THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 117 



the applications are coming not only from Salem but from 

 other parts of the County, thus showing that the Insti- 

 tute is in reality what it was chartered to be, a County 

 Institution. Another matter which would claim the Sec- 

 retary's attention, were he here, is the statistical showing 

 for the past year. There have been 185 donations to the 

 Cabinets from 83 donors, many of which are of rare and 

 exceptional value. 



Depending as we do largely on the assessment of the 

 members and the contributions of our friends to defray the 

 running expensos, it has seemed best to make some 

 changes in the method of collecting the annual dues, and 

 the very cordial response to the notification issued this 

 year calling attention to the date on which the assessment 

 is payable, seems to show that the new method is wel- 

 comed. While the assessment is a small amount for each 

 member to contribute, it is the aggregate of the whole 

 which pays the bills ; and we have reason to think that, 

 when each member realizes that the Institute needs his 

 three dollars, we shall no longer have to borrow money 

 temporarily to pay the running expenses. The more 

 thoroughly business methods can be applied to the finan- 

 cial operations of the Institute the more satisfactory the 

 results must prove to be. 



Desiring to place the aims and purposes of the Society 

 before those of the members not able for various reasons 

 to visit the rooms frequently, we have mailed with the 

 receipt for annual dues various circulars of information, 

 hoping thus to keep up a feeling of personal interest. 

 Earlier in the year the school teachers were supplied with 

 copies of the " Visitors' Guide to Salem " and " The Story 

 of the First Meeting House." That the\ r have been read 

 is proved by the extraordinarily large number of school 

 children visiting the rooms and applying for the key to 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XXX 8* 



