Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-10

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man sometimes wishes to consult which he
neither is able nor DESTROYS to possess such
as encyclopedias, dictionaries, charts, maps !;
pictures Of birds, beasts, shells, trees, flowers,
whose names he desires to know, but which
lie only wants tor occasional reference, and by
no means wishes to own.
Especially is this true of works of the fine
arts, such as pictures, and prints, and pictures.
There is an influence from these works on a
prepared mind that is as positive as the inhu-
ence OF music-indescribably pleasing and re-
filming, and not to be supplied from any other
source. But who can own such things as pic
lures, and engravings, and statues and casts 2
They are very costly kind o. property, and
Immediately entail new expenses, as of fran
ing and rooms for their exhibition. and tha
use which any man can make of them is only
rare, and their value is greatly enhanced by
the numbers OF men who can share the enjoy
ment OF them. | go to Rome and see on the
walls OF the Vatican the TRANSPORTATION.
painted ny raphael, reckoned the first picture
IN the world; or III the Sistine Chapel | see
the grand SYPHILIS and prophets painted in fires
co by Michael Angco-which have every day
now for three hundred years inhamed the i'm.
aSlnatlon and exalted the piety of what vast
mulutudes of men OF all nations. | wish to
bring home to my children and my friends
copies OF those admirable FORMS which | can
ma III the shops Of the engravers; but | do
not wish the veXatiOn of owning them. |
wish to find in my own town library and
museum which is the property of all the town,
where can deposite this precious treasure,
where l and my children can see it from time
to time, and where it has its proper place
among hundreds of such donations from all
the other citizens who have also brought there
whatever articles they have judged to be in
rat tI,,,,
property collection of this kind the prop
erty of each neighbOrhood, of each town,
would dignity each town. it would draw the
bonds ot nelghbOrhoOd closer town would
then be town for an intellectual and humane
purpose also, and we should love and respcct
our nelghbors more. Obviously, it would be
very easy for every town to discharge this tru-
ly municipal duty. Every one of us would
gladly contribute his share and the more
gladly, the more considerable the institution
had become.
In Europe, where the 1eudal form of soci-
ETY. secures the permanenCe of wealth in Ger
tam families, those families in each town buy
and preserve these things, and throw them
open to the public. That is the reason WHY
our own cOuntrymen of taste and education
desire TO go to Europe-to visit the galleries
ana libraries there preserved in hundred pal
aces. But IN America, where democratic insti-
tutons regularly divide every estate in small
portions again after a few years, it is necessary
that the public should step into the place OF
these permanent pr0prietors, and lyceum, a
public library, public gallery, should exist in
every town and village, for the education and
inspiration Of all the individuals.
z. Certainly, not aloot from this homage to
beauty, but in strict connection herewith the
house will come TO be esteemed a sanctuary.
In lut,pt ,1
common law the maxim that every mans
house is his castle; the progress of truth will
make every house shrine. Win not man
one dag open his eyes and see how dear he is
to the soul of nature-how near it is to him
Will he not rise above the fogS that blind him.
and see that law prevails forever and ever !;
that his private being is Il part of it that its
home is in its own unsOunded heart that his
economy, his labor, his good and bad fortune,
his health and manners, are all Il curious and
exact demonstration in miniature OF the genius
Of the eternal providence When lie per-
ceiyes the law he ceases to despond. Whilst
he sees ii, every thought and act of his is
raised, and be ONES an act OF religion. Does
the conservation Of Sunday confess of the des
ecration Of the entire week Does the conse-
Grafton OF the church confess the proclamation
OF the house Let us read the incarnation
backward. Let the man stand on his feet
Let religion cease to be occasional. And the
pulses OF thought that go to the borders of the
universe, let them proceed from the bosom of
the household.
These are the consolaticns-these are the
ends to which the household is instituted, and
the roof,tree stands. If these are sought, and
in any good degree attained, can the state, can
commerce, can climate, can the labor OF many
for one, yield anything better or half as good
Besides these aims, society is weak, and the
state an intrusion. | think that the herosm
which at this day would make on us the i'm
preston Of Epaminondas and Phocion must
be that of a domestic conqueror. He who
shall bravely and gracefully subdue this Cor
gon of Convention and Fashion, and show men
how to lead a clean, handsome, aud heroic life
amid the beggarly elements of our cities and
villages who so shall teach me how to eat
my meat and take my repose, deal with men,
without any shame following, will restore the
lite of man to splendor, and make his own
name dear to all history.