New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-17
It's a great show. And it is at its best WING"
,,rsrrrr THE BOSTOH COMMON.


BOSTON NOWADAYS is divided into two classes
the Common folks and the anti-Nomlioh io'"'
Tho former insist that the Common hlus' anu
shall be preserved intact for all time. ne
latter o,tensiby representing what they can
"public improvement" are anxious 70 see
now street run through the famous grounds
:. Tho I,oston Transcript belongs to the Com
mon folks. and is making a vigorous hghc
AGAINST the ants. In contest OF this klhd
outsiders ordinarily have no business. Inc
home rule principle bars them out. But Boston
Common is an exception to the rule. Inc
entire country has a lien upon 1t, just as IL
has unon Bunker Hill Monument. If 1T were
pronosed to take down the monument the en-
tire United States, Territories lncludod' "oulu
he heard from in stern protest we lahc!
there is the Same decided feeling Last, "es''
North and South in relation to the common
Il once belonged to Boston, but long ago Ohcie
Sam. asserting his right of eminent dchalh'
added il TO the Nations possession with the
understanding that it never should be inter-
fered with.
Bost cannot possibly need new thorough
fare so badly as she needs to guard the common
from the vandals who see in 1t probably oIiiy
81 many building lots These vandals doubt
less plume themselves upon taking practical
rather than sentimental views of things. But
from an entirely practical point OF we" inc
course which they arc pursuing Is indelchSiDie'
They are penny WISE but pound foolish. rev
things do as much to give Boston its distinctive
charm and interest as her Common. 1t has
been celebrated in song and story. 1t is I'M
pos.iblo to tell the story of the days which
tried mems souls and leave it out. About the
first thing which the stranger asks Tor on reach
ING Boston is the Common. He takes peculiar
delight in travcrsing its paths, realizing that
he is on historic ground-ground in which THIS
new land of ours is not too rich. And yet 1t Is
seriously proposed TO slice off piece OF the
Common in the interest of new street. writ
inc on this point. 1.-The Transcript expresses
itself in this strain of true public spirit:
What gives 1t It's superior rating and It's special
chararerl What, indeed but TIE kind OF Da''' !uS'
mentioned , 4 basis OF IDEAS. Inc oU''i c"u Vi
ma, IL not 70 gloriy trade and serve that forever
Ioston will b. Boston not by becoming Il larger anu
larger accumulation OF money-makins palaces WI
c,nv.vauc.. thereto. Were these TO occupy '"'
Who'll. Common and coin money by inc hi'ilon' anu
,ill,ns and trllllons aud gDldphte every hao"'i""
Uo.t,n would thereby become nethcra more P'''''
nor a greater Boston, ON the contrary every roa
tolcn from grounds rich In ASSOCIATIONS WI"
I'm, make it a smaller and poorer Boston "oH i
ma, ALWAYS 10 b. the human standard OF value
II does not seem possible that the Common
folk can fight losing fight II they get
b,atcn. and the Common i lntcricred Wlih'
BOSTON will never be the city she once was IN
the ewes Of the rest OF the country. lhey VIII
feel that her glory has Departed or AT all
event, i, departing. II is the first step mat
counts. Let this thing be done, and the day
may come when the Old south will be altered
over iato sausage factory.