Days and ways in old Boston . whose storewas a popular place for college boys to trade at,and our clothes were less sober then than trousers had a strap of the same materialattached to the bottom, so that this strap wouldfit under the shoe, the effect being that of a sortof gaiter. We would go for ice-cream to a well-known store on School Street, though I forget thename of the caterer. Theatres were not numer-ous, as they are now, but I remember the firsttime that I went to one. It was in the earlyforties, while I was in college and near the timewhen the elder Beecher (father of Henry
Days and ways in old Boston . whose storewas a popular place for college boys to trade at,and our clothes were less sober then than trousers had a strap of the same materialattached to the bottom, so that this strap wouldfit under the shoe, the effect being that of a sortof gaiter. We would go for ice-cream to a well-known store on School Street, though I forget thename of the caterer. Theatres were not numer-ous, as they are now, but I remember the firsttime that I went to one. It was in the earlyforties, while I was in college and near the timewhen the elder Beecher (father of Henry Ward)boasted of having closed all such institutions inBoston. The play or opera, which I can vividlyrecall to this day, was La Somnambula, and Ishall never forget the remarkable actress who, inher sleep, walked down a supposed roof from awindow and slid safely to the ground. My visitto this entertainment was mainly surreptitious,which enhanced its attractions, I suppose. I wastaken very early to concerts in Boston, where I32. Map of Section of Boston, 1814 In Boston and Cambridge acted as escort to my stately aunt, Mrs. FrancisChanning, who drove us in. I find recorded, in the year 1845, that I wasinvited to hear the famous Ole Bull play at thehouse of Mr. James Lowell, who had asked a fewpeople to meet him; but the great violinist did notcome, and I wrote down at that time:—TheLion from the North was to have walked out ofBoston at 6 P. M. with John Hopper , . .but he appeared not, being lost in Cambridge-port lanes we supposed—I was sorry for he is saidto be a charming person to know, so simple andnatural and fresh. In the same year I find the following entry inmy letters: At Cambridge we are in peace sincethe Texas petition (764 names, 13 ft. long, doublecolumn) went off. This petition was to opposethe admission of Texas to the Union. In those days Christmas gifts were not thecustomary thing; but the making of presents wasreserved until New Years, although I find anaccoun
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