Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-20

ness.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The school board resolution, giving the opin-
ion of that body that the time has arr ived when
il is for the best interests of the city to appro.
PIRATE the old burying ground on Mechanic
street for school purposes, was reported upon
by the committee on education, to whom it was
referred at the meeting on the 18th, and MIR.
Banistcr followed the reading of the report with
remarks strongly urging the absurdity of thus
llesecrating those Old graves, and explaining
sirTfc unfitness of the site for a school house.
Mr. Chamberlin also spoke in opposition to
the resolution. lie said:
Mr.. Mayor; When the attention of the present
committee On education was first called toitbis sub
ject, the proposition was very repugnant &C me- but
;liter an interview with member of the school
board was induced so far to forpgo my own con-
yictions as to present his views Of it TO the commit
tee, although, even at the fine felt stirring in nv
veins some Of the blood of my ancestor of that re-
mote time when, according TO Darwin, he was n
quadruped with pointed ears end the conquerOr iof
me lynx, the jackal and the hyena; but / am glad
that something human in my system restored me to
my first conclusion. ! do not propose to 20 into
any financial or even sentimental" discussion of
ms matter, although feel sure that the argument
against the proposition from both these points of
Wow IS unanswerable; but should like to look for
moment at the precedents and practices Of older
,
Boston, which permits the home of John Hancock
TO be demolished that it may be the
sile OF - palatla residences " tthat is what
they call then) for her new made
merchant princes; in Boston. whose city council
makes haste TO destroy the last natural vestges of
other days, to make room for horse railroad track
even there, the old graves are left unmoested
and the solid men" of the older Boston rest undis-
turbed beneath her solid earth. The guest of the
Parker house, as he sits at the front window and
turns up the sOes OF his boots TO the admiring gaze
OF the passers BY looks across the street upon the
bronze eiigy of Franklin, standing almost side by
side with the graves Of his old neighbors and COM
patriots 1t he be staying at the fremont house, he
will look out upon another large grave yard where
the dead sleep peacefully beneath the earliest bright
blossoms of spring, and the latest and gayest
flowers Of autumn "Where summer first her
robes unfolds, and there the longest tarries"
In New York, whose leading bankers spend the
midnight hours of Saturday, and the dawn Of
the holy sabbath, in betting upon the last
breath CT reckless. wrctched Jim Fisk, as
he lies awaiting his fight to ''where the
woodbIne twineth" Gf happily for him anything so
green and fresh woodbine may grow on that
yo:anlc SOIL even there, the bones of the ancient
hnlckeTbockers rest peacefully amid the noise and
din OF the great city; and in the very centre of
Of traffic the glorious spire of Trinity as 1t looks
down on the dens and stamping ground of the bears
and bulls, at the same moment looks on the quiet
graves of the dead that sleep beneath its shadow
And every day, at noon, there falling, float
ing down, as if from the upper skies the sottened
notes of some old familiar sacred song; and it
seems if the spirits of those who sleep there had
for moment come back to remind the living of the
dead, and as if
"By fairy hands their knell were RING,
By unseen forms their dirge We're sung"
In our own experience, / remember tine time
not long ago. when the fathers of the city
came before this city council to plead sue
cessfully for the graves of .their fathers and l
shall never forget the eloquent words of the
only one of them who Is left to u.s. as he begged
OF us to leave undesecrated the sacred place where,
each in his narrow cell forever laid
''The rude forefuthers of the hamlet slept"
lfuow that in thn hurry ond rreI, a Io4a. 4.,..
these eloquent places were forgotten and less hui
name counsels prevailed; but who now doubts that
it had been far better to let those old graves re-
manned, to employ, If need be, some Old Mortality
to retouch the headstones clear away the rank
weeds and grass, and plant flowers around. How
much more wholesome and attractive had that spot
been than the present sterile, barren and unsghty
grave with half the trees dea / or dying and no
green thing beneath them.
Were il not that tins project is brought forward
by the school committee, who claim TO represent
the very blossom and "brIght consummate ilower''
of our education and culture IL would not be enter
tanned for moment, 1t is said that while of this
school committee, one-third to one-half are grad
yates of colleges, there is not member of either
branch Of the city council who has enjoyed that
advantage. believe that this is true and "pity
It's, its rue;" and l. for one, deeply deplore the
tact; but know OF no way TO do but TO accent the
situation and make the best of it, and we must
gropo our way along as well as we can in the dark
ness Of ignorance which envelopes u.s.
] know very little of what colleges teach, but
think that among other things useful and useless
they may be. Now, if by "the humanities" is
meant that superintendent which ignores all MEM
Dry OF the dead and all for their graves aud If
this Is the couture we are to give to ourchidren
then ] say away with it! Let us close I'M our
school-hOuses flor they are fallurel. Let us give
up that greedy and iusatiate elephant" in Walnut
street to any one that will take him of our hands
and go back as fast as we may. to that ignorant and
benlghted superstition that reveres the memory of
the dead and would hallow and protect their
graves.
The resolution was then defeated by a unan-
nous vote.
An order was passed authorizing the MAYOR
to draw his warrant for such sums from time
TO time (he whole not 10 exceed $1,000 ! rs may
bel necessary TO complete the rcfinishing OF the
old high school house on Walnut street In 40
cordance with an order passed authoriling Tho
joint standing committee on education TO con-
tract for tue reHnishng, and also for improve
mcntS on the outside fencing etc
The committee on education reported recon-
mending that the money accruing 10 Tho city
from the dog tax be appropriated Tor the general
objects of the free public library; report ac-
cepCd and recommendations adopted
The same committee reported iuexpedient 70
build a school house between the villaues of
GAINESVILLE and Valley Falls, IN accordance with
u petition OF j. "A. Hunt and Others referred TO
the committee with contemplation from BEN
lamin james and others. The committee con.
sdcr that such location would fail to meet the
pressing wants Of both villages. Report ac-
copied.
The joint standing committee on sewers
recommended the adoption of M order author.
lzing the committee TO take measures TO so
raise the house of Margaret Mooney on Madison
street us to prevent the damage now done 10
her by reason Of u sewer built 10y the city, Tho
ORDER was adopted, The coinfniifee renortnd IN