New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-03
PARKS AND CHAPELS FOR THE POOR.


ysst importance to our oi,ies Yet it is difficult TO
per,usde our better classes of it. Those Who have
always lived in the country or 10 the snail towns
where the whole population enjoy jus. abou, the same
advonisges for health or pieaurei where the poor
mons hon ia under trees in the open fields where
bis work is mostly in the free air. and his smusement
on an occasional evening, a., Lycsum or a game Of
ball. the sen with the richer classes-cs1not easily
spprec ia,e the condition Of the poor classes ia TIE
cts. 1t eeems to thu N naturally that toe city day
lsborer The poor foreign mechanic, the .erving
woman or shop woman, should, on the Sunday, go
deeoroufly TO church and hear all the services AZ at
tenhvely ss the sane PEOPLE 90 10 the villages. IT,
Cd the contrary they DO not it they are found a. all
PLACES Of pleasure and if they are in crowds,
roaming cut of the Cry Il, is sscrbei .riy 10 stu
pidy and mostly TO depravisy. The stranger, re-
Iieiously educated at once sets do the OF
the City working ople a. beyond religious nilu-
OF CO. They given over 10 Aheis aud pleasure.
This s go much the fteliI g now that very few men
of sDy stuff in them can be brough, - labor among
The 10 ser classes Of the city for their elevation and
Cbristisn,irg. Itsp;ears too bop LEES work.
Even many of us accustomed to toe City and its
peculiar wants. used to look these habits Of the
working classes much in the same way.
Ger the pleasant influence of picture and curtain and
soft colcriIe read the thoughts Of other countries
end sees in books or magazines; our natures have
been satisfed the past week with concert here, a
friendly party ttere, excursion to the country;
sseet friends are absut US, and as we box out, a
br, ht Sunday morning, ard zee the crowds Of work.
ing people buryiD to the boats and rail ways for
c. ub'ry trip, without regard to church religious,
services, We feel sedly and desparipglyi we are
ready 10 cay tha, Cbrtisny has lost its hold Of the
lowu classts.
Blu. ore we locking Mt this rightly know tbess
worl ingnen and wors ing omen and. taxing their
condition and their education in view, | canuo.
WONDER at these habits.
Go with me 10 one laboing mas home, out OF the
Thousands in the City in street Of the Fourth Ward
lie IL bod.carrier. He lives in un 'egroun base
mept with two other families in The same room H's
home IL lighted b. a snail dirty window, which looks
out under pea Lat stand On a sloppy street. He
has five children, and each of his dodgers two He
wife is gu arIelsome and slstterniy-the children
dirty, end much given TO fighting There ere only two
chairs to fit upon, and bug Injected bed Toe place
en- ellis Of compound Of damp clothes, buge-wster
and onioIs. The man at home Sas bred up near the
giant coast cliffs Of old Ireland lie used to look a.
them every day in dis work and every Sunday in
goir to The parish church. He has the human Soul
intide Of him, and the unGppessable wants of that
soul for pleasure and amusement lie works
every week day from O'Clock I'll 7. lie comes home
tired, stupid and hungry he has no time or means,
tie week long to hear a concert, to picture, or
10 Join a social party. The ~hole life is work, work
dub, constant drudgery His eyes yearn for the go-
rou. hills foi sunlight for free cir and forest trees
and green fields. His heart hungers for something
he does not know understanding which tha satiify
this craving for amusement, or pleasure; something
GU, Of and away from this irksome drudgery. Hes
not directly conscious of these longngs bu. HEY con-
i:Dually stir hin.
TbtD at Length, when the wishe1-Gr Day Of Rest
comes, sball you tell him TO remsin quietly At home
at hi. devc,iorsl Shsll you tell him to eater the
House Of Worship twice or thrice for the day, and
then in company with biz family, return again to de-
votional rea6ingl lie eana0l Who of us could
lie hsles the close, hot city; he hates bis soc.ed
home; be has no books or place TO read be has no
seat in church. be finds 10 Brotherhood there. Tae
peas are selling for ose year for more than hs whole
years Jennings. He is put away in paupers seat,
if he goes He pants for free ar; for tue sight OF
waves, or rocks, or woodland at length he bursts
cut into tie open country or if he cannot CO. he for
gets al bis hard limi,ings, bis squaAd home ard I'M
satisfied life IL The free csrouse and ovia oblivion at
the grcg-step.
This is only ore instance Of thousands which
could bring up IN my own personal experience There
are many even stronger-uen who sew or who cob
be in close unheshy Easements men III dark back
shops; women who stitch or who work from dawn
tn II clock every dsy the week long, month after
nonb hey breathe bad air. they have no anus
nen,; they have no books they are mere machines
of society, wound up TO work fifteen hours day
And vet in each worn, ovorworked body, Is The same
heart as in you AID in me. Music is IS sweet
to their esre-ihe rustic Of summer leaves,
The pla.h of fountains, the gliumsr OF sunlight
as pleasant TO them as TO u.s. social words and
smiles fun and play and sport as happy, and as need
ul Shall they, too, pas the Dsy OF Worship IN tLeu
naIow rooms and 90 through church services, as We
Of another class do What thsl be done in this mat
ter Of Sunday employment for them
heed hardly in attempting an answer, premise by
putting Religion in its proper place. Without many
words Il lie assumed that 10 this all things muet yield
that only ss this il in the heart Of man. is he OF any
permanent value to himself or the world.
II also most tue that the great majority OF the
low working classes quite beyond our prese IT re-
Egious Influences. More than this: they are great!
addicted to ccarse dissipation. The worst vices, dc