Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-19
THE CARROLL INSTITUTE.


How the Organization Has Grown ana
ProSpered.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE BUILDING ON r
SrREET-A SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION
AND ITS woRK-A PLACE OF RESORT AND
AMUSEMENT FOR YOUNG MEN-THE LIBRARY
AND THE NIGHT SCHOOL.
The vigor and enterprise displayed by the
Carroll Institute in the efforts to contribute TO
the social amusement and improvement OF It's
members and that larger constituency OF its
friends, who are found in all the Catholic
churches Of this city, has been generally recog-
nized and appreciated, otherwise the institute
would not to-day be the owner OF building
which Is valued at 500 900. Ever since the In
stitute has been in its present quarters, on F
street, between 9Th aud 7th-the building for
merly known as the Larner school building-it
has been extending the scope of its operations,
and enlarging the facilities of the building. This
year Q notable improvement has been made in
the main hall, which occupies the entire second
floor, and affords seating accommodation for
400 people. The hall is one Of the cosieSt and
most inviting in the city, and, on each Thurs
day night is filled with an appreciative audi
ence to listen to the literary and musical musical exsr r
the entertainment and instruction Of their
friends. while at the same time contributing to
their own Improvement 1t seemed as If the
hall was already complete in all its appoint
ments, but the management conceived the
happy idea of adding stage, and SO during the
summer the work was done, and it is now the
verdict that it was the very thing that was
needed. The stage is fitted up in the same
manner a as the stage 4, In any well appointed
racy of detail as well as completeness the scene
painter from the National tbeater and the stage
carpenter from Albaughs were called in. There
are painted scenes with drop curtains and flies
and stage lights, and the size Of everything cor
responds with the hall. so that it is a perfect
little gem of a stage. There are dressing-rooms
on each side for the actors and other accessories
which are necessary in preparing for the mimic
life on the stage. The members of the institute
do not propose to allow their material progress
To outstrip them In other respects, q class for
dramatic instruction will be started this fall,
is to be in charge. Mr. Sailors abilities in this
line are so well known In this city that
amateur dramatic performance Is not con-
sidered a success unless he has something to do
with it.
AN ACTIVE ORGANIZATION.
The institute will, next month, resume its
regular weekly meetings-suspended during
the warm weather-but these meetings do
scope of work which is performed and
undertaken. In the other branches, where the
energy of the members finds exercise, no holt
day is taken during the warm weather. The
library, reading room and the other attractive
features are maintained all the year round. In
this connection 1t is interesting to note how the
undertakes to do. The primary object is to
provide place where young men can spend
Their evenings, and where they viii find q
associates than is usually found by young men
amidst the excitements and temptations of life
in city. To carry out such project the large
building on F street was purchased some two
years ago at cost of 81 5, 600, and this sum has
been now paid with the exception OF $4,000.
The building is three stories in height The first
or basement story has two rooms, one of which
is devoted to the tree night school, which
and from that time until the present
about six hundred pupils have been en-
rolled. The object of the school is to
during the day to receive free instruction in
the ordinary English branches The course of
study embraces reading, writing, arithmetic,
chism and Christian doctrine. Pupils are ad-
mitted on the recommendation Of their re-
other gentlemen known to the committee in
charge. The advantages of the school are con.
fined to no particular parish, but pupils are ad-
United from all. The number on the rolls last
year was eighty, and the average attendance
was forty-fve. When it Is considered that only
such boys are admitted who are compelled to
work during the day tor their living, the practi-
cal results for good in q community from such
school can be more readily appreciated. The
privileges of the school draw line of distinc-
tion only between those who have parents that
can contribute TO their support and those who
are not regarded. The school Is conducted by
teacher who is paid by the institute, which
thus supplies not only the room and light and
heat, but a teacher.
ATTRACTIVE ROOMS FOR YOUNG MEN
Another room on the basement floor is rented
to societies as place for meetings. The entire
second floor as stated above, is taken up with
the hall The third story has three large rooms
The one In the rear is what is known as the
amusement room. Here are two billiard tables,
and under the bright light which streams down
from the shaded burners many q holly con-
that bards Is Vegv haa
they are not playing for the drinks. In the
other parts of the rooms are tables where the
perhaps simply enjoy the society of their
friends under circumstances which contribute
to their ease and enjoyment. Adjoining this
room, and In the front Of the building is the
reading room. where many papers and periodi-
Gals are kept on file. The walls of this room are
of 1o Ss oS m1hg Wnie9 S eoilect,on
who are as follows: Daniel Mcmahon, 1873; W.
]. Quinn, 1874; Major. Alex. J. Dallas, 1874;
1875; John Bingham, 1s7st7e.77 and ESQ;
Ralph Jefferson, 1873; j. Howard Bush
nell, 1878 and '7e. and John + Fallon, 1851.
parishes in this city In former years add their
familiar features to the attractiveness OF the
room, The feature of the building, as the mem
bers all concede with considerable pride, is the
library. This room Is "a feet deep by 80 wide,
and the ceiling is IL feet high. large picture
Father Walter adorn the walls The floor is
covered with Brussels carpet, and handsomely
upholstered chairs and lounges invite the
entire length Of the room on the east side IL the
library, which contains over 2, 500 books. The
nucleus Of the library was formed by the dOnar
ton to the institute of the library of the st,
Vincent de PauPs society, and q subsequent
donation OF about 700 volumes by the Masi
family. This collection of books is added to
each year by purchase and donations, SO that
now IL includes nearly all the works pertaining
TO the Catholic church, its history and form Of
faith, and constitutes u valuable reference
library for a specialist. There are also books Of
travel. history and fiction. Major j. E. Mallet
Is just now finishing a very complete catalogue of
the library, arranged by authors, upon the
the Congressional library.
MILITARY POSTS SUPPLIED WITH READING
NATTER.
room 1t Is interesting to note another feature of
the work undertaken by the institute In sup
plying papers and duplicate magazines,
pamphlets and books to the Catholic soldiers
ana sailors at the frontier posts of the army
and distant stations of the navy, as well as
Sunday school publications to the Catholic
mission schools In the Indian country. This
work Is In charge OF q committed and one of
the recent reports of their operations contains
the following statement:
From the numerous letters received from
officers and soldiers of the armv IL appears
that from one-third to one-half of the army are
Catholics but that there are only two chaplains
OF their faith, namely, Rev. Toussant MespIie
stationed at Boise barracks, Idaho and Rev n
w. j. Lndesnith, at Fort Keoxh Montana
some jealous priests make occasional visits to
the forts and camps in the neighborhood of
their missions. but on the whole the spiritual
wants of our Catholic brethren in the army are
much neglected"
AS may be seen from the above account of the