The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-07
OUR BOSTON LETTER.
The "AnclentS" Attended Church Again
on Election Day.
HISTORY OF THIS OLD COMPANY.
a Part of Msssschusetts' Early History
superintendent Doogue All Right
Last Week OF the Lsgisiature--senats
In the Bill Killing Business.

hc hhCiOht anu AlOhOioDiV
company cehbra ted this week its 255th
anniversary and incidentally the command
attended church again. ''The Ancients,"
as the company Is familiary called, de-
served all the praise they receive for their
annual parade through Boston's streets.
1t Is true that the members of today are
not 255 years old, but many of them have
years ago passed marching age, in the
sense that marching is a pleasure, and
nothing but sense of loyalty and duty
would tempt them to don again their
regimentals. You can generally tell when
they are coming out IL you watch the
stairway leading to some we'll known
chiropodists' parlors. Corns, sore joints
and bunions have to be tenderly cared for
before the old guard tramps over the
cobble stones.
The hist ory Of the company is a part o,
the history of the commonwealth. Within
20 years of the landing of tn e Pilgrims
long before our thriving towns and popu-
lous cities had an existence, only two
years after the founding Of Harvard col
lege-the Ancient and Honorable Artillery
company began its career as an indepen-
dent military organization. IL originated
I'm the active brain OF tailor named
Keayne, who was its first commander, and
was shadow or attempted counterpart of
the famous "Honourable Artillery com.
pany" OF London. In the early days it
met with some opposition, but its rolls
show the most celebrated names In our
history. To its members the most emf
nent Of Massachusetts divines have
preached on the annual election day and
have felt honored in so doing.
But just think of the hold an organiza-
tion has upon those old veterans, when
can lead them into church and keep them
there during an entire service. Men wen
into the New Old South last Monday,
whose last visit TO such place OF worship
was when duty called them last year. They
will go again next year, and for years to
come il they live, and for 1t the Ancients
as an organization should have credit. The
company is credit to the city in every
way. but particularly As something Gthat
has come down from the fathers, and in
sists upon one day Of church going.
But "the Ancients" in Boston and at
church with their Sunday manners on is
one thing and the company out on its an
nual field day Is another. There is hardly
a city where this letter is read that needs
TO be told of the red hot, rollicking times
the command indulge In when out for an
airing The Ancient and Honorable artil-
lery can give any command known to New
England points, and beat them out at the
finish when good time is under consider
alton. The heroes of many battles of that
kind are unconquerable They have both
practice and capacity.
Superintendent Doogue, like the public
garden, is safe for another year. Oddly
enough, both owe the intact position they
hold to public sentiment so strong that
the legislature could do nothing but obey
its dictates. There never was any good
reason for attacking either, and the cry Of
indignation that went up showed that re-
treat was the only safe course. 1t is pop
ular just now to he cynical; to wall the de.
cadence of the times, and to point out the
loss of the good old days, when the people
ruled in fact, as well as in theory. Grant
that there is disposition on the part of
public servants to forget that they are
servants. and not masters, but do not for
get that right here in Boston, in this year
Of our Lord, 1893. it has been demonstrated
that when the people speak in no uncertain
tones they will be heard and obeyed.
The trouble Is with the masses and not
with the men who represent them in most
cases. The men who complain and growl
are the ones who stay away from the eau
cuses and even from the polls on election
day. They allow others TO do the voting
and then howl IL the result is not what
they would have achieved themselves.
am willing to concede that selfish and even
dishonest men get into the legislature, but
that they are there is the fault of the peo-
pie Of the towns and cities or wards they
represent. II you allow a corporation to
select your representative you will get a
corporation representative and must not
complain If he feels that he owes his first
duty to the powers that made him.
There is another thing worthy Of your
consideration when considering how you
have been represented in the general court.
The fellows who make the most noise are
not necessarily the most valuable mem
bers. There are men on Beacon hill who
have not been heard upon the floor of the
house three times this session who have
been OF more service TO the commonwealth
and have secured more remedial and valu-
able legislation for their constituents than
half dozen Of the noisy members who
always have a speech on tap. There is a
great deal in knowing when to keep still
and the absence Of this knowledge has
made many bright man unpopular.
This ought to be the last week Of the
session. AS suggested two weeks age
the positive work had been accomplished
then and it wasn't worth while for the
members to remain in session for the pur-
pose Of killing things. The house acts on
some important measures favorably, but
there is another body about which there is
more and serious doubt. Don't forget the
senate when making your calculations.
The men who oppose rapid transit and ex-
pect to prevent desired gas legislation,
have never banked on securing anything
but kicks in the popular branch. They
have paid little attention TO that body and
have concentrated their fire on the senate.
They say openly that they have the con-
troll there. Whether they are right or not
will be known perhaps before this letter
reaches you. i fear they know what they
are talking about