USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 32
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"A man can see further, Sir, from the top of the State House, and see more that is worth seeing, than from all the pyramids and turrets and steeples in all the places of the world."
"All that I claim for Boston is that it is the thinking cen- tre of the continent and therefore of the planet."
"The heart of the world beats under the three hills of Boston, sir."
"This is the great macadamizing place, always cracking up something."
"Boston's State House is the hub of the solar system. You couldn't pry that out of a Boston man if you had the tire of all creation straightened out for a crowbar."
"How high is Boston's 'meetinghouse?' As high as the first steps of the stairs that lead to the New Jerusalem. Isn't that high enough?"
"Full of crooked little streets; but I tell you, Boston has opened and kept open more turnpikes that lead straight to free thought and free speech and free deeds than any other
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city of live men or dead men, I don't care how broad their streets, nor how high their steeples."
One of his most stirring and patriotic poems was entitled "Union and Liberty" and written about the time of the Civil War.
UNION AND LIBERTY. By Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Flag of the heroes who left us their glory,
Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame, Blazoned in song and illumined in story,
Wave o'er us all who inherit their fame!
Up with our banner bright, Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,- Union and Liberty ! One evermore !
Light of our firmament, guide of our Nation, Pride of her children, and honored afar,
Let the wide beams of thy full constellation Scatter each cloud that would darken a star!
Empire unsceptred! what foe shall assail thee, Bearing the standard of Liberty's van?
Think not the God of thy fathers shall fail thee, Striving with men for the birthright of man!
Yet if, by madness and treachery blighted, Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw,
Then with the arms of thy millions united, Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law!
Lord of the Universe! shield us and guide us, Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun!
Thou hast united us, who shall divide us? Keep us, oh keep us, the Many in One ! Up with our banner bright, Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, While through the sounding sky Loud rings the Nation's cry,- Union and Liberty ! One evermore !
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On the 3rd of December, 1879, a notable gathering was held at Hotel Brunswick. It was a breakfast given by the pro- prietors of the "Atlantic Monthly" in honor of Oliver Wen- dell Holmes who, on August 29th previous, had attained his 70th birthday. We have spoken of the many poems written by Dr. Holmes for his class reunions. One of the last and the most touching of them all was that written for the re- union of 1889, and entitled
Birthplace of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Cambridge
AFER THE CURFEW.
"So ends 'The Boys'-a lifelong play, We, too, must hear the prompter's call. To fairer scene, and brighter day, Farewell ! I let the curtain fall!"
Reb. Comaro Eberett Vale, DD. D.
Boston's "Grand Old Man" came of a distinguished New England family. He was born in Boston, April 3, 1822, and died June 10, 1909, and was the son of Nathan Hale, the editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser, in its day the lead- ing business paper in New England, which had the honor of publishing the first daily paper in the country. Dr. Hale's early home in Boston was on School Street, near the Parker House, and in his autobiography he gives an interesting account of home life in the Hale homestead, of his early friends and the social life of Boston in those days. His father was not only prominent in business circles, but of great influence politically, and entertained as guests at his home many of the great men of the country. Young Hale had rare opportunities of meeting and studying the men at close range and in this way formed not a few lasting friend- ships with some of them. He received a liberal education, graduating from. Harvard in 1839. While there he was as- sociated with some brilliant young men who became dis- tinguished in after life in the various professions. His life of James Russell Lowell is a beautiful tribute to a dear and life-long college friend as well as a record of great achieve- ments. After his graduation from Harvard he took a theo- logical course, having chosen the ministry for his profes- sion, and later became pastor of the Church of the Unity in Worcester, where he remained for ten years. In 1856 he returned to Boston and assumed the pastorate of the South Congregational Church and remained in that position until his death.
He became eminent as a preacher and "was also a volu- minous writer, writing many books, and some of his stories, notably "The Man without a Country,' have become classics." Dr. Hale was a sympathetic, broad-minded man, and active in many organizations for the uplift of human- ity, and his death was deeply mourned by the entire com- munity. He was chaplain of the United States Senate at the time of his death.
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Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D.
George E. McNeill, Boston's Great Labor Reformer
George C. Alc Reill
"George E. McNeill was born in the town of Amesbury, Mass., on August 4, 1837, and died at Somerville, May 19, 1906. At an early age Mr. McNeill was imbued with a strong love of liberty ; a hatred of oppression of every sort, and with an earnest desire to aid in the bettering of the down-trodden. It would be impossible, in the space allotted to this brief sketch, to even enumerate the many reform movements in which Mr. McNeill took an active part. He was a broad- minded, many-sided man, whose advice and counsel was sought by men in various walks of life. Insurance people looked to him as an insurance man whose principle of jus- tice and equity was the ruling feature of his career. Laborers and working men looked to him as a friend in time of need. The weak, when oppressed by the strong, came to him for protection, and never came in vain. His voice and pen were always ready to protect the oppressed against the oppressor, not only at home but in foreign lands.
The early life of George E. McNeill was one of toil and trial. In his pocket there was poverty at the start, which he later, through frugality, turned into plenty for his moderate desires. In his heart there was always a riotous wealth of riches, which he never squandered, never even lessened; in- deed, while he was prodigal in the use of the graces which his heart always possessed, so apt was he in finding good in everything and everybody. that he was ever accumulating, while always dispensing, goodness. At the age of ten he be- gan to work in a woolen mill in his native town of Amesbury. Afterwards he worked in a shoemaker's shop mornings, nights, Saturdays and holidays, attending school between times, and graduating from the grammar school of Amesbury. For the work he did in the shoemaker's shop, he received a kit of shoemaker's tools. When about twenty years of age, young McNeill came to Boston and obtained employment as mailing clerk in a newspaper office. At about this time, he began writing for newspapers on political and labor subjects. He had a deep sympathy for the working men. He felt the in- justice of long hours of labor with no chance for advance- ment. and was continually interested in the shortening of the hours of labor, so that the working people would have an op- portunity for moral and intellectual advancement. He found-
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ed a great many labor organizations of one sort and another, and was really, as he has often been called, the "father of the eight-hour aw," for which he began work in Governor Claf- lin's administration. He was the editor of the "Labor Move- ment-the Problem of Today," which is acknowledged as one of the text books of the labor movement. Mr. McNeill was a member of many commissions appointed by the Legis- lature and Governor of Massachusetts, having to do with labor and tax laws. As a public speaker, he was fluent, forceful and eminently persuasive. When thoroughly aroused, he possessed a native eloquence which was irresistible. He ad- dressed public meetings all over the country in behalf of bet- ter labor laws. Some years ago he went to Washington to address a public meeting, and was escorted from the railroad station to the place of speaking by over ten thousand labor- ing men and nine bands of music. At one time when he spoke in Chicago, 13,000 laboring men came to hear him. His repu- tation had become international by this time. His positive convictions, his persistent energy, made him a figure which could not be overlooked. In all affairs he was sagacious, pru- dent and honorable. Mr. McNeill's interest in safeguarding laboring men and women from accidents, his desire to establish ways and means for the prevention of accidents, probably led him to establish in 1883, the accident insurance company, now known as the Massachusetts Accident Company, of which he was manager up to the time of his death. His conception of the responsibility of those conducting the insurance business is manifested in the following extract from the last article ever penned by his hand;
"The insurance business in all its branches is more than a commercial enterprise. It is primarily an institution for the re- lief of humanity in times of distress; it holds its protecting shield over the widow and orphan; it soothes the mental an- guish on the bed of pain ; it gives courage to those weakened by disaster; it encourages and expresses sympathy; it is Christian in that it cares for the disabled ones ; it lessens some of the burdens of life by a system of distribution of loss. Whoever forgets these primary purposes of insurance is guilty not only of self debasement, but of the debasement of his associates."
Mr. G. Leonard McNeill, for many years its most efficient secretary, is now the president of the Massachusetts Accident
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Company and is "a most worthy son of a noble sire." The Rev. Frank O. Hall, who delivered Mr. McNeill's euolgy, truly said, that he was a man "who by his loving, helpful life and the sweetness and simplicity of his character, and the keen- ness of his thought, proved himself worthy both of respect and affection. It is impossible to estimate how much he did for the advancement of the common people, and although his energy and his work accomplished much, the influence of his character and of his personality accomplished more. No man could stand for long in the presence of Mr. McNeill, or look into his wonderful face without being struck by the fact that he was a remarkable man. One instantly recognized that he was a man of character, and that in him he had found a friend" At the Convention of the Interntional Association of Accident Underwriters, held at Frontenac, Thousand Islands, in July. 1907, Mr. Max Cohen of Washington, D. C., sug- gested the propriety of the association commemorating the services of the late George E. McNeill, and at the same time expressing its appreciation of acts of heroism in annually awarding one, or more medals. The suggestion met with in- stant approval and was referred to the Executive Committee. A design prepared by Tiffany & Co. was accepted and it was voted to award from one to three medals annually. Several of these Medals have already been awarded with appropriate exercises.
Mr. McNeill was a poet of fine imagination, and a few years before his death published a little volume of poems. One of them he sent to many of his friends on the Christmas preced- ing his death and is especially tender and beautiful.
"Would we but follow where the Christ star leads, Through deserts wide of poverty and want,
Through swamps of sin and over rocks of pride,
To humble mangers where the poor are housed-
Then in our souls exultingly would sound The Christmas song of 'peace, good will to man.'
Our gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, we lay At the dear feet of Him, who came to save.
Follow ye, the Master, in word and deed,- Lift up the fallen, welcome the straying, Soothe the disconsolate with hope and cheer-
Welcome, then, Christmas song 'Peace and good will! "
Temple Place
In studying the growth of Boston, it will be found that not a few of the business streets of today were originally, narrow alleys. In 1708, Temple Place was known as "Turn- again Alley" and for a hundred years it remained obscure and neglected. The only carriage entrance was from Tre- mont Street. People coming from Tremont Street descend- ed a flight of wooden steps to reach Washington Street. All this was changed in' 1830, when the Masonic Temple was erected on the site now occupied by the store of R. H. Stearns & Co. After that it was lined with handsome resi- dences occupied by the most aristocratic families in Boston. One of the prominent of these was the Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, one of the most public spirited and generous citi- quite an amusing episode and Sheriff Greenleaf and Colonel tate on Pearl Street, which he gave for a Blind Asylum when it was proposed to start an Institution for the care and education of these unfortunates. This institution, which to- day is of national and worldwide reputation, still bears his honored name. He erected on Temple Place one of the finest dwelling houses in Boston. "The large front door was made of wood from the frigate Constitution." The ele- gant house is now occupied by the Provident Savings Insti- tution, and various business offices. We have elsewhere alluded to the Washington Gardens, that famous place of resort for old time Bostonians. They were located on the southern corner of Tremont Street and Temple Place. In Revolutionary days, the house of Stephen Greenleaf, the Sheriff of Suffolk County, stood there.
He was a stanch loyalist. and with his friends, the Royal Governor and British officers, was badly worsted, when he came into collision with some citizens of Boston in 1768, in the days of the Stamp Act.
In an effort to forcibly enter and take possession of a large house occupied by many tenants, Greenleaf and his aids, were trapped into a cellar and there confined until relieved by a file of British soldiers from the Common. It was quite an amusing episode and Sheriff Greeleaf and Colonel Dalrymple, became the laughing stock of the town, and all the more enjoyable was it to the citizens, because Colonel Dalrymple was a most haughty and overbearing inan. Much 444
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to his regret, he, and his regiment were ordered to Castle William (Fort Independence) by Governor Hutchinson, in response to the demands of the citizens of Boston, led by Samuel Adams. The building where Greenleaf and his friends were confined was the Manufacturing House, which stood on Hamilton Place and was torn down in 1801. The house of Greenleaf's was torn down and a block built on Tremont Street to West Street and that portion of Tremont Street was known as "Cape Cod Row."
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Temple Place, 1850
In those days the large hall of the Masonic Build- ing was used for concerts, being well adapted for the pur- pose as it was centrally located and had excellent acoustic properties, and many celebrated musicians were heard there. The cut represents Temple Place in 1865 at the close of the Civil War, before it had become such a business centre. Winter Street and Temple Place, for their length, are two of the busiest streets in Boston. The tide of travel through these streets surges daily in an almost irresistible and ceaseless flow. "It is surprising how in one generation the encroachments of trade have drawn every family from Tre- mont Street, extending from Court Street to Boylston Street," a street that was once occupied by wealthy residents.
Charles Bulfinch, Architect of the State House
Parker's Restaurant and the Parker house
Mr. Harvey D. Parker was born in Temple, Maine, May 10, 1805. He came of good old English stock, being descended from Thomas Parker, who came to America in 1636. This pioneer Parker was one of the incorporators of the town of Reading, when it was cut off from Lynn. When Harvey D. Parker was quite a lad, the family moved from Temple to Paris, Maine, and here he "mowed and hoed and held the plough" until he was 20 years of age. Then, with a stout heart and $4.00 in his pocket, he started on foot for Boston to carve out his fortune. He soon found employment, and for eight years he led a busy life in the great city, living pru- dently, carefully guarding his surplus earnings, that he might carry out the cherished desire of his heart, that of "providing people with necessary facilities for eating well." At twenty- eight years of age he commenced his famous career as a res- taurateur in a basement, No. 4 Court Square, corner of Court Street. A portion of Young's Hotel now covers the spot. It was a small room, rather low and dark, and by no means at- tractive, but the quality of the food was most excellent and the prices very reasonable. This he named "Parker's Restau- rant." He seemed to understand just what kind of food the people wanted and just how they liked to have it cooked. Ar- rayed in white apron, he personally served his customers, and he aimed to make the service in his restaurant, and later in the hotel, as near perfect as possible. His fame spread through- out the city and even far beyond the city limits. His patron- age grew constantly and "Parker's Restaurant" became the best patronized and most popular dining room in Boston.
An old Bill of Fare, a relic of that good old restaurant, is an interesting study for epicures. For 12 I-2 cents one could get fresh eggs, boiled, fried or scrambled, or a lobster salad, or a welsh rarebit. Soups were 12 1-2 cents, with the excep- tion of green turtle, which was 37 1-2 cents. Fried cod, perch or mackerel was 25 cents. For 37 1-2 cents one could have an order of boiled halibut, broiled mutton, corned beef, roast chicken, beef, pig, lamb, or green goose, with a variety of
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vegetables. Lobsters were cheap in those days, and were fresh from the lobster pots of Boston Harbor. A generous order of plain, or salad for 25 cents, but a 12 1-2 cent order would sat- isfy an ordinary appetite. A choice tenderloin steak, with nice bread and butter, and vegetables was 37 1-2 cents. Oysters
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Parker House, Boston
were high in those days, being 37 1-2 cents a dozen on the half shell. On the back of this old bill of fare, Mr. Parker informs his patrons who pay by the week that they "can order only from the dishes already cooked, and that each dish includes vegetables, etc." This fractional currency was made possible by the Spanish silver coins then in circulation, such as "four pence ha' penny" or 6 1-4 cents, and nine pence, 12 I-2 cents.
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A quarter of a dollar and a "nine pence", or three nine pences, would amount to 37 1-2 cents.
Mr. John A. Remick, who was a regular patron, writing concerning it says: "Parker's establishment was always fur- nished with an outfit of solid silver ware, till the Civil War advanced the price of silver nearly three fold, when he sold all his silver at a handsome profit, and ever after used the best plated ware." Mr. Parker remained in his original location several years, but his business had outgrown the room and he must have larger quarters to accommodate his patrons. So he began looking around for a location, and chose the Boylston Estate on School Street and "in 1854 built a large building that was both a hotel and a restaurant, and called it the Parker House. This was the first attempt made in Boston to conduct a hotel, without a fixed hour for meals, and it met with immediate success." The Parker House became as pop- ular as the Restaurant, and four years later he was obliged to double the size of the house, and in two years that was crowded. The fame of the Parker House is world wide and its founder was a leader in the American hotel business, and a thorough master in all the details of a hotel. He was the in- ventor of the so-called 'American plan where everything is provided in the cost of a day.' He was quick to perceive, prompt to act, and he had sound judgment." During the war certain well known military commanders were always welcome guests at the Parker House without charge, the pres- tige of their presence having been regarded as an advertise- ment that much more than compensated for what they ate or drank. This same custom was followed by his successor, J. Reed Whipple, who entertained President Mckinley in most royal manner at the Hotel Touraine on the occasion of his last visit to Boston.
After years of watchful waiting the Parker House secured the lot on the corner of School and Tremont Streets and erected a beautiful building on its site, as an addition to the hotel.
Boston Custom House, 1850
Quincy Market, 1840
Musical Festivals
The decade following the Civil War was marked by two great events which substantiated the claim of Boston as the great musical center of the country. In 1869, under the di- rection of that great organizer and musician, Patick S. Gil- more, was held the
NATIONAL PEACE JUBILEE
Application was made for the use of the Common on which to erect a temporary Peace Jubilee Building, or Coli- seum, but as strong opposition was made to it, it was de- cided to build it in the Back Bay. The Coliseum occupied part of the site where Trinity Church now stands, and ex- tended to the lot of the old Art Museum.
A recent writer in the Boston Post says: "The Coliseum was a stupendous enterprise for a city the size of Boston in 1869, a city still suffering from the incalculable losses of the Civil War. When filled, the great wooden building held 50,000 people, and was the largest structure in the country. But the mere size is not so astounding as the fact that the building was constructed, solely, for a musical fes- tival to last but five days. Yet so musically mad were the public. that the receipts for the five days, not only paid the expenses, which amounted to over a quarter of a million dollars, but yielded a profit of $10,000.
The peace jubilee was carried to a successful conclusion by the enthusiastic determination of Patrick S. Gilmore, a popular bandmaster, who refused to be defeated by rebuffs or scoffing. He was fortunate in securing the alliance of many public spirited business men, who continued to pour money into the treasury, when it seemed as though the gigantic enterprise was doomed to absolute failure."
The Festival was held June 1-19, 1869. We know of no excitement of recent years that can begin to compare with that which raged in and about the Coliseum during those five days. In the audience were people from every State in the Union, and there was the wildest applause and en- thusiasm after every selection.
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Many Bostonians now living were in that audience day after day as members of that chorus of 10,000 voices, and to their dying day will never forget the wonderful scenes which they witnessed there. The great musical artists, Ole Bull and Carl Rosa, were first violinists to the orchestra of 1000 pieces, and the two greatest singers of the day, Parepa-Rosa and Adelaide Phillips, leaders of the great chorus.
When the closing strains of "The Star Spangled Ban-
Itivity tohowe'd
The Coliseum
ner" and "America" were sung, bells all over the city were rung, and the guns of a battery near the Coliseum were booming. When the "Anvil Chorus" was given, 1000 red- coated firemen gave the resounding clang on as many anvils.
Nearly every seat was occupied at every performance. Many distinguished guests were present, among them President Grant and Admiral Farragut. It was thought by many that such a volume of sound would be deafening, but
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such was not the fact, the great orchestra and the tremen- dous chorus kept excellent time, and the whole effect was most pleasing.
The whole undertaking was a remarkable success, and as we have already said, excited the most unrestrained en- thusiasm both on account of its musical features and its patriotic tendency.
The year 1872 was also an eventful year in the same line. From June 17th to July 7th the second grand
MUSICAL FESTIVAL
was held and attended by 30,000 to 100,000 people daily. It was held in a temporary Coliseum of vast size, and spe- cial national musical features were introduced by bands from England, France, Germany and other countries.
Johann Strauss led the orchestra, while it played his own waltzes, among others, the "Beautiful Blue Danube."
In connection with the Festival, a grand ball was given and General U. S. Grant was present. Athough the Festi- val was a grand success from a musical point of view fully equalling the peace jubilee of 1869, it was not remunerative, financially, to the projectors and shareholders.
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