Probably one of the most striking facts of our epoch has been the 

 remarkable diminution in crime and pauperism, corresponding with the 

 march of education. An eminent man of science lately affirmed that 

 education, upon which the country now spends annually ten millions 

 sterling, costs the nation practically nothing, as since the passing of the 

 Education Act, the whole sum and more is annually saved in our 

 expenditure upon criminals and paupers. 



But while education has thus happily curtailed and controlled man's 

 propensity for evil, in the words of the Latin poet " Emollit mores ncc 

 sinit esse feros^^ — it civilizes the conduct of men, and sufifers them not 

 to remain barbarous ; it has also set up and created an intellectual 

 appetite which must be satisfied, or else the intellect loses its power of 

 application, and also loses its restraining and controlling influence. 



When, therefore, this country happily adopted a scheme of National 

 Elementary Education it committed itself, and equally every municipality, 

 to the supply of adequate means by which the people can make use of 

 their intellectual faculties, and can continue the education begun in the 

 school, or make use of it for the purpose of recreation. Thus Free 

 Libraries, Museums, and Art Galleries have ceased to be merely the resorts 

 of the cultured, but have become the gathering places of the people. 

 They are no longer merely the repositories of books of standard authors 

 and articles of virtu and high art ; they must also satisfy our new social 

 conditions and minister to the intellectual entertainment of the 

 masses. 



Viewed in this light the demand for works of fiction, magazines, and 

 newspapers is not surprising, and it is one which ought to and must be 

 met, for while this light literature satisfies the craving of the intellect for 

 occupation, it is in itself a valuable means of education^ and one which, 

 no doubt, often serves as a stimulus and incentive to reading of a more 

 serious character. 



The Committee appreciate very fully their duty in this direction. The 

 addition of the East Library and Reading Room during the year places 

 another popular library at tho disposal of the community, and its 

 advantages have been freely availed of. 



The jMuseum continues to be a source of attraction and much interest. 

 A popular lecture has been given every Monday evening in the galleries, 



