Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-10-04
BOSTON.


week promised to give some Of his
impressions of the city of Boston as it
appeared to him in a visit Of few
days. He doesn't pretend to speak
as an oracle-he merely mentions
matters that suggested themselves to
him, an unprejudiced stranger.
As we sailed into the harbor on a
fair Sunday afternoon we were de-
lighted with the lovely surroundings
it was an ever-changing picture Of
beauty and interest that impressed
every one. When we had disem'
barked from the ship we took an ell.
evated train for our hotel, and were
at once struck with the curious fact
that part of the time we were on an
elevated railroad and part of the
time in Boston's famous subway
tunnel under the streets lined with
white enameled bricks through which
the cars are whisked at a lively rate.
We made our temporary home at the
Parker House, and found it most
excellent hotel in every respect, Park.
er House rolls and all.
After resting awhile we took a
stroll through Boston Common and
the beautiful Public Garden, the two
making playground of some 4S acres.
Thousands Of people, including many
children, were enjoying these de-
lightful parks, which are charmingly
diversified with lovely beds of Aow-
ers, grassy lawns, fountains and lakes,
imposing statues and grand old elms.
What stirring events occurred in Bos.
ton CommonI Laid out in 1884 as
training field and cattle pasture, it
was the scene of many tragic and
historic occurrence. 1t was here in
164s that Margaret Jones was hung
for witchcraft, and again the same
punishment was measured out in 1856
to Anne Hibbins, who, after she had
been solemnly tried and convicted Of
being witch, was hanged on the
Boston Elm. Here, too, Indians
were hanged for various crimes from
time to time, and because of her re-
ligion Mary Dyer, a Quaker, was
hanged in 1860, and Judah Brown
and Peter Pierson, two Of her core.
ligionists, were tied to carts tail
and thoroughly well logged. Among
the many hundreds who thronged the
Common this lovely afternoon were
number of loving couples, and | won.
dered how many of them knew that
in 1869 a law was soberly passed de.
claring that if any man be found
equity of kissing a woman in public.
both shall be whipped and fined.
Perhaps it was for contempt of some
such law as this that Mrs. Oliver
was publicly logged for approaching
the magistrates"
Sunday night we went to fremont
Temple, the famous Baptist Church,
to hear Rev. DR.. P. 8. Henson preach.
1t is great building, the main audi
forum of which seats 1850 persons.
The congregation that night numbered
about $500, and the service was most
inspiring. The great organ was
concert of itself, and choir of hun.
dred or more, with a quartet of trained
soloists, added to its splendid tones,
made a wonderful feast Of music.
Every seat in fremont Temple is free
and everybody is welcomed-rich and
poor, the mighty and the humble,
black and white. I wondered if this
notable broadness and generosity were
not accumulated by the remembrance
of the treatment of Baptists in the
early days in Boston. When in 1865
the first Baptist Church was organized,
with nine members, every one of them
was put in prison, five of the men be-
ing disfranchised and three fined ga
each. When Obadiah Holmes, a
Baptist from Newport, visited Boston
and held service in a private house,he
was arrested, imprisoned and unmer.
cifully logged. For years the Bap.
lists were prosecuted-fned, whipped
and banished. Yet now they are al.
most the leaders in the religious life
of the community. and everybody finds
a welcome in their church. DR.. Hen
sons sermon was on "the Lion in the
Street" By a funny mistake of the
printer, the service leahet read, "The
Mouse in the Street"
Monday morning we started out
bright and early to visit some of the
interesting historical spots in the city,
and from that time until we reluctant
ly left we did not spend a dull mo-
ment. Weeks might be spent in con-
sidering the famous places. all of them
of absorbing enjoyment. The splendid
old State House on Beacon Hill was
first visited. 1t is the most conspicu-
GUS building in Boston, and its gilded
dome may be seen by mariners far
out at sea. This fine old building
was first started in 1875, John Han
cocks cow pasture being purchased as
a site. 1t has been added to and re-
built from time to time until it is now
a marvel of beauty and utility and
historic interest. Statues of Daniel
Webster and Horace Mann adorn the