Boston

A spacious and convenient Hotel, in a central and healthy situation, had been considered, for many years previous to the erection of Tremont House, a most desirable addition to the number of the public edifices of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House, in 1818, no hotel had been built in this city on a scale of equal extent with that structure, and none corresponding to the expectations and wants of the numerous visiters of the Metropolis of New England; and the unfortunate experience of those who had previously engaged in similar enterprises was sufficient to deter any individual from undertaking a work of so much labor, cost, and hazard.

A spacious and convenient hotel, in a central and healthy location, had been thought for many years before the building of Tremont House a most desirable addition to the public buildings of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House in 1818, no hotel had been built in this city on a scale as large as that building. None met the expectations and wants of the many visitors to the chief city of New England. And the bad experience of those who had tried such ventures before was enough to keep any one person from taking on a work of so much labor, cost, and risk.

As I watched, I saw one of them leap from that surface. He passed wholly out of my field of vision, but in a minute, more or less, returned. Why not! Of course, the attraction of his world must be very small, while he retained the same power of muscle he had when he was here. They must be horribly crowded, I thought. No. They had three acres of surface, and there were but thirty-seven of them. Not so much crowded as people are in Roxbury, not nearly so much as in Boston; and besides, these people are living underground, and have the whole of their surface for their exercise.

As I watched, I saw one of them leap from that surface. He passed wholly out of my field of vision, but in a minute, more or less, returned. Why not! Of course, the attraction of his world must be very small, while he retained the same power of muscle he had when he was here. They must be horribly crowded, I thought. No. They had three acres of surface, and there were but thirty-seven of them. Not so much crowded as people are in Roxbury, not nearly so much as in Boston; and besides, these people are living underground, and have the whole of their surface for their exercise.

“I have a power of seven hundred,” continued George. How did he get that? He has never told us. But this I can see, that all our analogies deceive us, — of views of the sea from Mt. Washington, or of the Boston State-House from Wachusett. For in these views we look through forty or eighty miles of dense terrestrial atmosphere. But Orcutt was looking nearly vertically through an atmosphere which was, most of it, rare indeed, and pure indeed, compared with its lowest stratum.

“I have a power of seven hundred,” continued George. How did he get that? He has never told us. But this I can see, that all our analogies deceive us — of views of the sea from Mt. Washington, or of the Boston State House from Wachusett. For in these views we look through forty or eighty miles of dense terrestrial atmosphere. But Orcutt was looking nearly vertically through an atmosphere which was, most of it, rare indeed, and pure indeed, compared with its lowest stratum.