come less or more to the front of late. In several of these districts the vote will probably be taken before long.

In 1887 the question was mooted in Aberdare and Cardigan, but fell through in each town from lack of support. In March of the same year the subject was also introduced in Carmarthen. Both these towns should have their Public Library. Llangollen has a library, but not under the Acts. It sadly needs enfranchising, and the town should set an example to Llandudno. In Mountain Ash a vote was taken some four years ago, but the result was unfavourable. Since then the question has been mentioned several times, but nothing further has been done. Other places are Rhondda Valley, Ystrad, Penarth, Treorky, Barmouth, Dolgelly, Portmadoc, Aberayron, and Towyn.

In Merthyr Tydvil the question has come forward several times, and very prominently in the autumn of last year. Some seven years ago when Mr. Gwilym James was high constable of the town a movement was set on foot for putting the Public Libraries Acts in force there. The meeting, by resolution, adopted the Acts. A poll was demanded, and the result was a heavy vote against the adoption.

The whole parish of Merthyr Tydfil forms a local board area. It contains over 17,000 acres, total length of parish about nine miles, average breadth three to four miles, and the population 58,000. As the law stood seven years ago, and as it stands now, the Acts can only be adopted for the whole local board area. The local board area comprises Dowlais, Merthyr (Troedyrhiw, three miles from Merthyr), Merthyr Vale (five miles away), Treharris (seven miles away), besides several small mining villages. At Dowlais the late Sir John Guech established for his workmen a reading-room and institute, the best and most imposing structure in Dowlais. There are, however, but few books at the place, and these are not renewed. Daily papers are supplied. This place is free to Dowlais workmen only. Seven years ago the Dowlais men outvoted the movement for adoption of the Acts. To-day there is a feeling in favour of a Public Library at Dowlais if a scheme could be agreed upon with Merthyr and outlying towns and villages. This is one of the cases where a change in the law is desirable, whereby the Acts might be adopted by a ward as well as by the whole local board area. In this board there are several wardsDowlais Ward, Merthyr Ward, &c. The Merthyr Ward would, if they could, adopt the Act at once, and have a sufficient ratable value to carry out the Acts efficiently, and to the great benefit of the town. At the present moment under the Public Health Acts a ward can be separately rated for a sewage scheme, water supply, and one or two other sanitary matters. Why not for a Public Library? The ward adoption of the Public Library Acts should be extended to municipal bodies as well, and so far as rural sanitary authorities are concerned. Ward systems are not in existence. It appears that it would be better to say "hamlets' as areas, as well as parishes. The whole matter requires very careful consideration.

TH

CHAPTER XV.

Public Libraries in Ireland.

HE general awakening with regard to Public Libraries has spread to Ireland, and the time is rapidly approaching when the interest in these institutions in the sister country will be as keen and universal as it is in any part of the United Kingdom. This is as it should be, and all friends of education and social progress will rejoice that such is the case, no matter to what party they belong. It has been the present writer's privilege to travel repeatedly from end to end of Ireland, and the spirit and desire to have every educational advantage in their midst which is to be found on the opposite side of the Irish Sea to their own, is permeating all classes of the community. The great drawback is that so many towns and districts in Ireland have a ratable value insufficient, with a penny rate, to stock and maintain a Public Library. This will prevent for a time any wide extension of these institutions; but surely some monetary aid from friends of the country among all shades of opinion will be obtained. A gift in starting a library, if the Acts are adopted, would be to many an Irish town a windfall. If those who have the true interests of the country at heart, and are able to render assistance, will remember this, and do what they can, they will render a useful service to a part of the realm where it is greatly needed. In several places the Acts have been adopted, but, for lack of funds to make a beginning, no steps have yet been taken to put them in operation. One generous gift and consequent adoption of the Acts is to be recorded, and in several places at the present moment the question is being discussed. A generous benefactor would confer a lasting boon upon Ireland. An appeal has been made during the year for a hundred thousand pounds, and there was a prompt response. It is remarkable that those efforts which seek to lift the people by helping them to help themselves do not receive the same support which is bestowed on the distribution of soup and blankets. Some time in the near future the wealthy will see the utter folly and waste of bestowing pauperizing charity, and will devote their attention to other sources which seek to elevate, by means of eyes and heads, rather than those which demoralize by means of the stomach and the creature comforts of life. When we are within sight of this time the Irish libraries will receive some substantial gifts.

One of the most powerful appeals for the extension of Public Libraries in Ireland appeared in the "Irish Times" in July of last year, and the Irish newspapers generally have not been one whit behind the British newspapers in lending their powerful aid for the advocacy of these institutions. The newspapers published across the Channel have from time to time expressed a desire to have some authentic information in regard to the working of Public Libraries in Ireland. Unfortunately no formal reports are published

except in Belfast, and the fact is the more to be regretted, since, if they were satisfactory, the operation of the Acts under which they are constituted would be likely to find a salutary extension. There is no reason why weekly or monthly returns should not be put before the public, showing, as in the case of other public institutions of the kind, the number of readers in comparative tables, and such extensions as may be provided in the way of literary opportunity. This is a matter worthy of careful attention, for unfortunately the particulars at disposal are not by any means as full as could be wished. In every way one would like to see the Irish Public Libraries drawn into closer touch with those on this side the Channel, and whatever tends in this direction will perform a very important and necessary service.

BANBRIDGE.

In July, 1890, a letter reached the author from Belfast making some inquiries as to the process for the adoption of the Acts in a small country town in Ireland. A lady and gentleman, on whose behalf the correspondent was writing, were desirous to erect and stock a building if the Acts were adopted. This fortunate place which had such an offer was Banbridge, a small town with about 6,000 inhabitants, and not far from Belfast. In the middle of the year the chairman of the Town Commissioners addressed a public meeting which was large and representative. He said the dona

tion of such a magnificent sum as £6,000 or £7,000 to provide a library for Banbridge was an offer that he was sure would be unanimously accepted. The lady and gentleman who offered this large contribution had thought it right to keep their names from the public, and would do so until they were apprised that the townspeople would adopt the Acts. That was the sole object of this meeting. The town was improving daily, and this, along with other good works, would place Banbridge above many of the neighbouring towns. In July, 1890, the Acts were unanimously adopted. Some unavoidable delay took place in the selection and purchase of a site, and in the interim the death of the intending donor suddenly took place. In March, 1891, the Rev. J. B. Wylie, of Belfast, wrote to one of the local papers to say, in answer to a paragraph referring to the delay in securing a site, that Mr. Matier, the intending donor in question, was most anxious to get on with the work, and that he had been in readiness for months past to proceed had they only been able to secure such site as Mr. Matier thought desirable. One such site did offer, and on it Mr. Matier's mind was fixed, but for some unexplained reason they were kept waiting for months for the owners to fix the price. This ground of delay was well known in Banbridge. He then went on to say that he regretted extremely if the Banbridge people were to be disappointed. "I know how contrary that would be to the intention of the deceased. In the presence of a call so unlooked for, so solemn, and so startling, however, it is idle to attempt charging blame on individuals. Had Mr. Matier been spared a few months longer, or had he had even a few days' warning of the

approaching end, no such disappointment could have been." For the present the matter thus remains in abeyance, but it is much to be hoped that some plan will be practicable to help the town out of the little difficulty which has arisen.

BELFAST.

The people of the city of Belfast began to get the impression that they never would see their Public Library an accomplished fact. In June, 1882, the council were memorialized in favour of the establishment of a Public Library, and they determined to take steps to ascertain the views of the ratepayers as to whether they desired the adoption of the Acts. Voting papers

were accordingly issued, and resulted in 5,234 votes for the adoption of the Acts, and 1,425 against. No action was, however, taken until 1884, and it was then resolved to make the contract for the building terminable in 1886. The builders were not to blame for the delay; the want of sympathy among the members of the Corporation was the chief element in bringing about the unreasonable delay. Leading articles and correspondence in abundance appeared in the local papers about the delay, but it was not until October 13, 1888, that the opening ceremony took place, which was performed by the Lord-Lieutenant, the Marquis of Londonderry. It was a far cry from this to 1881, when a deputation, headed by Mr. William Gray and others, brought the matter first before the Corporation. This body very ably took

up the question, and have not allowed their interest to decline, notwithstanding the long delay, and the many disappointments which they have experienced.

In the early part of 1888 the committee had in hand the task of appointing a librarian, and they had no reason to complain of any lack of candidates. The list of applicants contained 160 names of persons, ranging in age from 24 to 48 years. They came from all parts of the four kingdoms. The occupations of the applicants were varied, and the qualifications relied upon to secure the appointment were of a still more miscellaneous character. There were graduates of Oxford, Glasgow, Aberdeen, London, and the University of Ireland. There was a medical doctor, a dispenser at a lunatic asylum, a confectioner, the son of a newspaper correspondent, several schoolmasters, a retired head constable, a contractor, a missionary, a factory manager, a draper's assistant, an auctioneer, several authors and translators, a captain, a colour-sergeant, a corporal, and a canteen steward. One candidate had travelled in Europe and America, and was accustomed to the management of men, and as these are more difficult to manage than books, he apparently had no doubt of his success in any position where either the writers or readers of books are concerned. Another was a railway and steamboat clerk, whose command of facilities for locomotion may have helped him, for he stated that he had visited the principal libraries in the United Kingdom, and was acquainted with their management in theory and practice. Another gentleman rejoiced in the varied experiences appertaining to a graduate, an adjutant, a paymaster, a chief constable, and an insurance secretary. A solicitor laid stress upon the fact that he had been five years in Africa. One of the most juvenile of the applicants was the younger son of an M.D. An adventurous spirit who wrote from Yeadon evidently had but vague ideas of the philological and social aspects of the North of Ireland. He stated that he "could not speak the real Irish language; but if correctly informed, the people in general in Belfast speak what we term here broken English,' that he can understand." As there is one thing at home that he could understand, it would have been a pity to transplant him. Among such a choice selection of would-be librarians the committee wisely and well determined to appoint none but a man of experience in Public Library work.

The building, which cost about £20,000, is a handsome structure, as will be gathered from the view. The main entrance opens into a wide corridor, the opposite end of which terminates at the rear of the building. To the right of this lobby is a large room used as the lending department. To the left of the main corridor is the reading-room, which can be entered from the street by a separate door adjoining the main entrance. The first floor is reached by a broad stone staircase, and here the reference library is located. There is one grand central apartment, lighted from the top by a beautifully carved dome, through the glass of which a flood of light penetrates to every nook and corner of the