1877.] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 49 



memory to be outlawed. Straw-bail has done its appointed work. But 

 the vigilance which ensured a merited conviction will see to it that, neith- 

 er by chicanery, nor evasion, shall justice be ultimately defrauded. 



The property of the Society is in excellent condition, having been put 

 and kept in thorough repair. The immediate charge of our several Halls 

 has been under the supervision of Mr. John C. Kewton, to whose person- 

 al fidelity and industry the Society owes it that its property is maintained 

 in such perfect condition and order. The material improvements in the 

 appearance and convenience of the Stores, upon the main floor, which 

 were suggested in my last Report as probably indispensable, met with the 

 approbation of the Trustees and were finally effected. It is pleasant to 

 reflect that these improvements were made of our own accord, and with- 

 out a formal application from our tenants. It should be our aim ever to 

 manage our relations of business so that they shall become, neither a 

 source of provocation to our tenants, nor of annoyance to ourselves. Hav- 

 ing accommodated our fixed rents to the pressure of times which were at 

 least as onerous to us, as to those whose legal obligations were cheerfully 

 relaxed, we may be pardoned for felicitating ourselves upon the manifest 

 evidence and conviction that this corporation possesses a soul. Our lib- 

 erality may, or may not, be appreciated ; most likely not, — since gratitude 

 is defined as a lively sense of favors expected. That, however, need not 

 concern us, who have governed our actions by an exact sense of justice. 



The Income of the Society, during the past official year, as will more 

 fully appear from the detailed account of the Treasurer, has been some- 

 what reduced. This diminution, however, was largely due to the disuse 

 of the Hall of Pomona by the Protestant Episcopal Society of this City, 

 which withdrew its congregation and worship, as soon as possible, from 

 the insidious influence of our heathen devices and emblems , Let us 

 hope that no budding innocent was enticed from grace through the 

 seductive wiles of Pomona I 



Especial care has been used, by your Committee, to make the modes of 

 egress from our Halls safe beyond a question. To this end the doors 

 were re-hung, so as to open outwards. The descent to the street is by a 

 broad and short flight of stairs ; and of course escape from accident or 

 danger would be easy and swift. These measures of precaution were 

 adopted of our own volition. After they had been some time completed, 

 a notification was received from officers of the Commonwealth, that such 

 provision for the security of the public ought to be made. Should those 

 vigilant guardians of the popular safety contrive, or even attempt, to 

 obviate the perils inseparable from the use and occupation of other Halls 

 with which our own is forced to compete ; whose narrow and successive 



