Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-10
A RicuMOyDEn IN BOSTON.
lie Makes Some Compnrisons be-
tween That City and Ours.
Correspondence OF the DIspatch)

are all less fruitful topics Of converse
ton. and II variety Of weather means
interesting weather. then the past two
days III the bill to perfection. Yester-
day. IL was mild and balmy; showery.
like an April day I'm the forenoon, with
a tendency TO GOODNESS in the afternoon,
and to-day there have been all kinds
OF weather. one IS reminded Of the old,
Scotch story OF the tourist, who asked
a resident Of Greenock n IL always
rained there, and the answer which
came back was, NAV. it sometimes
snaws." 1t has been that way here to-
day. with cold wind, and then when
tho sun set 1t was clear Who can say
what It will be tomorrow? But the
readers OF the Dispatch do not care 10
hear 30 much Of Boston's weather, even
If it is the thing Of most Infinite variety
I'm the city.
Every one who has heard Of Boston
has heard OF the various and devious
ways Of her ,tholoughfares; but only he
who suffers can feelIngly sing Of them
There is a fixed conviction IN the minds
Of many that no one here can direct
an inquirer how to get TO any given
point. Persistent inquiry every few rods
from almost each alternate man one
meets who has the appearance. OF being
a Bostonian may finally land you at your
destination, provided II be not more than
100 yards away from the point at which
you last ask and is on the same street
If II happens 10 be around q corner, you
are lost Street-car conductors and
those compcndums Of infOrmation-tele-
graph csscngerS-cannot help you IL
you have 10 turn Il corner and get OIL
the street on which you are standing
when you make inquiry. Some one may
want to know how to recognize Bos-
tonan when you meet him on his native
heath. Well. he does not necessarily
wear a shawl, as the comic papers
would have you believe, but he Will
either have his trousers rolled up or
wear rubber shoes. At the dinner-tabie
tonight two men were discussing the
increase of their sales in rubber shoes,
and one Is inclined to the belief that IL
is a growing habit. and "gOloshes" have
come to Boston to stay.
There is at least one way in which
Boston IS like Richmond-namely, it is
said that Boston capitalists prefer to
invest their money away from home,
rather than I'm Boston, and 50 Boston
enterprises 90 outside for support while
Boston capital goes abroad, and all
works to the disaster Of Boston, I'm
which respect Richmond capital may
probably be able to find a parallel Does
this method work well, and TO the adj
vantage Of Boston? How can a stranger
tell with pOsltiveness? An opinion can
be formed by a glance at the census OF
1850 and that Of 1890; and that opinion
Is not favorable 70 Bostons way Of
doing things. Then, there are other
things which remind one Of Richmond.
Despite the currently accepted idea that
Bostonians think their city the centre
OF the universe and OF culture; there
are many apologists for Boston and a
contrast with New York Is frequently
drawn.
Instance: "There IS no elevator in this
building, a thing that would not be
countenanced IN New York" And again
on the Fitchburg railroad-"there are
very different coaches-on suburban
trains, out Of New York, they aim TO
give us as good cars as they have on
through trains" Now, neither Of these
statements are exact facts. Every to-
bacco man who goes to New York can
recall an Office building Of some promi-
hence In Exchange Place, where four
weary flights have TO be climbed 10
reach an Office much visited, and many
coaches on suburban roads out or New
York are anything but sumptuous.
The point is, If there are defects and
shortcomings, don't tell the visitor. Take
the risk OF his not noticing them, and
he may even leave your city thinking
the streets are well kept and clean, and
may not know the finances are in bad
shape.
Now, there is another point, one which
should be of interest TO an esteemed
daily in old Richmond. An afternoon
paper here to-day chronicles the fact
that two would-be aldermen, who were
refused certificates Of election, II being
held and declared by the judges OF cleo
ton that their opponents received
majority Of the votes cast, claim great
fraud was committed and they promise
to show what Is what, II they are given
a chance. and another, a legislator in
neighborng State finds he is not en-
titled to the certificate he has received
and refused TO accept his election. which
speaks Well for his honesty and reflects
on that of-the judges, 1t may be.
These trihing election affairs 80 TO
show that all the election troubles are
not in Smlthers Precinct, and may be
interesting. taken In connection with
Senator Teler's remark in the United
States Senate-that he was not sure
Bryan had been defeated. Under this
same head it may also be interesting to
note that even in this staunch Republic
can quarter Of the globe there are COM
plaints at the sloWness with which the
promised prosperity moves and there is
a noticeable fear on the part Of some
that so many witnesses being called 10
Washington to testify to the need OF an
increased tariff may result I'm "too much
OF q good thing" and bring about a reyul-
sion of feeling in New England and the
return Of many wanderers 10 the Demo-
cratic fold.
Boston Is 10 have an underground
electric railway. and IL is of interest 10
note how well the work IS being done and
the endeQyOr 90 create "a little mud on
the streets and obstruct traffic as little
as possible High board fences surround
the openings and portable elevators bring
up the dirt and dump It in carts ready
10 receive it, When completed. the road
will. no doubt, relieve the crowded condi-
ton OF many Of the narrow and congested
thoroughfares.
Bunker Hill and the monument are still
here although the Englishmen are said
to have a cannon in the Tower OF London
which they took from the Colonials az
the battle. Beacon street, the sacred pre-
cints OF Back Bay. the old South church
and the old State-House can all be seen.
provided you can ind them and almost
anybody VIII be glad TO show you The
way, II they can, for the people are
polite-a lady was seen 70 thank a Vir-
ginian for giving her his seat In car
to-day, although she did look surprised
W. NJ. c.
Trusts and MOnopoIies.