THE CALIPH OF BOSTON

In these days of street cars and automobiles there is little indeed to connect Boston with the City of the Faithful-- Bagdad. Nonetheless the spirit of the Arabian Nights is with us still, Who does not recall how the Sultan, Harounel- Rashid accompanied by his trusty Vizier was wont to slip out of the palace gates by night and wander over the city, seeing how matters fared with the people. Or how, on the morrow, from his high throne he meted out reward and punishment to those whom he had found meritorious or wanting on the night before. Thus was justice given, alike to Cadi and fisherman, in a manner dear to the oriental heart.

As did the Commander of the Faithful, even so the chief magistrate of Boston, this time alone, spent the night incognito among the dwellers of his capital. As "No. 69" he slept at the Wayfarer's Lodge, and with 75 other "down-and-outers" chopped wood from five 'till nine in order to earn his breakfast of oatmeal, bread and coffee. "And they came to a fair garden all set about with trees, wherein was a fountain and in the midst whereof there stood a pavilion--" relates the Book of the Thousand and One Nights. Something rather different must have greeted the Mayor for he has since recommended the expenditure of $42,900 for improving the Lodge. Nor is the parallel of reward and punishment lacking: through the good offices of the Mayor, one young lumberjack who proved his worth has obtained a job; while the somewhat haughty officials in charge of the Wayfarer's Lodge will be more careful in the future lest they again be entertaining "angels unawares."

Altogether his Honor found much to amuse and instruct him. Something of the ardor of his Arabian predecessor must have led Mr. Peters to adopt this romantic and effective method of gaining first-hand information. It is so un-American. Perhaps if we could but infuse a little more of this spirit into our other officials, they would gain a clearer insight into the true needs of the people than they often seem to possess.