Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-07-12
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Especial Currespondence.)

Especial Clrrespondenoe.)
After six months of the present
year in round numbers Boston's grain
shipments to foreign ports have fallen
13.500,O0O bushels under the figures
for 1901. Before July /, 1901, 1O,-
6S9,741 bushels Of wheat. S.l77,079
bushels of corn and 3.143,344 bushels
OF oats had been exported from this
port. This year the figures are T.
S2S,330 bushels OF wheat, 5S9,716 bush.
els Of corn and 63,013 bushels of oats.
This month has been the worst yet.
Twelve regular liners sailing direct
between Boston and foreign ports, and
three which touched at Baltimore and
Philadelphia, left here without BUSH
el Of grain. OF the seven steamships
that sailed last week only one, the
Australian for Glasgow, had grain
aboard, her supply being q meagre 3d.
500 bushels of wheat. Only 531,373
bushels Of wheat. $3.50 bushels of corn
and $3.50 bushels of oats have been
exported during June. June, 1901, re-
turned figures aggregating 100000
bushels. With steamships starting
their eastward voyage practically in
ballast. none but passenger boats are
making expenses. A number of freight.
ers have been withdrawn from service
temporarily. The number of steam
ships which have sailed from Boston
since Jan. is only 1T, as compared
with 200 for the corresponding period
in 1901.
Besides providing swings and teet-
ers for the small boys and girls at the
South End Fairgrounds. Columbus ave-
nue., the achusetts Civic league
last year opened classes in gardening.
Young women who had been taught
the art Of planting and distinguishing
one vegetable from another took the
children in hand. and midsummer
saw bounteous garden flourishing all
around the half acre especially fenced
of for use Of the girls. The" little
ones were not, however, to reap the
reward Of their labors, for thievish
hands gathered in the radishes and
lettuce as soon as they were ready for
the harvest. There was NO ofprotecting
fence then, but now there Is a stout
one eight feet high, and this years
garden is wealthy with early and late
vegetables. ornamental plants, corn,
patches Of oats and blooms Of flowers
The children take kindly to the gar
dening, and, when called to 60 on a
raking. a wedding or transplanting
expedition, they leave play without
the least reluctance and settle down
to diligent labor with their gardeners
tools. Little boys and girls who. un.
til the Civic league interested itself
in helping them to take higher aim
in life, did not know a turnip from an
onion. are now competent to pick a
parsnip seed from among lot Of any
other kind.
Agony Corner!" That is the new
name given to q portion Of the mayors
once at city hall. The christening
was by Mayor Collins personally.
When the mayor addressed the dele
gates to the convention Of the Inter-
national League of Press Clubs last
week. in Faneuil hall, he said: I'VE
welcome you now to the freedom OF
the city and, better, to the freedom
OF our hearts. II you find anything
to complain of. II the sun doesn't
shine to suit you. come to the agony
Corner" of the mayors Office and I
will try to suit. That Is where every
body comes who has grievance" In
the agony Corner" the mayor sits
for seven hours day. Into his ears
are poured the heartburnings Of all
who have a grievance, and the griev.
ances are SO many and varied that the
mayor must keep his ready wit
brushed up to respond, with sympathy.
.coljness, indignant feelings. soft rep
-rimanis or promises to investigate.
Seldom does caller change the cur,
rent of "agony" by dropping words tof
cheer or commendation. Ninety-nine
out of every hundred have something
70 ask for. or something to kick about.
Three patriotic ironworkers, en-
gagged in the construction OF the board
OF trade building State and Broad
streets, the other afternoon let loose
to the breeze far up toward the sky
two flags Of red, white AMI blue. They
performed the perilous feat in honor
of the glorious Fourth. In the rain
on the pavement stood gazing crowd
of brokers and merchants ami small
boys with their hair standing on end
with excitement, fearing that the dar.
ing men whose figures looked SO d.
minutive far away against the storm
clouds might fall to the steel beams
below them. But H. 8. Coburn, M. l..
Doody and r. 8. Scully know their.
business. Their arms were strong and
tneir heads were as steady as that OF
a steeple-jack. They set the stars and
stripes to flying without mishap. One
flag Is 125 feet and the other 216 feet
above the sidewalk.