New-York tribune., 1891-05-18
WILL THE MUSEUM OPENl
MANY THOUSAND PEOPLE ASK FOR IT.
A PETITION TO BE PRESENTED TO THE
TRUSTEES To-DAY-REPREsENTATIvE

TRUSTEES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MEN WHO SIGN IT.
rhr-e Will be presented 20 the trustees OF the
.s.ronolitan Museum OF Art. at their meeting to-day,
a petttion asking that the Museum be opened to the
public on sunday afternoons The petition viii bear
10000 signature representing all classes Of the COM
munity, and Will be submitted by a committee on
behalf Of the signers, consisting Of Henry F. How
land chairman; Charles c. Beaman, the Rev. DR..
W S. Rainsford and William S. Bull.
In view Of the additional expehse involved in the
opening about sixty wellknown citizens, including
Rrayton Ives, Abram s. Hewitt. Edward Cooper, W.
C. whitney, Andrew Carnegie, Samuel d. baocock,
Jesse seligman. Frederic r. CoudfTt and c. p.
Huntington, have subscribed to fund of $4,000 TO
provide FOR the cost Of experiment in opening the
Museum during the coming summer months Mr.
Howlands committee say that II the trustees decide
10 open the Museum sunday afternoons throughout
The year. they will receive their cooperation either in
securing annual appropriation for the Museum suf-
fcent 10 defrsy the entire cost of its maintenance,
or in raising a fund sufficient TO provide for the
necessary additional expense Of opening the Museum
on Sunday afternoons all the year round
The committee adds so long as the principle Is
maintained that the general opening Of shops and Of
places OF amusement of the paying hind shall not be
permitted on Sunday believe that there danger
that the character Of sunday will be changed IL the
opening Of institutions like public libraries and reading
rooms and Of the Museum of Art
supplemental to this communication Is forwarded
10 the trustees by the Working Peoples Petition Com
mttee which composed of twelve members Theodore
Miller being chairman and Charles b. stover secretary.
Tins committee, speaking in behalf OF $4,000 working
people this city, vigorously urge the opening of the
Museum and declare that the petition has received the
Endorsement OF all the central bodies OF oGanzcd labor
IN New York City. The committee combat in earnest
language the assertion made in quarters that
there is indication that the working people Of New
York do not want the Museum opened SUNDAY after
moons in the fact that large number Of working peo
pie oppose the Sunday opening Of the National Col
lections in London. "what has the British working
man got TO do with the Metropolitan Museum Of Art.
anyway ?" they Touching the assertion that the
Sunday opening will tend make sunday another day
Of labor the committee reply The worng people Of
NewYork City have fears at all Of selfiniury in
presenting this petition The recent legislation In
Europe betokens the nearness Of the time VIXEN one
days rest in shall be guaranteed in all civilized
countries"
The general petition 10 be presented contains the
names Of many Of New -Yorl's bestknown citizens In
mercantile, banking and professional circles. In the
list are found the names of Henry V. and William r.
Hsvemeyer, Henry Willard, Orlando B. Potter Henry
B. HYDE Eugene Kelly, Howard (. Jairay, George ~
vanderbilt william X Vanderbilt, Chauncey NJ. Depew.
Theodore Roosevelt, E. D. Morgan, John y. A. Girls
void Amos R. Emo Cornelius Van Cott. Oswald often
dorter c. c. Baldwin BENJAMIN II. Eicld, Peter Coopec
Hewitt, Spencer Trask. Lawrence Turnur Arthur
Lsary George William Curtis. Colonel Thomas W.
Knox Genecal George W. Culum, General Ferdinand
p Bare Philip Schuyler, J. Coleman Drayton and
c. L. Tiffany.
(lem Mrs John Jav Mrs. William X. sehicfieln, Mrs
george Haven Putnam, Mrs. A. Van Rensselaer, and
Miss Katharine Drexel. The clergymen are repre-
sentsd in part by the Rev. Drs David H. Greer, Lyman
Abbott W. s. Rainsford. R. Heber Ncw+or, n Merton
Reed and George r. Van de Water. About 200 physi
clans and students OF medicine signed IT, and the nst
OF artists, authors, editors publishers Lawyers ana
business firms contains the names OF many of the most
prominent in their respective branches In the city
The Association Of Lettec Carriers Of the New-fork
Postofc e. numbering GOO also join In the petition.