The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-27
Free sundays at the Telfair.

Now that we havo closed the saloons in
this city on Sundays would it not be in the
direction OF progress to make the admission
to the Telfair Academy on those days freei
The trustees Of the Metropolitan Museum Of
Art in New York have finally decided to
open that institution to the public on Sun
days, and to make admission free. And
their action is very generally applauded in
that city.
Some OF the clergymen objected. and their
influence was sufficient for long time to
prevent the trustees from complying with
the popular demand for the opening Of the
institution, but public sentiment, backed by
common sense, finally prevailed. But not
all clergymen were against Sunday opening.
Some of the most progressive of them
favored 1t. They believed that laboring
men, with their wives and children, should
have chance to enjoy the treasures of the
institution. And Sundays are the only
days laboring men have leisure.
A well-known Savannah gentleman, at
present In New York, writes to the MORN
ING NEWS as follows:
You have noticed, doubtless, That the
Metropolitan Museum of Art has been
opened on Sundays and made free to the
| public on those days 1t is free also three
| other days each week. Philadelphia and
Boston open their art galleries on Sundays,
and admission is free. They also give to the
public three other DAYS each week The
| Corcoran gallery in Washington is free
three days each week, but l do not know
that it is yet open on Sundays. Our gallery
at Savannah has been progressive in open
ing on Sundays. but admission is not free,
lt rd 10 hot
not even one day in the week is free
| at the Telfair Academy. Don't you
| think the MORNING News should advo-
cate free Sundays at the Telfair, and
also other free days during the weeks l
think the MORNING NEWS would be on the
right line II it did so. The objection has
oeen raised that the colored people would
crowd the gallery and would not appreciate
its treasures. | don't think the objection a
forclble one. The colored people would not
In my opinion, abuse their privilege, and
only those would visit the gallery who
would find pleasure in doing so. There can
De no objection to their visiting the gallery.
presume they would not be refused admis-
sion now If they should offer the regular
admission fee. And doubt if the fees now
received amount to more than a few hun
dred dollars per annum. Possibly free DAYS
might so popularIze the institution as to
draw more visitors on pay days, with the
resuIO OF larger annual revenue. But,
Independently of this, firmly believe the
institution owes some free days each week
to the people of Savannah, and that it
ought to be free Sunday afternoons
The foregoing is an excellent letter and
presents the main arguments in favor of
free days, and particularly free Sundays.
at the Telfair Academy. The people of Sa-
vannah are proud of the Institution, but
more of them would like to enjoy its treas
ures. Make it popular institution. That
can be done only by making admission TO it
free on certain days of the week. And
there can be no greater objection to making
1t free on Sundays than on other days, since
1t IS open on Sundays. DR.. Phillips Brooks,
recently elected bishop Of Massachusetts,, is
on record as saying: 81 should not hesitate,
If were asked about the question, to say
that l believe it is good to have an art
museum open on Sunday afternoons" If
1t is good the way to induce as many as
possible to visit the Telfair on Sunday after
moons should be adopted, and that way is
free admission.