BOSTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. 65 



churches, her charities, her institutions, public and 

 private, which have here been outlined, flourish with- 

 out the backbone of Puritan thrift and the framework 

 of prosperity which have made her one of the wealth- 

 iest of cities? The solid business foundation is appar- 

 ent to all who visit her teeming marts and exchanges. 

 But the " power behind the throne '^ is kept with rare 

 judgment in the background; and when the visitor 

 comes to kiss the hand of the ^' Queen of the Common- 

 wealth '^ he sees only her chosen handmaids — Ambi- 

 tion, Culture, Philanthropy, Religion. On these, 

 finally, she rests her claims to greatness. 



