THE RETROSrECT OF THE YEAR. 27 



Monday^ Jan. 13, 1896. — The first lecture in the 

 " free course " was delivered this evening, in Plummer 

 Hall, by Gamaliel Bradford, Esq., of Boston, on the 

 "Monroe Doctrine." 



Mr. Bradford's views seemed to be somewhat in oppo- 

 sition to those of the President and a majority of the mem- 

 bers of Congress. He was opposed to war with England 

 under any circumstances and especially in the condition 

 in which the country now is, although he said he was a 

 thorough American in his feelings. But he did not be- 

 lieve there was anything to be gained by a war even if the 

 " Monroe Doctrine " should be affected by British move- 

 ments in Venezuela. 



Monday, Jan. 20, 1896. — Regular meeting in the 

 Library room. Mr. Gardner M. Jones, Librarian of the 

 Salem Public Library, read a very interesting and in- 

 structive paper on " Public Libraries," describing in detail 

 their management, their great value and their remarkable 

 increase in number within a comparatively short period. 

 He gave a description of the Boston Public Library, with 

 some criticisms on its general character. 



Monday, Jan. 27, 1896. — Thomas A. Mullen, Esq., 

 of Boston, lectured this evening in Plummer Hall, on 

 " Impressions of Europe." He gave a very interesting 

 account of a rambling visit to various European countries, 

 during the last summer, with many humorous observations 

 on men and things abroad. 



Monday, Feh. 3, 1896. — Regular meeting in the Li- 

 brary room. Miss Annie L. Warner, of Salem, gave an 

 interesting lecture on the "Birds of Winter." She spoke 

 of the birds noticed as coming every winter, and those 

 that come occasionally, and of those that are with us every 



