The Sunday herald., 1886-09-12

The proposition to erect works Of great
public utility, such as bridges, viaducts, and
highways, instead of statues and monuments
to the memory of the departed great, has
always had the heartiest approval of The
SUNDAY HBRALp. We have used stronger
denunciation of the brass and stone effgy
idea than most Of our esteemed contempora-
ries, who seem TO fear that censure of statue
may be construed as oensure Of Its subject.
II statues and monuments have a place, 1t
is in the midst of an old aud settled civilixa-
tion, where they are the anal ornament and
flower Of architecture, in short, luxury.
Here in the United States, and especially In
this District, we have new aud rapidly
increasing community, constantly outgrowing
its means of comfort, convenience, and traffic.
All our energies are needed in the work of
developing resources and territory for the
many. To drop this task aud go to buying
efigies is to reverse every reasonable process
Of growth. It Is like mau hanging ply
lures in his house before he has put on the roof.
Further than this, many Of the expenditures
now proposed on monuments are utterly su-
perAuous in any reasonable view Of the case.
Why should Columbus have another monu.
ment herei He is commemorated in the
name Of the District, by the bronze doors of
the Capitol, group in front of It, and a
number of paintings within 1t. By right,
John Cabot, from whose discovery of North
America in 1496 all our present legal titles
are derived, ought now to have some token.
Even in the case of President Lincoln it
would seem that there are enough statues
and pictures scattered about the streets and
public buildings TO preserve his memory for
this generation without absurdly duplicat.
ing the Washington Monument. There is
not single argument to be adduced against
the idea Of memorial bridge across the Poto-
mac in honor of Grant, or Grant and Lin.
coin, or a boulevard to take the place of some
Of the primitive rural roads of the District,
1t is rather strange that the Sunday open.
ing idea has not developed more strength
in this District, unless it is that people do
not realize how much they lose by the
closed doors and gates Of Sunday. Another
reason doubtless is that the open air attrao.
tions areso mauy and so strong here that
they fill up the void which would otherwise
be left. The season is now approaching
when walks and drives will not be 80 FEAST
BILE, and when inclement weather will make
some indoor occupation imperative. This
is the time when the question Of museums,
art galleries, and libraries comes to the
front. At present the working and bust
ness class, Including those in the Depart
ments, are closely held during the very
hours on secular days when the resources
gathered at great expense to the public, and
for its benefit. are supposed to be accessible.
When the day of rest and recreation arrives,
with its valuable chances of sslf.improve-
ment, these collections are Theoretically
sealed up against the "vulgar herd," and
might as well be non-existent. There Is
another side to this question, of course. II
Libraries, museums, etc., are opened, there
must be attendants on duty to guard and
care for them, who will, in certain sense,
lose their day ofrest, and must be paid ac-
cordingly. But this difficulty no longer
prevents the running Of street-cars, which
carry people to church, the transportation
Of mails, and other Sunday services which
are felt to be necessary or beneficial. Some
must work in order that others may take
recreation In the fullest sense, and TO these
toilers other holidays may be assigned. As
to the expense Of additional employees, it is
certainly unreasonable for wealthy Gov
ernment, after spending so much upon its
gathering of books and other objects, TO stop
short Of the slight additional sums necessary
to make It's collections really profitable to
the people. What objection can there be TO
halliday opening on Sunday afternoons,
after the usual hour for ending the morning
services in the churchssf