161 



i 



performances, for fear, I suppose, I should expose them 

 and spoil their business. 



He stated that lovers sometimes commit suicide to- 

 gether, and mentioned that he once saw the bodies of a 

 girl and her lover, tied together with her girdle, floating 

 down the river. She had filled her sleeves with stones 

 so that they might sink. 



A great many interesting facts were narrated, and a 

 brief and graphic account of the manner of life in Japan 

 was given. At the conclusion of the lecture Capt. 

 Pfoundes invited the audience to propound any questions 

 on particular points, which they desired to have answered, 

 and some time was pleasantly and profitably spent in this 

 manner. 



REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1876. 

 MEETING this evening at 7.30 o'clock. Adjourned to 

 Friday the 22ud. 



ADJOURNED MEETING, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1876. 



MEETING this evening at 7.30 o'clock. The PRESIDENT 

 in the chair. 



Mr. WILLIAM P. UPHAM read a communication entitled 

 "History of Stenography, with a proposal for a new Sys- 

 tem of Phonetic Short-hand Writing;" illustrating the 

 same with diagrams and drawings on the black-board. 



This communication was referred to the Publication 

 Committee. 



John P. Peabody, of Salem, was elected a resident 

 member. 



