persons yearly availed themselves of this mine of entertainment and instruction. But the marvelous growth of New York within two decades from 1856, embracing the period of the civil war in which the society took an active loyal part, rendered it necessary to find a more central location-not below Fourteenth street. The little organization of 1785 was fully abreast with the march of affairs. It had become a great power in the city. It was strong in membership, selected from the most active and intelligent men. It was rich in this world's goods-through prudence and judicious investment. It therefore commenced the laudable undertaking of securing a new site. The choice fell upon a spacious old mansion in Sixteenth street, between Broadway and Fifth avenue, which was purchased, at a cost of $55,500, for a new Mechanics' Hall. The edifice covers the entire lot (37 x 181), and furnished for the time ample accommodations. The alterations, repairs, and furnishing cost the additional sum of $26,636. The removal and dedication occurred in the early part of 1878, and again the vacated buildings were rented. In reply to a recent inquiry as to how this ancient society acquired such a handsome revenue, the reply was, "Because it never sold a piece of real estate that it once got possession of." The books in the library have multiplied during each of the sixty-nine years of its existence, until the total count reported March 1, 1889, was seventy-eight thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine. The number circulated for home use during the past year has been two hundred and thirty-three thousand four hundred and ninety-two. Very few books are lost in this method of use, although they wear out naturally much faster than in any other library in the city. Consummate discretion seems to have been exercised in the purchase of books by the successive committees in charge, for nothing appears on the shelves objectionable in character. Here is reading matter suited to all ages and tastes-voyages and travels, books of fiction, wit, and humor, rich stores of history and biography, natural philosophy, mathematics, engineering, the mechanic arts, political and social science, law, theology, medical works, fine arts, poetry, belles-lettres, etc. While story-books are sure to attract the largest number of young readers, and they serve a good purpose in whetting the appetite for reading, the statistics show that of the volumes circulated the past year forty-three thousand four hundred and ninety-two have been solid standard works. The picture on opposite page, from a recent photograph, enables us to look into the interior of this library from the quiet of our own dwellings, and see it precisely as it is, with the library committee of 1889 in ses sion.* This library committee is sub-divided into committees of two, whose duties are so arranged that the library is visited by one of them every day in the week. The reading-rooms are commodious and airy, and the working young men and women who frequent them are able through their treasures to keep fully abreast with the times in knowledge and current thought. The number of readers in this department the past year has been upwards of thirty-seven thousand. There is also a reserved reading room for members of the society, handsomely furnished, and bountifully supplied with choice reading matter when desired. The evening schools founded in 1858 are prosperous to a degree that sounds in the description like a fable. The principal class-rooms are in the great basement of the edifice, and are furnished with every convenience and all needful help in the way of models, etc., for the uses of the young men, and each class is under the care of a competent and faithful teacher employed by the society. Twice as many as can be accommo dated apply for these wonderful privileges every year, which indicates the spirit of the workers of the city and the general desire for self-improveThe accommodation is limited to two hundred and fifty, and at portion attend alternate nights. Four hundred and ninety were admitted to the free drawing school in 1888. An able school committee is chosen yearly from the members of the society, whose present chairman is John L. Hamilton. When it is remembered how much progress has been made in the world through the genius and industry of mechanics, who quickly become skilled in whatever they intelligently undertake, the community may be congratulated upon having this helpful institution in its midst, providing opportunities for those to study in the evening who are obliged to earn their bread during the working hours of the day, and which performs its beneficent work so unostentatiously and successfully. It has long since been conceded that nothing promises to be more fruitful in benefits to the human race than the education of the industrial classes in art and science. There will always be men among them who will rise above the ranks, like Galileo, who discovered that the earth revolved about the sun; or Columbus, who found for us a continent; or Gutenberg, who was the first to develop usefully the art of printing; or Robert Fulton, who applied steam successfully as a motive power in navigation; or Franklin, who * The names of present library committee are, Joseph J. Little, Chairman; William H. Burras, Charles Andruss, Warren A. Conover, William K. O'Brien, James D. Buchanan, William J. Van Arsdale, Eben Peek, Henry W. Redfield, Henry Bessey, Robert Christie, Andrew Little. Ex Officio: Robert Rutter, President; Albert G. Bogert, Oliver Barrett, Vice-Presidents; Stephen M. Wright, Secretary; Richard T. Davies, Treasurer. brought lightning from the clouds; or Horace Greeley, the great editorall of whom were mechanics. William H. Webb would not have become a great ship-builder but for his mechanical training, and John Roach rose to distinction from the common molders in an iron furnace. Few, comparatively, are aware that classes of young women, estab lished in the autumn of 1886, are here taught type-writing and stenography, and are graduated with honors when these arts are acquired, receiving diplomas which enable them to obtain employment and very desirable positions. There are two class-rooms set apart for these pupils, one in the pleasant basement and the other in the third story of the building. The most accomplished teachers are provided for them, and their progress in learning is rapid and extremely gratifying. Obliged to work for a livelihood through the day, the evening is their only chance for rest and recreation. Consequently such as possess the taste for learning, and the fortitude and the persistence necessary to enter these classes and complete the entire course of study, deserve great credit. A young woman who cannot command a situation in a store or workshop that will pay her more than from $4 to $6 a week, may here fit herself to earn $15 per week, and in her new sphere find herself in the midst of much more congenial surroundings. There is no fee for tuition; the class-rooms are free to any one who can furnish the requisite testimonial as to character. The only difficulty is that there are twice and three times as many applicants every year as can be accommodated. "If I could only learn stenography I should be able to support myself," remarked with a deep sigh a desponding young woman, after having applied in vain for a remunerative position in a publisher's office. "Why cannot you learn stenography?" was the quick response. Because until I find work I must nurse a sick aunt to pay my board, and I have no money for tuition even if I had the time to take lessons." She did not know, nor was it known by the kind friends who wished to aid her, that there was an institution right in the heart of our city equipped and ready to meet just such a want a school where a girl may become an expert in stenography without cost, or without encroaching upon any of the hours designated for other purposes. Thirty-four young women were graduated in June of the present year from these classes, and the exercises on the occasion were as dignified, imposing, and ceremoniously arranged as at an Oxford or a Harvard commencement. There was a "salutatory" from one of the young women; a "class poem" from another; also "class history," admirably written, and a remarkably clever "valedictory "-all of which were read with |