The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-10-04

The Free Library, Reading Room and Night
school of Loriiiard's Employees.

WOA6A VE- n NOHLA GHARlYX.
The Free Library, Reading Room and Night
school Of LoriIIard's Employees.
Probably no great business establishment
in this country has ever exerted itself so
much for the betterment of the condition
of its employees, mentally, morally and
physically. and with such gratifying results
as the tobacco manufacturers p. Lorilla d
and Company. 1t is now two Yeas ago, i
thereabouts, that Dr. Leonard j. Gordon
the chemist OF the Lorillard establishment
and probably the most eminent man in his
profession around these parts-conceived
the idea of establishing free library and
reading-room for the use of the EMPLOYEES of
this tremendous tobacco manufacturing es-
adjustment. The idea suggested by the doc
tor was looked upon with favor by men,
bers of the firm, and especially by 81. Mayor
Charles Seidler, whose influence in the
firm is second only to the great Pierre him.
self, and accordingly the doctors happy
thought was not only formulated into the
establishment of real free reading-room,
but hailed by hundreds of the honest toll
ers IN the factory as new advent in their
existence, as attested by the number of
but one room in which was a library with
very limited number of books. To-day the
first and second floors of the Booraem
Building are devoted to the enterprise, the
library contains about 1000 volumes of in
teresting books, to which constant addi-
tions are being made. "You would be
surprised" said DR.. Gordon to a TATrLER
representative on Friday night, sat the
marked change in the moral condition of
our employees within the past two years !;
so much better is the general tone of the
employees now than then" some of the
beauties of the enterprise is the fact
that there is no such word in the rooms as
don't-don't do this, don't spit on the
floor, don't smoke; and there is actually
less of it than otherwise would be-
No complaints, wants or suggestions can
be made except in writing, and these are
placed in lock box in the library, over
which is ''Notice-a note dropped in this
box stating wants, suggestions, or COM
plants will receive attention"
Then there is a debating society attached
to the enterprise,
'sThe tone and morals of the pupils. !"
said Mr.. Hall to the TATTLER, improved
so rapidly that some time ago we formed a
debating society. The last debate was last
4uOb0AJa LAC PAOS5A1AL0 lOI Vic OCCtt-
sion was prefaced by an excellent musical
and literary entertainment. The library
room was intentionally crowded The
orchestra, ur der the excellent leadership
of Mr. j. B. Ferry, executed an overture
which was listened to with the attention of
an audience of critics; and then the Arion
Quartette Club, consisting of Messrs
Higgins, Mcbride. O'Neil and Batterby-
rendered the Parting Song in fine
style. Mr.. Joseph Swan developed talent
of no mean order in the rendition of two
recitations-" Cain and 8. Farewell to
Erin" and the balance of the programme
preceding the debate was interspersed with
music by the orchestra, and solos by Miss
M. Dunn, James Purcell, and John
keenan,.
The subject of the debate was as to
whether the steam engine has benefited
mankind more than the printing press.
Messrs. Lyons, ReardoR and Doyle took
the affirmative, and Messrs Dunn,
Brennan and Geoghan the negative, and
with all due respect to Dr. Gordon and the
associate judges, who decided, after mature
consideration, that the affirmative had the
best of the debate, it was the opinion of I'll
the newspaper men present at any rate,
that Messrs. Dunn, Brennan and GeogLan
sustained the superiority of the printing
press-of course they had the less difficult
side of the question. The debaters were
employees OF Lorlllard's. The programme
was concluded by some more vocal and in :
strumental mucic and recitations by
Messrs. Mcdonald, Kenny and Field,
Miss Kate Barry, and the Arion Quartette.
The newest feature of this enterprise is
the night school. The instruction is en-
tirely oral-no books being used. The
first school night was Thursday, when the
dozen class rooms were occupied by 26O
pupils, presided over by as many teachers
The principal of the school is Miss Kath-
crime Speir, of the High School, woman
noted for her many excellent qualities as a
teacher, and disciplinarian of the first
order. There are three adult classes,
where a higher grade of study may be
taken advantage of. In the lower classes
arithmetic, spelling and reading are regu-
larly taught; while on different nights the
scholars can avail themselves of lessons in
history, geography and botany. The
highest class in arithmetic is in fractions,
while the first principle of education-the
alphabet-ls taught in the lower classes.
(which do you find take the greater ad-
vantage of the opportunities your noble
charity offers p asked the reporter of Miss
Speir.
'sStrange as it may SEEM" was the re-
ply, "the men care more for education
than the women"
Between what ages do the scholars
range?"
''All the way from nine to nineteen.
There was girl of nineteen came here this
evening who did not know the alphabet,
and she was ashamed to come in at first. i
tried 10 relieve her of her embarrassment
as much as possible by offering her words
of encouragement, end she finally came
in"
The class hours are from to S.30 On
Friday night fifteen applicants for admis-
sion to the school were turned away be-
cause there was not room for them. The
corps of ladies who assist Miss Speir are
the Misses Simpson, Wanner, Waterman,
Cranmer, Mcbride, Chapman, Merry.
Roberts, Biederhase, Burdock, Warner and
Whitmore.
"Its no chi]d's play to preside over this
school, can assure you, said Miss Speer J;
shut then it is source of qualification to
me when consider how apt and anxious
to learn the scholars, as general thing,
are"
The library is open daily from 10 a. m.
to 10 p. m. - Sundays included = the
females Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri
days for males Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays, and Sundays for both. Besides
the books in the library are all the local
and New York dailies, including the Sun
DAY TATTLER besides the leading weekIies
and monthly magazines.
The New North Baptist Church.
The corner stone of the new North Bap-
fist Church, on Jersey avenue, was laid last
Monday afternoon before large audience.
A choir trained for the occasion rendered