The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-03-11
OUR BOSTON LETTER.
Wave Of Patriotism Engulfs
the Modern Athens.

Feeling That There Will BE War with
Spain Grows Stronger-Great Advance
Made In HarbOr Defenses-City Now
In Less Danger From Foreign Foe.
Sunday Newspaper Extra Generally Con-
demned-MemoriaI to Maine Victims.
War Among Milk Producers and Con-
tractors-Monnment to Be Erected In
Observation-Disclosures and Dramatic.
Things are more warlike again. In
deed at no time since the present compli-
cations with Spain arose has there been
so strong a general feeling in Boston
that war will result. 1t is not in lingo
circles that this feeling appears, but
among our people in general. Yet there
is less excitement than two weeks ago,
and for the reason that in that time
much has been done to render this port
less approachable to an enemy. One
month ago Boston was at the mercy OF
any power that cared to shell the city;
today she has some defenSeS ana IN
couple of weeks more If active opera
lions continue will be able to take care
of herself, so far as any ordinary attack
in concerned. Usually there is a great
deal of red tape about government work.
but the present imperative demand
seems to have swept portion of 1t aside
and Uncle Sam has got down to business
without any delay; adopted, as II we're.
the resolution without stopping to reaC
the usual lengthy preamble.
We now have some mortars ready for
service at the fort at Winthrop, some
guns at Fort Warren that could do eX-
ecution and a battery on Long island
that could blow a hostile fleet out OF the
water. To supplement this, torpedoes
of different kinds have been constructed
and could be placed in position at an
hours notice and things generally made
warm for the Spanish ship that came
here on mischief bent. The activity OF
the government has had it's effect upon
the people, and there is today more pa
triotic feeling in Boston than has been
evidenced since the days of the War OF
the Rebellion. 1 don't mean that our
citizens are shouting for war; because
that is not the case, but that they are
shouting for the old flag with hearth
ness and genuiness that is pleasing to
the man who loves America and Ameri-
can institutions.
This feeling is evidenced at all pub
lie gatherings, even in the smallest the
aters and places of amusement. Show
on the stage an American flag and the
applause is hearty and spontaneous. At
a Well-knoWn playhouse the other night
picture of Consul General Lee was
thrown upon the screen by the stereop-
ticon, and no candidate for the highest
office in the gift of the people ever re-
ceived more hearty applause. Later,
when "Old Glory was shown, 1, for the
first time in my life, heard hearty cheers
given in a Boston theater. Amusement
managers are quick to note the temper
of their audiences, and patriotic songs
and pictures are the nightly features at
every vaudeville house, while many of
the regular, or standard, theaters do not
neglect the opportunity to cater to popu-
Tar fervor We are being enthused as
a people, but it is nothing that will harm
us. 1t may do us good.
The newspapers, too have got the
fever. and big headlines and racy stories
of the situation are found everywhere
prominent. Like individuals, newspa-
pers sometimes lose their heads" as
the saying is, and of this we had
marked example when one of our lead
ing papers on Sunday got out special
edition and paraded it up and down the
streets, the newsboys loudly shouting
"AIl about the declaration of war;"
Judged by any recognized standard of
Journalism, the extra was uncalled for,
and the cry put into the mouths of the
BOYS who sold it was far more so. There
was nothing in the little four-pase sheet
that was new, and the issue has been
Justly condemned in many circles. Had
war been declared, the issue of an extra
would have been duty, but under the
circumstances it was almost fraud.
The man who bought it expecting to
find startling news was buncoed.
With this patriotic feeling everywhere,
it is not strange that the committee Sc
lected to raise funds for memorial to
the victims of the Maine disaster is meet
ing with every encouragement. Bos-
tons contribution for the fund is expect
ed to reach the sum of SIS, 900, and, as it
is to be a popular contribution, even a
dime being accepted, the donors will be
numbered by the thousands. 1t is safe
to say that no city in the United States
more promptly responds to call for
popular subscriptions for worthy OBJ
ject than Boston. This has been shown
many times within the past few years,
and when the books are opened for the
Maine fund, the present call will prove
no exception. Watch the figures and
you will see l am right.
But there are signs of war in another
direction in Boston, and this one will
reach every family and may perhaps
trouble even the babies. Our water sup
ply and beer supply are unlimited, but
even then we must have milk. We can
not do without lactael fluid, and do not
desire it in condensed canned form. Be
fore the first of April the summer price
Of milk at Boston must be H.
tuaI agreement between the directors of
the New England Milk Producers uL.Uu
and the half dozen contractors who act
as middlemen between the man that
produces the milk and the man that
leaves it at the consumers door, or our
e,,rr,I,y " ha q M inns ma titU Those