, 1875-02-20
BALTIMORE.
The Monumental City Seen by
Chicago Eyes.
Peabody Institute, Maryland Institute,
and Other Public Libraries.

|
pA1r1MoRE, Feb. 1G.-Tho lthraftes Of DAlti-
moro arc very interesting to ono fresh from the
young West, whcre no auch treAsuroa have had
LIMO to grov,-for "grow" thesc boat things Al
ways msat. visit to tho three largest Of them
will pleasantly occupy day.
First on tho list, and tire oldeat tnstitutton.-|
though Il has tho smallest number OF books,-is
tho library Of the
"MAnrLANp 1Nsr1ruIE Ton TEE PROMOTION OF
THE MECHANIC AHrB."
This institute WAS founded III 1895 md has /
other POINTS Of interest bcsidcs its library. It's
plan ms originated, and mostly carried out, by
ono mxu--John II. Latrobo, It includes vsuh-
bio ingtruction at m astonlshnely low rrice. In
tended to meet tlo ncods OF tho Industrial
classes. II haa Library. Conservatory OF Music.
Cabsuet Of Minerals, aud philosophical and Me-
elanical Apparatus, and School OF Deaigu. III |
sttuction iH giyon by mehus OF lecturer and wolf
qualified teachers in every department. II las
an annual fair for tho exhibition OF American |
Arts whon prfzoo, medals, aud diplomas are |
givon for inventions and Improvements. Tho |
library consists Of 10000 volunaa, and II frca to
all members. It la plaood In q pleasant, light |
room, furnished with chairs and tables, nud 1t 10
mostly co1nposol Of popular works. with maya- |
znes and papers suitable to acscalattng library.
There are about 5000 mombors. The syston Of
instruction consists Of sets Of lectures on tho
various sciences. and there are about 500 pupils
The
SCHOOL OF DESIGN,
pleasantly situated at tho top OF tha building in
: room ,insd wltn models and designs. is espo-
chilly aou1isbing. It provides CLASSES in free
poncil-skete.liag, goometrical drawing, machin-
ory drawing, architectural drawing, topograph-
tcAl drawing, and artistic draining and
puintlng with evening classcs for those who arc
pmployol by day. The musical instruction ia Of
tho bost, beginning II tho L. b, {. with aoholars,
and taking thou through d oourBe that fits them
for teachctn, both of piano and vocal 1nu8ic.
Tho prices aro e1trcmoly low, s3 por nunMm
for membership, emitting to library privileges,
aud 90 por term for ehch cassr excepting music.
which u e6. It ia pessly solf-supportfng. Any
deficiency Ia made up BY the State. and sorns-
times tho City Government gives IL d lift. Tho
building WAS put up in 1862, and IL Of brown
stono and brick. and cos. Sloo:oo0. Ills situated
on baltimore strcet, In tho heart OF tie city, and
haB hail for its annual exhibition. This inBtt-
tuition is
DOING GREAT AND GOOD wonH
in clavAung the working olassss. When the
Frencl Government, some years ago. sout mes
tional advantages, tho Maryland Institute waa
mentioned in thai. report in tha most 1lattcrtng
torrns, ~ beyond all comparison the best thing
Of tire Kind IN America.
Turn from busy. baatinE Baltimore etIeet.
cart in seldom 1ls&rd, aud you eau esrry on
sociat talk with poupio tcroBs tho street, lined
with old fashioned residences, now filled, from
cellar to attic, with dinEy lnw oflleos, with hore
aud thsre m old book storn,-she very ideal
haunt Of ths book toves, aud susgestlvely aamod
3d. paul'a atxcet,-and you como upon tho
MERCANTILE Library.
Enter its doors, No modorn light and gny
anence Of tho rtrect Nothing ,nsesa your cyos
but = largo room, tllcd from floor to ceiling with
books and plentifulty spriukled With tables
and chaifa, with bore and thero reader,
los. ia u! surroundings in book. Il looka Tho
very home Of tho book wo1m with It's quiat foot
stcpa. and low tonoa aud tts "dinl religious
ught "-rather too dim. In fact, for 1t ~ sadly
o!acu1ed by neighboring, buildings. The large
room davotod 10 general literature smaller ons
to felton, mud third TO = 1cading-room, where
many papers and pariodicala arc on Ole. This Is
tie largest circulating library in the city, and fas
| shout JO. 0O1 volumes, to which about 900 now
| ouea arc annually added.
| THE HISTORY or THIS AnaoctAr1oN
| IL very interesting. aud presents model for
] ot!ors to "go mud do likewise" Tho Motcan-
| liln Library was projected iu l81o by four n,er
chants 'elcrks, who desired better place to spcnd
| their ovonings ttkn saloon or billlard-room.
! Forming plan, shsy indnced othcr clorks TO
join them, zach one TO contribute ten books, aud
| pay % initiation foo. &ud % for annual daes.
It clsncsd TO fiji q Haut, end numbers flocked
| tile Ilbrnry was conveyed 10 its home on tho
shelves, hi that primitive yohiee, whaolbsr-
row. Tho first volume honorod by plRce on its
shelyes waa Blble given for the .pusposo by
! oua who thought it tho loundaton.book OF tho
nom library. Now, atIer moro than thirty yoarn
| Of uhefulnens, 1t ia on : frm basis. 1t ia
oAtircly Heif-supportng, has no dobta. and fur.
ulahea p!oMant plaes sf reunion iii tho contra
| fnvrt lapA k,r
day os evening Ii Is ontiray ofi,cercd by CLERKS
mona othor being olfgib!o, and has been >
power for good for many years. It haa received
little aid outaidn OF ita own members, but 1t now
sato'y housed, sud coma to tho light Of day.
special effort iB made to ronler 1t An at
.ractlvs place for tho evening. Thus tablea
arc Slipped In hero aud thcre between tho others,
1ud, above all tho
pooEs AnE NOT LOOKED ur
As though they were prisoners, or tho vssitora
wcro thieves. Thia IL = great comfort to tho
Geuutue book~lovcr, who cannot select hia read
Ing by catalogue, but raHta to touch. and taste
ing to ths teutmony Of tho Librarian, very fsw
Aro lost,
Dcsldes furnishing books, ths Association, The
aasonl year OF itH Life, provided for Baltimoro
the
FIRST counsE or LECTURES,
which haye since boon 10 popular, and 1t pro.
yides regular clnsaes III Fronch and German
available to itn mclubeEs At vorJ low rates.
But tho clowuing glory OF baltimore ia
TMY PEABODY 1Ns7lTurE,
founded by George. Peabody, tho American
bankcr. 4 former resident Of Baltimore by ths
generous gilt of ~ .oou, GOO. i wa founded In
1851, And 4 portion OF Its building put up soor
aftor, but, owing TO tho distracted state OF silt
| country il uaA not dedicated and thrown opeE
10 tho public Til 1866, since wAtch II haH Geol
steadily growing IN usofAlness and importancs
Tho purnosa OF this institution IL to furnish tt
! tkA fnr h}chAr cultivation