The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-20

excursions capital substitute for his fetes cham
petres.
This improvement in the public taste and
RABBITS is matter Of much more Importance taau
II might appear at first sight. 1t 10 important
not merely in a social but in physical point
OF view. The habits of the youthful portion Of
the population are being formed now in mould
very different from that furnished by low
grogshops and corner groceries. Our young
men find other outlets for the exuberance
of spirits and enthusiasm than they did
formerly, when they had 10 choose be-
tween politics, fire companies and rowdyism.
Games of strength and ekill, yachting, boating,
and other outdoor amusements have begun to
engage their attention, and these tend at once to
their physical and social Improvement. Let these
tastes be fostered and encouraged, and while such
sports need not be allowed to interfere with bust
ness, we will at least get rid Of the imputaton Of
having no taste for anything but the acquisition
Of the almighty dollar. s.2asssfyA .s.s .sesW
The opening of the Central Park comes in
most OPPORTUNITY to aid in this new phase of our
social Development. All sorts of manly games
and exercises that can be carried on there with
out public inconvenience or improperly will be
permitted and encouraged. At least we hope SO.
For riding, and driving and walking, aud
saunteriDg, and otherwise idling away pleasantly
a summers day. the Park will be the place. The
plan OF having. music sthere!i one -. evening
in the week has alreadyS been intro
duced with great EFFECT, ! and we hope
to see It made in good time a daily lea-
IuIe: The public appreciation Of this sort ot en:
teftalDment is manifested atlthe. present. moment
by the crowds that flock to the. musical festival
at Jones' Wood.
And yet this taste for outdoor amusements is
only in its infancy. 1t needs encouragement and
support to developed it into healthful and indie
Nole feature Of our everyday life. Eifores %
tnat end should not be.restricted to the Central
Park alone. In all the public squares of the city,
from the Batteryto Kingsbridge, there might be
similar means of recreation provided. Many Of
our military and fire companies have bands of
music attached to them. We would suggest to
them to set an example of public spirit to their
fellow. citizens, and do their share in encouraging
the taste of which we are speaking, by,sending
their bands for a few hours once week to the
various squares. This would be avery attractive
movement, and It'll might ibave the effect III
shaming our City Fathers into taking effective
measures to keep these public reservations in
some sort Of decent order. What say our mill
tary and red-shirted friends? Which company
or regiment will be the first to move?
TENEMENT HoUsEs.-The world is certainly
more enlightened than it used to be, and vastly
more tolerant in matters Of religious belief
Hence polemics are less in vogue than formerly,
but humans aranism in one form or other is the
fashion of the day. Religious cant and hypoc-
risy have yeldtd ia great measure to cant and
hypocrisy in philanthropy. There is a method
in everything, even in hypocrisy. Hence 1t is
not prudent to declaim too freely in behalf of
individual charities, Of hospitals, asylums and
dispensaries. Tnese require cash, and it is not
always agreeable to the feelings even of phi
lanthropist to give money, or have his sincerity
exposed to imputation by refusing it. Free
love, woman's rights and anti-slavery afford a
wider and more inviting field. They not only
necessitate no pei sonal expense, but under GER
tain circumstarce s may be made profitable.
We had oped to have something practical ar
rived at, ana somcshine nearer homo, but we
fear we shall be disappointed. For year or
two past certain journals of the philanthropic
school have been portraying the miserable
soualid condition Of the tenement houses of the
city. The Legislature even appointed commit
tee to visit the city and inspect them, which
resulted in reporting-a fact equally well
known before-that their condition was
wretched, even loathsome; that large mum.
beers of families were crowded into the
came building; that the rents required
for the most miserable shelter that garnet or Gel
lar could afford were exorbitant; and that the
morals and health of the inmates were alike ex-
posed to debasement There the matter rested,
and Their it is likely 20 rest for the simple rea-
son that these sentimental philan hropists have
not the courage to expose the true source of the
evil, nor political legislatures to apply the
remedy.
In Paris and other Confidential cities COM
Portable homes are obtained by the working
classes at very moderate rates. Probably in no
city in the world is such miserable shelter
afforded the laboring classes, and at such exorbi
tant rates, as in the city Of New York. 1t is
true some years since a number of tenement
houses, admirably arranged in all their details,
were erected, and much was hoped from the ex-
ample; but even these houses have lost their CON-
Portable look, and are now nearly as dirty and
squalid as the others. Those who erected them
have been glad to get rid of them ct any price,
and they have passed into the hands Of diffe.
rent class of men. Capitalists-that is, men who
wish safely to invest their money where it will