USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston (its past and present) and prospects for the future, with sketches of prominent men > Part 43
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There is a future of worthy and honorable progress for South Bos- ton, if only her people will forget all the unessential things that divide them, and combine their energies on the great objects which should unite them. If our community is not the wealthiest nor the most fashionable section of the Hub, it is, nevertheless, one of the strongest spokes that radiate from it. It is a community which has no reason to blush either for its past or for its present, and one that has every reason to anticipate a bright future. I know its people through personal contact with them for many years, and I know them to be, in the main, as hon- est, industrious, law-abiding and worthy people as can be found any- where in this Commonwealth. The official records will bear me out in saying that South Boston is remarkably free from crime. Working people predominate in its population. Its homes are modest, but most of them are well-kept and well-furnished, and most of its children are being decently reared and educated in such fashion as to make good citizens. Withal, the people of South Boston are hospitable and warm- hearted, and there is a spirit of good neighborship among them that is most admirable.
It is a happiness to live and labor in such a community and among such people, to share in their hopes, and participate in their progress.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Any and every movement that may tend to unite them in the common pursuit of common benefits should have our utmost sympathy and our heartiest co-operation.
HOW BEST TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. By REV. ALBERT B. SHIELDS,
: Rector, Church of the Redeemer-Episcopal.)
L ATENT in all men are aesthetic, intellectual, social and religious needs and cravings. The problem as to how best to benefit our community could be easily solved could these latent possibilities be aroused to active expression. It is with this hope, that my words may be in some measure instrumental in arousing persons here and there to a keener sense of individual responsibility that I undertake the delicate task of making an appeal to all classes and conditions of men dwelling in our beautiful peninsula. I cannot, in the space allotted, be exhaust- ive, nor shall I undertake to be so, but shall content myself with sug- gestions, which are the outcome of personal observation.
The family, of course, is the most potent factor in the preservation of a wholesome and virtuous social order. The greatest enemy of the family, as it is of all good breeding, is irreligion. Of course there are families where genuine human love and loyalty reign, but where God is not honored and where religion is ignored. Speaking from personal know- ledge and observation I feel safe in affirming that the large majority of failures in the family is due to irreligion.
Lack of respect on the part of children toward their parents is said to be a characteristic of American family life and it is to be feared that there is much truth in the assertion. Attention cannot be directed too strongly toward this weak point, if that wholesome respect for nat- ural and constituted authority, which is the foundation alike of good citizenship and of dignified and august national character, is to be pre- served. One who does not rightly honor his father and mother is not likely to be conspicuous for the honor he pays the civil authority.
Let us lift high the banner of the family, emblazoned with sym- bolism of the noblest and most worthy interests in life. Let it represent the faith that true life consists in the achievement of those things most worthy of our love and reverence.
Closely associated with home life, because contributing to its rich- ness and beauty, should be artistic and æsthetic interests. Every home, however humble, should have at least one good picture. Alas, even many of our well dressed people prefer to attend a cheap theatre, who never once think of making a pilgrimage to our local shrine of art. When will the working people learn that art belongs to the laborer as truly as to the millionaire, and that in the refinement of manners and enrichment of life, it is secondary only to religion. Joy alone can
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prompt us to praise-therefore joy is inseparable from art. They exercise upon each other a reciprocal influence. The better we are the happier we will be, and the happier we are the better work we will produce. This indicates the close relation which art bears to labor and life, as all three do to religion.
The excellent features of our public school system are patent to all. The defects are a source of regret to many, and for the most part have arisen from natural conditions rendering remedial measures diffi- cult. What is chiefly needed in the school discipline is a higher type of motivities. Let all citizens insist that the discipline of our public schools be secured at least by humane methods - methods which respect the personality of the child and which will protect him from the misguided zeal of the conscientious teacher or the heated vindictive- ness of the self-important martinet. Any laws which authorize the use of physical force with our children should be considered as obsolete as any of the "blue laws," and if school authorities are unwilling to take that view, then it is high time they are repealed.
One of the most important questions confronting us in this com- munity is how to prevent intemperance. It is coming to be seen by every one that to pronounce all use of alcoholic liquors as in itself sin- ful is to impugn the purity of nature, the wisdom and justice of provi- dence, the authority of the Scriptures and the example of Christ. Our problem is not to extinguish, but to regulate and guide into safe direc- tions, an instinct, which if banned is too often driven to the license of revolt. We cannot hope to achieve the goal of true temperance at a bound, that will only come through the slow formation through suc- cessive generations of a better race stock educated unto temperance. If we are to make head against intemperance which threatens to engulf the better life of our community we must have a wide platform which will include all who are for temperance whatever they may think of total abstinence.
The excellence of the work of the churches as a means of social improvement is now acknowledged by most people, even of those who claim no denominational affiliation. In our district, as elsewhere, there is need of a greater degree of Christian charity and tolerance. Good, virtuous men without the fold have little desire to enter any of its departments so long as they fail to recognize and acknowledge the excellences of each other, and drown the sweet harmonies of spiritual religion in the harsh braying of the trumpets of contraversial orchestras.
One-sided knowledge of history is responsible for much religious intolerance in ours, as in other communities. Will men never learn that no particular form of religion was ever, as such, responsible for persecution, that it was the spirit of the age, and that to dwell morbidly upon it is to blind ones' self to the fact that the world, or at least one portion of it, has, in the evolution of political sentiment, transcended
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the point of view where persecution for religious opinions is pos- sible? But we have now entered upon the age of toleration, in which society is coming more and more to exercise its right to demand that every one should respect the opinion of others as he wishes his own to be respected.
To be tolerant it is not necessary that one must have vague and uncertain opinions. On the contrary such a one cannot lay claim to tolerance. He exercises no self-restraint, he is not guiding himself in accordance with a clearly defined moral purpose.
There is one way by which, perhaps, more truly than in any other we can benefit our community in this respect, and that is by entering with more enthusiastic abandon into practical religion and charitable work, wherever that can be done in common. Our churches are doubt- less awake to what inisery and sin there is about us here, small, com- paratively, though it may be. There is no more inspiring sight than that of men of widely divergent views uniting in deeds of practical benevolence and in devising measures for the common good.
LOCAL PRIDE AND HOME PATRONAGE, FACTORS TOWARD SUCCESS.
By MATTHEW HALE. ( BOSTON GLOBE EDITOR. )
M ORE than 2500 years ago Socrates told a young man, who had com- plained to him of the small consideration in which he was held by his acquaintances, that he, as well as every other man, held that posi- tion in society which he desired and deserved. " Respect yourself," concluded the sage, "and others will respect you."
This sententious phrase told a truth which is eternal, and is as ap- plicable to communities today as it was to individuals then.
That South Boston, deservedly high as is her reputation today, does not hold such high honors as is her due, is as true as that she can make them higher provided her citizens work practically and continually to that end.
To those who have lived long in South Boston, have reared their children within her lines and have placidly seen themselves grow old there, there is little which can be added to their content. But to the younger and more ambitious element there is much which may be done. That every man elected to political office in the community should be held to a strict accountability for his deeds while acting as her agent or her representative, is too well established to need argument. That he who betrays her trust should be visited with condign punish- ment, is as obvious as that he who serves her successfully and honor- ably should be richly rewarded.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
South Boston is, fortunately, inhabited by people who well know the benefits securable through energy and thrift, and is free from that extravagance of either extreme which is marked in those communities which suffer from excessive wealth or excessive poverty. Here is the home of the serenely well-to-do. Self-respecting, honest, fearless, moral, industrious, God-fearing, no community has a happier population or one more deserving of that happiness which springs from duty well done. The district is near enough to the busy city to secure every benefit which can be secured from close proximity, and far enough away that she need never be crowded out of existence by the inexorable demand of commerce.
Her streets and public buildings should be the finest in the city, for they give the best promise of permanency, and her residences should be the most sought after, for no other locality offers so many advan- tages to the home maker and the home lover. Surrounded on all sides but one by the sea, she is at once a park and a home, advantages pos- sessed by other localities only through the expenditure of much public money and the manipulation of many public measures.
Another great factor in securing benefits for South Boston is the adoption of the policy which most economists associate with the present industrial supremacy of the nation, the policy of protection.
"Spend your money in your own community."
Of course the nation has the power to enact laws and enforce obedience to them, and South Boston has not. But the same result may be reached by each person resolving to buy everything purchasable, in South Boston, from South Boston merchants. Thus commerce, in a part of a city, can be made to work the same benefit that it has so often worked in larger communities and in whole nations.
No doubt there are many who will cavil at this saying, but if the cavillers will reflect that in the present imperfect state of human nature, there is no greater compellor of human respect than the pos- session of wealth, perhaps they might cease to cavil. Every dollar spent with a dealer in South Boston is a dollar spent in the interest of the material upbuilding of the community of South Boston.
If all the money spent by the people of South Boston in one year should be spent among her own people, would it not result in wealthier merchants, more clerks, finer stocks, richer residences, bigger stores, better streets, more taxable value, larger shares in the expenditures of state and municipal funds, and many more days work for those who labor with their hands ?
When every South Bostonian realizes that buying a cigar some- where else than in his own locality is equivalent to throwing a stone at his own house, the citizen of South Boston will develop as intense a local pride as the proudest resident of the peninsula. The one objec- tion, that this intense local pride might possibly degenerate into a mere
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
dull and ugly clannishness, may be discarded as of no value. For when that time has come, it will be much easier to shake off the trammels of the vice of clannishness than it will be now to persuade people to adopt its virtues that they may enjoy its benefits.
As for South Boston itself how can one tread its streets, be famil- iar with its history, live its life, and remain insensible to its charms? Who can fail to carry his head a bit higher when he reflects on the benefits that this little patch of soil has conferred on mankind? Had those hillocks, which we pass so often without a thrill of reverence or a salute, never existed, then the American people, the American consti- tution, the continental witness to the value of republican institutions, would never have been.
Others may boast of Lexington, Bunker Hill, the Delaware cam- paign, the surrender of Saratoga, the sufferings of Valley Forge, the partisan warfare of the south, the surrender at Yorktown, the marvel- lous work done in the Carpenter's Hall at Philadelphia, but we, of South Boston, who love her for what she is, can tell them that they existed because Washington planted his cannon on our heights and drove the British forever from our harbor.
Is this a little thing, or a great one? If it be great do we not honor those who have gone before in honoring the place where they worked and labored ?
SOCIAL STANDING OF THE DISTRICT.
By
DR. THOMAS J. GIBLIN.
Organizer of the City Point Catholic Association and the Mt. Washington Co-operative Bank .
A VIEW of the social side of South Boston has ever presented the pleasant picture of a kindly, hospitable and loyal people. The citizens of the district have ever been ready to extend mutual help and protection and eager to gather for entertainment and instruction. It has been seen in our history that from time to time, there have existed in our peninsula, many social organizations. . At the present time, also, many of our citizens are banded together in active success- ful societies whose object is a social purpose, either church work, chari- table aid, literary and educational, or for local improvement. In our homes there is welcome and hospitality for our friends. This character- istic is noted by visitors who have entered our doors. On the memora- ble Farragut Day of 1893, our disposition and ability to entertain generously and with good taste, thousands of friends of this city and strangers from afar, was demonstrated. Many hold in happy memory their visit on that occasion and we may contemplate with pleasure and pride the retrospect of the social side of South Boston.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
It would be delightful to relate reminiscences of our young men's associations, lyceums, church fairs, coffee parties, citizens' associations, etc., but my object is to offer in a few words a prospective and ethical view of the social side of South Boston. During the past few decades we have become a growing and changing community. Every race, every creed and every nationality has found an abiding place and a home amongst us. That each newcomer be moulded into the great American citizen is a necessity to himself and to the whole community.
In the social way how is this to be done? While the high water mark of possible endeavor may not have been reached in the past, still it is a safe height if we but profit by the experience and follow the ways of our predecessors.
There is no need of novel, unique or unusual schemes to perfect the social side of South Boston. Perpetuate the kindliness, hospitality, loyalty of our fathers and mothers ; take advantage of opportunities of education provided by our schools and also of the special training offered by the Hawes fund ; let us encourage our business men by patronage ; study thrift, temperance and frugality, that, perhaps, aided by our local savings bank or co-operative bank, we may own our own homes and take natural pride in them. Be a law-abiding, God-fearing people ; see that the reputation shall always be deserved as it is now, that public senti- ment shall never tolerate in South Boston the presence or semblance of the social evil.
Be every one, above petty personalities in society, business or politics and let our community live in Brotherhood,- Christian, Gentile and Jew.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
(ANONYMOUS).
T HE welfare of a community may be said, in a general sense, to depend upon the zeal, interest, watchfulness, energy and virtue of its citizens. In matters concerning the nation as a whole, it is rarely good judgment to act from a local or parochial view ; in state affairs it is sometimes permissible and in local affairs it is a duty. The interests of a locality mean good schools with the best of modern accommodations, parks and other places of recreation for the people, streets well paved or laid, and kept in good order, the best and most careful police and fire protection, generous means for caring for those beaten in life's race, the finest sanitary conditions and all the other concomitants concerning the daily life of a comfortable, happy, prosper- ous and energetic people. To secure all these is only needed that watchfulness which is another sphere in the guardian of liberty, the very close scrutiny of candidacies for election and a generous reward for those who do well, with swift and certain punishment for those who do ill.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
In a section like South Boston, where politics is such an engross- ing pursuit, it should be the boast of every citizen that his section secures its fair share of the proceeds of taxation. If a section receives less than its share of the general fund it must be because it is so rich that it does not need it all, or because its representatives are sluggish and unworthy.
But it all rests with the citizens themselves. In the election pri- maries, as well as on election days, the citizens have the opportunity to make known their wishes and with whom to entrust them. Good results should appear where the loyalty of a whole section has been shown to a particular party for a long series of years, and by improved streets, parks and public buildings loyalty receive such substantial reward. Otherwise loyalty becomes slavishness, and the capacity of slavishness to a political party, is perhaps the poorest tribute which can be paid to that party.
What would perhaps be the best for a section would be a judicious independence, a position which would say, in effect, if our help is worth having it is worth cultivating. Union among the people for political effort is as necessary as union among other individuals, to succeed in anything. Organization is the child of union, the brother and com- panion as well, and enables union to make itself effective.
For a basis of organization an understanding of what is wanted is necessary. With all these requirements energy is only needed to secure those rights and privileges which belong to a numerous and watchful people. For the securing of things wanted politics have been created, if the term may be so used. Politics is only the organization of citizens into groups in order that they may present to the body as a whole, or the representatives thereof, of their demands. That a com- munity, or a representative body pays more attention to a hundred men making a demand in union, than it would to the same men coming singly with the same request, is self-evident, yet that is politics in its most honest and fairest sense. So if men desire things the proper way is to ask for them. If their requests are denied, demands should fol- low, and demands in such a form that few will dare neglect them.
Such a community can secure all its rights, can afford to be gen- erous, can secure recognition for itself, can reward those who serve it, and thus send out into the city, state and nation, faithful, energetic officials, who can command respect and reflect credit back upon those citizens who have made them-and that is good citizenship.
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IHISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
DEDICATION OF THE DORCHESTER HEIGHTS MONUMENT.
(March 17, 1902.)
A LTHOUGH in an unfinished condition and not ready for public inspection interiorly, the handsome marble monument on Dor- chester Heights, erected by the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts in commemoration of the valiant deed of Gen. Washington and his army, March 4, 1776, was dedicated March 17, 1902. This was a gala day for South Boston. It being the manifest desire of the people of the district that the dedication take place on that historic day, and His Excellency, Gov. W. Murray Crane, and His Honor, Mayor P. A. Collins, indicating their willingness, the committee on monument that had agitated for and secured the favorable action of the state, Dr. William H. Ruddick, Col. J. Payson Bradley and John J. Toomey, approved of the day and then for weeks preparations were under way. Lieut-Gov. John L. Bates with Councillors Jeremiah J. McNamara, Arthur Maxwell and David I. Robinson comprised the committee of the state in the expenditure of the $5,000 appropriation and in arrang- ing for the event. Mayor Collins approved an appropriation of $1,700 on the part of the city, and a committee of the government attended to the city's part in the celebration of the day.
The committee on the part of the Commonwealth appointed Col. William H. Devine of the 2nd Brigade as chief marshal, and in two weeks time Col. Devine, assisted by Capt. William J. Casey, of the 9th Regiment, as adjutant, arranged a parade that was second only to that on Farragut Day of 1893.
March 17, 1902, was cloudy, with a light fall of rain, which ceased early in the forenoon, although the remainder of the day was showery and somewhat disagreeable. Preparations had been made, the people were anxious, and Col. Devine was determined that they should not be disappointed.
There was no session of the schools of the district and the stores and business places were closed at noon. Many of the houses and stores along the route of the parade were beautifully decorated and there was a great deal of enthusiasm throughout the district.
At one o'clock sharp Chief Marshal Devine directed the head of the line, at the corner of West Broadway and Dorchester Avenue, to move, and the mounted police, the U. S. Marine Band with the battalion of the U. S. Marines started on the march. Chief Marshal Devine had a staff of 25 prominent military men, representing the leading organiz- ations of the state. In the parade were six companies of the Ninth Regiment, Lieut. Col. Lawrence J. Logan commanding ; a battalion of the Naval Brigade, Lieut. Commander James H. Dillaway, Jr., com-
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
477
GOV. CRANE and U & SENATOR !LODGE ASCENDING DORCHESTER HEIGHTS
LIEUT-COLWILLIAM H DEVINE W CHIEF MARSHAL of PARADE.
CONGRESSMAN NAPHEN, ADMIRAL SCHLEY, MAYOR COLLINS and BRIG GEN! BRIGHAM ASCENDING DORCHESTER HEIGHTS
COUNCILLOR DAVID ! ROBINSON STATE COMMITTEE.
U.S. SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE PORATOR DEDICATORY EXERCISES. 00
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ADMIRAL WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY SPECIAL GUESTat the BANQUET
GOV. CRANE READING ADDRESS PRIOR TO THE UNVEILING
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COL J. PAYSON BRADLEY MONUMENT COMM.
JOHN J. TOOMEY MONUMENT COMMITTEE
DR. WILLIAM H RUDDICK CHAIRMAN MONUMENT COMM.
CAPT. WILLIAM J. CASEY ADJUTANT to CHIEF MARSHAL
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...
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LIEUT. GOV. JOHN L. BATES CHAIRMAN STATE COMMITTEE
COUNCILLOR JEREMIAH J. M'NAMARA STATE COMMITTEE
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
manding ; First Corps of Cadets escorting Gov. Crane ; a detail from Light Battery A ; Washington Post 32, G. A. R .; Dahlgren Post 2, G. A. R .; Gettysburg Command, U. V. U. and Maj. M. J. O'Connor Camp, 4, L. S. W. V., committees and State guests in carriages. In these carriages were Gov. Crane, Senator Lodge, Rev. Dr. William F. Warren, Adjt .- Gen. Dalton, Admiral Schley, Mayor Collins, Congress- men Naphen and Conry, Lieut. Gov. Bates, Secretary of State Olin, Treasurer Bradford, Governor's Secretary Smith, Executive Clerk Hamlin, members of the Governor's staff, members of the Governor's Council, Dr. Ruddick, Col. Bradley, John J. Toomey, legistative com- mittee and officials, officials and committee of the city government and the Citizens' Association committee. There was also Dr. John Sullivan and Edward Sullivan, great grandsons of Maj. Gen. Sullivan of Revolu- tionary fame, in whose honor the countersign "St. Patrick " was used on the memorable March 4, 1776.
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