Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-09
THE BENEFICENcE OF THE BACK BAY.


THE BENEFICENCE OF THE BACK BAY.
The recommendation Of the Governor for
the purchase of the Hancock House, in order
to save that memorial of the Revolution from
the depredations of land sharks, has been a
prolific subject of ridicule and denunciation in
various sections of the State AS long as
mine of wealth was hidden in the Improbable
marshes of the Back Bay, our oracular econo-
mists had no suggestions to make, and no re-
Dukes to offer. They regarded its expanses Of
mud and sea-weed with the serenity of summer,
and with no more thought than the lilies of
what foolish thing it was for the State to
leave its superfuous wealth so poorly invested.
But lust as soon as the Back Bay begins to
coin itself into money, and our excellent Gov
ernor proposes to devote an exceedingly vulgar
fraction of it to the most patriotic of uses,
we hear the singular cry of Extravaganza!
all over the State. Nevertheless, it is crafty
ing to know that the prospects of the purchase
are still favorable And when it comes to be
seen how much such an estate, when it is right
ly used, contributes to the promotion, between
Governors and their people, "of good humor
and all social affections, and generous senti-
ments," we are sure that those whose judg-
ment now halts at the suggestion will be the
most gratified with the result.
Fortunately the Back Bay promises to rem
der an account of itself in other respects which
will not be questioned. 1t has revealed its
possible resources at a time when the public
mind needed to be refreshed concerning that
wise provision of the constitution of the State,
which says that "the encouragement of arts
and sciences, and all good literature, leads to
the honor of God, the advantage of the Chris
tan religion and the great benefit of this and
other States" We are reminded of that IA
miliar couplet,
sIll fares the land, to Fastening ills prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay"
when we consider the almost providential op-
portunities the State has to promote its intel
lectual welfare, and the deplorable consequences
which might follow from suffering them to
pass unimproved
The Committee on Education have unani-
monsly recommended the appropriation, under
reasonable conditions, from the proceeds of the
Back Bay lands, of 100000 to aid Professor
Agassiz's Museum of Zoology; of $4,000 to
Tufts College at Somerville and $4,000 to
Wilbraham Academy. Large sums, indeed,
to cast upon the waters. But investments
like these return in many ways which cannot
be estimated. Public institutions for the pro-
motion of literature, art, science trade, natural
history, and the like, to protect which private
generosity and State munifcence go hand in
hand, can be estimated by the number of acres
which they cover, the number of specimens in
their cabinets, the number ofbooks in their libra
ries, and the amount of furniture in their halls.
But in the influence which they exert on the
character, the manners, and the humanity of
the State, both in the unconscious effect they
exert on their immediate localities, and in the
men whom they cultivate and develop for its
government, there is no measure by which their
value can be estimated. Both as an act of
wise and judicious benefcence, for the encour-
agement of worthy institutions, and as
shrewd and far-seeing speculation, we trust all
these measures will receive the prompt and
unanimous appreciation of the Legislature.
One other recommendation made by the
Governor, at the instance of the Board of Ed
ucation, and also endorsed by the legislative
Committee on Education, will receive the APP
proval of all right-minded men. We refer to
the enlargement of the State School Fund to
100000. The present fund was established
in 1884, when the State was scarcely half as
large as it is now, and the number of school
children very much less than one half the pres
ent number 1t has, to be sure, been increas-
ed from time to time, but the annual personal
distribution diminishes and the purpose for
which the fund was established proportionably
fails. The expenses of the educational system
have been greatly increased by the multipl
cation of scholars and the cultivation of pro-
fessional talent for purposes of instruction but
the State has continued its uniform and pro-
gressive policy with regard to the public
schools never hesitating to make all needful
appropriations for their support. This is an
appropriate time for the permanent enlarge
ment of the fund, instituted for wise purpos
es, and which has never failed even for a sim
gle year to realize the expectations of its early
advocates and friends.