106 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Since the day of rest of the various religious sects is not the same, 

 all days are regarded as of equal importance, but, to meet the objec- 

 tions of the Protestant clergy that the exercises here kept people away 

 from the church services, it has been decided not to open the building 

 on Sundays until noon. But as the hours of employment of many per- 

 sons are so long that their evenings are not free, the reading room is 

 open on this day after the hour named, and certain instructive lectures 

 are given during the afternoon. At these the average attendance is 

 about five hundred. A strong effort was made to have the building 

 closed during the whole of Sunday, however. The argument was 

 made that as long as beer gardens and places of amusement were open 

 on this day, the people should not be restricted on the only holiday 

 of the week to those places where money is spent for trifling pleasures. 

 The large number of persons who spend Sunday afternoon in the 

 reading room proves that the opportunity to make good use of their 

 time is fully appreciated. 



Before giving in detail the plan of work in hand, it should be 

 said that the director has secured the assistance of about one hundred 

 and fifty men and women who are willing to contribute their time 

 to the furthering of the purposes as outlined. They are divided into 

 fourteen groups, or committees, each looking after a single interest. 

 The means as at present constituted for attaining the ends in view 

 may be classified as follows : 



1. Reading room for men and women not under eighteen years 

 of age; open daily. 



2. Wednesday evening lectures on literature, history, physics, 

 pedagogy, political economy, and travel. These lectures are open for 

 debate. 



3. Courses of lectures on different topics for men and women 

 separately, or for both together. These discussions are marked by 

 an intimate tone. 



4. Sunday evening meetings : musical or theatrical performances, 

 magic-lantern pictures, tableaux, etc. These are given in the large 

 hall, which accommodates five hundred and twenty-five persons. 



5. Legal advice. 



6. Clubs for boys, girls, men, and women. Friendly intercourse. 

 Discussions on scientific subjects. Chess club. Travel club. 



7. Lessons in Dutch, French, English, and German, bookkeeping, 

 reading and writing for adults, needlework, mending, making and 

 cutting of one's own clothes, cooking, drilling for boys and girls, 

 fencing, acting, chorus singing. 



The reading room is provided with a large number of daily and 

 weekly papers, magazines, and technical journals, together with such 

 books as could be purchased or obtained as donations. The user of 



