Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-08-04
halsl1sgs halLs.:. 49,
AROUND&&hUB
90 sss:,,s:s'iY1s,I ssY ssssssss s>essssS
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

Coming through historic old Dock
square he other day l was surprised
to see the sign of Blight Tavern
over the time-honored old hostelry
there, hitherto known rs the bite
Tavern" What can be the reason for
this attempt to change the name or
tavern which, like the locality III
which 1t stands, is historic, cannot De
imagined unless it Is to lower Its price
as a piece of real estate. My recoliec-
ton Of the Bite" runs back aS far as
1895. In those days the Bite, Eastern
Stage house and City tavern were con-
spicuous public houses in Boston. The
Bite was noted principally for the tS-
cellence of its table, one Of its proprie-
tors, think, having been i former
nMrketman. The house was n favor
lie one with downtown merchants
who went in there ITO get bite and
for its liquors when it was the GUS
tom for imbibers to take their "leven
o'clocks" and -four O'clOcks.' Years
ago, when Jenny Lind was here and
the tickets to hel concerts Were sold
by auction. Horatio Harris, when
knocking them down, would shout the
name of the bidders: sold to IRE
mont house." sold to American
house." "Sold to Captain AmOry,"
etc. A. last five choice seats
were knocked down at n very high
price and the auctioneer shouted,
Name, please" The reply came,
Bite Tavern" eliciting Il shout Of
laughter.
AS have more than once written
yOu there is probably not policy
shop, faro game or house Of i'll fame
in the city whose whereabouts the pO-
lice do not know, and they are per-
mitted to do business by the grace Of
somebody. Recently an edict has
been issued that they must cloSe. IL
the latest order Of Superintendent
Eldridge means just what 1t says ana
police captains are to be held respon-
sible for every case where gampllhs
. or other lawlessncSs Is allowed 10 con-
tinue for any length OF time within
their precinct, then the city OF Boston
Is going to be better one IMAM II mas
been for long time. III the oroer
means that when II police captain IS
too law or too cowardly or too weak
TO clean the dives out Of his district,
n better man will be put in his place.
then the morale of the Boston police
service is going to be steadily ln-
proye. The trouble has been, In some
former years, that when police cap
tain attempted to carry out the law
without fear or favor. he has had doZ-
ems of politicians and real estate men
on his back and has been sometimes
hnunled or frightened out of doing his
duty.
There Is no reader of middle age
hut has Mt least heard Of and most
of them are tOlerably familiar with
the works of Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. He
was not writer Of the first, perhaps
not even of the second. rank, but was
n pleasing writer and an immensely
prolific and popular one. Who does
not recall his Gun Maker OF Mos
cow" published serially in the New
York Ledger many years ago and the
securing of which was the late Rob
ert Bonncr's first master stroke. II
had much to do with the Lcdger's
popularity and with hehuilding In con
sequence of Bonner's great fortune
The family was n remarkable one; II
least three of the four sons of the ole
clergyman became famous. Sylvanus
Jr.. and the venerable twin broth
ers. Darius and Daniel, sculptor an(
painter. Another brother was a sue
cessful newspaper publisher. Syl
vanus. Jr. died in 1887. and thes
thoughts were brought to mind as
attended the funeral the other day o
his widow. Mrs. Cobb. who was
Salem girl, was II most charming hos,
ess and to know her was to admir-
her.
Boston seems to have furnished
satisfactory congressional librariai
Mr. Herbert Putnam. librarian of tn
public library here-the finest in tn
world-having been chosen, You know
last year. The library has been niue
enlarged and improved under his Il,
ministration. and his intelligence IN
unseliish interest in the institution Ii;
succeeded iii conquering to his SUI
port those members of congress who
1t was feared might be an obstacle
increased appropriations for lh'
brary. He has overcome. too, Il
long-dreaded effort on the part of ii
politicians to find places for their fC
lowers and favOrtes. For whercv,
n senator has brought forward an u
desirable applicant for place, the
brarian has called to his attention Il
qualifications Of other applicant
without political influence, who we
seeking the same thing. "DO y,
want me-" he would say, "tO tai
your man. who does not profess
have had any experience in this wor
when can get ut the same salary
andso.. who has had ten years e
perience and the best Of training
What Is my duty to the libraryT'