Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-03-16
For the Spy.


For the Spy.
MIR Editor: We have not been entirely un;ntere.t-
ed listeners to the recent debates on the Museum
question, and it seems to us that few Of the con.
slderatons naturally connected with the subject have
been entirely overlooked. To us it would seem tba,
the very existence of the thing in question is pre-
sumptive argument in its favor; going TO show. as
1t does that 1t Is called for and demanded by society,"
ne are aware, however, that this argument is some-
what liable 10 abuse, and should be received with
caution.
But slr there canh he doubt that in this matter,
as IN every oher the great law of supply and demand
felt and it is by the agency of this alone, that il
can be suppressed. The Museum could not exist
for fortnight if there was no demand for such an
amusement; and if the good people who object to its
continuance, wish to suppress it, let them direct
their efforts to this quarter the only one which adj
mits .of their being crowned with ultimate and
permanent success.
And what is this demand? Whence arises the
desire for this amusement? The question is not diff.
fcult to answer II is known 10 all, that the popu
lation Of this city is composed, to remarkable ex
tent, of young men, who have left their homes, fam.
lies, friends and acquaintance in the country and
come among us, strangers. They bring with them
no taste for dramatic exhibitions, or any other like
amusement; they have never formed the habit, or
acquired the taste for attending them. They come
with the social sympathies, the love Of society," and
the desire for friends and friendly intercourse.
which Providence, whether for good or ILL., has gen.
orally implanted in the heart. They come from the
country-where spotless character and fair talents
have never failed TO admit them to the best society,"
They haze taste for this, formed, which they
would be glad to crafty. They have this desire
for social sympathy; and could be gratiied would
be IN not the slightest danger Of acquiring habits of
dissipation or sehauchery
+is-.---.--.ss
haps, but with only street expenditures, - ~
81, IL l,---.- Jtmng that could III cour-
tesy be called by that Perhaps one in twenty
may be fortunate enough to secure a boarding place
in respectable private family, at the hearth Of
which they have place, and are not looked upon
as intruders. Those are fortunate indeed. The re-
mainder go to large boarding houses, where they
take their meals and have room six feet by eight,
in the attic.
Something to occupy their leisure hours they must
have. Shall it be society, or some innocent amuse-
ment! Society that is respectable, they cannot have;
it is not for them; they without means to enter
il at first, and did they succeed in this, they would
scarcely be tolerated in it; and a person who has
not been in the situation, scarcely understand
the extreme difficulty, not to say impossibity OBJ
u
AMI the class Of indiyiduas who raisA fh4;sgeiHAg
=. '9S'ues' ooVlate the necessity Of his seekina
reliei and relaxation from such a source Tba;. -
'eS' ana earhesiness falls very far short of such
'edch. one OF them may declaim with feryid uDc.
'ion about the dangers that surround youno man h.,
not one OF the numerous young men that he ennloys
ever received an invitation from him TO make one &c
Socai party, or is IN the least indebted to him for
assistance IN being introduced to respectable soc;a,,
Oh no! that could never be tolerated. W. snaal.
correctly, when we ray that any ynung man who =
~. piest Dy having an Ex-Governor for an uncle or
iather who can count his dollars BY the lens Of
thousands can attend, with the strictest regularity
the Sabbath and week day meetings of one If o,,n
pafishes,-may, ifhe should choose, become q mem
Der oil It's Sabbath School may even come reo,.
4
larry to IFS communion table for months and VOC,
ana never be recognized spoken TO as an acooa;o.
'dnce' oy single person of established position
never have single invitation to pass an eve,;,,
ciaiiy' single opportunity TO form an agreeable =.
Useful acquaintance, single tie to let them koo,v
mat they are, to any extent, objects of interest," Or
'are. They are strangers in strange land. The
'conseryators of the public moras'' are little prooe
o interference here.
Now, IN such such state of society as this. we
SIX what should be expected of our Young men. So.
lety is barred TO them,-comforlabIe rooms. even
their boarding houses, very few of them can have
opportunities for study, very few can command, and
lese to limited extent; even these few are 70 .
reat extent untitled for their use, by the daily labor
men they must perform. Their evenings ,bev
ave- and they must be in some way occupied. How
lai II bea At present there is choice inst mo
tentative; they can lounge about bar-rooms and
mixing shops,-or such Of them az can afford ,bo
'pense' may visit an innocent place of amusement.
u SUCH entirely, as most of them would desire
II better tar than nothing. Truly it is far seeing
lanthropy that would deprive ii EN- of the narrow q
olce. Is it not rather another characteristic do
'e OF that arstocracy, always opposed to their in
ests, which seeks in their degradation, 10 ensure !.
own pre.eminence. Sc