New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-29

that misery which a great teacher saw IN MS
visions as the Slough of Despond ana the Fai-
ley of the Shadow OF Death-a land OF pits
and deserts, and drouth. The greatest Oh inc
Italian poets has no more touching passage
than when he speaks of his travels III Tue
savage and stern forest of human vice ana
passion, whose bitterness was even as that Oh
DEATH where the panther Of worldly pleasure
impeded his way, and ambition, with lion
aspect, ever assailed him, and avarice came
with its she-wolf hungering, thrustlng him back
where the sun was always silent.
The young men of New York are asked u
this building as to home. Here Is a library
not yet, we are sorry to say, very large D"U
with many good books. There Is room Ior
twenty thousand volumes; and our generous
Christians should throw that number into Its
shelves. Here is a reading-rOOm, with a IL the
prncipal periodicals and newspapers o. this
country and of Europe. Here is lecture
room with seats for 800 people-One OF the
most commodious and attractive III the city.
There should be good lectures given here at
low charge for admission, every evening Id inc
week. with religious lecture or sermon every
Sunday evening free to all who choose to
some. The advantage of this cannot be too
strongly emphasized. Every young man IN
New York should know that, when evening
falls, there is one place to which he can repair
and receive instruction that is not WEAKNESS
to the flesh These lectures will cost money
not as much as is supposed, but still money
which the receipts for admission should
furnish Here are class-roOms, where
French and German, Mathematics, Book
keeping, and the English branches will be
taught every secular evening to all who VIII
come and learn. Here are reception rooms and
conversation rooms, with every appliance OF
comfort and taste, but without extravaganza.
Here is an immense gymnasium, where seden-
tary clerks may gambol and swing. and add
strength and buOyancy to their enervated bo-
dies. Here is a bowling-alley, where the hours
that belong to relaxation can be innocently en-
ployed. To this building any withdrawing
young man may come and here find instruction
and amusement counsel and assistance. Certainly
the great City has no higher and broader char
ity-none that meets 80 fully the crying want
of our day.
This Protestant Cathedral has cost more than
a half million of dollars. The greater part OF
this sum was subscribed by young men, some
of whom had been successful in business, and,
having belonged to the Association and known
its work, were proud to aid i'll the enterprise
Upon the building there is mortgage of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The revenue
from the stores in the basement and from the
artists studios (of which there are twenty or
thirty, all takcn), and from the lecture-roOm
will more than pay the interest aud the ex-
penses There is debt of fifty thousand dol
lars still remaining This debt should be inn
mediately paid and our merchants and citi-
zens who appreciate the value of the insti-
tuition which has 90 suddenly risen in
their City should come forward and assist in
paying 1t.
On Thursday, the Young Mems Christian
Association will enter its new home. It's
managers have built an edlfce which is an
honor to the City, and have founded polity
which is blessing to this generation. They
have done so well that the people should
show their appreciation by removing this small
debt, that this great Cathedral of Humanity
and of practical Christianity, this refuge for
the stranger and unfortunate, this home for
the young and the earnest, may enter upon
its new career free from embarrassment and
obligation. Every merchant who has q
pride in his clerks, and whose interest
it Is 20 keep them from temptation,
every father whose sons may want IN time what
this Society gives to the sons of other men,
should be glad to assist in strengthening and
sustaining it, One Of our citizens CHR. James
Stokes has given 5000 to be used in teaching
practical book keeping in evening classes. Let
this example be followed by other citizens who
have the means, and let other classes be founded
to teach the various branches of Science Litera-
ture and Art. We trust that all who can afford
it will be moved to associate themselves by
contributions with one of the most beneiicent
works of the age.