Amusements

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AMUSEMENTS.

Probably there is no place of its size, anywhere upon the world, that has so few of what are technically called “Amusements,” as Brooklyn. We have no Opera, no Theatre, no Museum, no good entertaining exhibition of any kind; and yet here we are a city of two hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants. The explanation of it all may be given in few words—our contiguity to New York.

There is perhaps nothing to complain of in this state of things; indeed it may, upon the whole, be better as it is. Those who want the kind of pleasure that is to be had at the places of Amusement, can easily accommodate themselves; while we are rid of many nuisances incidental to the establishment of them, and what gathers around them.

But could we not have our own kind of Amusements—something better than those of New York, and more suited to us? We are a city of residences—a city of young people—a city of rational and intelligent men and women; in these respects far ahead of New York, which is a city of wealth, glitter, and fashion, heartlessness, and without much chance or disposition for rational entertainments.

The advent of the New Library in South Brooklyn, and the signal response it meets with, is suggestive of something further still. Brooklyn must not only read, and be trained and educated—it must be amused, and in a superior way. There is a great deal of true musical appreciation among us. We ought to have some musical institution; not an Opera, for that would be too expensive; but something that would answer in place of an Opera.

A higher order of lecturing—something more live, and more “illustrated”—appealing deeper to the people than the usual dry run of lecturers—would take well in Brooklyn. For this city, above all in the United States, is the city for first-class lectures.

Gymnasia should be more common. There ought to be four or five of the largest size, and with perfect appointments, in Brooklyn. These small-sized and stale-aired rooms, now called by that name, are of no account.

Doubtless there are other kinds of amusement, moral, mental, and physical, that, upon reflection, will present themselves. We throw out these hints, indeed, to produce that very result—and to intimate that perhaps our city might easily form a character for itself in a new department—might introduce more taking, more profitable, more popular Amusements than those which the large crowds of Brooklynites go to New York every night to visit, for want of any thing better.