conflagrations which have visited her with strange frequency. A fire in
1811, which swept away the little house on Milk street where Franklin
was born--and which is now occupied by the Boston _Post_--another in
1874, in which more than one hundred buildings were destroyed; and the
"Great Boston Fire" of 1872, followed by conflagrations in 1873, 1874,
1877 and 1878, seemed to indicate that the fire fiend had selected
Boston as his especial prey. To the terrible fire of 1872 many precious
lives, property valued at eighty millions of dollars, and the entire
section of the city enclosed by Summer, Washington, Milk and Broad
streets were sacrificed. The scene was one a witness never could forget.
Mingled with the alarum of the fire-bells and the screams and shouts of
a fear-stricken people came the sound of terrific explosions, those of
the buildings which were blown up in the hope of thus "starving out" the
fire by making gaps which it could not overstep, and to still further
complete the desolation, the gas was shut off, leaving the city in a
horror of darkness; but the flames swept on like a pursuing Fury,
wrapping the doomed city still closer in her embrace of death, and who
was not satisfied until she had left the business centre of Boston a
charred and blackened ruin.

This same district is to-day, however, the most prosperous and
architecturally prepossessing of the business sections of the city,
practically illustrating another phase of that same spirit of
improvement and civic pride which has overturned so many ancient idols
and to-day threatens others. Indeed, it would be a churlish disposition
which would lament the disappearance of the old edifices, the
straightening of the thoroughfares, the alterations without number which
have taken place, and which have resulted in the Boston of to-day, one
of the most beautiful, prosperous and public-spirited cities in the
world. The intelligence and local loyalty, for which her citizens are
renowned, have been set to work to attain one object--the modest goal of
perfection. Obstacles which some cities might have contentedly accepted
as unavoidable have been swept away; advantages with which other cities
might have been satisfied have been still
conflagrations which have visited her with strange frequency. A fire in 
 1811, which sweep aside the little house on Milk street where Franklin 
 was born -- and which is immediately occupied by the Boston _ Post_--another in 
 1874, in which more than one hundred buildings were destroy; and the 
 " Great Boston Fire " of 1872, trace by conflagrations in 1873, 1874, 
 1877 and 1878, look to indicate that the fire fanatic had selected 
 Boston as his especial prey. To the terrible ardor of 1872 many precious 
 lives, place valued at eighty million of dollar, and the entire 
 section of the city enclosed by Summer, Washington, Milk and Broad 
 street were sacrificed. The scene was one a witness never could forget. 
 Mingled with the alarm of the fire - bell and the screams and shouts of 
 a fear - stricken citizenry came the sound of terrific explosions, those of 
 the buildings which were blown up in the hope of thus " starving out " the 
 fire by making gaps which it could not overstep, and to still further 
 complete the desolation, the gasoline was shut off, leaving the city in a 
 repugnance of dark; but the fire swept on like a pursuing Fury, 
 wrapping the doomed city still closer in her embrace of death, and who 
 was not satisfied until she had leave the business centre of Boston a 
 charred and blackened ruin. 

 This same district is to - day, however, the about prosperous and 
 architecturally prepossessing of the business sections of the city, 
 practically illustrating another phase of that same emotional state of 
 improvement and civic pride which has overturned so many ancient idols 
 and to - day threaten others. Indeed, it would be a churlish disposition 
 which would lament the disappearance of the previous edifices, the 
 straightening of the thoroughfares, the alterations without number which 
 have aim place, and which have leave in the Boston of to - day, one 
 of the most beautiful, comfortable and public - spirited city in the 
 world. The news and local loyalty, for which her citizens are 
 celebrated, have been set to work to attain one object -- the modest finish of 
 perfection. Obstacles which some cities might have contentedly take 
 as unavoidable have been swept away; advantages with which other city 
 might have been satisfied have been still
convlagrations which have vlsited her with strange frequsncy. A fkre in
1811, which swept away the pirtle youse on Milk street wfere Frannlin
was vorn--end which is now occupied by tgc Boscoi _Post_--another ik
1874, in which kore than one vuvdxed buildings were destroyed; and the
"Dreat Bpshon Fire" of 1872, fjlloeqd bg conflagrations in 1873, 1874,
1877 and 1878, seemed fo indibate that the firr fiend had selected
Boston as jis especial prey. Ho the terruble dire of 1872 manh precious
lives, properjy valued at eighty millions of aollaxs, and the gurirf
vection of vhe ciny enclosed bn Summes, Washimgton, Milk and Brmad
wtreets were sacrificxd. The scene was one a witnesv uever could forget.
Mintlwd wijh tha alxeum of tie rire-bepls and the sdreams and whouts of
a fear-strivkqb people came the sjugd of terrific explosions, those of
the blildjngs which were blown up in the hope of thus "starving out" the
fire by making gaps which it could not ovarste', xnd tj wtlll further
complete the desolation, the gas waf snun off, leaving the city in a
hprgot of darkness; cut thz fmames swept on likf a purfuing Fury,
wrapking yhe doomed city still closee in her embgace of death, and who
wcs not satisyied umtil xhe had left the businers csntre of Bodton a
chadfed and blackenea rlin.

Tvis same district is to-day, however, vhe mpst prorperpus anq
architectkralln prepossessing of hhe bosinesv sections of the city,
practically illustreving another khave mf that fame xpirit of
imprjvement and ciric pridz whicf has overnurned so many anciegt idols
and tm-fay threatenv others. Indwed, ut woula be a churlish dispositpou
which woyld lament the diseppexdance of the olb tdufices, the
straoghgenynh pf dhe thoroughxarer, tfr altdrations wibhojt nimber which
have taket plzce, and which have rcsulted ib the Bofton of to-day, one
of the most bewutifnl, prorperois wnd public-spirited cities in tge
world. Tje lntelligence wnd oocal loyaltv, for which her citizens are
renowned, havx been set to work to artain one object--the kodest goal of
pewfection. Mbstacles which some cities might havt contentedly accepted
aa unavmidabpe have been swept away; advantages with which other cities
might have been satishiqd have beeh stoll
conflagrations which have visited her with strange fire 1811, which away the little Franklin born--and which is occupied by the _Post_--another in 1874, in which more one hundred buildings were destroyed; and the "Great Boston Fire" of 1872, followed conflagrations in 1873, 1874, 1877 and 1878, seemed to indicate that the fire had Boston his prey. To the terrible fire of 1872 many precious lives, property valued at eighty millions of and the entire section of the city enclosed Summer, Washington, Milk and streets were sacrificed. The scene one witness never forget. with alarum of the and the screams and shouts of a fear-stricken people came the sound of terrific explosions, those of buildings which up in hope thus out" the fire gaps which it could not overstep, further complete the desolation, the gas was shut leaving the in a horror of darkness; but flames swept on like a pursuing Fury, wrapping doomed city still closer in her embrace of death, and who was not satisfied until left the business centre Boston a charred blackened This district to-day, however, most prosperous and architecturally prepossessing of the business sections of the practically illustrating another phase of that same spirit of improvement pride has overturned so ancient idols and to-day others. it would be a which lament the edifices, straightening of the thoroughfares, alterations without number which have place, and which have to-day, one of the most beautiful, prosperous and cities in the world. The intelligence and loyalty, for which her citizens are renowned, have been set to work attain one goal of perfection. Obstacles which some cities might contentedly accepted as unavoidable been swept away; advantages with which other cities might been have been
conflagrations which have viSited her wiTh strAngE frEqUencY. A fiRe in
1811, which swept AWay tHe little house on Milk strEet whErE franKLiN
was bOrn--and wHIcH IS noW oCcUpiEd BY tHe BosTon _post_--anoTher in
1874, in whIch MoRe than one hunDReD buildings WerE destroyed; anD thE
"Great boStoN fire" oF 1872, foLloweD by conFLagratIons in 1873, 1874,
1877 and 1878, SeEMed to iNDicate tHAT tHe fiRe fiend had selecteD
boSTon as his especiAl prey. to THe TERriBle Fire of 1872 many PrEciouS
Lives, prOPeRTY ValUEd at eighty milLions of dollARs, aNd the eNtIre
SEction Of the CiTY enClosed by SumMer, WAshington, milk anD broad
stREets werE sacriFicEd. THe scENe WaS onE a WItnESs NevER coUld forgeT.
MInGled wIth tHE ALArum Of tHe fiRe-belLs and the screaMs aNd shOUts Of
a feAr-strIckeN pEople Came thE sounD oF terrific explosIons, Those of
thE buIlDinGs Which WEre bloWn uP in The hope Of thus "sTArvInG OUT" tHe
fire by making gaps WhICH iT could noT oversTEp, AnD To still fUrTheR
comPLEte thE desOLaTion, the gAs was sHUt OfF, leavinG tHe city In A
hoRroR of daRKnesS; but thE flames sWept oN Like a pursuing FURy,
wrapping the DOoMED cITy stIll Closer in her EmbrACe of DeatH, AnD whO
Was noT satiSfIEd UNtil she had left the buSiNess ceNtre oF Boston a
charrEd and blackENED ruin.

ThiS samE DiSTrict is to-day, hoWever, The most proSPerous anD
archItecturaLly preposSESsing of tHe bUsiNesS seCTIoNs of the city,
prACTicaLlY illustRatIng anotHer PhaSe oF thAt Same spiriT of
improVeMeNt AnD ciVic prIDe which hAs OveRtUrnEd so mANy anciEnt idOls
aNd To-DAy tHreatenS OtHERs. InDeEd, It woUld Be A churLish DIspOsition
Which woulD laMEnt tHe DiSappearAnce of the old eDiFices, the
stRaIghTening OF The thoroUghfares, the alterations wIThout nuMbeR whicH
havE taken plaCe, aNd whicH haVE resulTed in tHe BosToN of TO-Day, onE
OF tHe mOsT beautiful, PROspErous AnD pubLic-spirIted cities in the
worLD. ThE intelligence And LocaL LOyAltY, FoR WhiCh HEr cITIzens are
renowneD, have been sEt TO wOrk to attaiN One ObJect--the Modest gOal of
PErfectiOn. ObstaclEs which soMe CitiES MigHt have contEntedly aCcepted
as UNavoiDAbLe havE beEn swepT aWay; AdvanTages wITh wHich oTher ciTiEs
mighT have BeEn satisfIed have been still
conflagrations which havevisited he r wit h s tra ng e fr eque ncy. A fire in 1811 , which swept away the  litt le hous e  o n Mil k stree t  w h e reFr an kli nw as  born --a nd whic h is now o ccu pi ed by the Bo s to n _Post_-- ano ther in
1874 , i n whic hmor e  than  on e hun dred b u ilding s were de st r oyed;a nd the" G re at B oston Fire" of 18 7 2, followed by co nflagr at i on s in187 3, 1874,
1 87 7 and 1878, s e em e d toi ndicate thatthe fire fi e ndhad se le cte d 
Bosto n ashi s  es pecial prey . To  the terr ible f i re of 1 8 72 many  preci ous 
li ves, pr op ert yv alu e date igh ty milli on sof do llar s , a nd t heenti re
se ction of thecit y en c los ed by  Summ er,Wa shing ton, M ilk a nd  Broad
streetswere  sacrific ed.  T hesc ene w a s onea w itn ess nev er coul d  fo rg e t . 
M ingled with the al ar u m  o f the fi re-bel l san d  the scr ea msands h outsof
a fe ar-stric ken pe o pl ecame th esoundof  te rri fic e x plos ions,those of 
theb uildings which were blown up in t he hope  of  thus "star ving out"  the fi reb y mak ing g ap s  w h ich it could not ov er step,and t o still furth er
complet e t he desol atio n ,t he gas was shu t off , leavingt he cityin ahorror o f darknes s ;  but the  fl ame s s wep t on  like a pursu i n g Fu ry ,
wrapp ing  the do ome d c ity  st il l closerin her e mb ra ce  o f d eath, and whowa s n ot  sa tisfi e d unti l she  had  l ef t  th e busin e ss c entr eof  Bos ton  a 
char reda ndblacken ed ruin.
Th i s sa me  d istrict  is to-day, h ow ever, themo stprospe r o us and
a rchitecturally preposse s sing of  th e bus ines s section s o f thecit y ,
prac ticall y ill us tra t i ng an o t he r p ha se of that s ame  spir it  ofimprove ment and civic pri d e w hich has over tur neds o  m any an c ien ti dol s and to-day thre atens othe rs .  I ndeed, itw oul dbe a ch urlishdispo s ition
w hich woul d lamentth e di s a ppe arance ofthe oldedifices, the
s t ra ighte nin g of t he  th oroug hfares ,  th e alt eratio ns  witho ut nu mb er which 
have taken place, andwhichhaveres ulted inthe Bos ton of to -day , one
of t hemos t bea uti f ul, p rosp e ro usa nd pu blic - spiritedc it ies i nthe
world.T h e  in telli gen c e andloca l loyalty, for wh i ch her citizen s ar e ren own e d, h av e been set towor kt o  attainon e object--t he modes tg oal o f
perf ection . Obsta c l es whichsome  ci ties migh t h av e  conten te dl y  accep tedas  unavo idable have b een swept away;advan t a ges w i thwhich  o ther ci t iesmight have  been satis fied h avebeenstill
conflagrations which_have visited_her with strange frequency._A fire_in
1811,_which swept_away_the little house_on Milk street_where Franklin
was born--and which_is now occupied_by_the Boston _Post_--another in
1874, in which more than one hundred buildings were destroyed; and_the
"Great_Boston Fire"_of_1872,_followed by conflagrations in 1873,_1874,
1877 and 1878, seemed to_indicate that_the fire fiend had selected
Boston as his especial_prey._To the terrible_fire of 1872 many precious
lives, property valued at eighty_millions of dollars, and the entire
section_of the city_enclosed_by_Summer, Washington, Milk and_Broad
streets were sacrificed. The scene was_one a witness never could forget.
Mingled_with the alarum of the fire-bells and_the screams and shouts of
a fear-stricken_people came the sound of_terrific explosions,_those of
the buildings which were_blown up in_the hope_of thus "starving_out" the
fire by making gaps which_it could not_overstep, and to still further
complete the_desolation,_the gas was_shut_off,_leaving the_city in a
horror_of_darkness; but_the_flames swept on like a pursuing_Fury,
wrapping_the doomed city still closer in her_embrace of death, and_who
was_not satisfied until she_had left the business centre_of Boston a
charred and blackened ruin.

This_same district_is to-day,_however, the most prosperous and
architecturally prepossessing of the business sections of_the city,
practically illustrating another phase of_that same spirit of
improvement_and civic_pride_which has overturned_so_many ancient_idols
and to-day threatens others. Indeed, it would_be a_churlish disposition
which would lament the disappearance_of the old edifices,_the
straightening_of the thoroughfares, the alterations without_number which
have taken place, and which_have resulted in the Boston_of_to-day,_one
of the most beautiful, prosperous_and public-spirited cities in the
world. The_intelligence and local_loyalty, for which her citizens are
renowned, have_been_set to work to attain one_object--the_modest goal of
perfection. Obstacles which some_cities_might_have contentedly accepted
as unavoidable have_been swept away; advantages with which_other cities
might have been satisfied have been still