158 Four-ill' Ha7id in Britain. 



ever quite forgiven. These Americans have always 

 such big ideas. 



The free library at Wolverhampton interested me. 

 I do not know where better proof of the advantages of 

 such an institution is to be found. It was started upon 

 a small scale, about fifteen thousand dollars being ex- 

 pended ; now some forty thousand dollars have been 

 spent upon the building. Last year eighty-six thousand 

 books were issued. I counted at noon, June 30th, sixty- 

 three persons in the reading-room, and at another time 

 nearly two hundred readers. On Saturdays, between 

 two and ten P.M., the number averages fully a thou- 

 sand. In addition to the circulating library, there are a 

 reference library, a museum, and large reading-rooms. 

 Several courses of lectures are connected with the insti- 

 tution, with teachers for the various branches. One 

 teacher, a Mr. Williams, has " passed " scholars in the 

 science and art department every year, and one year 

 every one of his scholars passed the Kensington examina- 

 tion. A working plumber who attended these classes 

 gained prizes for chemistry and electricity, and is now 

 secretary of the water-works at Chepstow. We may 

 hear more of that climber yet. Plenty of room at the 

 top ! No sectarian papers are subscribed for, but all 

 reputable publications are received if sent. In this way 

 all sects are represented by their best, if the members 

 see fit to contribute them. This is the true plan. 

 " Error may be tolerated if truth be free to combat it. 



