The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-14
WHOLE NO. 29s9.
LOCAL ATTACHMENTS

The 35th number of Sil.iman's Journal of
Science, in an article under the head of g Ar
chitecturs of the United States" has the fol-
lowing just remarks:
a" Place in village handsome public mon
ument, or pillar, or church, and do not hesi-
tate to say that, all other things being eoual.
those villagers will be bound more to one anoth-
or, and to their village, than those of another.
Place by another group of trees, with a
fountain playing in their midst; have beneath
them tasteful seats, and make it place to
which experienced age and prattling infancy
VIII go for company or amusement; spot
where the villagers will assemble in the even
ing for cheerful conversation, and venture to
say that these people will love their homes
more. and think less Of changing will i'm
prove them more; that they will be wiser;
tnat their taverns will be less freouented; and
mat every good feeling will prevail more
among them, than would have boon the case
without. Place in town or city, a spot with
spreading trees, and pleasant walks between,
spot which would serve as an agreeable prone
made, and the feelings of that people " i'll flow
in kinder and smoother channel; there will
be more happiness than there would otherwise
have been. 1t is a delightful amusement to
saunter along the French promenade about sun
set, and observe the happy groups of all ages,
that throng them; TO watch the rapid sale of
bouquets, at the platforms which line the sides;
blowers are only admitted there) and as an,
American looks at the cheerful scene, he must
think with pain of his own cities, where every
thIng seems calculated for dull labor, or lynx
eyed gain. 1t is doubtless owing, in some de.
gree to the provision of such places. in foreign
countries, that their natives resort less to tav-
ems for amusement than with us and that in
Loxlcatlon consequently is less frequently seen.
The French have their Boulevards; the Span
lards their Prado; the Italians their Corso
all of these have their public gardens; and
we-we have our tipping shops. The bane and
disgrace of our land, and shall have them
tear, Till we provide more innocent places of
resort. All attempts to check this current of
feeling are vain, the stream must flow; and if
we give 1t channel. will refresh and beautify
the land, it would otherwise have desolated and
DESTROYED
80 much for the effect on the morals of a
people. The reaction on the mind is also of
very great consequence. A fiourishing state of
architecture, it is true, implies good degree of
previous mental culture: but no cause. perhaps
operates with more quickness, certainty and
power IN refining the mind, thus prepared,
than this. 1t is placing objects of taste before
the public, which they cannot help seeing, about
which they must converse, whose beauties they
must anayse, on which, in short, all will turn
critics, and the sure consequence will be, a re-
hnement of taste, an elevation of mental char
acter, which will carry itself into all the con-
Germs of life. The principal of accommodation
is one OF the most powerful and useful in our
hature. Place civilized man among savages
and his t9n9Ghis- fealinos apd hahifcN mill ha-
those of the savage; place savage in refined
society, ard his character will in short time
undergo a change. Place number of tasteful
public edfces in town, and the private build
ings of that town will become classic and TASTE
full build private edifces on the principles of
good taste, and do not hesitate. to say that
their interior will correspondence in cleanli-
ness, good order and regularity of the system
within, there will be sure and rapid improve
ment reacting strongly on the mind, as well as
on the moral character of the occupants