Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-15
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[sPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

SPECIAL CoRRESpo SpoNNDENCE.
1t is, or has been, the boast Of many
BostOnians living in the older blocks
of houses of his city that they did not
even know the names of Their next
door ncighbOrS, and it was considered
an imprrtincncc to he curious regard
ing what went on on the other side OF
the brick walls. 1t was not s)ciable
but it was Boston eNclusivcntss and
only one of the many phases of a char.
actcristic coldncss that. when tlawed
meant lasting friendships. But Bos'
ton. as we'll us other great cities, has
changed in this respect. There Is
more social Intercourse going on, al.
though cliques ana sets are as firmly
fiN"d as ever, and home barriers of
pfick and mortar have crumblcd
owing to the new conditions of our city
living. The apartment hotels and the
hats. those great cOngrricS of hu.
nnnity. have crushed out single houses
or moderate rents. and are responsible
Tor Il radical change in the manners
ana temper of conservative old Boston
From the fashionable apartment to the
hunblr>t flat, the tenant is bound to
he Informed of the moral status of the
llcighbor beside, beneath or above him,
ana when any family "mOves in next
door," the ncighhors learn all about
them ere the sun goes down.
What would YOU think of a monkey
on the war path? l saw one here the
other day and there was more fun
than Il goat" An operator of Il Punch
and Judy show bought one and
chained him up in a Howard street
pool room. But Jocko slipped his
chains, and, dancing over the tables
ana cues. went out TO capture Howard
street. In two jumps the apiSh Me-
phsto had reached the other de,
whore the pretty girls in a lunch-rOom
caught his eye. One of them. who was
scrcnrly eating custard, watched T.
cat and wondered why its back WIS
bumped and its hair briStled. She
soon ceased to wonder. The cat fled
in alarm, and the monkey jumped on
the counter in front of the MA den,
who promptly tainted. Then, among
Gathering salt-cellars, vinegar bottles
and pepper boxes he executed a riotouS
pas scul along the whole length of the
counter, ending at the kitchen door.
The cook shrickcd. The kitchen maid
seized the poker and mounted a chair.
The world was his. But just then Il
blanket was brought over from Il
lodging house and Jock, with his gld.
ing tail, was trapped.
Just at present we are in quandary
here rs to what to call the new and
stately temple of the muse at the cor
ner of Massachusetts and Huntington
avenues, which is about ready for
christening. But christenings. as in
this case. are frequently embarrassing.
One of the important requisites is the
selection of name. There Is nothing
better, because nothing simpler or
more accurately dcnoting the purpose
for the new temple, than Music Hall.
But there is the old Music Hall. more
of n continuous Music Hall than ever.
and it seems to refuse to cease being
Music Hall in order that that vencra-
bic and distinguished name may be-
long to its successor. \ fresh and
large outlay of money has been spent
upon it, and it proposes to do business
at the old stand. 1t is true that the
old Music Hall will not hencrforth
stand for the old things which gave it
distinction in the past, but if it insists
upon its right to the name there seems
no way by which it can be deprive of
1t.
l saw by the Transcript the other
day that n BoStoEian is about as like
ly to sit down in the Public Garden as
TO go swimming in the Frog pond"
but think that fine old journal is for
once little of. l have seen several
quite distinguished Bostonans, in
Guiding judge of the supreme court
aud favorite pulpit orator, sitting on
benches in that ideal garden. beside
plenty of other gentry who have
ahodes within its radius. Busy men
3nd women in society may not make
it Il point or a fashion to occupy the
seats. but when the spirit moves them
To sit down and survey the charming
scene know of no unwrtten law thar
prevents. 1t is rather thought THAI
margaret Allston's hero did very
natural thing, even If "A Bostonan'
doesn't always make business of sit
ting there when he arrives ut the age
of maturity.
If the Spaniards had been as good
fighters as the Italians the late war
might not have been us quickly ended.
| saw Il plucky fight by an I.al.an the
other day, down on Hanover street.
1t was funny, too-for every one but
the Italian. The trouble arose from
the ovcrturring of Il peanut wagon.
An alarm of lire waS rung in and an
engine tore through Howard street,
across fremont row ard down Han
over street. The peanut wagon was
at the curb on Hanover. aud as the de-
partmcnt dashed ny the crowd made n
rush upon 1t. Over went the who.e
outfit, ANA for five minutes the crowd
scrabbltd for the stock. The Italian
picked up Il club and for few minutes
cracked heads right and left and had
a clear spot where he stood ut least.
Finally the police came and drove the
crowd back. hut the stock was ruined.
Eight"on hours a day just now many
of the men are working in the inward
baggage rooms of the big Terminal
stations. Those who have been in the
hagcAcr business for Il score of years
cont sS that never in all that time has
there been S:y rush that has outii-
vailed this summers.
OBSERVER.