But the record is there, and legible enough. The
tablet (many kind correspondents have informed me since certain of these
notes appeared in the _Outlook_) is at 495 Atlantic Avenue, in the
water-front district, just a short walk from the South Station, and it
has the following inscription:
* * * * *
HERE FORMERLY STOOD
GRIFFIN'S WHARF
at which lay moored on Dec. 16, 1773, three British ships with cargoes
of tea. To defeat King George's trivial but tyrannical tax of three
pence a pound, about ninety citizens of Boston, partly disguised as
Indians, boarded the ships, threw the cargoes, three hundred and forty-
two chests in all, into the sea and made the world ring with the
patriotic exploit of the
BOSTON TEA PARTY
"No! ne'er was mingled such a draught
In palace, hall, or arbor,
As freemen brewed and tyrants quaffed
That night in Boston Harbor."
* * * * *
Boston has a remarkable art gallery and museum, notable for its ancient
Chinese paintings, its collection of Japanese prints--one of the best in
the world, I believe--and a dazzling wall of water-colours by Mr.
Sargent. It was here that I saw my first Winslow Homers--two or three
rapid sketches of fishermen in full excitement--and was conquered by his
verve and actuality. In the Metropolitan Museum in New York I found him
again in oils and my admiration increased.
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