y repaid, in the lessening of the expenses and
loss from crime and pauperism, and the increasing of the number of
honest and industrious producers.

CHAPTER XXIV.

REFORM AMONG THE ROWDIES--FREE READING ROOMS.

At first sight, it would seem very obvious that a place of mental
improvement and social resort, with agreeable surroundings, offered
gratuitously to the laboring-people, would be eagerly frequented. On its
face, the "FREE READING-ROOM" appears a most natural, feasible method of
applying the great lever of sociality (without temptations) to lifting
up the poorer classes. The working-man and the street-boy get here what
they so much desire, a pleasant place, warmed and lighted, for meeting
their companions, for talking, playing innocent games, or reading the
papers; they get it, too, for nothing. When we remember how these people
live, in what crowded and slatternly rooms, or damp cellars, or close
attics, some even having no home at all, and that their only social
resort is the grog-shop, we might suppose that they would jump at the
chance of a pleasant and Free Saloon and Reading-room. But this is by no
means the case. This instrument of improvement requires peculiar
management to be successful. Our own experience is instructive.

The writer of this had had the Reading-room "on the brain" for many
years, when, at length, on talking over the subject with a gentleman in
the eastern part of the city--one whose name has since been a tower of
strength to this whole movement--he consented to further the enterprise,
and be the treasurer--an office in young charities, be it remembered, no
sinecure.

We opened, accordingly, near the Novelty Iron Works, under the best
auspices,

THE ELEVENTH WARD FREE READING-ROOM.

The rooms were spacious and pleasant, furnished with a plenty of papers
and pamphlets, and, to add to the attractions and help pay expenses, the
superintendent was to sell coffee and simple refreshments. Our theory
was, that coffee would compete with liquor as a stimulus, and that the
profits of the sale would pay most of the running cost. We were right
among a crowded working population, and everything promised success.

At first there were considerable numbers of laboring-men present every
day and evening; but, to our dismay, they began to fall off. We tried
another superintendent; still the working-man preferred his "dreary
rooms," or t