Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-06-02
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

| SOCIAL SCIENCE pRoBLEMs-THE RIGHTS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL AND THE coMMUNITy-DR. LASDIs-
VARIETY SHOW ON CHESTNUT STREET.
| Special Correspondent of The Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, May 26.-Certanly 1t is free
country; it would not be worth while at this time
of day to attempt to deny it, but the question
Will every now and then recur as to the right OF
free citizens to interfere with the rights of per-
sons and property of other free citizens The
Social Scientists cannot make all the relations of
men to each other, when living in crowded COM
munities, clear. Perhaps, after all, we must sim
plfy the problem by regarding the community
simply as family.
Then we must bring the ultimate rule in play;
we must bear and forbear Laws very often cam
not reach the family relations, and neither, it
would seem are they competent to work invaria-
blejustcein bodies of men. Perhaps the inner rea-
son OF this is, that as the golden balance of COM
pensation 80 everlastingy prevails, we have to
pay something for the privilege of living in cities
When man lives as Mr.. Cr,isoe, or as Mr.
he pitches his tent with other men, he gives up a
great part of that latitude for the advantages in
many ways which that companionship secures
to him. Doubtless this is 3d. but it rifles one to
see some solitary adventurer from the wilder
ness come in from the wastes Gas we may saw
when he has grown tired of living alone and
disregarding the comfort or the sense of propri-
ETY. Of the old settlers proceed to turn their
quiet demesnes with vast bear garden, and all
within the laws. He buys his ground, he builds
his house, paying lawful money, therefore his
business is a lawful one, and his neighbors can
say nothing. The Golden Rule is the only law
hat .a1. IA l.. ~
hide is so tanned, as to be impervious to the
teachings of that gracious precept, why then,
the case is hard indeed. The property owners
in the neghborhood of the roller of this ten
strike begin, whether immaturcly or not, to
opine that the talk about free country is twad-
die, but on the other hand the vivacioiis gentle
man who has caused this scatteration ON the
Short Alley is very sure, for his part that it is
free country, and is quite determined to make
all he can out Of the liberty guaranteed him.
We have had two illustrations of these princi-
pies within week. The one that is really the
most crying of the two l will dismiss first, be-
cause it involves subject not genuinely proper
for public remark. The Eastern Peniientary |
with all its long acquaintance with rogues of |
every kind, probably never held greater one
than DIR. Landis. This mans business has beon
for years to systematically debatch and corrupt
this community. BY the earnest efforts of citi- |
zens he was finally brought to trial and convicted
His term but partly served, lie was pardoned, and
the night after his release appeared upon the |
stage of one of our public halls in another Of |
his so-caled lectures in which he was,if possible
more offensive to decency and morality than |
ever 1t makes one feel triile dazed to think
Of this, to know that such things are done and
that there is no help. The defence Of Lands is |
that his books and lectures are scientific, and in
tended to serve no end but the public good. He
makes some silly people believe this, and he has
even made the Governor believe it, consequently |
he is at liberty to prcach and print and work all
the mischief he can.
The other case is not as important in principle
but it attracts even more attention, inasmuch as
the material prosperity of n number Of citizens
and business people is involved by it. The
destruction of the character and Importance Of
favonte neighborhood, may, think, be termed a
startling event. Such ruin it seems to be conceded
will be the inevitable result of the erection of
Variety Theatre and Music Hall on the old
Academy of Fine Arts property. 1t needs in
fact, no ghost to come from the grave to tell lis
what Chestnut street, between Tenth and Elev-
enth will be before many months. The condition
of Walnut street, between Eighth and Ninth
proves the case. That neighborhood is disre-
putable-every other house in ii is rum mill, or
worse-and now, one of the most popular locali-
ties ON our principal street is to undergo SINH
lar melancholy transition In the words of the
late iamented +. Henry, tile war has already |
begun" AT first, owners on the doomed square |
were stunned-they could not believe that the |
eminently respectable old Academy could have |
gone back on them i'll such an unprecedented |
manner. There were tlose Saddllngs that |
the poet talks about, and rjdings in hot |
haste, and threats of injunctions, but the mana
ger serenely put his tongue in his cheek, know |
ing well enough that he was master of the situ- |
alton Then came an awful pause, and tlen-a |
rush to sell and sublet Get up and get-that |
was the word. And on the other hand there |
were plenty of applicants all tavern keepers
you may be sure l have il on good authority |
that by the time the variety show |
opens its doors, the taverns and gambling houses |
and bagnios will have opened theirs, and the |
merchants will have lied to fresh fields. Now l |
want to know if this is not miserable wretched |
business? By such qualification of itself, it |
seems to me that the Academy of Fine Arts de- |
serves to go under,-to go down without hope of |
resurrection, and should not much wonder if |
that were, indeed, to be the result There is a |
very profound public feeling on the subject. |
Many fine improvements have been made, recent |
~ on Chestnut St., all of which are now rendered
null for the purposes for which they were in |
tended. The taverns will crowd out everything |
else more especially will they be fatal to fash
ionable retailing, and ladies, patronage. 1 COM
menced with an affirmation of familiar truth, |
but am almost inclined to reconsider, and to ask
querulously--is is it free country INDEX.