Springfield City (part 6 of 8)

Varieties and Qualities of Small-Arms. - From 1 795, in which year the United-States Government made their first musket, to the present time, there have been fabricated from twelve to fifteen different kinds, or models, of small-arms at the Springfield Armory: such as, the King's Arm, the Queen's Arm, the French Model, the 1S22, 1840, and 1842 models, all of which were "flint-lock" guns; the 1847; the 1855. or Maynard Primer Model, which was the first rifled gun made by the Government; the 1862, and the 1865, or Springfield Model, these last two being percussion-lock, and all thus far enumerated models being muzzle-loading; the 1873 breechloading gun, etc., etc. The King's and the Queen's Arm each had a large bore or calibre : the barrel was long, and the arm completed was heavy and clumsy. The French Model had a small calibre, short barrel, light stock, and for those days, 1 795-1 809, was a handsome fire-arm. At the commencement of this century, the United States were at peace with the world in general; and having no particular or immediate use for the arms they were then making, and finding that if not disposed of, - the accumulation in 1809 would have been about 53,000, - they would have to stop the manufacture of them, and not being disposed to do this, used to sell from their stores; and the Indians were the purchasers in most instances. The first model made was the French : a large number of these were in use : in fact, the French furnished most of the small-arms used by the army through the war with England. The King's and the Queen's Arm were much in vogue, had a good reputation, and there were plenty of them scattered through the States, being often sold at auction in large and small quantities. The Indians were first persuaded to trade for the French Model, but soon their demand was "Small gun no good : big gun, big noise, big bullet; no boy's gun for Indian." And thereafter they would buy only those of large calibre : the King's Arm or the Queen's Arm was the gun for them. The 1822 model was the first American gun, and was at the time superior to any foreign arm. The 1840 model was the musket used in the Polk or Mexican war. The 1855, or Maynard Primer Model, was used with good results by the " regular army " on the western and north-western frontier in engagements with the Indians. Of this model, when the late war began, only about 40,000 had been made; and, as many of these had been distributed to the army, what remained in store were in use early in 1861, so that until the 1862 model could be made and put into the field, the regulars and the volunteers were provided with such arms as could be procured for them, either at home or abroad ; accordingly " Enfields," " Austrians," " Belgians," flint-locks, rifles, fowling-pieces, any thing in the shape of a gun that would carry a leaden ball when backed by powder, were in use by the soldiers of the North. The 1873 "breech-loader" is - with perhaps slight modification - the model breech-loader of the day. Thomas Blanchard's machine for turning irregular forms was introduced into the Armory in 1820, during Col. Roswell Lee's administration. An "old Armorer" distinctly remembers the following circumstance, he being at the time a fellow-boarder with Mr. Blanchard: "One Sunday we particularly noticed Mr. Blanchard, for he had in his hands a musket which he seemed to be meditating upon. This meditation was nothing new ; for he was a man who said but few words, a man who communed with himself, or, rather, did a great deal of head or brain work in a quiet way. But now he had something in his hands upon which his thoughts seemed to rest, and this was uncommon. The gun was turned over and over ; it was looked at from tip to breech ; evidently he was thinking hard ; after a long time thought became words, ' I believe that I can turn a stock like this,' and eventually he did." The first machine made to turn irregular forms was constructed and put into operation at the Upper Water-shops : shoe-lasts were the things produced. The next machine was made for the purpose of turning the stock for a musket, and proved to be just what was to be expected from the first experiment, and just what was wanted for that time, and also - what was not then thought of - the forerunner of all machines, models, or forms which are now used to make every component part of a gun "interchangeable."

The whole number of arms made at the close of the year 1854 was 629,660; whole number made at the end of 1878, 1,751,341. The grand total, including rifles, pistols, musketoons, carbines, cadet arms, etc., is now not far from 2,000,000. In 1795 there were from 40 to 50 men employed, and 245 muskets made. In 1817 there were 14,000 muskets manufactured; and - what is significant in these days of steam - it was said, "The waterprivileges already owned by the United-States Government will warrant the extension to 30,000 stands annually ;" the privileges alluded to being what were then, and for almost a half-century after, called "the Upper, Middle, and Lower Water-shops." In 1S36 there were 260 men employed, and 13.500 guns made; and at the close of the year there were 170,000 on hand stored in the arsenals. In 1864 there were 3,400 men employed, and 276,200 arms manufactured. It was this year that the production was brought to 1,000 per day, twenty hours of the twenty-four being the hours of labor: day and night the "works" were running, and some months of this year the pay-roll amounted to the sum of $200,000. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, about 1,000 guns per month was the production; three months after, the number was increased to 3,000 per month ; and gradually the number was increased till, as before noticed, in 1864 the product for a day's work was 1,000; and many days the same number were boxed and shipped to the quartermasters of the army in different parts of the country; each box containing 20 muskets complete, that is, with bayonets, ramrods, screw-drivers, tompions, spring vises, etc.

A lar<re amount of money has been expended by the Government, from 1795 till the present time, for land-improvements, buildings, machinery for the manufacturing of machinery, tools, small-arms, and their necessary appendages, accoutrements, repairs, etc. The whole amount will exceed $32.- 500,000, of which probably $26,225,000 was for manufacturing purposes ; the balance, $6,225,000, being expended for land, buildings, improvements, etc.

Superintendents. - David Ames, the first superintendent, was a resident, but not a native, of Springfield; a distinguished man in many respects : a pioneer in paper-manufacturing, and for many years far in the lead in this industry. Benjamin Prescott was appointed from civil life, and stood high in the estimation of the employees: he was a man of fair executive ability. a good citizen, and of sturdy honesty. Col. Roswell Lee was appointed from the army, 1812-1815. More than six feet in height, erect, dignified, "he was every inch a soldier; and I used to look up at him, and think that he was about equal to Gen. Washington," was the remark of an old Armorer only a few days ago. Loved by all, employees and citizens, Col. Lee's name is and will be oftener in the thoughts, and spoken by men's lips, than that of any superintendent, living or dead. Roswell Lee Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons derived its name from him, and he was also the first worshipful master of Hampden Lodge. Andrew Jackson had fairly commenced his second term of office, when it became necessary to select a suitable successor to Col. Lee. There were many aspirants: politics ruled, favoritism ruled, the army ruled, the navy ruled, etc. But Old Hickory was equal to the occasion : -- I will appoint a man to that position whom I know, - a man above reproach ; a man of integrity; a man I respect; a man that is capable, and just the one for that situation;" and he appointed John Robb, a Methodist minister, who proved to be all that Gen. Jackson had asserted of him. It is said that he was a chaplain in the army, and was at the battle of Xew Orleans. Lieut.-Col. James W. Ripley was a thorough, practical, energetic officer, under whose administration the Armory, as regards its efficiency, received an impetus so wholesome and judicious, that its results will be perceived as long as fire-arms are manufactured. The Main Arsenal, the superintendent's house, and the long storehouse were erected, the iron fence around the grounds commenced, the grounds beautified anil otherwise, improved, during his administration. E. S. Allin, acting superintendent, was a native of Springfield, a good citizen, well known in the community, and master armorer for more than a quarter of a century. Gen. James S. Whitney was a genial, social man, who had a pleasant tare. and a kind word for every person. Under his administration the imposing iron fence commenced by Col. Ripley was finished, and the Water-shops improved at the expense of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Capt. George Dwight was a native of Springfield ; a man who had a host of friends, and not one enemy ; who was directly or indirectly connected with almost every public improvement to the town or city ; prominent in local military organizations, and especially in the fire-department. As a citizen, as a man who has filled many important offices of honor and trust, his memory will "always be green" in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Capt. A. B. Dyer was appointed from the Ordnance Department as commandant. Without doubt, no superintendent before or since came so near to the hearts of the employees, especially the subordinate civil officers. With almost unlimited power and means, his whole energy and force were directed to one object, and that was to give promptly to the armies in the field all the fire-arms they needed. He was determined, also, that the arms should be of the best model, best material, and of better workmanship than ever before. Cols. T. T. S. Laidley and James G. Benton, graduates at West Point of the class of 1842, with Rosecrans, Doubleday of "Sumter fame," Pope, Longstreet, and Johnston, were two highly accomplished ordnance officers, whose reputation is not confined to the United States, foreign countries acknowledging their great ability in matters pertaining to smallarms and ordnance. Col. Laidley is living. Col. Benton died Aug. 23, 1 88 1 : by his death, Springfield lost a beloved citizen, and the Ordnance Corps one of its eminent members. Col. I. H. Wright held office only ten months, and had no opportunity to show the executive or constructive ability which the Government and the public expected from one whose prestige was unexceptional. Capt. C. C. Chaffee was a young, gallant ordnance-officer, who bade fair to stand as a peer of any in the department, and whose untimely death was lamented not only by his family, relatives, and brother officers, but by a great number of personal friends and the public. The following table gives the complete list of superintendents and their terms of office: -

Until

The Present Officers are: Lieut.-Col. A. R. Buffington, commanding; Capt. Frank Heath, Capt. James C. Ayres, Lieut. W. M. Meclcalfe, assistants. Col. Buffington has the reputation of being an efficient officer, a rigid disciplinarian, and of excellent executive ability. He is assisted by three members of the Ordnance-corps.

Reminiscences, Facts, and Anecdotes. - After the Armory was established, for a number of years the parts of arms which were to be carried to and from the Water-shops were conveyed in a wheelbarrow. The wheeler, an employee of Government, lived on public ground, so as to be near at hand when required for service. Walnut Street, now one of the main avenues of the city, was in those days merely a lane. The " Old Armorers " made for themselves beautiful homes on Walnut, State, Main, and other streets in the town ; and in the records of the town, of the churches, of benevolent and educational institutions, appear the names of many of them, whose memory will be always dear to their descendants, and to the institutions of the city in which they were the first in good works, deeds, and counsel. It is not surprising that these men became attached to the town, the Armory, and to the homes they had made for themselves. Many of them commenced working in and about the Armory when only 13 years of age ; and they not only made homes in and about Springfield for themselves, but induced others, either relatives or acquaintances, to come here, and take up their residence. Whilst digging for the foundations of the long storehouse which stands upon the terrace overlooking Pearl and Worthington Streets, the remains of 12 or more soldiers dressed in regimentals were uncovered. During the 1812 war, the United-States Armory being a Government post, the United-States soldiers were often quartered in the barracks and in the dwelling-houses which were on "public ground." The houses were commonly occupied by Armorers ; but, at a short notice that soldiers were coming, they moved out, and the soldiers moved in, and they remained in these comfortable quarters a longer or shorter time, "according to orders." A portion of the ground now occupied by the storehouse was then used as a graveyard ; and soldiers were often buried there, and buried, too, in their uniforms. "In the last war of 1812, a part of a regiment of infantry which had been quartered in the barracks was ordered away : and they left in the hospital one of their comrades, a drummer, very sick with typhus-fever; the man had a young son who staid with him. The drummer died, and the Armorers left their work to go with his body to the grave ; and all wept as they saw the poor drummer covered with earth, and his young son sobbing over his father's grave." The first quarter of this century witnessed many exciting, curious, and laughable scenes and incidents between the superintendent and the employees, among the workmen themselves, and between the workmen and the townspeople. According to the fashions of those days, there arose many quarrels ; for intoxicating drink was used by every one, high and low, rich and poor, - all drank. The workmen were allowed to carry their bottles or jugs of rum into the shops, where, properly labelled, they stood on a ledge or shelf just above the washing-place, which was a long sink or trough ; and often officials, coming into the workshop upon business, would walk up to the array of jugs, select their favorite "rum," take a good respectable drink, deposit a pistareen or a Spanish quarter by the side of the jug, and then go about their business. Benjamin Prescott, the third superintendent, was capable of managing any number and all kinds of men; but as he had some " rough-and-ready " ones to deal with, he drew the reins of discipline very close at times. In 1812-1815 the usual license was restricted: Government was at war with England ; the State militia as well as the regulars wanted muskets ; the men must be ready at their working-hours: boys, even the workmen's sons. must not enter the shops. At this time military enthusiasm was high: the boys caught the spirit ; and the Hill boys formed a company of artillery, and paraded with wooden guns and a battery of a dozen lead cannon. One clay as Superintendent Prescott was on his way to the Water-shops, driving his horse as was his habit, the boys were having a parade in the street; and, seeing " Old Prescott " driving towards them, one of the elder boys cried out, "Here comes Old Prescott: let's fire at him." A line was formed on each side of the street, and a half-dozen loaded lead cannon were placed in front of each rank; the cannon were about five inches long, by threequarters of an inch diameter. Mr. Prescott, intent upon his business, gave no heed to the hostile display, and rode through the open ranks, and was saluted from right and left with "twelve guns;" he turned, feeling obliged to return the compliment, which he did by saying, " Well done, well done, boys." It was probably during his administration that the following incident occurred. The United-States Congress had made appropriations for erecting a suitable dwelling for the Armory superintendent, who personally saw that the work should be done according to his wishes, and, what was of more consequence to see, that the appropriation should not be exceeded. The sides as well as the top of the house were to be shingled ; and when it was near completion, the carpenter notified the superintendent that there were not enough shingles to finish : " It is all done but part of one side of the house, and that needs about a half of a bundle more of shingles." Uncle Sam was rather penurious in those days, and no one knew it better than the superintendent. For him there was no more money except by an appropriation, no appropriation until Congress convened. There was a short whispered conference with the carpenter. A few days after, the house was completed : a lumber-dealer in the town was "out" a bundle of shingles, Uncle Sam " in " the same, said bundle of shingles disappearing from the lumber-dealer's yard one uncommonly dark night.

Uncle Sam, - U. S., - U. S. A., - how many minds have been mystified by the cabalistic letters U.S. ! Many years ago there were two ne'er-dowells to be seen almost every pleasant day lounging along and about the streets of Springfield. One pleasant day it was noticed that Joe had lost his companion: Jake had disappeared, and Joe was alone. It was not at all Joe's mind to loaf alone, and he tried to find something to do. When it was known that he was willing to earn his daily bread, a place was found for him in the Armory, where soon he was earning $25 a month. Four or five years passed away ; and one pleasant summer's evening, as Joe, welldressed, was walking down Main Street, he saw coming towards him his old companion. " Why, Jake, is that you? Where have you been? Where did you come from ? What are you?" - " Hold on, Joe; hold on ! don't you dress better than you used to? Where did you get those good clothes ? " - " Why, Jake, don't you know ? ain't you heard ? I've worked for Uncle Sam for ever so long; 25 dollars a month, Jake, 25 dollars a month." - "Uncle Sam ! Uncle Sam ! I didn"t know that you had an Uncle Sam. Joe, Joe, for old acquaintance' sake, you just ask your Uncle Sam if he won't hire me."

Fires have been of frequent occurrence. A coal-house upon the Hill accidentally took fire, and thousands of bushels of charcoal burned for two or three days. Water thrown upon the outside of the coal served only to intensify the heat in the centre of the burning mass, and the coal was all destroyed. Some time afterwards, a coal-house at the Middle Water-shops was burned, but most of the coal was saved. The coal-house was situated over the river, or dam. The ignited coal was thrown into the river, where it floated down the stream, and was afterwards drawn ashore ; the partially burned coal was raked to some distance from the burning building, spread out upon the ground, water put on it, and most of it saved in fair condition.

" 1824, March 2, wind extremely high, the United-States- Filing-shop took fire, and burned to the ground; loss estimated at $15,000," but afterwards found to be about $30,000. It was a raw, cold, blustering day. The cinders were carried as far as the Water-shops. There was not much snow on the ground: the heat was intense, and blankets were spread upon the ground to prevent the burning of the roots of grass. July 4, 1842, the building called the barracks was burned. In July, 1864, the polishing and a portion of the milling department buildings were burned. Major A. B. Dyer, then superintendent, acted as chief engineer, and proved himself capable of filling that office satisfactorily to the city firemen and to the public generally.

Henry Lechler, fourth superintendent, was a German, impetuous, irritable, capable in small affairs, in managing a small number of men, but failing in execution when great results were expected from great effort on the part of the chief. " I have seen him, his coat-tails streaming behind him straight out, riding like Jehu from the Hill to the Water-shops, - he always rode on horseback : he would enter the shop, and go to the forger, or tool-maker, as the case might be, and producing a piece of steel from one of his pockets, say six inches long by three-quarters of an inch square, would give the steel to the workman, saying, 'Cast-steel is scarce: you must be careful how you use it.' On an occasion when there was quite a demand for cast-steel, on account of tools to be made, and the supply had given out, he said, ' No cast-steel? I will take my horse and cutter, and go to Boston, and I'll bring back cast-steel enough to last one while;' and, sure enough, Superintendent Lechler drove down to Boston, and returned with a good supply of the necessary material in his cutter." It appears that there was quite a scramble for office, even in those early days of the Union ; and Benjamin Prescott, after eight years of service, was obliged to give place to Henry Lechler, who remained in office one year and three months, when Mr.

Prescott received his second commission from Government. He brought the news of his appointment and the requisite papers to Springfield, walked up to the Armory, entered the well-known room, - it was in the month of January, 1815, - took down Superintendent Lechler's greatcoat from its peg, hung his own in its stead, and, having lighted his cigar, drew his old familiar arm-chair to the blazing wood-fire, and waited for his predecessor's appearance. Mr. Lechler soon entered the room; and the new superintendent, without quitting his arm-chair, or even looking away from the fire, handed - over his shoulder - the "document" to Mr. Lechler, who, after reading it, rushed out of the office into the workshops with the words, " Men, I am no more ! men, I am no more ! " However, he peaceably resigned his powers to Mr. Prescott.

At this time the workmen, some of them at least, were rough and lawless : they could not forget their old camp habits, and foraged in all directions. One Sunday quite a number of them, about 20, started upon one of their expeditions, the "objective point " being a particular watermelon-bed in the vicinity of Longmeadow. The good people of the town were at church ; but the news was soon conveyed to the town constable, for watchful eyes had been for many days and nights upon that melon-patch. The constable soon had a posse at his command : the watermelon-bed was surrounded ; the depredators were captured, and in a short time safely imprisoned in Colton's tavern. Most, if not all, were barefoot. When meeting was done, the people by twos and threes went to the tavern " to have a look at the rascals." After the people had seen, the boys and the girls had seen, probably almost every inhabitant of Longmeadow had seen the robbers, the landlady thought that she would have a peep at them. One of the number had only four toes on one of his feet : the great toe had been lost by some accident or otherwise. The landlady, with spectacles on the end of her nose, after looking over the crowd, happened to espy Mr. B.'s foot, - the foot that had only four toes : she noticed that the great toe was missing, whereupon she walked close to him, and pointing a finger at him said, "You are a thief! you are an arrant thief, for I've seen your tracks in our watermelon-bed more than a hundred times."

The Corner Tavern was a famous place for the workmen to frequent, where they would tell stories, drink their toddy, and pass their leisure time. In the war of 1812, a company of infantry was recruited in Boston to serve on the Lakes. Every man was tall, strong, and physically well qualified for the service. Upon arriving at headquarters, by some hocus-pocus they were drafted into the marine corps, and served through the war. When pretty well scarred, - for they had made their marks, and in return were pretty well marked by scars from gun-shot and sabre wounds, - they one by one, what there was left of the company, made their way back to Boston. As most if not all of them walked the whole distance from Buffalo to Boston, they would naturally go through Springfield, as it was the most directly travelled route. One of these naval heroes chanced to enter the bar-room of the Corner Tavern one forenoon at just the time when quite a number of men were taking their toddv. His story was soon told, his scars shown, and then they treated; one treated, another and another and another treated: the veteran drank his rum every time, and was happy. " How are you going to get to Boston?" asked one. "Walk." - "What! walk all the way? it's a hundred mile, almost." - "Well, that makes no difference: folks are very good, just the same as you are; I'll get along." - " Come, boys, pass the hat for the old fellow." The hat was passed; and a little more than $2 in silver was raised, and handed to him. He was overcome. Food, drink, and lodging had been given him freely; but money, hard cash, - this was something, and demanded gratitude, in words at least. "My friends, 1 - 1

- thank you; and, my friends, I thank God for every thing, for all his marcies; I - I - I thank God for every thing, - for every thing, every thing. My friends, for every thing I thank God, - for everything, my friends, - except bread - I can buy that now of the baker."

Another time, a seedy, impecunious individual walked into the bar-room, seated himself in a chair by the fire, and seemed to be occupied solely in resting. The usual time brought the workmen for their forenoon's nip of bitters, toddy, or rum. After a while they noticed the stranger, who, when he saw that their curiosity was aroused, took a newspaper from the table, - not many newspapers in those days, - and read in a distinct voice, "Advertisement. Lost where it was dropped, an empty bag with a cheese in it ; never was missed till it was gone. Run away from the subscriber, a little boy about the size of a man ; he rode away a two-year-old heifer, natural pacer, easy to trot; had a white streak on her fore-shoulder behind. Whoever will find the same boy, return him where no man will ever find him, shall receive 20 shillings out of his own pocket. Signed, John Knockemdown when I catch 'em. Springfield Hill, 1829." After reading he put the paper upon the table, and awaited developments. Soon one man, then another, then another, till a half-dozen or more, took the paper, and looked for the strange advertisement; but it was not found. " Finally," says our narrator, " I took up the newspaper, and looked it all through, and I couldn't find it ; so I says to the man, ' You just tell me where that advertisement is, and I'll treat.' The stranger agreed, and took his rum; and he drank a tumbler just about full of grog. ' Now,' says I, again taking up the paper, ' where did you find it? ' He took off his hat, and just tapped his head, and nodded to me, as much as to say, ' In my own head, there's where I found it.' "

In Gen. Jackson's time, politics were red-hot; only two parties, Whigs and Democrats ; the Democrats were sometimes, especially if they were Armorers, called "administration men." The Fourth of July was the great day of the year. The Whigs on the Fourth generally had their dinner, speeches, and toasts in the Town Hall; the Democrats held their festivities in the " Ordnance Yard," which was on Federal Square, with other public buildings, the block-house, the magazine, and the like. At each toast a "sixpounder" was fired. The Town Hall was situated in the centre of the town, so that the Whigs had their cannon placed in the meadows back of " Frost's Pond," not far from the junction of Dwight and Hillman Streets. A boy was stationed at the top of the north window of the hall ; and when the toast was given, the boy waved a small American flag which could be seen by the gunners, there being no buildings then to intercept the range of sight. At the Ordnance Yard, which was surrounded by a high board fence, the Democrats had their feast with tables set under cover, but upon the ground, and the tables were but a short distance from the cannon outside the walls ; the only signal given was the clapping of hands after the toast was given. One Fourth the rain came down without cessation all through the day; but the dinner, the speeches, all came off regularly notwithstanding. The "toucheroff " of the cannon, on account of the rain, had an assistant, whose duty was to hold an umbrella over the priming. In the intervals between the toasts, the gunners had recourse to the punch, which was furnished without stint. From punch to argument, from argument to controversy, was the result ; and soon there was a confusion of words, as well as ideas, upon the subject, " Does the king of England, or the king of France, entertain the kindliest feelings towards the United States ?" As the dispute grew quite warm, each advocate had his followers : some were for Louis Philippe, and some for William the Fourth. It was getting to be serious business, when loud shouting and clapping of hands from the dinner-table announced a toast. The powder-man ran, and in his haste deposited a liberal allowance of gunpowder in, on, and about the touch-hole ; the toucher-off ran, with his iron red-hot, and his assistant, who just then was having rather the best of the argument ; and with his eagerness to cover the priming with the umbrella, and his unwillingness to stop disputing, he did not calculate distances very close, when - pough - fizz - bang! and away went the umbrella, 20 feet into the air, and when it came down, alas ! it was an umbrella no more ; only a stick and a few pieces of rattan.

A pleasant walk of ten minutes, or thereabouts, up State Street, from its junction with Main Street, passing through the gate at the southern corner of " Public Grounds," by the uniformed guard at the gate-house, up a short, sharp hill, and you are upon the plateau, upon and around which most of the buildings connected with the United-States Armory, such as the arsenals, storehouses, workshops, offices, officers' quarters, etc., are situated. Keeping to the right, you pass the officers' quarters, the barracks, the guard-house, the middle arsenal, and the east arsenal, all upon the south-east side of Union Square. Thence due northerly by a long brick building, occupied by the ordnance storekeeper, the general offices, the milling department, etc. Along the north side of the square, and also fronting Federal Street, is a long, irregular brick building, in which are the machine, stocking, filing, polishing, carpenters', and paint "shops." Across Federal Street, looking east, outside the iron fence, is the long, low, wood building of the experimental department. There are now about four hundred men employed, making one hundred and twenty "breech-loaders" each working-day. During workinghours, most of these buildings are open to the public. Passes can be obtained by application to the proper authority in the general office. Continuing your walk, now almost due west, you pass the fire-department building; while away to the left is seen the storehouse, - nine hundred feet long, - one end of which contains the government stables. Upon your right is Union Square proper, with its trees, - a great variety, - its beautiful velvety turf, and battery of a half-dozen twelve-pounders, one of which is used for the sunrise and sunset gun. A few yards from the corner where you turn to the southeast, towards State Street, is the commandant's quarters ; passing which, south-easterly, you come to the main arsenal, having almost completed the circuit of Union Square. The arsenal is capable, with its basement, of storing nearly half a million stand of arms. A long, but comparatively easy, ascent of its tower, and you are where Thomson might have written, -

" Meantime you gain the height, from whose fair brow The bursting prospect spreads immense around; And snatch o'er hill and dale, and wood and lawn, And verdant field, and darkening heath between, And villages embosom'd soft in trees, And spiry towns, by surging columns mark'd Of household smoke, your eye excursive roams."

It is impossible to estimate what proportion of the growth in population or wealth of Springfield is due to the establishment of the United-States Armory within its limits. Indirectly, without doubt, it was the chief cause of its growth and prosperity: other factors have, in later times, played an important part in making Springfield what it is to-day, - an enterprising, thrifty, prosperous inland city. A complete history of Springfield is something yet to be written ; and when this is accomplished, con amore, the United-States Armory will occupy the front rank in its chapters relating to religion, politics, mechanics, and many local and physical improvements.

Albert Harleigh Kirkham

SPRINGFIELD has an enviable record socially. Its homes are attractive on the outside, and elaborately furnished on the inside. The places of amusement and the large variety of social organizations also show that the people keenly feel that there are enjoyments outside and beyond the pursuits of money-getting. No stranger can surmise, and few citizens probably realize, how great and varied are the local associations for social and physical development. In this chapter, it is intended to give a brief historical and descriptive outline of these features of Springfield life; beginning with the professional theatricals and operas, and continuing through the list of athletic, secret, amateur, and other organizations, and the clubrooms, the public halls, and outdoor places of exhibition.

Theatricals and Operas. - Springfield is what is called by theatrical people a "good show town." Its citizens are generous, and, in the main, discriminating, patrons of the drama. This reputation, a pretty theatre, and the geographical position of the city, combine to make it a rather more popular place with travelling theatrical companies than its size alone would warrant; and few famous players fail to visit it. The history of the theatre in Springfield, however, is practically confined to the present generation ; and its chief promoter was a former citizen, the Hon. Tilly Haynes, now the owner of the United-States Hotel in Boston, who built Haynes's Music Hall in 1857. Before this time, theatrical representations here were crude, and partook much of the nature of the performances of the tramping, "barn-storming" players. The sole place for entertainments of this class was Hampden Hall, which long occupied the site of the present handsome "Springfield Republican" block on Main Street. This was a rude, ill-seated room, with a gallery across the rear end, and a small and poorly furnished stage. So small, indeed, was the stage, that it is recalled that on one night a rather tall actor, who had occasion to stand upon a chair, found his head up among the flies and out of sight of the audience. Lanergan and Fiske were the chief purveyors of amusement here in those days ; and they used to bring companies, and remain weeks at a time. They were great favorites, as, indeed, Moses W. Fiske has never ceased to be in Springfield. Morris Brothers' minstrels were also frequently heard here. It is worth noting.

that the reverence for Sunday was so great in Springfield, in those days, that no performances were ever given on Saturday evenings. The one-timefamous Black Swan once sang in this hall, and the anti-abolition sentiment of the day found a noisy expression, which almost resulted in a riot : but when the hotel opposite took fire, the same night, white men risked their lives to save the black singer. Madame Bishop's singing used to draw crowds to the hall, for the fee was only fifty cents. But the place was neither large enough nor fine enough for Jenny Lind; and this singer's memorable appearance in Springfield was made at the First Church, the streets about which were thronged with people anxious to hear even a note of the "Swedish Nightingale's" voice, but not able to afford the then high price of admission. Concerts were occasionally given also at Union Hall, in the present Belmont Hotel building, and the famous pianist Gottschalk played there. Concerts were also occasionally given in what was known as Burt's Hall, a low, dark, dismal hole, on Bliss Street near Main. The opening of Music Hall put an end to the business of the other places ; for, though a barn-like structure, it was then considered a fine house of entertainment. Old Hampden Hall was long occupied as the store-room of a furniture-shop, but its interior was practically unchanged to the time of its tearing down.

Haynes's Music Hall, now known as Gilmore's Opera House, is the result of Mr. Haynes's purpose to give the city a theatre. This resolve at the time aroused strong and almost bitter opposition on the part of the public in general, and even of the newspapers, on purely moral grounds, of course. Nevertheless, the house was opened in November, 1857, by W. J. Fleming, who staid three weeks, and, in fact, provided most of the entertainment during that winter. In 1858 J. B. Howe played here for three weeks, and presented "The Sea of Ice" with special scenery, - the first Springfield ever had. But the engagement was unprofitable in spite of this, and finally one night Mr. Haynes refused to light the house. George Pauncefort appeared the same winter, with his wife as " leading lady." and the late Charles R. Thorne, jun., as his chief male support. " Ingomar" was first played here by them. Mr. Thorne became a great favorite here, on the stage and off; and Pauncefort was so jealous of him, that he one night refused to let Thorne answer to a recall, which so angered the audience that he was forced to come before the curtain and apologize. Matt V. Lingham was also a visitor here in those days; J. C. Myers and John Murray were frequently here together, and were the first to present " The Ticket-of- Leave Man ; " and brought Addie Anderson, who introduced " Mazeppa " to Springfield. In this play, R. E. J. Miles, now a well-known manager, and the originator of the late dramatic festival at Cincinnati, played a part. The house was burned on the night of July 24, 1864, but was rebuilt, and re-opened in July, 1865, with a concert by local singers, for the benefit of Mr. Haynes. The first dramatic performance in it, after a week of variety-show and a concert and two lectures, was of " London Assurance," Aug. 7, by Mrs. John Woods's Olympic Theatre company of New York, under the management of the late J. H. Selwyn. Among the company were J. H. Stoddart, B. T. Ringgold, George Stoddart, T. J. Hind, Harry Pearson, C. H. Rockwell, Alice Placide, and Eliza Newton. They remained three weeks, playing many standard pieces, and deservedly made something of a social furor. The engagement ended with six nights of " The Streets of New York," which was played to an average of 900 people, and on some nights many were turned away from the doors. Mr. Haynes, who had removed to Boston, sold the property in the spring of 1881, to Dwight O. Gilmore, who entirely remodelled the house at large expense, and made it one of the handsomest and cosiest country theatres in New England ; and it was re-opened in the following September, by Frank Mayo in "Macbeth." The house is beautifully decorated, has a stage 54 by 35 feet in size, a curtain-opening 27 feet wide and 30 feet high, and a generous quantity of scenery. There are two handsome boxes upon each side of the stage; and the seating capacity is put at 1,200, with standing-room for 300 more. Of these seats, 175 are folding orchestrachairs, 330 are in the parquet-circle, 305 in the dress-circle, or first gallerv, and 350 in the upper gallery. W. C. LeNoir, who has been connected with the house almost since the start in 1857, is the treasurer and acting manager. The Skating-Rink on East-Bridge Street, between Dwight and Hillman Streets, was opened Dec. 23, 1879, under the management of A. S. Lalime, who has since been drowned in Lake Champlain. It is owned by H. H. Bigelow of Worcester. The building has two towers in front, and an elliptical roof. Its length is 1S0 feet, and its width 84 feet. It is built of corrugated iron, with an arched roof, and has a fine skating-fioor 150 by 60 feet. The interior is gayly decorated with Chinese-lanterns and bunting, and. when lighted at night with electric lights, produces a brilliant effect. Its name indicates its chief use, and it has popularized in Springfield the previously unknown pastime of roller-skating. For two summers, performances of light opera were given in it, at low prices of admission ; but they failed to be profitable, partly because the location and construction of the building make it peculiarly uncomfortable upon a hot night. Political meetings and pedestrian-matches have occasionally been held in it; and the Bicycle Club has given frequent exhibitions in it, outside of the regular skating-season.

The Springfield Club, the only purely social organization of consequence in the city, was formed about 15 years ago as a sporting-club, and first met in a Main-street business-block. Its scope was gradually changed, and a few years later it took possession of its present house at the corner of Chestnut and Worthington Streets. It is made up of prominent business and professional men of the city, and its elegant quarters have been the scene of many a banquet to leading actors and other important visitors. H. S. Hyde is the president, and William P. Alexander the secretary and treasurer.

The Springfield Turnverein, a prosperous German organization devoted to social, physical, and mental advancement, was organized April 5, 1855, and has for many years met in Gilmore's Hall, on the upper floor of the block adjoining the Opera House. A small stage has been erected, and furnished with one or two scenes ; and here the members and their families meet regularly on Sunday nights, and frequently at other times, and enjoy themselves in characteristic German fashion, singing, recitation, dramatic representation, and on week-nights dancing. A gymnasium has been fitted up in a room in the rear of the hall, and prizes are occasionally offered for competition by the young men. The public social gatherings of the Turnverein have become popular in the city; and its annual masquerade ball has attracted such crowds that it is now regularly held in the City Hall. The handsome decorations, gay costumes, and fine music have made these occasions an attractive and popular feature of Springfield's winter life. The Turnverein has bought a lot on West State Street, near Main, and intends to begin the erection of a handsome building there in the spring of 1884. The society has steadily increased in its membership, except during the years of the Civil War, when a number of its members, particularly some of the most active, enlisted in the United-States Army. At present there are upwards of a hundred members, two of whom were among the founders of the Society. On May 28, 1883, it was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts. This society is also one of the great number which constitute the " Nordamerikanischen Turnerbund," which has a membership of about 18,000.

The Springfield Schiitzen-Verein was organized April 13, 1882, with a membership of 23, which has since increased to no, - 40 active, 70 passive members. The main object of the Verein, or Club, is rifle-practice: but it does much to promote sociability ; and, although it is a German organization, it receives members of other nationalities. There is semi-annual target and prize shooting, on which occasions the active members are uniformed in cadet gray trimmed with green. Drill-meetings take place on the second and fourth Fridays in each month, and the business-meeting on the first Friday in each month. The headquarters are in Union Hall, on Main Street. The captain is H. Buchholz, the first lieutenant A. Kron, and the corresponding secretary Franz Oetiker.

The Rod-and-Gun Club, whose object is the comprehensive one of the enforcement of the game-laws, the stocking of forests and streams with birds and fish, the promotion of skill in shooting and fishing, the fostering of public opinion concerning the preservation of birds and fish, and mutual social improvement, was organized Dec. 12, 1874, and was incorporated Oct. 3, 1881. It met until 1880 in the Opera-house Block, in rooms now taken into the auditorium of the theatre ; and has since occupied spacious and well-furnished quarters in Parsons's new block, near the corner of Main and Bridge Streets. The club gave, in 1875, one of the first bench-shows of dogs ever held in the United States, and has also held large pigeon and poultry shows ; and it has sown much wild rice hereabouts, and has in the past three or four years imported and liberated many Messina quail. The membership of the Rod-and-Gun Club is now 128.

The Rod-and-Gun Rifle-Team is an offshoot of the Rod-and-Gun Club, though having no direct connection with it. It has, after wandering from Longmeadow to West Springfield, finally fitted up 200, 500, 800, and 1,000 yards' ranges across the Water-shops Pond. The team includes some fine marksmen, and has been considered one of the strongest in New England outside of Boston.

The Springfield Caledonian Club, composed of Scotchmen and descendants of Scotchmen, was organized Oct. 11, 1883, with 75 members. It holds regular monthly meetings, and has for its object the cultivation of social relations and of the patriotic ardor and sports of Scotland. George H. Bleloch is the chief; and George Bruce, James Ritchie, William Holley, and Dr. A. A. Forbes are the first, second, third, and fourth chieftains respectively. It meets in Odd Fellows' Hall in Savings Institution Building. The Armory Rifle-Club is a team of mechanics at the United-States Armory. They use the Springfield military rifle, and number some uncommonly fine shots, who have taken good rank in national competitions. One of their number, M. W. Bull, was a member of the American international team which contested in England in the summer of 1883.

The Springfield Rowing- Association, organized in the spring of 1879, has already become one of the recognized and popular sporting institutions of the city, by reason of the regattas which it holds regularly every autumn. It is pleasantly quartered at the foot of State Street, in a roomy boat-house, with a broad piazza commanding a fine view of the river including the course usually followed in races. It has a membership of about 50, and owns one four-oared shell, two double gigs, four single gigs, and four pleasureboats. Frank D. Foot is president, H. W. McGregory secretary. A. H. Cooper commander, and J. D. Norton captain.

The Atlanta Boat-Club was organized in the summer of 1880, and now numbers about 30 members. It has a commodious boat-house at the foot of William Street ; and its fleet consists of one four-oared shell, two double cdgs, five single gigs, and two double-oared Whitehalls. The officers for the current year are: President, John H. Chine; secretary, John M. Mehigen ; captain, James A. Clune.

The Nelson C. Newell Boat-Crew is made up of members of the Atlanta Club, and is : T. B. McCormick, captain and bow ; D. Ouinn, G. T. French, and J. M. McHiggins, stroke.

The Springfield Canoe-Club was organized in 1S82, and now numbers 19 members. The club-house is built upon a float in the Connecticut River at the foot of Howard Street, and contains three rooms. The canoes owned are six Shadows, four Stella Maris, three St. Pauls, two St. Law- rences, and one birch-bark. F. A. Nickerson is commander, and C. M. Shedd secretary and treasurer. Mr. Nickerson is also the chief officer of the American Association of Canoeists.

The Springfield Bicycle Club was formed May 6, 1 88 1, with 9 members, who then constituted all the bicyclers of the city; for Springfield, generally fond of sports, long frowned upon this modern innovation. But the club has grown rapidly ; and though the average age of its members (23 years) is called the lowest in the country, few bicycle-clubs are better known, or have done more to popularize this form of recreation. The club had no quarters, but met at each others' houses, and rendezvoused at street-corners, till December, 1882, when the entire second floor of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building was engaged. Here it is very comfortably settled ; the quarters containing large and attractively furnished assembly, reading, and billiard rooms. The present membership is over 100. The finances are in good condition; and the club spent $26,000 upon a tournament on Hampden Park in September, 1883, which is claimed to have been the greatest bicycle meeting ever held, and which attracted bicyclists from all parts of the United States and from Canada and England. Most of the fastest records have been made under this club's auspices ; and one of its members, George M. Hendee, is the champion amateur rider of the United States, for all distances up to and including 20 miles. The club was incorporated in December, 1883. The president is Henry E. Ducker, treasurer Andrew L. Fennessy, and the secretary is Sanford Lawton.

The Free Masons have had an interesting history in Springfield. At the beginning of the century, there was no organized Masonic body in this immediate vicinity, though there were Masons in the town. A lodge was

1807, and three to West Springtant place than since overshadowed it. This lodge met in the old tavern near the park, now known as the Belden House; and existed until 1838, though many of its members left when Hampden Lodge was started in Springfield, on March 11, 181 7, with 16 charter members. The .,. first master, and for years one of its most active members, was Col. Roswell Lee, commandant at the United States Armory. Rev. Dr. Samuel Osgood, the famed and long-time pastor of the First Church, was another active member, was long chaplain of the lodge, and was the first high priest of Morning Star Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, which was instituted on Sept. 15, 1817, with 10 charter members. Springfield Council, the next higher body, was formed on May 28 of the following year. The first meeting-place was a hall in the Hampden House, a tavern kept at the corner of Main and Court Streets, under the shadow of the historic elm. In May, 1819, the lodge moved to Gunn's Hall, near the corner of State and Walnut Streets, marching pompously up the hill to the solemn music of a bass-viol played by Brother Ziba Stevens. But the stay there was short; for in 1820 all three bodies were lodged in Carew's

George Mallory Hendee, Of Springfield

Hall, now a store-room over Webber's drug-store. Here Springfield Commandery of Knights Templar was formed on June 19, 1826, with 9 members, and Henry Dwight as commander. Eleven months later the four Masonic bodies laid the corner-stone of the town-hall at the corner of State and Sanford Streets, the upper story of which was built by them for their own purposes, and is still owned by the four bodies then existing. This was the home of Masonry in Springfield till 1874, when the growth of the order necessitated larger quarters ; and the various organizations removed to the spacious, handsome, and convenient rooms in the two upper floors of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building on Main Street, where they still remain. What is known as the Morgan excitement began about the time the old town-hall was built, and had for many years a damaging and almost fatal effect upon Masonry in Springfield ; although its adherents had included many of the most active Christians of the town, and the religious character of Hampden Lodge was so pronounced that at this time it was regularly contributing to the missionary work in the Orient, and had voted money to the fund for translating the Scriptures into Eastern tongues. The admissions into the lodge grew steadily less. Only one man joined in each of the years 1829, 1830, and 1831. The last was Lucius C. Allin, for many years a foreman at the Armory. The lodge stopped working from 1832 till 1846, as did the other bodies : but it refused to obey the order of the Grand Lodge to surrender its charter; and the late Ocran Dickinson took possession of the precious document, and secreted it among other papers in a bankvault. Members meanwhile met about once a year to elect officers. From 1S46 down to the present time, the history of Free Masonry in Springfield has been one of almost uninterrupted prosperity. The parent lodge had grown to be almost unwieldy in 1865 ; and on March 9 of that year a new lodge, named in honor of Roswell Lee, was chartered, with 16 members, and E. W. Clarke as master. This lodge now numbers about 375 members, and Hampden Lodge 365 ; but this by no means represents the number of Free Masons in the city, as both bodies have within a few years suspended a large number for non-payment of the Grand-Lodge tax. Hampden Lodge alone once struck off 532 names in a bunch, for this cause. The Chapter now had a membership of 280, and the Commandery of 391. In the Scottish Rite, the working bodies are Evening Star Lodge of Perfection, chartered Feb. 1, 1865; and Massasoit Council Princes of Jerusalem, chartered May 19, 1865. A woman's lodge, called Adelphi Chapter No. 2, Order of the Eastern Star, was formed Feb. 8, 1870. A lodge of colored men, working under an English charter, and named for Charles Sumner, was established June 24, 1866, and holds its regular communications in Foot's Block, corner of Main and State Streets. The Masonic Mutual Relief Association is mentioned in another chapter.

The Odd Fellows, though of recent origin in Springfield, have taken a remarkable hold upon the city. Their first footing in America was gained at Baltimore, Md., in 1819; a lodge was instituted at Boston the next year, and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed in 1823. But it was 21 years later before any steps were taken to institute a lodge in Springfield : and up to that time there was, as far as is known, but one Odd Fellow in the town, --the late Dr. James Swan. Hampden Lodge, the 27th in the

State in the order of institution, was organized Feb. 7, 1844, with six charter members, of whom the only survivor is Col. James M. Thompson, though he is not now identified with the order. The late Addison Ware, then chief clerk in the Western Railroad office, was the first Noble Grand; and Col. Thompson was the next officer. The first meeting-place was an upper room on Main Street, now occupied by Metcalf & LutheV as part of their furniture warehouse. The lodge prospered moderately, and soon removed to Stockbridge Hall, at the corner of Main and Stockbridge Streets. Here it remained till January, 1847, when, to gam more room, it removed to Burt's Hall nearly across the way. Agawam Encampment was organized the same month, with 15 members, eight of whom lived in Springfield, and seven in

Westfield. Col. Thompson was the Chief Patriarch. Both bodies flourished for a year or two longer ; but, from causes partly local and partly common with the brotherhood throughout the country, there was no increase from 1850 to i860, if not, indeed, a positive falling-off. Interest revived during the war, and has since been steadily maintained. The two bodies meanwhile moved to the old Masonic Hall on State Street, and later to the upper floor of Foot's Block, at the corner of Main and State Streets. Hampden Lodge had reached a membership of 146, when De Soto Lodge was formed, March 9, 1871, with about 25 members, mostly from the parent body. De Soto's meeting-place was, as now, the upper part of the Institution for Savings Building, at the corner of Main and State Streets ; and here it was finally joined by the other bodies. About 25 members of De Soto Lodge formed a new organization, Amity, Sept. 15, 1875, and met in a hall in the Third National Bank Building; but that was soon absorbed by the Evans House, and Amity Lodge thereupon removed to the old home. The growth of Odd Fellowship in Springfield, in the last half-dozen years, has been very marked, and still shows no signs of abating. Hampden Lodge now numbers nearly 575 members, De Soto 515, and Amity about 250 ; while a lodge of Daughters of Rebekah, called Morning Star, has a membership of 201. Hampden Lodge bought the old court-house property in 1882, and handsomely fitted it up for the uses of the order. All the bodies now have their home there, save De Soto Lodge, which has expensively refitted its old quarters in the Savings Institution Building. In the chapter on " Charities and Hospitals " is a notice of the Odd Fellows' Mutual Relief Association.

The Knights of Pythias. - This order has had a history of vicissitudes in Springfield. A lodge, called Myrtus, was instituted July 2, 1869, and met in Gilmore's Block. It was the second lodge in the State; the first established being one at Fall River, one of whose members introduced the order to Springfield. The lodge prospered for a time; and in December, 1S70, a new lodge, called Massasoit No. 53, was established, and occupied the same rooms. This sapped the vitality of the parent lodge, and probably fanned the flames of dissension already started. Massasoit Lodge died in 1872, and Myrtus Lodge ceased to exist the following year. Massasoit Lodge was re-established Jan. 29, 1879, with about a dozen members, most of whom were new men; and it met for a time in Amity Hall, in the Third National Bank Block. Later it removed to Grand-Army Hall, in the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building; and when the veterans removed into the Savings-Bank Building, Massasoit Lodge followed them, and there it now meets regularly. The lodge is moderately prosperous. An endowment rank was established in March, 1SS2 ; and the present membership is about 75. A uniformed division, named the Warwick, has been organized the past summer, and is the only uniformed division in Massachusetts.

A'Ing'S Handbook Of Springfield

Grand Army of the Republic. - The E. K. Wilcox Post No. 16 was organized Aug. 9, 1867, with 10 members, and Gen. (late postmaster) Horace C. Lee as commander. It took its name from Capt. Wilcox, a gallant officer of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, who was killed while leading a desperate charge at Cold Harbor. The post steadily grew in numbers and prosperity for some years, but during the hard times following the panic of 1873-74 the membership was reduced from about 300 to JS- But in the last four years there has been a great revival of interest in the local post, in common with the rest of the country; and under the commandership of Major S. B. Spooner, and his successor J. O. Smith, the membership increased to about 400. During the latter's administration, the post was also largely prospered in money affairs, and now has over $5,000 invested as its relief-fund. The post has spent several thousand dollars in charity, and has borne on its roll the names of between 600 and 700 veterans, among them many men prominent in the city's business and official life. Of the 150 posts in the State, only three exceed it in membership. Its commanders have been, in their order: Horace C. Lee, L. A. Tift, H. M. Phillips, J. L. Rice, S. C. Warriner, E. A. Newell, A. H. Smith, J. L. Knight, S. B. Spooner, J. O. Smith, and E. W. Lathrop. The post met for some time in Gilmore's Block, and, later, occupied quarters in the Massachusetts Mutual Life-insurance Building, now used by the Springfield Bicycle Club. In 1883 it became located at Institute Hall, in the building of the Springfield Savings Institution, at the corner of Main and State Streets.

Other Secret Societies include a division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, whose headquarters are in the First National Bank Building. It was organized in June, 1S82, and has about ioo members. Thomas E. King is the president. There is also a division at Indian Orchard, which has a membership of about 40. It was organized May 10, 1877, and has long met in a room in the Indian Leap Hotel. Germania Lodge of the Harugari is a flourishing body of about 85 members. It formerly met in the Third National Bank Block, but is now located on the third floor of Foot's Block, at the corner of Main and West-State Streets. Court Massasoit, Independent Order of Foresters, also met originally in Amity Hall. Its present quarters are in the old Masonic Hall, at the corner of State and Market Streets. It was organized May 10, 1878. Equity Council of the Royal Arcanum was formed May 29, 187S. It meets in the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building.

Good Templars. - Crescent Lodge of Good Templars, the senior temperance organization of the city, was instituted in .March, 1S72, with a charter membership of about 25. At the burning of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Building the following winter, it lost all its property, except the charter, which was saved by a member at the risk of his life.

Until the coming-on of the business depression, the growth of the lodge was very rapid ; its own membership rising to some 400, while offshoot lodges were established on Armory Hill and at the Water-shops, raising the membership to some 700 in the city. The two latter bodies finally succumbed to the financial stress, the members returning to the parent lodge. Crescent has now a membership of about 150, and has for some years met in the old Masonic Hall, at the corner of State and Market Streets, on Tuesday evenings. Silver Star Lodge was formed in February, 1881, by a withdrawing faction from Crescent, with some outsiders, and started with about 20 charter members. It has grown steadily to its present number of about 130. Its meetings were held in Temple of Honor Hall, in Foot's Block, till the removal of Wilcox Grand Army Post to its present quarters, when Silver Star occupied the former hall of that organization in the Life Insurance Building, where it now meets on Wednesday evenings.

Catholic Temperance Societies. - Though Father Mathew visited Springfield in 1848, his work here was confined to the pledging of single individuals to temperance ; and it was some seven years later before the first Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society was formed, and that soon died. Another society was organized in 1866, flourished for a while, grew to a membership of 100 or more, and died about 1872 because of misunderstanding concerning the appropriation of its mutual-benefit fund. This feature has been eliminated from the present flourishing organizations, which have received additional strength from the active co-operation of the priests. The society of the Sacred Heart Parish was organized July 9, 1877, and now numbers 135. It meets every Sunday, at 4.30 p.m., and has these officers: president, Edward Dowling; treasurer, J. J. Leonard; secretaries, M. J. Leonard and P. J. Griffin. The Father Mathew Society of the Cathedral Parish was organized Sept. 14, 1877, and has about 65 members and these officers : president. T. S. Walsh ; secretaries, C. F. McKechnie and W. S. Fitzgibbon. It meets every other Sunday. The Springfield Cadets of the Cathedral were organized July 14, 18S3. W. W. Ward is captain, and J. E. Ryan and J. E. Shea are the lieutenants, and the membership is 35. The Sacred Heart Cadets were organized Oct. 25, 1883. There are 56 members; and S. E. Leonard is captain, and C. J. Shea and J. T. Donovan are the lieutenants. The St. James Cadets of the same parish were formed Oct. 28, 1883. Thomas Hanley is captain, and Thomas Moriarty and T. E. Sullivan are the lieutenants. The membership is 40.

Other Temperance Societies are numerous. They include Massasoit Temple of Honor, which meets Monday evenings in Foot's Block ; Hope Temple of Honor, of Indian Orchard, which meets Tuesday nights ; the Temple of Honor and Temperance, which meets Monday evenings ; Enterprise Section of Cadets of Honor and Temperance, a juvenile branch of the

Temple ; Golden Star Commandery of the Golden Cross, which meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month ; Friendship Lodge of Sons of Temperance, which was organized in 1883, with 54 members, and meets Monday evenings in Kinsman's Block; Liquid Light Division of Sons of Temperance, whose meeting night is Friday; and the Springfield Reform Club, whose headquarters are the old Masonic Hall. A withdrawing faction formed the Reynolds Red Ribbon Reform Club in the autumn of 1883.

The City Guard, Company B, Second Regiment M.V.M., was organized in August, 1842, and served for three years during the Rebellion as Company F, Tenth Regiment. It was in the Sixth Army Corps, and took part in these engagements with the Army of the Potomac : Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862; Glendale, June 25, 1862; Malvern Hill. July 1, 1862; Fredericksburg, Dec. 11-13, 1862; St. Mary's Heights, May 3, 1863; Salem Heights, May 3, 1863; Fredericksburg, June 10, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863; Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863; Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; Spottsylvania Courthouse, May 18, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; Petersburg, June 18, 1864. More than 50 commissioned officers were furnished from its ranks for active service in the war. The City Guard was long considered one of the leading companies in the State ; and, at the reception given by the city of Boston to the Prince of Wales, it was chosen to represent Western Massachusetts. Its first captain was John B. Wyman, who was killed at Vicksburg while colonel of an Illinois regiment; and other captains before the war were Horace C. Lee, - afterwards colonel of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, and brigadier-general, - Ex-mayor William L. Smith, and John Taylor. Hosea C. Lombard was its first captain in the war, and was succeeded by George W. Bigelow. Its commanders since the war have been Robert J. Hamilton - afterward lieutenant-colonel Second Battalion M.V.M., and now city marshal - and John L. Knight. The present officers are: captain, Frederick S. Southmayd ; first lieutenant, Henry McDonald ; second lieutenant, Thomas F. Cordis.

The Peabody Guard, Company G, Second Regiment M.V.M., was organized Aug. 29, 1868, by members of Post 16, G.A.R., who named it in honor of Col. Everett Peabody, who was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Its first officers were: Major S. 15. Spooner. captain ; Col. H. G. Gilmore, first lieutenant; Col. (now mayor) H. M. Phillips, second lieutenant; Joseph K. Newell, first sergeant. Its successive captains have been: H. M. Phillips, F. Edward Gray, A. H. G. Lewis, G. F. Sessions, and H. M. Coney. Major George F, Sessions has recently been a^ain elected captain, and John J. Leonard is the present first lieutenant. At this date (Jan. i, 1884), there is no second lieutenant. The company is proud of its marksmanship ; and in 18S3 its team won the first prize in the State match, against 37 competitors. Milan W. Bull, of the American team in the 1SS3 international match in England, is a private in this company.

Base Ball is just now a dormant institution in Springfield. The game has always had many admirers here, and at different times has aroused, even among business-men, an interest which has almost bordered on a furor; but for three years back there has been no professional club in the city, and the amateur organizations have been mostly confined to young lads. Yet Springfield has been counted a "good base-ball town," and, when the popular fancy has run that way, has supported the sport in princely fashion. Sixteen or eighteen years ago, in the days when scores often ran up to thirty for each side, Springfield had three famous nines of amateurs. The Mutuals, who could beat any thing else in the State except the Harvard-college team, are remembered by many of the growing generation. Their predecessors, the Smith & Wesson team, and the Young Pioneers, were made up of young men who wound up their base-ball career more than a decade ago, and some of them are now staid and influential business or professional men. The Young Pioneers were the most aristocratic company, but they finally dwindled into a consolidation with the Hampdens of Chicopee, and as such waged many memorable contests. Professional base-ball in Springfield had its origin at the beginning of 1878: its history was brief, and its glory still briefer. The interest in the game grew steadily through the summer of 1878 ; and the next spring a club which was expected to beat any thing in the then National Association was formed. Some of the best-known and most skilful ball-players in the country were members of this club. They were paid large salaries, and for a while bade fair to realize the high hopes entertained of them. Excitement ran high for a time ; but internal quarrels destroyed the efficiency of the club, and during the season of 18S0 it was disbanded. It seemed then that no new endeavor would ever be made to form a professional ball-club here, but there are indications that at least a semi-professional nine may be organized the coming spring.

The Hampden-park Association is an organization of business and professional men who own the park which gives them name, and direct the yearly meetings of the National Trotting Association in this city. The first of these trotting-meetings was held on Federal Square in 1853, and the profits were given to the Hampden Agricultural Society on condition that it should buy a suitable park. Accordingly this tract of 60 acres, part of the farms of Festus Stebbins and Horatio Sargeant, was bought for $250 an acre, and named in 1857; and over $10,000 was spent in improvements the first year. The second national horse-show was held on the park in 1857, the third in 1858, and the fourth in i860. The first exhibition of the New-England Agricultural Society was held on these grounds in 1864. Seats to accommodate 3,000 spectators were built in 1867, at a cost of over

$12,000. At one time the property with its improvements was valued at 590,000; but it was sold in 1878, under a foreclosure of a $24,ooo-mortgagefor $18,000. The Hampden-park Association bought it soon after, and spent $5,000 in improving the tracks and buildings. Though the park is most closely identified with the big circuit races held each summer, it has long been the chief gathering-place in cases of large out-door displays. The professional and other base-ball games have been played upon it ; the big circuses, like Barnum and Forepaugh, have of late years regularly been held there ; so have the meetings of the bicycle-clubs ; and many thousands have, on various occasions, been gathered to witness displays of fireworks. Hampden Park was for several weeks the camp of the Tenth Regiment before it went to the front; and once, before the war, the muster of the State militia was held upon it. The capital stock of the Hampden-park Association is $25,000. William H. Wright is the president; H. H. Harris of Chicopee the secretary; and George M. Stearns, Charles O. Russell, and James Kirkham are trustees.

The Public Halls, other than those already mentioned in this chapter, are : Gill's Hall, in Gill's Art Building, at the corner of Main and Bridge Streets, - a neat little room, much sought by quiet and fashionable dancingparties, and for semi-private lectures and concerts. Hampden Hall, 419 Main Street, in the "Springfield Republican " Block, built in 1878, occupies the site of the building bearing the same name which was for many years the city's only place of dramatic entertainment. It seats 350 persons, and was much used for church-sociables and musical rehearsals, but is now occupied by Hinman's business-school. Central Hall, in Kibbe's Union Block. 383 Main Street, at the corner of Harrison Avenue, was long the meeting-place of the Second Adventists, but is now occupied by Dr. Cones's health-movement establishment. Gilmore's Hall, 418 Main Street, in the block adjoining the Opera House, has been the quarters of the German Turnverein for many years, and has sheltered one or two newly formed and homeless churches. It is also much used for dances, and it seats 600. Franklin Hall, at 2<S Pynchon Street, with a seating capacity of 500, is now occupied by the Second Advent Society. It is the upper part of what was, till 1870, the meetinghouse of the Trinity Methodist Church. Union Hall in the Belmont-house Block, 528 Main Street, now occupied largely for the social gatherings of the German Schutzen Gesellschaft, was occasionally used before the war for public concerts, and is still much frequented by dancing-parties. The Old Town Hall at the corner of State and Market Streets, once a popular place for social gatherings, is now the meeting-place of the Third Baptist (colored) Church. The Hill has two halls for dancing and other social purposes, - Gunn's Hall at the corner of State and Walnut Streets, and Beacon Hall adjacent on State Street. The meeting-place for the Water-shops section is Lincoln Hall, at the corner of Mill and Walnut Streets, with a seating capacity of 500 persons. The dances held here each winter attract numbers of young people from even distant parts of the city. The Peabody Guard Armory in Shaw's Block, 322^ Main Street, and the drill-room of the City Guard in what was once Sovereign's Hall, 11 1 Bridge Street, are also much used for dancing. The public meeting-place of Ward Eight, or Indian Orchard, is Wight's Hall, built in 1875. This serves for all the public purposes of the village, - dances, political meetings, church-fairs, and theatrical performances.

The City Hall is on Court Street at the west corner of Court Square. The corner-stone was laid in 1853, under Caleb Rice, the first mayor of the city, and on land deeded to the city by Chester W. Chapin. The superstructure was begun the next year, under the mayoralty of P. B. Tyler, then a manufacturer of cotton-presses on the hill; and it was finished, clock, bell, and all, in 1855, just as the mayoralty of Eliphalet Trask was drawing to a close. The hall in this building, which has been described in the chapter on the public buildings, is, and has been for years, a popular place for all kinds of entertainments and gatherings. Its seating capacity is 2,300.

St. Michael's Hall on Elliott Street, near State, will seat 1,200 persons. It is the hall of the St. Michael's Cathedral parish, and is in the parochial school building, and was dedicated in 1882. It has a good-sized stage, well equipped with scenery; and several creditable dramatic performances have been given there by the dramatic club of the parish, which contains some clever amateur actors.

Sacred Heart Church Hall is a good-sized and well-appointed hall in the convent-building on Everett Street. In this, and in St. Michael's Hall, now practically centre all the social entertainments of the Irish Catholic population of Springfield.

Charles Martin Pryxxe

THE newspapers of Springfield are her creditable heralds abroad. They exhibit, in an exceptionally thorough and intelligent way, the most attractive New-England civilization; for in Western Massachusetts, of which this city is the centre, one of the finest phases of American life has its choice exhibition. The American who would show the best that our new country has reached would take an Englishman up through the fertile Connecticut Valley, and among the hills of Berkshire. Towns were here founded in austere piety, and the land has been steadily cultivated with splendid patience until the region literally blossoms as the rose. The spirit of manufacturing enterprise has labored for a generation and more in company with a catholic literary growth that has appropriated a culture of which no country need be ashamed. This is not the place in which to speak of the colleges, seminaries, and schools, that are famous the world over. The late Dr. J. G. Holland, in a chapter of his history, places the newspaper "foremost of the agencies now moulding, swaying, educating, impelling, and leading the American mind."

That was in 1855. In the 28 years since, this "foremost agency" has so visibly broadened its field, that a great profession has taken its recognized place to command a wider influence than any of what were once known as the learned callings. Modern journalism owes much to Springfield, and to that pioneer in its higher development, the late Samuel Bowles. He made the daily newspaper an indispensable factor of the region, its faithful map, and honored guide, philosopher, and friend. Nowhere in the world are newspapers more generally read, and everywhere the constituency reached from Springfield is the envy of journalists.

Let us see how this local development of newspaper influence has come about. The first settled among Western Massachusetts towns, so Springfield was the first to publish a newspaper. " The Massachusetts Gazette, or The General Advertiser," begun here in May, 17S4, was a pretty direct offshoot from the ancient "Worcester Spy." Its publishers were Anthony Has well, who had run "The Spy" for a year, and Elislia Babcock, a papermaker. Two years later Haswell had retired, and Babcock sold out the establishment to Brooks & Russell. John Russell, a brother of Major

Benjamin Russell, well known in Boston journalism, was the real editor, and changed the name of his sheet to "The Hampshire Herald and Weekly Advertiser." It lived until 1787, when Russell issued from his office, near what is now Ferry Street, "The Hampshire Chronicle." The following year Isaiah Thomas, founder of "The Worcester Spy," bought out "The Chronicle," and put an apprentice of his, Mr. Weld, in charge of it. Their office was on the corner of Elm and Main Streets; and in 1790 Thomas had retired, and Mr. Weld was editor and proprietor of "The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle," - the admission of another county to the name of the paper no doubt evidencing its growth in circulation, for Berkshire County had been incorporated 29 years before. Edward Grey bought out the paper in 1793.

A newspaper which had changed its name four times in 11 years was evidently not a steadily prosperous affair, but " The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle " had done well enough to tempt Isaiah Thomas into another venture here. In January, 1793, he set up his son-in-law, James R. Hutchins, as proprietor of " The Federal Spy : " and that killed " The Chronicle," and sent Edward Grey over to West Springfield to buy out "The American Intelligencer," which existed there for three years. But Son-inlaw Hutchins was not a good permanent investment for Mr. Thomas; for it is said that he absconded not long after, and John Worth ington Hooker and Francis Stebbins took the property. Mr. Stebbins became sole proprietor in May, 1796, and kept the paper until Sept. 26, 1799; then Timothy Ashley ran it until 1801, when Henry Brewer became his partner; Mr. Brewer owned "The Spy" from 1803 to 1806, then Thomas Dickman of Greenfield bought it. With the new editor came another, and politically descriptive name, " The Hampshire Federalist ; " and Dickman continued in charge 13 years. Lawyer Frederick A. Packard next bought "The Federalist; " A. G. Tannatt of Boston went in with him, and the firm of A. G. Tannatt & Co. continued until 1822. The rival "Hampden Patriot" was established in 1818 by Dr. Ira Daniels; and it lived six years, Mr. Tannatt owning it for the last two. In 1829 Mr. Tannatt bought out the "Federalist" establishment, - the name of the paper having been changed to "The Hampden Journal," - and conducted it for six years; and in 1835 "The Journal" was swallowed by "The Springfield Republican," which had been founded by Samuel Bowles in 1824.

An interesting glimpse of local journalism at this period is given by William Hyde of Ware, who came to Springfield near the close of 1828. There were two papers here then, "The Hampden Journal," and "The Springfield Republican : " they were of essentially the same political character ; as the old Federal and Democratic parties had become mixed, and the National Republican party (which afterwards became the Whig party) was the leading one. When the Jackson party (later the regular Democratic party) arose, its adherents wanted a local organ; and John B. Eldridge, who had edited a newspaper at Westfield, began to publish "The Hampden Whig'' on the Hill in 1830. Lawyer E. D. Beach bought him out in 1835, then David F. Ashley became a partner, and Alanson Hawley was editor in 1843. But these details outrun the sequence of our story. To go back: In 1831 George W. Callender, Henry Kirkham, and Lewis Briggs established " The Springfield Gazette," with Mr. Hyde, who had previously done some work for -' The Hampden Journal," as editor. He was paid $100 a year, by the way. To the four papers then existing, J. B. Clapp added a fifth, in 1831, - "The Hampden Intelligencer," an anti-Masonic sheet, which died young. At the end of Editor Hyde's first year of service, Briggs, Josiah Hooker, and Hyde bought " The Gazette ; " when the second year had closed, Mr. Hyde went into the law exclusively, and Lawyer Josiah Hooker became the editor ; in 1837 Josiah Taylor took " The Gazette ; " and three years later it passed into the hands of WTilliam Stowe, afterwards postmaster, and a brilliant politician. Apollus Munn, who founded "The Independent Democrat" in 1S41, seems to have been the Brick Pomeroy of the local journalism of his day. His paper was published on the Hill, and boosted him into a clerkship in the Boston custom-house, when he sold out to Dr. Elisha Ashley, who removed the publication-office to Elm Street; and " The Independent Democrat" was absorbed by "The Hampden Post" in 1844. Munn started "The Hampden Statesman" in 1845, and "The Post" bought that out in 1847. Mr. Munn wrote on the latter paper for a time, became interested in spiritualism, and soon died. We have thus hastiiy sketched the growth of the weekly press, omitting a few ephemeral sheets which took no hold on the local life.

We now come to the birth of daily newspapers in this city. Samuel Bowles, the second, was alert to the possibilities of his profession ; and the young man dreamed dreams, put in long days of the closest work, and was growing up to his opportunity. The elder Bowles had begun to print two "Republicans" a week, soon after "The Gazette" was started, one on Tuesdays to suit the post-riders, and another on Saturdays. Before 1833 the daily journals of this country were huge blanket sheets, wedded to party politics, and lumbered with dead advertising. They might more properly have been called political tracts than newspapers. Then came -"The New-York Sun," born in 1833, and founded by a Springfield man. Benjamin H. Day; "The New- York Herald" came into being in 1835; in 1841 Horace Greeley's "New-York Tribune" saw the light, and the modern newspaper was fairly started on its career of wonderful achievement. "The Daily Republican," conceived and created by the junior Bowles, was given to this city on the evening of April 1, 1844. It was pre- eminently a child of faith, for it began without a subscriber; but it was not an April enthusiasm. "The Springfield Gazette,'1 under Mr. Stowe, began to publish an evening daily, two years after " The Daily Republican " entered the field. Both were Whig in politics, and in 1848 "The Republican" absorbed " The Gazette." " The Springfield Sentinel," a Democratic semiweekly, edited by Mr. Hawley, came here in 1847 from Palmer, lived a few years, and was then sold to " The Northampton Courier." Valuable details about the newspapers of that time are given by Lawyer William L. Smith, who came here in 1847, after some experience in Boston journalism, and was editor of "The Daily Post," which was begun June 1, 1848. Before "The Republican" bought out the "Gazette" list, "The Post" was the strongest daily. An editor's life was a busy one then as now; and Mr. Smith did his own local reporting and editorial writing, besides scissoring miscellany. When, therefore, in 1853, Gov. Clifford proposed to make Editor Smith register of probate, the office was accepted as a welcome relief from newspaper drudgery. Mr. Ashley at the same time wanted to sell the "Post" property to Mr. Smith, and, failing in that, leased it to Trench & Dwight. The new editor, Lawyer Henry W. Dwight of Stockbridge, was a bright, companionable man, but averse to "boning down." After eight months he gave up " The Post: " in 1853 Mr. Ashley took it back, the property ran down, and in 1854 "The Post" died. The next effort to establish a Democratic daily was in 1856, when Elon Comstock came from "The Albany Argus." Abundant money was raised for him, and "The Springfield Daily Argus " began with a fine job-office plant near "The Republican" on Sanford Street. Comstock had a promising opportunity; but he was afflicted with an itch for office, neglected business, and "The Argus" lasted only a year or more, when the local Democrats paid its losses. Samuel Bowles & Co. offered to buy the establishment for William L. Smith, believing that some opposition was desirable ; but he had become settled in the law, and his recollections of the amount of work involved in publishing a daily did not tempt him to go back to newspaper life. He believes that a great opportunity was thrown away when " The Argus " was permitted to

"The Springfield Republican" is still conducted by Samuel Bowles. The first editor of that name founded "The Weekly Republican " in 1824; his son developed " The Daily Republican " into a newspaper of national character and influence ; and the grandson established " The Sunday Republican" in 1878. The establishment as it now stands is an educational institution in the community, and from it the late Editor Bowles sent out what might be fairly enough called the ideal provincial newspaper of America. The first Bowles was 27 years old when he tempted fortune here, bringing with him from Hartford the first lever-press the town had possessed. The

(C/"AlirpniifT«r«-fe<]op»tc] io nand'a Ibcirjasor* before noon of ilirdny at publication^ ,And they are particularly rrquesled to note on the eopy^ Uic number of insertions taking up tlie not.'s of iho llonoraMft Senator ,f U,,. Senate, nuing on Inn nomi. nation of Mr Everett, or any oiherman.'a* HJiniMer 10 a foreign Court shall take upon it' thai the person nominated, has, expressed. to his neighbors and (cllowciluens of the Stals> Io which he belon3»,l*eplimeni* not,in^acpeaching his character, or atTcctinr. hisquali* luations for ihe posi (o which he is nomiruv r^-J. then. Sir.' 'anid Mr. Clav, elevauog himself to hii fulLjhe.ghl and raising hn voice'lo outlook was not particularly promising; but the lever-press was set in operation, and the initial copy of " The Republican " was issued Sept. 8, 1824. The title proved a happy selection ; for the name afterwards stood for that party whose best ideas the paper consistently advocated for a score of years, until the editor of the daily had grown into the full practice of his ideal of independent journalism. The weekly began with a circulation of 350 copies. Growth during the weekly period was steady and substantial ; and, as time went on, " The Republican " absorbed " The Springfield Gazette " and " The Hampden Journal." From the start the paper was tenacious of its own convictions, but its columns were open to the presentation of both sides of political questions : it deprecated useless religious controversies, and represented that independence of sect which marks the highest religious expression of to-day. William Hyde says of the two Bowleses, "The senior Mr. Bowles was an industrious, painstaking man, with great tact to use all available material. He was a contrast to the second Bowles, whose active mind and quick insight led to great success." The first editor of "The Republican" died Sept. 8, 1851, at the age of 54.

The second Samuel Bowles was, like Greeley and Weed, educated in the practical school of the printing-office. What other preliminary education he had came through " Master " Eaton's school. While a mere stripling, his occasional writing for the paper displayed a bright and forcible quality that attracted attention. At 18 Mr. Bowles was singularly mature, with all a man's ambition ; and after much persuasion the conservative father was induced to enter the field of daily journalism, then untried in the State outside of Boston. Business men doubted the feasibility of the enterprise, but the young man counted confidently and intelligently on the signs of the future. " The Daily Republican " began as an evening paper, and in its first year ran $200 behind ; but by the end of the fourth year 800 subscribers had been secured, and the paper placed on a firm footing. The time of publication was changed to the morning, Dec. 4, 1845. It was originally a single sheet, 17^ inches by 24, with four columns to the page. These dimensions were enlarged from time to time till 1855, when the double-sheet form was introduced. The doubling-up was at first confined to the weekly and Saturday issues : nine years later Wednesday's paper was made double, and in 1872 the double sheet became the permanent form of the paper.

Daily journalism 40 years ago was pioneer work, calling for an exhausting expenditure of personal energy in the most varied directions. The Western Railroad then reached Springfield, a town of 11,000 people, and a line of telegraph connected us with the outside world ; but the press had not yet called in the aid of electricity in news-gathering. It was a time of experiment, and the organization of forces; and young Bowles plunged into the work with such ardor that in a year his strength gave out, and he was compelled to take a journey South. The trip was extended to New Orleans ;. and its fruits were a series of letters to " The Republican," which exhibited the editor's aptness in his calling. This, too, was the first of a series of vacation-travels, both in this country and Europe, taken in later years, which served to enrich the columns of " The Republican," enlarge the knowledge and sympathies of its editor, and give to the public several, books. He grew by contact with the world, gathered the culture of many peoples, and through cosmopolitan associations built up a newspaper of. wider scope than its immediate surroundings seemed to warrant.

Samuel Bowles was a shrewd student of men, and was happy in the selection of his early editorial associates. After the untimely death of Samuel Davis, Dr. J. G. Holland was invited into the service of the paper; and for 16 years he wrote constantly for its pages, publishing therein the material of various volumes, and compiling, at the suggestion of Mr. Bowles, the valuable " History of Western Massachusetts." The keen political sense and admirable organizing faculty of the editor were thus re-enforced by Dr. Holland's nice literary taste, so that the paper reflected the thought of New England. As a political force, " The Republican " was pretty steadily kept in advance of public sentiment. When the Whig party disintegrated under the demoralization of defeat, " The Republican " exposed and denounced the "Know-Nothing" craze; and in 1855 Mr. Bowles headed the call which resulted in the formation of the Republican party in Massachusetts. " The Republican " did its full duty as a news-gatherer, and an ardent supporter of patriotism, during the war. Never subservient to parties, the editor declared his full independence of them when national progress was impeded by partisan fanaticism ; and in 1872 he was foremost in calling for a political departure which should promote reconciliation between the North and South. The paper has steadily advocated honest money, a reformed civil service, and does not abate its demand for high character in candidates for public office.