Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-27
As some Of our most enterprising and


MONDAY.-...-........NOVEMBER2 "a.
As some of our most enterprising and
public spirited citizens are now agita-
ting the propriety and feasibility Of build
ing large Opera House or Theatre in
our city, it may be profitable to read
what is being done in the same line in
other cities with no larger population
and not half the business prospects and
enterprise of our own. We copy, there
fore, in another place, a description of
new Opera House just finished in Day
d ton, Ohio. 1t has been built by two
brothers by the name of Turner, who
have, in this public spirited manner,
stamped upon their native city an i'm
preston that will be lasting and pleas
ant.
It seems to us, where business men
have been prospered in their affairs in
any city to an extent that has made
them wealthy, that high and honorable
ambition would induce themto SO invest
their surplus funds that they would con-
stitute durable memorial of their in
dustry and success, to call forth the re-
spect and admiration Of future genera
tons. This may be done, and yet SO
accomplished as TO have the investment
yield handsome dividend to their chill
dren and heirs. Men dislike to be for
gotten when they pass away. No thought
can be more painful to high epirited
and intelligent business man, than that
his name win never be mentioned when
he goes beyond the boundaries of time,
unless. it be that his friends and
neighbors win rejoice that ne is gone, in
the hope thas he viii give place to
more liberal and enlightened successor.
How often 60 we hear it said, ut viii be
a blessing to the city when such
wealthy man diesf' "Every one who
has the prosperity of the rity at heart,
will rejoice when old tight-skin shoves
of this mortal coil" 1--WE can't hope
to do anything so long as skin flint owns
so much property on our principal
streetsP
As we said before, proper CONNER
cial ambition will not permit man to
be content 20 leave the scenes of his
life and operations without in some way
stamping his genius, enterprise, and in
dustry upon the city of his nativity or
adoption. How better can this be done
than in the construction of some grand
memorial building--such as an Opera
House, Hotel, Public Hall, Library,
Church, or some benevolent institution.
Indeed, kings upon thrones have always
regarded the construction Of buildings of
usefulness and beauty as the highest aim
of existence. The Pyramids and the
other six Wonders of the World were the
result Of such an ambition. The most
beautiful edifces that adorn civilization
{, are but so many evidences Of great
desire on the part Of the constructors to
s aforementioned. Long years will pass
away before Mr.. Pike, formerly an OBJ
scure citizen of Cincinnati, will be for
gotten. His reputation as rubli =
spirited man is already national! SO of
the Turner's of Dayton. Formerly OBJ
scure and unknown, by single judi
cions investment OF their wealth they
have gained national notoriety, and
not in the slightest diminished-yea,
rather increased-their income.
Oh that some of our men of
wealth were animated by similar
ambition. Oil that we might be able
to impress upon their minds that it is
sometimes more honorable to spend
than to grasp-that it is more praise
worthy to scatter abroad than to hoard.
e We have capitalists who could build
hotel, opera house, or any other build.
ing to which they might direct their re-
sources and attention, and never miss
the money thus invested Out of their
2 surplus accumulations they might build
for themselves a monument that would
excite the admiration of future genera
tions, and cause their names to be held
in grateful remembrance. Alas ! we
cannot say they will do it,