal OF their amhi-
tion through nnythag savoring of ,tatcs-
manship. it i little wonder that they
sometimes resort to questionable cNpc-
dicnt~ in order to J." heard of men. The
latest sensation in the council chamber
is all on account of Il rebel tlug, cap
turcd in 1862 from North Carolina
regiment at Hanover Court House, Va.
1t is evidently an elephant on the city's
hands, but this furnishes no reason why
it should be sent back to the company
losing it TO pcrpctuOtc rccollcctions of
secession The North and the South
are now one, and it should be the aim
OF all citizens 10 more firmly cement
the bond OF union no" so happily exist
ing, rather than to he ctcrnallv stirring
mp rccollections of the sanguinarv
strife. II our statesmen in the lower
branch of the city government do not
know what To do with this confederate
flag, thcv can console themselves with
the thought that there are numerous
other matters Of vastly more importance
than this unmcaning piece of bunting
of which they are equally ignorant.
Burn the flag, and with it all the bitter
memories of the war
A Chance for Wife Bcaters.
We have in Boston an occasional
illustration of brutality in husbands
which would shock cannibal, and as
there is now war being wagcd in
Africa where these brutcs could be en-
ployed TO the manifest credit of the
civilization of this country. make the
suggestion that the gallant Frcnchmcn
who are now engaged in conflict with
the AmaZonS of King Dahomey recruit
regiment or two from the wife bcatcrs
of the Hub. 1t must be mortifying to a
Frenchman to fight 4 woman, and the
provcrbial national politcness OF the
gallant sons of France must he put to u
severe test in such conflict.
"Noble Six Hundred"
Survivors of the charge OF the Light
Brigade ,are few enough to make the
fact noteworthy that Sergeant John Lc-
vich Of Indianapolisis one of the gallant
Six Hundred who withstood the mur-
derous fire of the Russian guns, re-
marks an exchange. He wears one OF
the silver medals with fourl clasps, rep
resenting Alma, Balaklnva, lnkcrman,
and Scvastop6l which the queen gave
those who returned from the Crimca.
Sergeant Lcvch says that the only other
participant in the famous attack who
came to the United States was Michael
Lehan, who died in Pittsburg few
years ago.
The claim is made, however, that
Thomas Day, n farmer, living now near
Vevay, Indiana, was one of the historic
battalion; and can make the further
claim that Alphonsc lie Roy was one OF
the "noble Six Hundred" | met him
only few years since in Central Ne"
York, and the last tidings had from
him he was residing in Auburn, tha
state.
Ovcr-Sensitive Culprits.
The recent trouble with the prisoner,
at Deer Island, the city's penal nStltu
ton in Boston harbor, showed I'M anus
inc sensitiyeness and something of i'm
pudcncc on the part of these lawbreak
ers. The difficulty is that there is 50
much pampcring of our criminals tina
when this process relnXcs in any dircc
ton they at once come II
the conclusion that they ar
i'll used They seem to expect tha
they shall be given "all the comforts o
home" as n reward for their transgres
sions. OF course it is not to be arguc'
for moment that they should be sub
iected to abuse, and they should be a
kindly treated as possible; but less cor
sideration should be given to the pres
sure brought to bear upon the prlso
authorities by misguided sentimertalist
from without. Offenders against tn
law are sent to prison to be punished
and not to be made comfortable. 1t Il
presumed that stern prison disciplin
will deter them from placing themsclve
again. inT the clutch of justice
There is too little of this discipline
and MS result prisoners beconl
insolent, and assert rights to whic