206 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



apparent reason ; or, last of all, by the odour. It is quite percep- 

 tible even in the octoroon. 



Doorsteps are called u stoops," and the pavements are "side- 

 walks." A "bobtail" is an omnibus with no conductor. Collared 

 head is "head-cheese." A " wild-cat" train is one that is not on the 

 passenger list, but is forwarded in the intervals of passenger traffic. 



Certain other American "peculiarities " also come in 

 for notice : 



I wonder by what perversion of language the Americans called 

 side-spring boots by the name of " Congress Gaiters." A watch-glass 

 is called a "crystal." Ice is left at your door just like milk or the 

 newspaper. At first I was rather startled to see big blocks of ice 

 standing at dooi-s, but am now used to it. The plan has the dis- 

 advantage of making the doorway slippery. The carrier dumps 

 down the block any way, and chips fly about, freeze to the pave- 

 ment, and are horribly treacherous, especially in coming down the 

 outside flight of stone stairs which is universal here, the ground 

 having been reclaimed from the sea. 



Shop-window advertisement is noteworthy. One huge estab- 

 lishment has got up the story of Red Riding Hood in wax figures of 

 life-size, with cottage garden and interiors to match. It begins with 

 the mother sending the child with her basket, and ends with the 

 grandmother's parlour (tall clock and all complete, with a view 

 through a partly opened door into the bedroom). In it is the 

 woodman, with his axe, the dead wolf on the ground, and Red 

 Riding Hood grasping the man's arm. 



DANGEROUS PASSAGE. This placard meets you everywhere. 

 On my first arrival I saw the notice in a small street. I looked 

 down the street, and as everything seemed all right, I went through 

 it to see where the danger came in. Presently I found another 

 Dangerous Passage which was quite safe, and then saw plenty of 

 them. Traffic, on foot or by wheel, passed through these dangers 

 just as if no warning were given. At last I found out what it 

 meant. The public streets are stringently regulated, and if anyone 

 be killed or injured the State of Massachusetts pays damages. But 

 the State declines responsibility for private roads ; so, the owner of 



