New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-07
FOURTH WARD READING-ROOM.


moral fundamentally for the working classes has for
some time been fapiliar to the English public. The
principle at the basis is derived from practical expe-
rience of the condition of these classes.
gre at deal of the vice of the world arises from a
love Of amusement; end where this is not gratihed
beautifully, it will be unheathfully. Those who live
in Injuries and in the constant enjoyment Of works Of
art objects Of beauty, who can relieve the over
strained the weared body by society, or by
books, or in country excursions distant journeys
who at least in imagination, leave far behind the
dull world of reality and escape the RIBS and jars OF
every day life, hardly form conception Of the
dilion Of the workngman after long day work snd
his hunger for change or excitement. His nerves
and muscles ure utterly strained and weaied; he goes
home at night dreary room where be is alone or
where spirited wife and unQoverned children meet
him; he has books, pictures music no paperr
nor society," lie bankers for society aud stimous
witch viii lit off the heavy burden Of daily cares, aud
make Tim forget the weary present. What wouder
that bis first place of is the rumshopf Here he
finds society," genial wei ONE, people to talk OF the
affairs # the day, s"cial, comfortable place, and;
above all the cup which awakes the tagging BRAN and
chai ges The dI sky of 10 radiant sunlight, and
causes the present 10 be all forgotten.
So the long, dark career of drunkenness, with Its
hundred aud pang begins " it'll tens OF thou
are in more intellectual employ ments but whose work
is Irregular, though well Iaid-such az printers and
Others and uen In nighi-wOIk these are constantly
drawn 10 drinkipg-paces merely for society and 10
spend dul honrs For all these and tie Thousands OF
floating iIle re- ple in great metropolis, there Is
hardly ,ce Of viruous resort where they have
scirty or papeIe OF come healIhful stimulus at low
cost and without the temptation 10 bad company and
extreme indulgence
To meet ibis want the Fourth Ward Reading and
r.pa. ~ md in. at IN
BOwefy, By committee Of gentlemen, who pad mo-t
Of the expenses of hting it up themselves
Il was placed in respectful lie street, but close to the
wo,st districts Of the city. Newspaper, magazines,
books and Vi,tuIes presented 70 the Room by
Tie lib, rliiy Of friends, aud the whole was rendered
An agreeable lace Of resort for the working men. Cof
fee cig1s, and plain food were to be inrni red at
low pre IL had originally been d, signed by the Com
uitt-e that the should support teelf; but soon
fter the II 81 arrangements made, man occurred
10 Them ho ,eeued eel echliy fitted by Providence to
influence che Glars they desired to aiectone who had
himself been redeemed from & worst vices, ana VINO
knew III, roughly the hal it's TEMPTATIONS and sius, Of
the popuace II our i'y-Oryihe Gardner. They &C
cordipply comm It'd he whole enterprise to his charge,
paying hin small salary OF $5O0 per annum.
Gardner ut once began to 60 around among the
sailors board hons.s, the Iorerhouses, and the
er OF bad 10 or in Cherry and Water streets, and
collect in his old associies-the drinking and hghiog
men If the ward.
Wherever he could find young men, also who
wanted pleasant lace for sociahty, be invited
them in.
The room soou was crowded especially in the even
iug- with the c men, chaiIiug, smoking, or reaolng
the papers, and scare ly Ia sii gle instance was any
di-ord.ry at ever committed Indeed, there was
sonnet rather edif ing Ia the elD~ formal eourtesy
with which the " rpughs invariably treated irdner,
aud one another, while In The Rom.
For the first two or three mouths the room about
paid Ill exfenser even inclucing GardDers salary.
u, gTadualy Dew class Of cub ects began to appear
HI h..t Hnytn ken
W 10 Can. In get The help Il strong VIII to and
their weak oI e In the work Of reform: men. whose
temptations overwhelming them and who sought
Gardner to know what that mysterious power OF
{ hrist ianity winch had saved him young men who
wanted counseor and friend; those whom tue insan-
ily OF the passi for hour had stripped Of wealth,
friends and home, aud who were ragged and house.
les; men treub iug wi shat cred nerves, faint tor
ant Of food, without proper clothes dirty and yemln-
eateus procession Of tie sorro.ful victims OF drum
keuBess. -
These men Gardner met with the generosity Of bis
class giving them the clothes from his own back,
-Iendi9g his own mean- feed them and usng all bis
powers ~ mid la returning them. After they were
led and washed aud clJtb.d, remembering TO what lie
cd all bis ref rm, took item TO the church, or the
Tls Of prayer.
Ills neat effort was TO fud them work. Each one
took the Temperance pledge, and Gardner bad dis
Iuct uud' ts''d ,hht whoever violated It should be
eut at once 10 Blat kyell islabo lilo F@-t az the
engss ement he la. always kept with MI the ygor Of
he former life and 10 number Of cases he has had the
men rumnaiy committed for their terms IA yagrants
The numl er OF Instance of H'eu no have been |
hopefully formed under there influences Is something
rems rk,ble aud shows Whist earnest man can &C
,omtlish. The list already counts over ,2OO names,
.on.e Of them of yogng OF good families; some
men e desperate and notorious character lone former
pugilist and bully in tho Fourth Ward and another
" no had killed man in "A hi Of intoXkaiionli many
vho had be. mercantile pursuits. The profession
uost larg. ly represented is the printers.
goodly number Of these bsye apparently become
religious Families have brcome united again;
oug let have beon restored TO their mott err,
llun.t heart. broken; ~ives have refOuud their hus
bands aud sisters lave .regained their brothers. A
gent len assured u member Of the COMMITTEE thai
be knew Of yonng men who had come from one
in. lie place to New York, who hsd been reformed
under Gardner's influence.
In fact no human estimate can ever measure the |
orroS that has teen as.uaged aid the burdens that
nave been lifted by this simple ihstrumenaiity, dur
ng the bart eighteen months.
But one praci 81 difficulty Of tlis result has been,
hat these " fortunate subjects kept away the more
EST. ctaJe frqnente's OF the room iiom The refles-
i ent.conlter, on wicse returns tue support 81 the
mt Q, pIse depended. People came before to read,
out thew dill not eat so & at choice presented
iher Of giv mp the thing as peculiar iseiOD 10
he onicast ,ns.es, and ui,charging Gardner, and |
merely keeJog a so,i al cobeeroom 10 prevent drunk
r e.s or to- throw the whole enterprise the beney
81, nee rud erali OF The public and carry II on ~
Iactca mi, ion tor The lowest classes. The Commit
thope Il ater, feeling that Gardner was the man
o intluenc. "A clss difficult 70 REACH and being
ure that the public would support what was so plainly
or he public beD.i. 10 The credit Of Mr.. Gardner,
shonfi b. said that h, has declined cfers Of large
salary 10 Other poy meAs fot tie sake Of doing good
,lnong t.ir ,lass.
Bat for tie basrcss depression, it il probable the
Committee nigh have collected among the charitable
ne Necessary funds. ~ l. Is ttey caHnot carry the
hing alorg any further without imme date and lib
rial hid.
Tire question is, VIII tie public let practical !
bariiv 20 10 he ground 1000
For Mr. Garders salary there IL Low due about |
s6OO for rent Of room and gas Gbout 500; total IN
H. bt,due,s at the ureseut the, sfU0.