service, the number of candidates has become so great, and the subjects are of such an elementary nature, that it has become almost impossible to be successful in the competition without the tuition of a teacher, who has devoted his attention specially to the style of examination. To be successful in any but the lowest grade of the civil service, it is most necessary that a pupil should have a good training at school previously. Boys or girls, who have had such a training, should be successful after attending these classes for a short period. There is a special class for girls.

Music Classes. The music section includes individual instruction on the piano, each lesson being for half an hour and the fee for twelve lessons being $3.75 or $5.25. There is class instruction in harmony, singing, both staff and old notation, and in violin playing. A large choral society meets, and oratorios, cantatas, and other choral works are performed. Members are expected to be able to read music fairly well at sight before they are admitted.

Gymnastics. The large gymnasium is open for men on Tuesdays and Fridays, and for women, on Mondays and Thursdays, and during the winter months the swimming bath is fitted up as an additional gymnasium for men to use on Monday and Thursday evenings when the main gymnasium is reserved for girls. There is likewise a class on Wednesday evening for teachers, and also another for working girls on the same evening.

Bow and Bromley Branch. At the Bow and Bromley Branch additional classes are held in mathematics, stages one and two, practical, plane, and solid geometry, building construction, French, bookkeeping, shorthand, dressmaking, cooking, elocution, solo singing, pianoforte, and the organ. There is likewise a group of classes, more or less connected with biology, in connection with which there is an excellent biological laboratory. The most important of these classes are in physiology and botany, while instruction is also given in physiography and hygiene.

Recreative and Social Work. The recreative and social work of the People's Palace is divided into two heads. One includes the entertainments and other amusements and recreations which are open to the general public and are organized for their benefit. The other consists of social work among the students, which is intended to assist the educational work, and to afford those who are desirous of improving themselves the necessary amusement and recreation.

The chief part of the social work for the benefit of the general public centres around the Queen's Hall. This building has a seating accommodation for about 2,500 persons. There is a fine organ, and the platform affords ample accommodation for a large choir. On Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays entertainments and concerts of various natures are given. Those on Saturdays are very largely attended, and the adjoining Winter garden is generally thrown open as a promenade.

The Handel Society has made it a practice to give one of their annual concerts in the Queen's Hall. The choirs connected with the People's Palace and its Bow and Bromley Branch, each of which numbers close upon 150 members, giving oratorios, cantatas, etc., in which the solos are taken by singers of the first rank. These have been very largely attended, and have been most popular.

The swimming bath is open to the general public from Easter to September, the charge for admission being about six cents, and under certain conditions reduced to four cents. On Tuesdays it is reserved for the use of women. During the summer months there is a very large attendance at the bath, as many as 1,000 persons being present on one day. It is much appreciated by those residing in the neighborhood, and is largely used by the boys attending the various board schools, who are in the habit of coming, under the superintendence of their masters, on payment of two cents each.

The library, which is likewise open to the general public, is much frequented, and has accommodation for a considerable number of readers.

The horticultural society is open to the public, and holds three or four flower shows at the People's Palace during the course of the year. These have been very successful in stimulating a local interest in the cultivation of plants. The gardens and open-air gymnasium afford a pleasant resort for those residing in the neighborhood, which are more especially appreciated by the younger generation. With a view to encouraging recreative work among the students attending the classes, the Drapers' Company purchased and laid out an athletic and recreative ground, and at the same time a students' union was formed. In connection with this union there are cricket, football, and lawn tennis sections. Dances are likewise organized by the committee, which has had upon several occasions the loan of the Queen's Hall from the governing body, and between three and four hundred students and friends have been present.

In addition to the clubs connected with the students' union, there are other societies for students, and among these may be mentioned the engineering, chemical, architectural, and literary and debating societies, the sketching club, electrical society, an old boys' club, and, although less connected with the People's Palace, the Beaumont Cycling Club, the Ramblers' Club, and the Swimming Club. There are also men's and women's social rooms and a students' library, where books of reference may be obtained. The societies meet for the reading and discussion of papers, and organize social evenings, and, with the permission of the governing body, social dances. The members of various classes and departments likewise meet on various occasions for social evenings.

The Salvation Army of Boston is now engaged in collecting money for the erection of a building which it terms a People's Palace, to cost ultimately about $200,000. The intention is to erect a five-story build

ing containing recreation halls, offices, and bedrooms with other helps for the homeless and others. The design must be considered, perhaps, more allied to charity and religion, but a brief description of the institution is included here. The basement will contain a large reading room and library, where the leading newspapers of the country may be found, and literature of a helpful and practical character. On the same floor, a room for games, etc. It is proposed, also, to have in the basement a coffee saloon with first-class appointments, where men may get the best of coffee and light lunch at the lowest possible prices. Connected therewith will be a conversational room, a writing room, also tub and shower baths, and a sub-basement where the boiler, engine, etc., will be located. In the summer it is proposed to use a portion of the building for a swimming tank, the size of which will be 22 by 75 feet. In other words, the floor covering the reading room, library, and game room would be taken up and beneath would be a tank ready for the water to be turned on for the use of the many who would delight in its privileges.

On the first floor it is proposed to have a public hall capable of seating 1,000 persons. A store would be on each side of the entrance, one for the sale of cheap furniture and clothing, and the other for a free labor exchange. On the second floor will be the executive offices for the Army's work in New England, a free dispensary, and the department for the relief of the poor. The three floors above would be devoted to hotel purposes, built largely on the "Mills Hotel" plan, giving to the men a clean, comfortable room for the sum of 25 cents.

Col. W. Evans, of the Army, says: "We hope to make this institution one which will appeal very strongly to the laboring men. It is a well-known fact that the Y. M. C. A. and kindred organizations hardly touch the laboring classes of our city, and seeing that the Salvation Army is so well in touch with them at the present time, it has been thought possible that we might be the ones to most successfully manage an institution of this kind. It is intended first of all to surround those who come within our sphere of influence with every opportunity for social intercourse offered at the present time by the saloon and pool rooms. It has been observed in many years past that a very large number of those coming to us for assistance, and who at present take advantage of our Shelters, are men who have not had the opportunity of securing an industrial education, and consequently their earning capacity is limited. Their ordinary expenses of living absorb all of their earnings, and they are not able to lay by, perhaps even a fraction, for sickness and old age, and when either of these overtake them they become public charges. The wage earners of this description, we anticipate, will receive the greatest benefits from our proposed People's Palace. The prices for the single rooms, which will be arranged on the upper floors, will be very low, and the highest sanitary conditions will be sought after in the construction and care of the same. This ought to

mean a maximum of physical comfort with a minimum of expense, with the saving to the wage earner from the degrading influences of the saloon and kindred places. Believing also that their moral and spiritual welfare will demand earnest consideration, we have planned for a public hall on the street floor in which will be held bright, interesting religious meetings nightly."

QUARTERLY RECORD OF STRIKES.

During the fourth quarter of 1903, there were 32 strikes and lockouts in Massachusetts, by months as follows: October, eight; November, 14; December, 10. Of this number, there were six lockouts, a larger number in comparison to the total than the Bureau has reported in two years. The disputes were fewer in number than for the corresponding quarter in 1902, and numbered 16 less than those occurring during the preceding quarter. While some of the strikes were of minor importance, there were many individual strikes and lockouts which lasted a long time and involved a large number.

Causes and results of the controversies are presented in the following

It will be seen that out of the total number of disputes, 15, or 46.88 per cent, ended disastrously for the workingmen, while eight, or 25 per cent, succeeded or were compromised.

The following statement gives the cities and towns wherein the strikes took place, and the number occurring in each: Boston, 11; Worcester, four; Fall River and Haverhill, two each; and the following one each: Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Lowell, Newburyport, North Attleborough, Northborough, Pittsfield, Quincy, Southbridge, Taunton, and Whitman.

The amount of time lost was heavier than has been reported for some time, as may be seen from the following: Four strikes lasted less than one week and involved 40 employés; 10 lasted one week but less

than two and involved 620 employés; one dispute lasted three weeks, involving 15 employés; one strike lasted two months, involving 350 employés; one strike lasted 13 weeks, involving 350 employés. In three strikes where 82 employés were involved places were filled as soon as possible. Seven strikes were pending at the close of the period, in five of which 2,188 employés were involved. In 25 disputes for which returns were made, we find the total number involved to be 3,742. Consideration of the strikes for which both duration and employés were given shows that 1,375 strikers lost 50,689 working-days. We append brief accounts of some of the most important disputes.

On October 5, the American Type Founders Co. in Boston locked out 35 employés, whereupon the others struck. It was a question of open shop, the men being asked to sign individual agreement giving them steady employment and binding them not to engage in strike or to interfere with the business of the company, but the employers would not unionize their establishments. This was part of the general strike or lockout covering the plants of the company at Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia; 350 type founders were involved. On January 2, about 13 weeks from the inauguration of the trouble, the strike was declared off by the International Council, men being ordered to return to work on the best terms they could get. Type Founders Union No. 2 involved.

On October 24, about 100 messenger boys employed by the Western Union Telegraph Co. at Boston were locked out to prevent strike on account of suspension of union president; company hired girls to fill places; new boys have also been hired. Strike has not yet been declared off by Telegraph Messenger Boys Union.

General strike of upholsterers in Boston on November 9 involved 350 men who went out to enforce demand for 44-hour week. Employers offered 48 hours, which proposition was refused. They then formed an association and voted to make 50 hours the working week. On January 9, strike was declared off, men returning to work on same terms as existed when they left. In individual cases, the pay was raised from $18 to $20 weekly. Upholsterers Union No. 53 involved.

General strike of electrical workers of Boston took place on November 12, involving 200 men who left work because firms refused to sign agreement giving increase in wages. One week later, demands were granted.

On November 9, two optical manufacturing establishments and two cutlery firms at Southbridge locked out their operatives (numbering about 1,900) because the men were organizing. The firms asked that men sign agreement stating that they were not members of a union and would not become members without giving the company a week's notice in writing. The men generally signed although the matter has not been entirely settled up to date.