Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-10-21

MMXNIUN Die river Wltnain, which here M!
MMN{ a tidal rise and fall of some 2,
80 IN feet. That river is picturesque il
sketches, rather than beautiful t
the actual view At low tide lofty mud bank,
are disclosed. Along either side of these are
tall timber piles and staglngs in every circum
stance of age or newpess, with lofty wharyes and
warehouses of antique or modern appearance
The hest residential suburb of Boston is Shlr
beck, which indeed claims to be older than Boston
itself. for while the town is not mentioned In
Domesday Book, Shlrbeck finds place in its
pages.
Always a seaport and thriving on trade with
Russia, with Sweden and Norway and the Baltic,
as well as on its fisheries, Boston has In most Of
Its streets and queer old.wOrld lanes tang of
the sea- Yet the visitor will see nothing of the
ocean In Boston town unless he cares to ascend
the lofty tower of the parish church, whose Ian.
tern stage was built for the purpose not only Of
a landmark when roads scarce existed and when
tue fens largely overspread the land but also
as a beacon for mariners out at sea and ascending
the winding river channel. 1t has been stated
that Boston steeple can be seen 40 miles out at
sen; and certainly 1t Is easily visible 20 miles
away on the land Roads leading from the town
to seashore are few, and the shore itself when
reached is not attractive.
Why It Has Foreign Air.
The curiously foreign air Of Boston, like that
Of Kings Lynn, is derived from Its trade with
foreign parts and from the merchants of other
countries who once had houses here In the times
of Its great commercial prosperity. For Boston
was at one time second only to London as a port.
That was in the opening years of the Thirteenth
century. While London and other ports have de-
veloped Boston has simply stood still.
There was, however, period when "decayed"
might well have been applied here. 1t was curl
ously enough exactly at the time when the Pill
grim Fathers sought to leave these shores for In
1907 the corporation petltioned that their borough
might be put among the decayed towns" The
object was to escape paying subsidies, but the
decay was there. The cause of decline was the
gradual choking up by mud of the winding river
channel Modern docks, cut about 1882 below
Shrbeck, have, together with railways, brought
back prosperity; and there seems no reason to
doubt but that In the future there will be con-
siderable expansion.
Sea-borne trade has been shifted below the town
except for quite small vessels, 1t is a pity to
observe many of those old warehouses empty,
and soon, no doubt, to be dismantled for they
have an architectural distinction which the mod
another reason, apart from their situation, why
they are no longer desirable. They are buildings
with the small windows that make dark interiors.
The modern warehouses have little wall space
and much window. Secular architecture has, in
fact, followed on exactly the same lines as ecce-
siastica for Romanesque developed into Gothic
from few and tiny Norman windows into the vast
ard ghtsome fenestration of the Sixteenth cen
fury.
We find this well exemplifed in the case Of the
great church of Boston, that of St. Botolph's,
whose dedication gave the town its name. The
existing church is largely of the decorated and
periods of the Fourteenth and Fiji
tenth centuries, when windows had already at.
tanned a great size.
Boston Church and the "stump."
Boston church entirely dominates the town as
The lofty steeple does the surrounding country.
It is said to he the Largest parish church in Eng
and" There are several claimants to this dig
1ity. st. Michaels, Coventry, Is, however the
argest but st. BOtolphs interior certainly con-
1eys the impression of greater size. 1t is an
ample and dignifed interior. There
ire ancient memorial brasses, a wonderful series
If sculptured ''miserere" seats beautiful ia
,obean pulpit of 1920 far more restrained In style
md an efigy of the lady. Dame Margaret Tilney,
Who placed f5 on the foundations of the great
over, excavated In 1909.
This tower Of Boston church, so noble, so re-
known in endearing fashion to all Lin
olnshlre folk as "Boston stump" from Its singu-
nrly blunted outline, rises to height of 2SS feet.
seems astounding that the builder should have
ad the confidence to raise so lofty and heavy
Il ,1,n
eel, only some 40 feet from Its shore; but the
were carried down 30 feet, to stone
ed five feet below the level of the river bottom
or 80 years the work of building the tower was
tayed, and then recommended, being finished
'ithout the topmost octagonal stage, which was
dded at later period especially to exhibit
ght for sailors making the haven.
The south chapel, used in the Eighteenth cen
Try and until comparatively recent years as
re engine house, was restored by citizens of Bos-
IN in America In honor of Rev. John Cotton,
no resigned his post as vicar in 1888 and, accom-
anied by many Of Bostons most prominent men,
Tiled In the Griffin for the newer Boston. 1t Is
DIV known as Cotton chapel. ,.
Selling Their Antiquities.
Boston has never been a good warden of her
storic buildings and picturesque corners and
Try much has been destroyed. The Gulldhall is
long, low building of two floors. Built in red
lick in the Fifteenth century, 1t was evidently
iginally Of o religious character, from the great
urch-like window still containing some stained
ass once representing the twelve apostles. The
10 narrow cells are survivals of several made
1862 by order of the town council They are
It seven feet long and high and about five feet
ross A staircase once led to the courtroom,
it when the new sessionshouse was built in
43, these cells were disused and the staircase