The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-06
OUR BOSTON LETTER.
The Cold Spring and the Summer
Food COntraStod.
THE LEGISLATURES YEARS WORK
Few Mistakes Have Been Made-A Bit
of History-Another Boston Man Re-
warded-The Governor Dogs of All
Kinds-Barrett's Fight.

Poets, very many of them, have written
In varied metre of spring and some have
called IL gentle spring." but no poet has
had the hardihood TO attempt to i'm
mortalize this spring of 1898 in Boston.
The days have rolled along with their ac-
eustomed speed, but the season has not
kept up with the pace. Balmy, gentle
breezes, such AS we may well expect, have
not come, and April finds men shivering
In chilling blasts. Judging a Boston
spring by the present IL would be described
something like this: A time when man
wears winter clothes, seeks winter recre-
ations and, If he chooses, feeds on summer
food. The ulster and heavy wraps are
still with us. The governor last week,
with his Unborn desire to control Massa.
chusetts, undertook to bring about a
change and appeared out in light coat
and suit, hut IL didn't work The clerk of
the weather paid no attention and the cold
winds still whistled around the state
house. He Is wearing winter clothing
again now.
But the remark about living on summer
food is equally true. The increase of facil-
fties for transporting produce has de-
stroyed the seasons. There is no spring
now, If you have plenty of cash used to
know man up in the country who always
declared spring had arrived when, as he
expressed il, he had his ''first mess of
green's" Now spinach and dandelion are
with us in Boston all the year. the great
difference being the difference in cost III
wished tn astonish the reader should
first bring him here, and, after walking
him along the streets where the east wind
most delights to blow, and convincing him
that winter was in command, would put
him into trance and set him down in one
OF the large markets. When he was HIM
Self again he would be ready to believe
that weeks had passed since he was con-
scious.
A man doesn't think Of cold fingers and
tingling ears in connection with salmon and
green peas. yet the latter are waiting pur-
chasers. Strawberries and cream do not
lead you to look for your thick gloves and
coat, yet they are companions now You
do not expect cucumbers, radshes and
new potatoes with the mercury at freezing,
but II you do not have them it as because
you do not seek them with fat purse. In
fact, there is hardly a summer delicacy
that does not confront you in abundance
In the great market of the Hub I dined
with friend the other day upon the edi-
bles you would expect In July only, and
and the repast was one Of medium cost at
that
Abox OF Strawberries at % cents, cucum-
her at Is cents, radishes 10 cents bunch,
and other green things at a like rate, is
what will greet you now. And they do
not all come from the south either Men
have learned that 1t pays to grow such
things In hothouses, just as flowers are
grown, and they are I'm the business i'm nu-
merous localities What most men buy. III
something rare is secured, Is grown within
80 miles of the city
Another wintery thing about Boston Is
the legislature. Not that the general court
usually gets away when spring comes, but
generally spe' ing it has cold weather
flavor. Men who are noted for doing busi-
ness promptly at home seem to lose that
gift when they become lawmakers. Hot
blood suddenly becomes cold and quick
motions appear Impossible Thus il hap
pens that, while other New England
legislatures transact great amount of
business and adjourn, to the relief of
the people, the Massachusetts, legisla-
ture drags along into summer / have
heard it said that all the fish the So
Ions have to fry do not belong to the peo-
pie, and that the work of looking after
some special interest takes great deal
of time.
BE that as it may venture to saw that |
IL the Bay State Gas Company should fail,
the Bunker Hill Monument topple over |
and the West End railroad 60 out of exis-
tance IL wouldn't take months to hang
& i'm snIf Let. til
state House, unless the New York. New
Haven and Hartford railroad got in the
way.
Still at the same time the present appre-
cation of solons should be given credit for
having generally conducted themselves
well. They have avoided serious blunders
and have aided in letting in considerable
light upon some dark places. The hear
ings held at the state house a. rule been
well attended, and much of public interest
has been considered. Take the question
OF the cutting up or invading in any way
Boston Common for instance. In what
other way than by public hearings could
the wonderful sentiment in favor of pre-
serving the historic ground intact have
been aroused. Men who never gave the
land five minutes thought in their lives
became enthusiasts and rushed to defend
Il from ruthless hands.
Speaking OF the common brings before
me bit OF its history read recently that
Is worth repeFing. Few have stopped to
Inquire how Boston obtained the plot its
people so love. They have come to look AZ
IL as part Of the city that. like Topsy,
"growed' there Yet the authorities saw
That the common was once the property of
Boston's first settler, William Blackstone.
who tired of the place and sold his posses
sions to the townspeople as whole These
tarly proprietors took that portion now
known as the common and laid it out for a
Training field and for general public use
and common benefit to all.
More than that the lard was purchased
on credit and every one of Boston's house
holders paid 9 shillings at least, TO clear
A d hlU as..l. Is. r /