Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-18
SEATS ON THE GREEN.

Times busy flight has again brought us to the season when the people of Waterbury find a fruitful theme for dis cuSsion and agitation in the question of seats on the green. It is held by many persons, and gainsaid only by those who have n mistaken or selfish interest in their position. that the city should pro vide an abundance of easy and com fortahle seats for people to rest upon while enjoying the beauties of our park and breathing iu the fresh air that cir culates so freely beneath its umbrageouS clms.
 Nobody we believe will question the assertion that the green belongs to the people, that 1t is the property ot the tax payers and should be made to yield the full measure of its legitimate purpose. We have heard Il said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. and some people are visionary enough to maintain that to be D thing of beauty our green should be kept entirely free from seats and the intrusion of those who would rest their weary limbs thereon. Such an argument Is of course the perfection of provinc iaiiSm, exactly the kind of chaff to catch the villager who has not sniffed the air of progress that is abroad in municipalities that would aspire to take on the wSyS of a city. But we are of opinion that that thing is thing of beauty which best demonstrates it's use- fulneSS, which best serves the end for which it was designcd--in a word, that handsome is as handsome does. And nobody will question that the original intent of those who laid out our beauti- full green was to make 1t a breathing spot for the people who had rot the time or means to go farther out where the pure air of Gods earth circulates freely and unhampered by the structures and improvements of men. Could this in- tent be better fulfilled than by placing there seats which would invite tired mothers from their stifled homes, gam boiling children from squahd and unheal- thy surroundings, and would tighten the journey of the weary mechanic as he stopped moment to rest on his way to and from his daily toi The question answers itself. if it be objected that a throng would gather which might not please the. eyes of the aristocratic peo- pie whose mansi8 look down , on the glories Of the park the answer is that not for them alone was the park designed. Not for them whose purses make summer oy Ghe seashore 6 regular incident of their passing years, who can go to the mountains and fine nature in all its glory, who can revel by the inland lakes or look out on the broad bosom of the mighty deep, who can hit themselves at the first faint breath o summer heat to distant lands and loveliel scanes-not for them and their senti mental notions of aristocratic beauty was our park designed. And not in con sultipg their ideas and preferences in thu matter will our city fathers be doins their highest dut. by the public of Wa terbury.
 The green belongs to the whole people and it is by placing seats on it's green sward that the highest interest of tn whole people will be served. We woul, most respectfully suggest to the cit, fathers that they do an act of justic aAd mercy by ordering a supply of nice comfortable seats to be placed ill sh cosiest and most inviting hooks on th, green.