Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-02
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AROUNDSS HUB
Especial Correspondent.)
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(opecial COrTeSpOllQeut.)
The overflow of the Bennington
street sewer some time ago. together
with the habit of East Boston people
or at least those people living in and
near Bennington street of storing
sealskin sacques, pianos, works OF art.
rare old wines, foods, silks, laces and
other highly perishable goods In their
cellars, has cost the city to date $780,
697. besides the services OF the law
department in deferiing the suits.
This amount has been paid on some
800 claims, In amounts varying from
$50 to $4,000 There are 2lO more
cases to be disposed Of. The suits
arose over the flooding Of that section
because of the inability Of the sewer
TO carry off an unusually large amount
OF surface water, the sewer depart
ment having blundered in laying 1t.
Practically every cellar In the Ben.
nington street section was flooded.
The cellars were hardly dry before
claims for damages began to pile in
On the city. In all 14S4 claims were
filed, In majority of cases by Lawyer
Jesse M. Cove. Some were settled
quietly; others were tried before
jury.
The Boston art museum has just fal-
len heir to a remarkable art treasure
~ the shape of a painting representing
Descent from the Cross by Carlo
Crivelli, a celebrated Italian painter of
the 18th century. The donor of this
rare painting prefers to remain anony-
nous, to the public at least for the pre-
sent. The donor, however, must be a
very wealthy person for it is doubtful
IT this painting could have been pur-
chased for less than $25. 900. especially
when 1t is considered that 1t came
from the famous Panciatichi palace
IN Florence. There is only one other
specimen of this artists work in
America. "St. George and Dragon"
owned by Mrs. John L. Gardner. This
picture In the art museum is not only
SPLENDID specimen of Carlo Crivelli's
work, but 1t Is probably one Of the
best examples Of the period in Italian
art preceding the great Renaissance
movement; for although Crivelli lived
during the inception of that movement
he was very little affected by it. The
older school was distinctly Byzantine
III character, rich in detail, extremely
conventional, and heavily ornamented
in background and accessories.
There was something almost pathet.
ic in the sight of historic Old South
block, denuded of its picturesque
hodge-podge of signs, and with its
sashless windows gaping like sightless
eyes and no BosIonian with a particle
of sentiment will bid last farewell
TO the old pile during the week with.
out pang of regret. inspired by recol.
lection of its rich historic associations.
Two years will very likely suffice for
the completion of the mammoth office
building that will make the once i'm
posing Old South meeting house look
like child's toy by comparison. It
seems incredible that there should be
building surviving today, in the very
cart Of the business section of Boston,
that was erected on the virgin soil Of
the wilderness, and yet that is true Of
this ancient block, for its site was Sc.
ected for residence Of Gov. Winthrop
when the town was started, in 1890;
later 1t was the parsonage Of the Old
South meeting house till the revolu
ton. and finally 1t achieved fame as
the site Of the present range OF build
ings. which was the first brick block
ever erected in Boston for business
purposes. 1t was built about 1900, and
was long known as South row, to dis
tinguish 1t from West row, brick
block Of dwellings on Court St., erected
about the same time.
In Boston the camera Is taking the
place Of the ant as a a.stimulus of slug.
CARDS. The deputy superintendent of
the street cleaning department has
Snapshots" taken OF every employee
seen ,loafng. In his habit as he is,
smoking the pipe Of peace, propped
comfortably against a building or
crouching by a fence to expel the
winters flaw, the lazy street cleaner
is thus detected. and his laziness reg
istered. Doubtless the device is ex.
cellent, although It seems a triie un-
kind. Working or being in the open
air lulls the nerves and disposes to
sleepiness. The pipe Of the laboring
man Is sweet and repose Is necessary
to beauty. Still the camera is
hard to beat. 1t may be better
for the Boston street cleaners to 60
through the forms Of exercise. There
are geniuses who know how to turn
toll into play and can WELD pickaxe
or a shovel so as to accomplish the
least amount OF labor with the least
amount of elbow grease and fatigue.
Far be It from us to encourage the
sloth. It is pleasant to see other folks
labor. Those that have . gift for work
are welcome to 1t and should be CRATE
full for the privilege. But there are
street cleaners and others with tran
gull and luxurious natures.
ObnArvor.