Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-01
Correspondence OF the Free Press.
LETTER FROM WORCESTER.

WORCESTER, MAst., March 18th. lsi9
Mssrs. Editors;
The "Heart Of the Commonwealth"
has its share OF objects Of interest Its "Mechan-
les Hall" Which rises from near the centre Of the
city, the prominent object in it, is the pride-we
may almost say the weak spot"-of the Worcester
people. Its faults, (f one may be allowed to sug-
gest it has any, must be touched very lightly,
and failure to appreciate its "chastc beauty
outside and in, its admirable alnptedncss' for
the purposes designed, its fine acoustic proper
ties" &c, &c, is well nigh unpsrdonable While
public speaker may be sure thata well-timod al
fusion to the inspiring influence of this beautiful
hall especially if he add Gas he may no,rkere Oft
encr and more conscientiously do sand Of this
large and intelligent audience" will bo most thank
fully received and acknowledged. Nothing prob1-
bly, will be likely to cause his views t. be re-
ceivod with favor, or lead his hearers "to mark
them WELL and inwardly digest" Owe are al
poor critters" (Wdow BcdotD and all have our
"weak points" cities and communities no less
than individuals. Still the Worcester "Mcchan-
les Hall" is noble structure, aimrai'V adapted
for the purposes for which such Hall il needed,
beautiful and chaste in proportion aud finish, both
in its exterior and interior and on the whole not
surpassed-perhaps not equalled. If We consider
the size and wealth Of the city--by any similar
public building in New England, or the land, and
may justly be looked upon with pride BY the city.
1t will seat from 250O 10 5000 persons, and WAS
finished two years ago at copt Of $4,000. Don't
ask too particularly TO the way 60 large an
amount obtained, or your informant may feel
compelled to mention among ether tanss the
debt Of SEQ, o0O still standing agains; tho Hail,
and YOU could hardly hit moro particular thorn
in the flesh" to Worcester people. Every heart
knoweth its own bitterness and everybodys pride
in one way or another gets its own particular
bump.
In humane, educational and reli 3ious nstitu-
tons W orcester is probably surpassed by no city
of its size and wealth in New England. and OF
course not our Of it, Its $4,000 inhabitants have
at least nineteen churches for their accommoda.
ton within tho city proper, while At Quinsiga-
amond, New Worcester and oth'r villages which
come within the charter and tie "cty" c.nsus,
are churches for their particular localities Surely
this people 10 without excuse" OF these, twelve
arc evangelical; one is very good Second Ad-
vent; one Universalist; one Parkerite; two Uaitl-
ran, and two Roman Catholi,. In schools. espcc-
tally for ladies. " Worcester takes quite leading
position, Her female college is dourisling-l2O
pupils. Eli Thayers "0read" still lives, too, like
Il good many other Of the same gentleman's
schemes, but it must be allowed is no, at present
In very promising condition. Tho Worcester
Academy Of Design and Fine Art connected As i,
is with the French Institute, under the charge Of
highly educated French gentleman, affords very
superior advantages for for the acquisition OF
cry kind of accomplishment" Nor is this the
whole Of its design. The lady at it, head is her
self an artist of much reputation aad promise
has spent some years in the study Of art
in Germany, and hopes TO mako her s,bool
not one Of mere accomplishments" but a
school of Art indeed in its high and noble sense
free gallery Of paintings, engravings and va.
rious curiosities Of Art, is even now worthy the
attention Of the Artist and Amateur, and it is
hoped is the nucleus Of what shall both conf
mand as we'll as bo worthy Of the attention and
study Of the friends Of Art, and be d means Of in
creasng their number and exerting permanent
ly healthful and elevating influence in this res
poet. Academies and private schools abound
while probably the best OF all tho Free Schools
Of the city in their various grades from the Pri-
mary to tho High School, The high reputation
of the Mass. school system is well sustained here.
There is also Catholic College in the city "The
Mechanics" and the "Lyceum and Library Assl-
cation have had each course Of Lectures. in
Guiding m their programme the fret Lecturers in
tho country, Beecher, Bayard TAYLOR. Curtis.
Prentice, Prot. Sillman, jr., DR.. Holmes. etc The
"Lyceum and Library" course netted $50. which
Is at least one Of the wonders, as il is OK
ceedingly doubtful if as many a seven courses
the country through, pay their expenses The
"Aochanies' is not reported The Libraries Of these
societies are largo and well selected The Lyccum
and Library Association have 5000 volumes, be-
side private Library Of COCO volumes which
may 10 consulted but not taken from the Library
Hall.
The City Mission too--its neat aud comm odious |
chapel, built and given by one man, with tho con. |
d'''on that no church Of any denomination shall |
ever he organized in connection with it's an Oh
Jeet oil much interest and favor, Whether that |
condition will be wise one in its practical |
working, remains to be seon. The orphans Home,
destroyed by FIRE in the early part of the win.