which all law-abiding citizens share. The industrious and aspiring artisan can there read what the most skilled men of his calling have to say about the ways of doing work; while the inquiring mechanic may learn all about the ins and outs of machines from their inception. The fruits of many a bright idea have been lost to the world through the want of knowledge on a practical man's part of abstruse mechanical principles, such as are set forth in text books. The effect of this vigorous advocacy, and the quiet work of a committee, aided by Messrs. John McCaughey, J. Gilchrist, and J. A. Thompson, was that the Acts were adopted by a large majority in August, 1891. A little difficulty has arisen with regard to the question as to whether, according to the Irish Act, a majority of those polling or a majority of the ratepayers carries the Act.

RATHMINES AND RATHGAR.

This is a township adjoining Dublin, and the Libraries Acts have been in operation since 1887. Only a three-farthing rate is levied for its maintenance. The premises are temporary ones, but a new Town Hall is about being built, and this will include accommodation for the library. The supply of newspapers and books is not large, but there is a useful work in store for the Rathmines library. If it sets other townships near Dublin to determine that they also will have one of these institutions a good end will be served.

SLIGO.

There was great difficulty in getting the people to adopt the Acts in Sligo. Had it not been for the deep interest which the late Alderman McDonough displayed in the subject the Acts would never have been adopted here. He was at considerable expense and loss of time in securing the means of having the library opened under the Libraries Acts. It is now much appreciated by the public, and as soon as the Corporation are able to assist it a little better the library will flourish, and be of much usefulness to Sligo. Here is a case where heavy taxes are already imposed, and where, if the Government could by any means be induced to assist, it would very much help to forward the movement. Those who know the town well say that it is a fact that the Sligo library has done more to counteract crime, particularly drunkenness, than any other influence. A room in the Town Hall is allowed for use, but up to the present books are not lent for home reading. The reading-room is open on Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m.

LONDONDERRY.

The adoption of the Acts has been under consideration in this city. The question of providing a park had been before the people, upon which some £3,000 or £5,000 should be spent. The writer of a letter, recently received, referring to this proposal said that what the artisan classes want is a building like that in Belfast, an institution independent of any "ism," and conducted on such free principles as to be open to all conducting themselves properly; an institution with some "grit" in it; not a makeshift.

If the town had had an institution of the kind years ago, with a Public Library and a hall for free lectures from our numerous doctors on "common things," it would have been a great central neutral point, checking wretched divisions. There are readingrooms. Yes, with a half life; and the artisan will never take to any institution where there is the restriction of ballot-box, and where he has to pass committees. If a philanthropist gave the artisan classes of Derry a Public Library and reading-room he would receive their lasting thanks.

DOUGLAS (ISLE OF MAN).

The Douglas Library is the only rate-supported library under the Acts up to date in this tight little island. The Acts were adopted and the library opened in 1886. It occupies the first floor over some shops in a central part of this thriving wateringplace. The Isle of Man is a favourite resort for Lancashire and Yorkshire people, and as the denizens of these counties know how to use a Public Library the reading-room is greatly appreciated by the visitors. The selection of books is good, all tastes having been consulted. As new books are added they have been intimated in the public press. Ramsey, Castletown, and Peel should not be long before they adopt the Acts. For their own pleasure and advancement this should be done, but as a further reason there is no doubt that visitors to watering-places do largely use public reading-rooms, and in not a few cases select pleasure resorts where this advantage is afforded. So that as an investment the adoption of the Acts should be attempted immediately in every inland and seaboard watering-place not at present possessing these institutions.

IN

CHAPTER XVI.

Public Libraries in London.

IN no part of the United Kingdom has the progress of this movement been so rapid and the development so general as in the Metropolis. For thirty-six years the large provincial towns had been pointing the finger at London, and consoling themselves that in this movement, at least, they were not as the sluggish folks in the Metropolis. London might, they said, be the hub of the universe, so far as wealth, size, and importance were concerned, but in the Public Library movement, the capital was apparently content to be left far behind. Londoners who had drifted up from some of the large provincial centres, and who had been accustomed to use the libraries in the towns they had left, were often stung to the quick when reminded in their old haunts of the dearth of Public Libraries in London. Place after place in the Metropolis had, up to 1886, tried to carry the Acts, and had met with failure so utterly disheartening that the movement seemed to have lost all its friends. Up to the end of 1886 only two parishes within the metropolitan area had adopted the Acts. The number at the time of writing (August, 1891) is only just short of thirty, out of the sixty-seven parishes

into which the metropolitan area is divided. In addition to this, many London parishes which have not yet adopted the Acts have given some thought and attention to the question.

It has been to the writer a source of inspiration to compare the letters bearing upon this question received by him, prior to 1886, and those to hand since that time. The tone of those of a few years ago was in some cases that of utter hopelessness. The forces of ignorance, apathy, and the utter indifference of the average Londoner to anything outside his very limited circle constituted obstacles so great, that to attack these seemed almost like leading a forlorn hope. But the work of the Board Schools had in the meantime been going steadily forward. An extension of the means of locomotion which had enabled many Londoners to see provincial libraries, and especially the increasing power of the newspaper press, had been so thoroughly preparing the soil, that when the movement did once take root its growth was rapid, until now London, so far as these institutions are concerned, is like a giant Oliver Twist asking for more. On all sides there are buoyancy and hopefulness, and those who have stood by the movement all through feel that the battle has been worth fighting, because it has helped to place these libraries on such a solid footing that nothing can now retard their extension and development. The number of these earnest friends who, through evil and good report, have for a long period been like prophets crying in the wilderness, is large; and now that success is assured, the highest praise which can in connection with the movement be bestowed, is due unreservedly to those who have in the various parishes held aloft the torch of educational advancement. They are witnessing the result of their labours, and it is something of which to be proud to have borne a part in a cause which has brought elevating amusement and useful instruction to thousands of lives and homes.

The parish of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster, to its everlasting credit, was the first to adopt the Acts. This it did in 1856, and no further adoption took place until 1883, when Wandsworth followed. A lapse of twenty-seven years represents a far cry, and during that period there was much quiet sowing of seed, which was of unquestionable benefit when the break did come in 1886, the year of the issue of the first edition of this work. At the end of that year Lambeth and Fulham followed each other quickly with unmistakable verdicts, and gave us the turning of the tide which will ultimately lead on to the fortune of nearly every parish in London adopting the Acts. The progress has been so rapid and solid that it now requires but little force to help it onwards, and a few more years will see the circle fairly complete. In the first two editions, a chapter on the London Public Libraries was only practicable by going outside the metropolitan area for examples. The extreme suburban districts, such as Richmond, Kingston, Twickenham, Wimbledon, and Ealing had taken the lead, and had adopted the Acts. These places, in order to help out the arithmetic and so prevent the barrenness of the land from being too apparent, were included

among the London Public Libraries. Now it is no longer necessary to do this. Credit is due to the places named for having been in the very front rank to move in the matter, and their example had a most useful influence. It was an example of the question working from the outer limits of the circumference to the heart of the Metropolis.

While, however, there is much to give pleasure and satisfaction to the friends of this movement, there is still much to be done, and it is desirable that all who have the question at heart should do what they can to rouse the districts where the Acts have not yet been adopted. We still compare badly in point of number with Paris and Berlin. The statement is made, on the authority of Professor Paloczy, that there are in Berlin twenty-five Public Libraries, with more than 100,000 volumes each. This gives a proportion of over two volumes per head of accessible literature for every man, woman, and child in the Prussian capital. There is nothing corresponding to this in London or Paris. The library of the British Museum contains over 2,000,000 volumes, the great National Library in Paris also over that number; but the former, though fairly accessible, is not so in the sense that a Public Library is; while at the latter the facilities for consultation and reference, even when the necessary credentials are obtained by the applicant, are very unsatisfactory. The Germans have long enjoyed the reputation of being the most "bookish" people in Europe, and it is pleasant to know that even amid their present devotion to militarism they are not inclined to lose this reputation. Still, we are not disposed to yield up this character as being the exclusive boast of the Teutonic race.

Paris is equally well off in the number of its Public Libraries. There are in the French capital some sixty-four popular libraries distributed over various parts of the city. The total issues of these libraries during 1890 amounted to 1,386,642 volumes, of which about one half were fiction. Many of these are municipal libraries, and are located in the town halls or in schools, and are supported by municipal funds. The more intelligent of former scholars of primary schools constitute their chief readers. Of the total number named there are about fifty-eight municipal libraries. Seven districts or arrondissements possess two of them, eight have three, and five four. The most populous districts have the largest number. The city spends yearly £4,480 (112,000 francs) in purchasing new books and in binding. The salaries are £3,880 a year. For 1887 the number of books consulted on the premises or taken home to read is given as 1,994,000; in 1888 it was above two millions; but in 1889 there seems to have been a decline in the number. The establishment of these libraries has been very rapid. Under the Empire they do not seem to have existed. Between 1871 and 1878 a number of libraries were established, but it was not until the later date, and the years immediately following, that the municipal authorities determined to plant libraries in the various districts.

Paris and Berlin have thus taken the lead, but neither in the total number of these institutions, nor in point of the use made

of them by the public, shall we, after a short interval, be behind these cities. Londoners need ask for only very limited grace, and we shall be able to show a better and more extended use of the Public Libraries than is the case in Paris or Berlin. The libraries in London are chiefly now in course of erection and organization, but it will never be needful to add the returns of eighty libraries together to reach a total of two million issues in the year for reference and lending. We are on the eve of great things in Public Library work in London, and all arrears will be quickly overtaken; and, if we are not mistaken, both Paris and Berlin will be left very much in the rear. In neither of those cities does the Public Library system appear to develop, and it may be gravely doubted whether there is the same widespread interest in these institutions that has now been awakened in London.

The impetus which was given to the municipal life of London in the passing of the Local Government Act, and the subsequent elections for the County Council, cannot be over-estimated. The utter absence of interest in local affairs in London up to the passing of that measure was the despair of all reformers. Now, while there is still a mountain of apathy and indifference to overcome, there is a spirit of inquiry and interest in the work of the County Council. In the securing of open spaces, and the administration of the public parks, and in other sections of its operations, the County Council have done real and lasting service. Those who captiously criticise the work of the Council have really not gone minutely into the matter, or they would recognize that out of the sea of talk there has been a solid residuum of useful work which is quietly revolutionizing London municipal life. The most pressing need which is now felt is for the formation of district councils, and then will begin the real municipal life of the Metropolis. Such a bill is now within measurable distance. An excellent plan for advertising the library has been adopted in Clerkenwell. A neat opal tablet is placed on the gas-lamps in the leading streets, calling attention to the library.

The London vestries have been the butt of every reviler. So many metaphorical brickbats have been thrown at them that it is impossible for some of them not to have had a valid and reasonable cause for such castigation. But the intelligence of the vestrymen, and the quality of the work accomplished, have taken a step forward. It may be said with truth that, as governing bodies, they have caught the spirit of the day, and are determined to lift their administration into a position which will prevent them dying the ignominious death of the Metropolitan Board of Works. When their end comes they seem to have determined that the transference of power shall be done with dignity, and a consciousness that local public spirit in these days shall not suffer in their hands. The formation of the district councils is perhaps yet several years distant. It should be urged upon the members of the vestries in parishes where the Acts have not yet been adopted to give this question of Public Libraries their serious and earnest consideration. The vestries can simplify the whole process of adoption by their action, and in