118 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



the First Meeting House. As children under twelve are 

 not admitted unless accompanied by an adult, it became 

 necessary to call attention to that fact and we hope to see 

 the teachers all come at the head of battalions of children 

 interested to learn of Salem and its grand record. This 

 is part of the liberal education, the great object lesson, 

 which the Institute extends to all through its museum of 

 historical relics and curiosities. 



The attendance at the rooms during the past year has 

 been as usual, large, and the Treasurer expresses his hope 

 that in the near future an increase of income will warrant 

 the opening of the building on Sunday afternoons. On 

 the few occasions when the Institute has been open in the 

 evening it has been thronged and we have been asked by 

 strangers present if they could not be allowed to come in 

 at some other time, thus showing a disposition to take 

 advantage of the opportunities offered. This leads us to 

 suppose that the opening of the rooms in the evening also 

 might be of advantage to us and to the public. What the 

 Institute needs besides more money, more room and 

 more members, is the active interest and cooperation of 

 the young people who would, we know, be attracted by 

 the large, cheerful, airy rooms, quiet corners for work or 

 study, valuable collection of relics, extensive library for 

 reference or circulation, and the large supply of current 

 magazine literature of the day. 



There is one more thing which occurs to me to speak 

 of, and that is the social side of the Institute in distinction 

 from its scientific, historical, and literary features. We 

 all perhaps agree, that in college life the social element is 

 of great importance, even when the main object pursued 

 is an education. So with this institution ; while it fur- 

 nishes a liberal education and object lesson, it seems to 

 me that the social side should not be lost sight of. That 

 this view appeals to others is shown by the increasing 



