Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-17
CONSERVATORY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.

| GUNoEhNAIOR1 VI Ahlc AMI oSAG1NO0o.
The Massachusetts Historical Society, the
| Natural History Society, and other literary and
scientific societies, have petitioned the General
| Court for grant of enough of the Back Bay
lands, on which to build an extensive building,
to be occupied by the several bodies petition
ing for the purposes of their incorporation, thus
establishing, in central and accessible posi-
! ton, grand CONSERVATORY OF SCIENCE AND
THE ARTS. The project has been received
with favor in many quarters, and we are free
to confess, that, while we would advocate a
wise economy in the expenditure of the States
valuable lands, we have little expectation that
so much as would be required for this purpose
would ever be put to any other as good and
commendable use, if the grant should not be
made. These lands are a fortunate acquisition
to the State, and we should like to see liberal
share of them devoted to those purposes which
go to constitute the true wealth, greatness, and
happiness of people-to the encouragement
of education, charity, science, and art.
The petitioners had hearing before the
Committee of the Back Bay lands, on Monday,
when, as we learn from the Boston Journal,
Rev. Mr.. Waterston said that the greatest
attractions of the old world cities were the in
situations that opened their doors to people
from all parts of the world. 1t was the libra
ries, the museums, and the collections of speci-
mems of art, that held the attention of the lover
of science, and kept him there for days and
months, and even years. Wherever there was
leading country, it was made so by these re-
sources. 1t was not splendor and gaiety that
made place great, but that which attracted
the student. 1t was this that made Paris the
great center, and which poured wealth through
its gates. Napoleon had strengthened and per
petuated his power by his liberal expenditures
in Paris, and by allowing alike the high and
the low access to the noble squares and con-
| servatories.
All this was lesson to Massachusetts, and
an argument why Boston should be made at
tractive to people in all parts of the country.
If the desired facilities had heretofore been OBJ
tained treasures of art and of natural history
would now be accumulated Private hands
now held rich collections which would be Civ
en- up to the public when the State afforded
means for their protection, and to make them
accessible to the great public. Whole libraries,
large and rare, and rich paintings would thus
be disposed of. lie knew of one picture that
was coming to Boston for which $4,000 had
been refused, and he doubted not that the I'LL
innate destination of that picture would be the
building to be erected on the lands of the
State And if one masterpiece of the various
schools of art could be treasured here, it might
answer to develope the tase of the student of art
and render it necessary that our sons should go
abroad away from the favoring influences of
our climate and our associations, political and
social. Powers had had his studio in Florence
tNVpntV hut had Xva artistic bara hO
could achieve as creditable work as the $12-
900 specimen which had recently come to us
from his studio!
Now the State was asked to improve an op-
portunity which might not again occur in a
century. They were not asked for endow-
ments or for collections, but for spot where
| rich collections may be placed for the good of
the country They did not ask for levee,
but only place to stand upon, and if that is
granted, they will move the world. Private
munifcence would erect the building, and
treasures of art would pour into its doors from
all quarters.
Mr.. Charles A. Cummings thought if the
land was granted, the other requisite means
would be forthcoming with all desirable
| promptness. The newly awakened interest in
| art matters was an encouraging omen, and in
dictated that two hundred years had done
something towards extinguishing the Puritan
hatred of the arts. The speaker clearly and
ably represented the need of conservatory o.
art, and incidentally alluded to the Jarvis col
lection of paintings in Italy which were des
tined to come to Boston, if gallery was pro
yided for their reception. A place for book
r. W. Hall, Superintendent ofPubHc Lands
stated that the policy of the city of Boston
has been to transfer land for the use of church
es and institutes of learning for merely nom
inal price, because it was well known tina
such institutes would greatly enhance tn,
price of lots in the vicinity. He believes tn,
rule would remain good with regard to thu
Back Bay Lands