THi: RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 105 



at the Institute, lias been disabled by illness throughout 

 the year: Miss Arvedsoii, our experienced Assistant 

 Librarian, was obliged from ill health to resign ; and the 

 able services of the Treasurer were interrupted by severe 

 illness for several months. I am glad to be able to say 

 that, with the addition of one new assistant and the very 

 generous cooperation in office-work of the Treasurer 

 since his recovery, and of Mr. George L. Peabody 

 throughout the winter, a partial return to the old-time 

 order of things has been reached ; but it is seen by every 

 active worker in the Society to be very far from what we 

 desire or what our contributors and the public have a 

 right to demand. Every day shows more plainly how far 

 the Institute has outgrown its early methods. 



The year has been fairly prolific of literary work. A 

 new and much improved edition of the little hand-book 

 to the first Meeting House was issued in the spring, and 

 this was followed by an edition, the sixth or seventh I 

 think, and the fortieth thousand, of the Visitor's Guide to 

 Salem. This work has profited by the assiduous labors 

 of at least ten devoted friends of the Institute, counting 

 only writers and omitting artists, to several of whom 

 credit is due for the copious illustration of the book. 

 And while it has long compared well with the local guide- 

 books of this section, it may at last be claimed to be in 

 as good a condition as to accuracy and comprehensive- 

 ness and conciseness as we are likely at present to arrive 

 at. It has been printed on 215 thin, flexible pages which, 

 by adding four lines to each pane, are made to contain 

 some twenty-two pages more of matter than the preceding 

 edition of 1895, although that edition numbered more 

 pages, weighed more and was less flexible for pocket use. 

 A good deal of new matter and several new illustrations 

 were added, some errors corrected, and there would seem 



