nd printers (for somehow this
most intelligent profession seems to contain a large number of cases who
have been ruined by drunkenness), and outcast men of no assignable
occupation. These have been attracted in part by the cheerfulness of the
room and the chances for reading, and in part by Gardner's influence,
who has labored indefatigably in behalf of these poor wretches. Under
the influences of the Room, incredible as it may seem, over _seven
hundred_ of these men have been started in sober courses and provided
with honest employments, and many of them have become hopefully
religious. It is believed that the whole quarter has been improved by
the opening of this agreeable and temperate place of resort."

But, alas! even with a man so truly repentant and reformed, Nature does
not let him off so easily. He had to bear in his body the fruits of his
vices. His nervous system began to give way under the fearful strain
both of his sins and his reform. He found it necessary to leave this
post of work and retire to a quiet place in New Jersey, where he has
since passed a calm and virtuous life, working, I suppose, at his trade,
and, so far as I know, he has never been false to the great truths which
once inspired him. With his departure, however, we thought it best to
close the Reading-room, especially as we could not realize our hope of
making it self-supporting. So ended the second of our experiments at
"virtuous amusements."

I now resolved to try the experiment, without any expectation of
sustaining the room with sales of refreshments. The working classes seem
to be utterly indifferent to such attractions. They probably cannot
compete a moment with those of the liquor-shops. With the aid of
friends, who are always ready in this city to liberally support rational
experiments of philanthropy, we have since then opened various Free
Reading-rooms in different quarters of the city.

One of the most successful was carried on by Mr. Macy at Cottage Place,
for his "lambs."

Here sufficient books and papers were supplied by friends, little
temperance and other societies were formed, the room was pleasant and
cozy, and, above all, Mr. Macy presided or infused into it his spirit.
The "lambs" were occasionally obstreperous and given to smashing
windows, but to this Mr. M. was sufficiently accustomed, and in time the
wild young barbarians began to feel the influences thrown around the
place, until now one may see of a winter even