Year: 1872

do not even hint or insinuate that single
effort was spared or misdirected that was
within the reach of the fremen and authorities
Of Boston during those trying hours or that
any censure could attach to our neighbors for
single act of omission or commission con-
nected with the fire. We simply mean to illus
trate that the recklessness and oarelessness
which, we fear, are characteristic Of the pres
ent age, are offences, not against ourselves
alone, but against the community at large


There is one marked difference between the
present conAagraion at Boston and that which
little over twelve months ago laid the greater
part of Chicago in ashes. In Boston the
flames have destroyed the great wholesale and
other business houses of the city. In Chicago
they swept away the homes of the people. The
wealthy merchants of the Eastern city have
residences far removed from the scene of de-
struotion, in which their families
are living in safety and comfort,
apart from the mental suffering occasioned
by the sudden misfortune. The poor trades
men, mechanics, clerks and laborers of the
Western city were driven into the Streets and
their wives and children wandered about with
out shelter, clothes or food. We feel shocked
and grieved at the idea of such terrible de-
struction of valuable property as that which
has just been witnessed in Boston. We think
with something like awe of the solid, massive
granite buildings crumbling to ashes, one after
another, as the fire rushed onward of the
vast piles Of costly goods swallowed up in the
hot waves of that raging sea of flame. We
regret the sudden loss of fortunes that have
been acquired through years of honorable ex-
ertion and commendable enterprise. But
when the news Of the Chicago calamity met
our ears, when we learned that the tenement
houses had been emptied of their terrified
inmates, that the dwellings of the poor had
been consumed that tender women and
helpless children had been driven out into
the world in abject destitution that thou
sands were without sufficient clothing and tens
Of thousands without food, pang of horror
and sympathy shot through every human
heart. 1t Vas this that called for the immedi-
ate offerings of the charitable in all nations
and in oil climes, and that illuminated the
history Of the world with one Of the most glori-
GUS and ennobling scenes ever painted on its
pages. There was more real heartfelt grief
stricken into the breasts of mankind by the
destruction Of the few poor sticks of house.
hold furniture, the beds and bedclothing of
the Chicago sufferers, than will be felt at the
loss Of all the goods consumed in the ware
houses Of the Boston merchants.


This disastrous event has again brought into
notice the wonderful agency of the electric
telegraph. While the people Of Boston in the
vicinity of the fire were rushing distractedly
about the streets, wild with terror at the gen.
eral destruction that seemed impending in the
afflicted city-probably before some citizens
living at distances from the Fifth ward were
aware that the conAagration had commenced
the news of the calamity was flying over the
wires into every city Of the Union and speed
ing under the ocean to the shores of Europe.
While the fire was raging its progress was
known continuously in New York,
and as building after building was
swallowed up its loss was known
thousands Of miles away. 1t is this agency
which brings these great misfortunes home to
every mind almost at the same moment, that
calls human sympathy all over the globe into
action simultaneously, and that truly s'makes
the whole world akin This is not one of
the least striking features of the great Boston