The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1946-04-06
THIS is BOSTON


short time ago, Life Magazine published long
cle with pictures that set Boston before the of the
country sordid city, something to be Stunned by
people 1t told of beak little alleys of South Boston,
where the children played in the streets or not at all
There picture of three youngsters who were asked
to pose with facial gmaces and the caption called them
Tough Irish Kids" It also referred to the ''Shanty
Irish and to the unwashed windows of public buildings
and the dirty streets The reporter who to this
region by Life Magazine instructed to write only of
the surface indications he them at rs glance
Under no circumstances he to scratch the surface
The result that Boston only attacked with sling
shot, instead of weapon formidable that might at
least have dented the pages of history For here is
city of such majestic background such fabulous
and human interest to transcend the passing
time
In the wake of the expose of Bosons lack of pride
by Life Magazine have other critics. mostly in the
form of casual visitors who get worms eye view of the
city from the windows of sightseeing vehicle. These
critics would have neither time desire for pause on
the banks of the Charles River with the Atlantic Monthly
to keep them company Their minds would be inadequate
to enjoy the atmosphere of Oliver Wendell Holmes and
James T. Field. Their souls would not be lifted by a
visit to the Cradle of Liberty where the giants of freedom
made their voices ring out for the rights of man. until the
rafters of Faneu Hall rembed with their passion They
cannot image the frey Garrison Sumner and Phillips as
living entities. They would hardly be interested in the
coored Peter Salem who fell at Bunker Hill in 776 while
facing British rifles.
It is certain that the transient visitors would not have
Renaissance of the Saturday Night Club with its members
like Dana, Sumner, Charles Eliot Norton and Charles
Francis Adams all of whom made Boston the focal point
CT conversation and culture For romantic Boston is
Harvard and the Mass Institute of Technology and the
symphony orchestra 1t truly interracal in its back
ground, in its spirit and in its people Its statues of
spus Atucks and of the 54th Mass Regiment that add
and dignity to the Boston Common attest that fact
1t is strain upon the Imagination of most Boston
s to in retrospect those members of the coored
with the whites trod the streets of the city, expound-
Ing the causes of liberty and condemng the evils of sav-
cry. Boston has dream-like quality that is battling to
the outsider It is Mrs Jack Gardeners home in the Fen
way that is open to ALL regardless of COLOR it is the New
England Conservatory which has turned out countless
artists for the it is Koussivsky who launched upon
the musical world the Incompatible voices of Dorothy
Maynor and Carol Brice. This is Boston.
1t is the place that harbors the spirits Of Phillips
Brooks, Mary Baker Eddy and William Cardinal O'Con-
NELL Folded tendery in its embrace are Lewis Hayden
William H. Carney and William Monroe Trotter This
is Boston
It is the home of high-class white hotels where COL
ored guests reside in peace and comfort And of restau-
rants and theatres where their civil rights are respected
Perhaps simple for the vindictiveness of our
critics might be found by ride in the Swan Boats on the
Pubic Garden pond Here for few cents one NAV be
propelled silently the mrorke surface of the lake
sitting happily with group of youngsters whose bright
eyes and laughing faces convey you the message That
This Is Boston.